Radiation detection and tracking with GPS-enabled wireless communication system
First Claim
1. A wireless personal communication device configured for radiation detection and tracking, comprising:
- a wireless personal communication device housing, including electronics for wirelessly communicating information to and from the device;
a nuclear radiation sensor within the housing, and adapted to provide a detection signal in response to sensing radiation levels above a predefined threshold; and
a processor within the housing, and adapted to receive the detection signal from the nuclear radiation sensor, and configured to cause automatic transmission of a detection message to authorities using the electronics, the message including location information of the detection.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A nuclear radiation detector included inside mobile personal communication devices (e.g. cellular or satellite phone, pager, PDA) allows for a network of portable radiation detectors that can not only detect radiation, but also track possible radiation sources by virtue of the ubiquitous nature of such personal communication devices. When radiation levels above a certain level are detected, the detector electronics embedded within any proximate mobile personal communication device communicates with the device to cause transmission of relevant data to the authorities (e.g., central reporting server monitored by FBI). The detection event is assessed by factors including, for example, quantity of alarms in a given area and radiation level detected. The small size of this embedded detector allow for its discreet configuration and monitoring at all times. The device is non-invasive and requires no user knowledge or action, thus eliminating indiscriminate and uncontrolled action by the user.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A wireless personal communication device configured for radiation detection and tracking, comprising:
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a wireless personal communication device housing, including electronics for wirelessly communicating information to and from the device;
a nuclear radiation sensor within the housing, and adapted to provide a detection signal in response to sensing radiation levels above a predefined threshold; and
a processor within the housing, and adapted to receive the detection signal from the nuclear radiation sensor, and configured to cause automatic transmission of a detection message to authorities using the electronics, the message including location information of the detection. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for detecting and tracking radiation using a network of wireless personal communication devices each configured with nuclear radiation sensors, comprising:
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detecting a nuclear radiation source via a first of the personal communication devices on the network;
in response to the detection via the first personal communication device, automatically transmitting a first detection message to authorities, the first message including location information associated with the detection by the first personal communication device;
detecting the nuclear radiation source via a second of the personal communication devices on the network; and
in response to the detection via the second personal communication device, automatically transmitting a second detection message to authorities, the second message including location information associated with the detection by the second personal communication device, thereby allowing the authorities to track movement of the nuclear radiation source within the network. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for detecting and tracking radiation using a network of wireless personal communication devices each configured with nuclear radiation sensors, comprising:
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receiving a first detection message from a first of the personal communication devices on the network, the first detection message indicating detection of a nuclear radiation source and a first geographic location of that source;
receiving a second detection message from a second of the personal communication devices on the network, the second detection message indicating detection of the nuclear radiation source and a second geographic location of that source; and
in response to determining that the nuclear radiation source is a threat, dispatching one or more agents to investigate. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A wireless communication device configured for radiation detection and tracking within a cargo container for transporting goods, comprising:
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a wireless communication device housing that can be placed inside the cargo container, including electronics for wirelessly transmitting information from the device;
a nuclear radiation sensor within the housing, and adapted to provide a detection signal in response to sensing radiation levels above a predefined threshold; and
a processor within the housing, and adapted to receive the detection signal from the nuclear radiation sensor, and configured to cause automatic transmission of detection message to authorities using the electronics, the message including location information of the detection. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification