Cell phone alerting system

• US 20070129113A1
• Filed: 12/01/2005
• Published: 06/07/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Andy Lakey, Michael Klicpera, Ross Tsukashima
• Original Assignee: Andy Lakey, Michael Klicpera, Ross Tsukashima
• Inventors: Klicpera, Michael, Tsukashima, Ross, Lakey, Andy
• Application Number:
  US11/293,658
• Publication Number:
  US 20070129113A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/567
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces

Abstract

Disclosed herein is an alerting/warning apparatus and method associated with a particular cell telephone alerts an individual when said owner of the cell phone is separated by a defined distance from their cell phone. Cell phones are becoming smaller and hence, are being lost more often. The solution to this problem which is a portion of the present invention is to make a pendant or other device that the user carries that triggers an alarm if the distance between the pendant and a cell phone becomes too great. The alerting/warning apparatus consists of a visual and/or auditory means located within the alert device that communicates wirelessly with the particular individual'"'"'s cell phone, including a transmitting and receiving means to communicate with the particular cell phone. Typical devices, such as key chains, necklaces, or other forms of jewelry or wallet inserts will be employed to incorporate the alert apparatus for the cell phone owner'"'"'s convenience. The alerting/warning apparatus also contains a power source that consisting generally as a battery or other (e.g. solar) energy source. The alerting/warning apparatus will have the capability to set the given distance between the individual and the particular cell phone to adapt to the cell phone owner'"'"'s individual needs. Also the alerting/warning apparatus can be turned off when it is desired that the present invention not be in use. The alerting/warning apparatus is designed to prevent the loss or minimize the theft of cell phones that are temporarily left behind in unprotected public and private or other places. The method comprises first setting the desired distance that the individual wants to be alerted when the individual and the cell phone or laptop computer are separated by that distance. After making the decision and setting the alerting/warning apparatus for that distance, the individual carries the alerting/warning device (which could be represented as a key chain or other convenient device). Now, when, or if, the cell phone is left on a table, counter, car, boat, ground or any other location and the individual having the alerting/warning apparatus moves to a position that is greater than the distance set on the alerting/warning apparatus, a light and/or auditory alarm, depending on the particular embodiment, is turned on to alarm the individual that their cell phone has been left behind.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring and alerting an owner of the cell phone that said cell phone has exceeded a given distance between said owner and said cell phone comprising:

an accessory having a transmitting means which transmits a signal to a cell phone, said accessory associated with said owner;

a cell phone programmed to monitor the strength of said signal sent by said accessory, said cell phone programmed to initiate an alerting means when said accessory is a given distance from said cell phone.

2. The system recited in claim 1, further comprising that said signal includes a unique identifier that said cell phone recognizes.

3. The system recited in claim 1, wherein said accessory is a pendant.

4. The system recited in claim 1, wherein said accessory is a part of a key chain.

5. The system recited in claim 1, wherein said accessory comprises a card design.

6. The system recited in claim 1, where said wireless signal uses radio frequency technology.

7. The system recited in claim 1, wherein said wireless signal uses optical light technology.

8. An system for monitoring and alerting an owner of the cell phone that said cell phone has exceeded a given distance between said owner and said cell phone comprising:

an accessory having a receiving means which monitors a signal from a cell phone, said accessory associated with said owner;

a typical cell phone programmed to transmit said signal sent to said accessory,

said accessory programmed to initiate an alerting means when said accessory is a given distance from said cell phone.

9. The system recited in claim 9, further comprising that said signal includes a unique identifier that said accessory recognizes.

10. The system recited in claim 9, wherein said accessory is a pendant.

11. The system recited in claim 9, wherein said accessory is a part of a key chain.

12. The system recited in claim 9, wherein said accessory comprises a slim card design.

13. The system recited in claim 9, where said wireless signal uses radio frequency technology.

14. The system recited in claim 9, wherein said wireless signal uses optical light technology.

15. An system for monitoring and alerting an owner of the cell phone that said cell phone has exceeded a given distance between said owner and said cell phone comprising:

an accessory having a receiving and a transmitting means which monitors a first signal sent from a cell phone, said accessory associated with said owner;

a typical cell phone programmed to transmit said first signal to said accessory,

said accessory programmed to receive said first signal;

said accessory sending a second signal to said cell phone in response to receiving said first signal, and receive back from to said accessory,

said cell phone programmed to initiate an alerting means when said accessory is a specified distance from said cell phone.

17. The system recited in claim 17, further comprising that said signal includes a unique identifier that said cell phone recognizes.

16. The system recited in claim 17, wherein said accessory is programmed to initiate an alerting means when said accessory is a specified distance from said cell phone.

18. The system recited in claim 17, wherein said accessory is a pendant.

19. The system recited in claim 17, wherein said accessory is a part of a key chain.

20. The system recited in claim 17, wherein said accessory comprises a slim card design.

21. The system recited in claim 17, where said wireless signal uses radio frequency technology.

22. The system recited in claim 17, wherein said wireless signal uses optical light technology.

23. An system for monitoring and alerting an owner of the cell phone that said cell phone has exceeded a given distance between said owner and said cell phone comprising:

an accessory having a receiving and a transmitting means which sends a first signal to said cell phone and then monitors a second signal from a cell phone, said accessory associated with said owner;

a typical cell phone programmed to receive said first signal and transmit a second signal to said accessory in response to receive said first signal;

said accessory programmed to initiate an alerting means when said cell phone is a given distance from said accessory.

26. The system recited in claim 26, further comprising that said signal includes a unique identifier that said cell phone recognizes.

24. The system recited in claim 26, wherein said cell phone is programmed to initiate an alerting means when said accessory is a specified distance from said cell phone.

25. The system recited in claim 26, further comprising that said signal includes a unique identifier that said cell phone recognizes.

27. The system recited in claim 26, wherein said accessory is a pendant.

28. The system recited in claim 26, wherein said accessory is a part of a key chain.

29. The system recited in claim 26, wherein said accessory comprises a slim card design.

30. The system recited in claim 26, where said wireless signal uses radio frequency technology.

31. The system recited in claim 26, wherein said wireless signal uses optical light technology.