Alarm system

• US 20070188321A1
• Filed: 02/07/2005
• Published: 08/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vendolocus AB
• Original Assignee: Vendolocus AB
• Inventors: Stenlund, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 7,893,826 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.260
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/205 Mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/304 Boats
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1004 Alarm systems characterised by the type of sensor, e.g. current sensing means using door lock sensors B60R25/1001
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/102 a signal being sent to a remote location, e.g. a radio signal being transmitted to a police station, a security company or the owner
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/305 using a camera
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 1/01 Measuring or predicting earthquakes
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons

Abstract

The present invention relates to an alarm system intended to trigger an alarm signal upon deviation from at least one environment-dependent reference predetermined for a specific environment. The alarm system comprises at least one portable unit intended to be placed in said environment, which unit has a size corresponding to a mobile telephone. Each unit comprises a sensor system adapted for detecting different states comprising at least vibrations. Furthermore, the alarm system comprises a processor member connected to the sensor system and adapted for the comparison of signals received from the sensor system and said predetermined environment-dependent reference/references. The alarm system further comprises a communication member connected to the processor member and adapted for wireless communication upon, for instance, the triggering of an alarm signal. Furthermore, the alarm system comprises a memory member connected to the processor member via a distributed computer network and adapted for the storage of said predetermined reference/references.

Claims

1. An alarm system (10) intended to trigger an alarm signal upon deviation from at least one environment-dependent reference predetermined for a specific environment, which alarm system (10) comprises at least one portable unit (12) intended to be placed in said environment, which unit (12) has a size not greater than a mobile telephone, which unit (12), each comprising a sensor system (14) comprising an accelerometer/silicon crystal, microphone and temperature sensor, a processor member (16) connected to the sensor system (14) and adapted for the comparison of signals received from the sensor system (14) and said predetermined environment-dependent reference/references, a communication member (18) of a unique identity connected to the processor member (16) and adapted for wireless communication upon, for instance, the triggering of an alarm signal, and a positioning member (20) connected to the processor member (16) and adapted to indicate, at least upon the triggering of an alarm signal, the position of said unit (12), which alarm system (10) furthermore comprises a memory member (24) connected to the processor member (16) via a distributed computer network (22) and adapted for the storage of said predetermined reference/references.

2. An alarm system (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the memory member (24) furthermore is adapted for dynamic and interactive update and development for different purposes by maneuvering via fixed and/or mobile telephony and/or radio and/or computer unit.

3. An alarm system (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that each sensor system (14) furthermore comprises at least one of the following sensors:

frequency transmitters, strain gauges, camera, UV/photocells, electronic noses, anemometers, infrared sensors, gamma transducers, laser sensors, inductive sensors, flow sensors, level transducers, tension gauges and pressure gauges.

4. An alarm system (10) according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that each positioning member (20) consists of at least one of the following units:

GPS unit, GPRS unit and GSM unit.

5. An alarm system (10) according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that said predetermined reference may consist of a sound/vibration image specific to each portable unit (12).

6. An alarm system (10) according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that each unit (12) comprises at least one basic module (12₁), as well as a protecting cover (12_n).

7. An alarm system (10) according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that the memory member (24) is adapted for continuous storage of comparisons and/or continuous storage of deviations.

8. An alarm system (10) according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that the memory member (24) consists of a database (24).

9. Method for triggering an alarm signal by means of an alarm system (10) according to any one of claims 1-8, which method comprises the steps of:

by means of the sensor system (14) detecting different states comprising vibrations, relative position changes, accelerations and temperature;

comparing the signals received from the sensor system (14) and at least one environment-dependent reference predetermined for a specific environment and stored in the memory member (24);

upon deviation from said environment-dependent reference/references, triggering an alarm signal; and

according to instantaneous control or predetermined configuration, by means of the communication member (18) of a unique identity, transmitting a message to at least one receiver; and

according to instantaneous control or predetermined configuration, by means of the positioning member (20), determining the position of the unit (12); and

transmitting the position to the receiver/receivers.

10. Method according to claim 9, characterized in that the detection step comprises:

the detection of the different states by means of an accelerometer/silicon crystal, microphone and temperature sensor.

11. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that the detection step furthermore comprises:

the further detection of different states by means of the following sensors;

frequency transmitters, strain gauges, camera, UV/photocells, electronic noses, anemometers, infrared sensors, gamma transducers, laser sensors, inductive sensors, flow sensors, level transducers, tension gauges and pressure gauges.

12. Method according to claim 9-11, characterized in that the positioning step comprises:

the determination of the position by means of at least one of the following units;

GPS unit, GPRS unit and GSM unit.

13. Method according to any one of claims 8-12, characterized in that the method furthermore comprises the step of:

registering and in the memory member (24) storing the reference/references that may consist of a sound/vibration image specific to each unit (12).

14. At least one computer software product (102₁, . . . , 102_n) directly down-loadable in the internal memory of at least one digital computer (100₁, . . . , 100_n), comprising software code portions for executing the steps according to claim 9 when said at least one product (102₁, . . . , 102_n) is run on said at least one computer (100₁, . . . , 100_n).