Personal property security device

• US 20070222588A1
• Filed: 05/02/2007
• Published: 09/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Red Sky Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Red Sky Technologies Incorporated
• Inventors: Wolfe, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US11/800,029
• Publication Number:
  US 20070222588A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.130
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0219 Circuit arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0275 Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS] tag technology used for parent or child unit, e.g. same transmission technology, magnetic tag, RF tag, RFID

Abstract

A mobile monitoring device includes a sensor, a controller and a transceiver is in electronic communication with the controller. The transceiver is capable of secure, bidirectional communication with a computing device, or with other devices such as telephones and the Internet. The sensor is in electronic communication with the controller and is capable of detecting a change in a condition of the property being monitored or the area proximate thereto. The monitoring device executes programming commands received from the computing device or other devices or networks. The monitoring device is track-able by various methods. The monitoring device is configured for bi-directional communication with RF sensors to provide a mesh network topology for monitoring numerous items and a relatively large area with small, inexpensive devices. Communications may be digital or analog using recognized or proprietary communications protocols, and may be secured using various encryption algorithms and protocols. Digitization permits proper delivery and authentication and remote programming of each individual device, as well as ensuring the accuracy and reliability of such communications. Communications may be sent along various routes, permitting a user, a security monitoring company and any computer applications to receive and to respond to notifications, including automatic responses to notifications.

Claims

1. A mobile monitoring device that may be physically attached to and detached from an item of portable property comprising:

a communication interface that is in bidirectional electronic communication with a controller and with an integrated, wireless transceiver, the communication interface configured to provide bi-directional communication capabilities between the mobile monitoring device and a user administration unit, bidirectional communication capabilities between the mobile monitoring device and a telecommunications network that may include a computing device, bi-directional communication capabilities between the mobile monitoring device and the user administration unit through the telecommunications network or the computing device, bidirectional communication capabilities between the controller and another remotely located mobile monitoring device, and bi-directional communication capabilities between the controller and at least one remote sensing unit or at least one sensor;

the controller having a central processing unit configured to receive, to execute, and to respond to programming commands received from the telecommunications network, the computing device, the user administration unit, or an input-output terminal associated with the monitoring device;

at least one location detection and identification element in bidirectional communication with the controller through the communication interface and in bidirectional communication with an antenna;

the transceiver including a microphone and a speaker and being in further bidirectional communication with at least one remote sensing unit or at least one other remote monitoring device;

a primary power source and a secondary power source;

a bi-directional activation interface to activate the controller in response to a change in condition of the device or of the area proximate the device; and

multiple sensors in bidirectional electronic communication with the controller through the communications interface, the sensors configured to monitor a change in a condition of an article of portable property or a condition proximate to the portable property;

wherein the bidirectional communication with the communications interface includes predetermined security algorithms and protocols to ensure reliability of authentication and reliability of communication between the transceiver, the controller, the remote sensing unit, the multiple sensors, the user administration unit, the telecommunications network and the computing device and wherein the mobile monitoring device is sized and adapted such that the mobile monitoring device is covertly usable with a variety of different types of portable property in varying conditions and according to differing security needs.

2. A mobile monitoring device comprising:

a communication interface that is in bidirectional electronic communication with a controller and with a transceiver, the communication interface configured to provide bi-directional communication capabilities between the mobile monitoring device and a telecommunications network, and bi-directional communication capabilities between the mobile monitoring device and a user administration unit through the telecommunications network;

the controller having a central processing unit configured to receive, to execute, and to respond to programming commands;

at least one location detection and identification element in bidirectional communication with the controller through the communication interface and in bidirectional communication with an antenna;

the transceiver including a microphone and a speaker and being in further bi-directional communication with at least one remote sensing unit or at least one other remote monitoring device;

a first power source;

a bi-directional activation interface to activate the controller; and

multiple sensors in bidirectional electronic communication with the controller through the communications interface;

wherein the bidirectional communication with the communications interface includes predetermined security algorithms and protocols to ensure reliability of authentication and reliability of communication between the transceiver, the controller, the remote sensing unit, the multiple sensors, the user administration unit, the telecommunications network and the computing device.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein the communication interface is configured to provide bi-directional communication capabilities between the controller and at least one remote sensing unit or at least one sensor.

4. The device of claim 2 wherein the mobile monitoring device is sized, configured and adapted such that the mobile monitoring device is covertly usable with a variety of different types of portable property.

5. The device of claim 2 wherein the transceiver is integrated with the controller and capable of bidirectional wireless communication.

6. The device of claim 2 further comprising a second power source.

7. The device of claim 2 wherein the telecommunications network includes a computing device.

8. The device of claim 2 wherein the communication interface is further configured to provide bi-directional communication capabilities between the mobile monitoring device and the user administration unit.

9. The device of claim 2 wherein the communication interface is further configured to provide bidirectional communication capabilities between the controller and another remotely located mobile monitoring device.

10. The device of claim 2 wherein the controller is configured to receive, to execute, and to respond to programming commands received from the telecommunications network.

11. The device of claim 7 wherein the controller is configured to receive, to execute, and to respond to programming commands received from the computing device.

12. The device of claim 2 wherein the controller is configured to receive, to execute, and to respond to programming commands received from the user administration unit.

13. The device of claim 2 wherein the controller is configured to receive, to execute, and to respond to programming commands received from an input-output terminal associated with the monitoring device.

14. The device of claim 2 wherein the bi-directional activation interface activates the controller in response to a change in condition of the device or of the area proximate the device.

15. The device of claim 2 wherein the sensors are configured to monitor a change in a condition of an article of portable property or a condition proximate to the portable property.

16. A mobile monitoring device comprising:

a communication interface that is in bidirectional electronic communication with a controller and with a transceiver, the communication interface configured to provide bi-directional communication capabilities between the mobile monitoring device and a remote device;

the controller having a central processing unit configured to receive, to execute, and to respond to programming commands;

at least one location detection and identification element in bidirectional communication with the controller through the communication interface and in bidirectional communication with an antenna;

the transceiver being in further bi-directional communication with at least one remote sensing unit or at least one other remote monitoring device;

a first power source;

a bi-directional activation interface to activate the controller; and

multiple sensors in bidirectional electronic communication with the controller through the communications interface;

wherein the bidirectional communication with the communications interface includes predetermined security algorithms and protocols.

17. The device of claim 16 wherein the remote device comprises a telecommunications network.

18. The device of claim 16 wherein the remote device comprises a user administration unit.

19. The device of claim 17 wherein the remote device comprises a user administration unit that communicates bidirectionally with the mobile monitoring device through the telecommunications network.

20. The device of claim 16 wherein the remote device comprises another remotely located mobile monitoring device.

21. The device of claim 16 wherein the remote device comprises a sensing unit.

22. The device of claim 16 wherein the transceiver includes a microphone and a speaker.

23. The device of claim 16 wherein the communication interface is configured to provide bi-directional communication capabilities between the controller and at least one remote sensing unit or at least one sensor.

24. The device of claim 16 wherein the mobile monitoring device is sized, configured and adapted such that the mobile monitoring device is covertly usable with a variety of different types of portable property.

25. The device of claim 16 wherein the transceiver is integrated with the controller and capable of bidirectional wireless communication.

26. The device of claim 16 further comprising a second power source.

27. The device of claim 17 wherein the telecommunications network includes a computing device.

28. The device of claim 17 wherein the controller is configured to receive, to execute, and to respond to programming commands received from the telecommunications network.

29. The device of claim 27 wherein the controller is configured to receive, to execute, and to respond to programming commands received from the computing device.

30. The device of claim 18 wherein the controller is configured to receive, to execute, and to respond to programming commands received from the user administration unit.

31. The device of claim 16 wherein the controller is configured to receive, to execute, and to respond to programming commands received from an input-output terminal associated with the monitoring device.

32. The device of claim 16 further comprising a bi-directional activation interface that activates the controller in response to a change in condition of the device or of the area proximate the device.

33. The device of claim 21 wherein the sensing unit is configured to monitor a change in a condition of an article of portable property or a condition proximate to the portable property.