SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR LOCATING PERSONAL ITEMS AND THE LIKE

• US 20090045958A1
• Filed: 10/15/2007
• Published: 02/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael J. Spano
• Original Assignee: Michael J. Spano
• Inventors: SPANO, MICHAEL J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,898,414 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/572.200
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms

Abstract

The invention is a system for locating and preventing the loss of personal items within a geographic zone. The system components are a personal portable homing center device a having a radio frequency receiver and a transducer that is actuated by a change in a signal strength; and several zone devices, for instance an active RFID tag attached to the personal item. The homing center device has an algorithm to measure the strength of the signal generated by the tag. The transducer is an audible and/or a silent alarm. The homing center device has three operating modes: Off, Homing-in, and Homing-out. In the Homing-in mode the alarm is actuated when a zone device'"'"'s signal is detected. In the Homing-out operating mode the alarm is actuated when a zone device'"'"'s signal falls to a threshold strength, indicating that the item is no longer close to the homing center device.

Claims

1. A system for locating and preventing the loss of personal items and the like within a geographic range relative to a user of the system, said system comprising:

a personal portable homing center device having a receiver and a transducer that is actuated by a sensed change in a received signal strength;

a zone device that is attached to a personal item and the like, where said zone device comprises a small portable transmitter that provides a unique signal;

where the homing center device has an algorithm to measure the strength of the transmitted unique signal; and

wherein the system has operating modes, said operating modes comprising an Off mode, a Homing-in mode for locating items, and a Homing-out mode for preventing the loss of items, where in the Off mode the homing center device is turned off, where in the Homing-in mode the transducer is actuated when the homing center device detects the unique signal emitted by the zone device, and in the Homing-out mode the transducer is actuated when the received signal strength falls to a threshold level, where the threshold level is a function of distance between the zone device and the homing center device.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said zone device is fastened to the item as a tag or a fob or other means suitable for fastening.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein said tag is an active. RFID tag.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said unique signal transmitted by the zone device uniquely identifies any given zone device.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein said unique signal conveys a digital. ID for the zone device.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein the zone device attached to the personal item is classified as to its operating mode.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the operating mode has operating parameters, which are specific to any given zone device.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the operating Homing-out parameter for the threshold level between the specific zone device and the homing center device is selected from a parameter value of 20 feet or less.

9. The system according to claim 7, wherein the operating Homing-in parameter for the transducer is that it will issue an audible signal that is pulsed inversely with respect the distance between the specific zone device and the homing center device, such that the shorter the distance, the faster the pulse.

10. The system according to claim 7, wherein the operating Homing-out parameter for the threshold level between the specific zone device and the homing center device is used to monitor that tools and the like are not taken off a work site, and the threshold level is selected from a parameter value of 1000 feet or less.

11. The system according to claim 5, wherein the zone device transmits a description of the item it is attached to, and other information about item.

12. The system according to claim 6, wherein the digital ID of the zone device attached to the personal item is cross-referenced to a unique identifier retained by the homing center device, and the homing center device associates the zone device and operating mode with a specific personal item.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the personal item is manufactured with an inclusive zone device, where the item can be functional, like a tool, or a fake that resembles something else.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein the transducer is an audible alarm and/or a silent alarm, with a means for selecting the alarm.

15. A method for locating and preventing the loss of personal items and the like, said method comprising:

providing a personal portable homing center device having a receiver and a transducer that is actuated by a measured algorithmic analysis of a sensed change in a signal strength of a unique signal emitted from a zone device having operating parameters, where said method has operating modes, said modes comprising an Off mode, a Homing-in mode for locating items, and a Homing-out mode for preventing the loss of items;

affixing the zone device to an item;

selecting the Off mode to turn the homing center device off, wherein the receiver does not detect signals transmitted by the zone device;

or

selecting the Homing-in mode, wherein the transducer is actuated by the homing center device when said zone device moves into or is within a geographic range of detection by the receiver of the emitted unique signal;

or

selecting the Homing-out mode, wherein the transducer is actuated when the homing center device detects that the emitted unique signal of the zone device has fallen to a low threshold signal strength, where the fall to the low threshold signal strength is indicative that the homing center device and the zone device are separated by a distance that is outside the operating parameter.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein in die Homing-out mode, actuation of the transducer ceases when the homing center device and the zone device are not separated by the distance that is outside the operational parameter.

17. The method according to claim 15 further comprising the steps of:

adding an additional zone device;

reading the additional zone device unique digital ID into the homing center device;

assigning the additional zone device to a personal item and the like;

classifying the additional zone device as to operating mode, selected from Homing-in mode, Homing-out mode or both modes;

entering a Homing-out mode threshold distance for actuation of the transducer;

entering for a Homing-in mode pulse parameter for the transducer with respect the distance between the specific zone device and the homing center device, such that the shorter the distance, the faster the pulse; and

writing to the additional zone device a description of the item and other information which may be useful in tracking the item if the item is lost.

18. A method for locating and preventing the loss of personal items and the like, said method comprising:

providing a personal portable homing center device having a receiver and a transducer that is actuated by a measured algorithmic analysis of a sensed change in a signal strength of a first unique signal emitted from a first zone device having a first set of operating parameters and a second unique signal emitted from a second zone device having a second set of operating parameters, where said method has operating modes, said modes comprising an Off mode, a Homing-in mode for locating items, and a Homing-out mode for preventing the loss of items;

designating that the first zone device to be only recognized in the Homing-in mode;

designating that the second zone device to be only recognized in the Homing-out mode;

affixing the second zone device to a personal item, where personal item is normally kept in close proximity to the homing center device;

affixing the first zone device to an item that, in use, is not normally kept in close proximity to homing center device;

selecting the Off mode to turn the homing center off;

wherein the receiver does not detect signals transmitted by the first or second zone device;

or

selecting the Homing-in mode, wherein the transducer is actuated by the homing center device when said first zone device moves into or is within a geographic range of detection by the radio frequency receiver of the emitted unique signal;

or

selecting the Homing-out mode, wherein the transducer is actuated when the homing center device detects that the emitted unique signal of the second zone device has fallen to a low threshold signal strength, where the fall to the low threshold signal strength is indicative that the homing center device and the zone device are separated by a distance that is outside the second set of operating parameters.

19. The method according to claim 18 further comprising the step of:

designating the second zone device to be temporary recognized in the Homing-in mode if the second zone device is lost; and

selecting the Homing-in operating mode.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein a single item has both first and second zone devices.