MONITORING DEVICE FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICES

• US 20110080300A1
• Filed: 10/07/2010
• Published: 04/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Aaron Bauza, Ben Bequette
• Original Assignee: Aaron Bauza, Ben Bequette
• Inventors: BEQUETTE, Ben, BAUZA, Aaron
• Application Number:
  US12/900,264
• Publication Number:
  US 20110080300A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/686.6
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 5/008 communicating information to a remotely located station transmission systems for measured values G08C

Abstract

A monitoring device for use in a vehicle includes a body configured to be mounted within the vehicle. A controller is housed within the body that has a communication module configured to detect the presence and/or absence of at least one electronic device in the vicinity of the monitoring device by attempting wireless communication with at least one electronic device. An indicator is held by the body and is operatively connected to the controller for controlling the operation of the indicator. The controller is operated in a first mode when the communication module detects the presence of the at least one electronic device and is operated in a second mode when the communication module does not detect the presence of the at least one electronic device.

Claims

1. A monitoring device for use in a vehicle, the monitoring device comprising:

a body configured to be mounted within the vehicle;

a controller housed within the body, the controller having a communication module configured to detect the presence and/or absence of at least one electronic device in the vicinity of the monitoring device by attempting wireless communication with at least one electronic device; and

an indicator held by the body and operatively connected to the controller for controlling the operation of the indicator;

wherein the controller is operated in a first mode when the communication module detects the presence of the at least one electronic device, and wherein the controller is operated in a second mode when the communication module does not detect the presence of the at least one electronic device.

2. The monitoring device of claim 1, further comprising a power source powering at least one of the controller, the communication module, and the indicator.

3. The monitoring device of claim 1, further comprising a USB port on the body.

4. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the indicator includes at least one of a visual indicator, an audible indicator and a vehicle control indicator.

5. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the monitoring device is integrated into the vehicle.

6. The monitoring device of claim 1, further comprising a front panel coupled to the body, the front panel includes the indicator, the indicator comprising an LED displaying the status of the presence or absence of the electronic device.

7. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the indicator comprises an internal speaker connected to the controller for notification by an audible indication or alarm.

8. The monitoring device of claim 1, further comprising an internal voltage monitor operatively connected to the controller in order to activate the monitoring circuit when the voltage monitor determines that the car ignition has be activated.

9. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises a cell phone.

10. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the electronic device has a unique identifier, the communication module searching the vicinity of the vehicle for the electronic device based on the unique identifier.

11. The monitoring device of claim 1, wherein the communication module is previously paired with one or more of the electronic devices, the communication module attempting to search for each electronic device to which the communication module had been previously paired.

12. A monitoring device for use in a vehicle, the monitoring device comprising:

a wireless communication component contained within the vehicle, the wireless communication component being configured to pair with a first cell phone in the compartment of the vehicle;

wherein, upon a predetermined event, the wireless communication component is operated to verify the presence and/or absence of the first cell phone.

13. The monitoring device of claim 12, wherein the predetermined event comprises starting of the vehicle, the wireless communication component being configured to receive a signal upon starting of the vehicle, the wireless communication component.

14. The monitoring device of claim 12, further comprising an indicator operatively coupled to the wireless communication component, the indicator being operable in a first mode when the communication module detects the presence of the first cell phone, and the indictor being operable in a second mode when the wireless communication component does not detect the presence of the first cell phone.

15. The monitoring device of claim 12, wherein the wireless communication component is configured to pair with a second cell phone in the compartment of the vehicle;

wherein, upon the predetermined event, the wireless communication component is operated to verify the presence and/or absence of the second cell phone.

16. A monitoring device for use with an appliance, the monitoring device comprising:

a body configured to be mounted adjacent the appliance;

a controller housed within the body, the controller having a communication module configured to detect the presence and/or absence of at least one electronic device in the vicinity of the monitoring device by attempting wireless communication with at least one electronic device; and

an indicator held by the body and operatively connected to the controller for controlling the operation of the indicator;

wherein the controller is operated in a first mode when the communication module detects the presence of the at least one electronic device, and wherein the controller is operated in a second mode when the communication module does not detect the presence of the at least one electronic device.

17. The monitoring device of claim 16, wherein the indicator includes at least one of a visual indicator, an audible indicator and an appliance control indicator.

18. The monitoring device of claim 16, wherein the monitoring device is integrated into the appliance.

19. The monitoring device of claim 16, wherein the communication module is previously paired with one or more of the electronic devices, the communication module attempting to search for each electronic device to which the communication module had been previously paired.

20. The monitoring device of claim 16, wherein a power supply to the appliance is controlled by the monitoring device, wherein the monitoring device shuts off power supply to the appliance when the communication module detects the presence of the at least one electronic device.