PERSONAL LOCATOR DEVICE FOR A CHILD HAVING AN INTEGRATED MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICE THAT QUALIFIES TO BE CARRIED IN AN EDUCATIONAL SETTING

• US 20110175725A1
• Filed: 01/07/2011
• Published: 07/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Paul S. Paolini
• Original Assignee: Paul S. Paolini
• Inventors: Paolini, Paul S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,508,361 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/39 the satellite radio beacon positioning system transmitting time-stamped messages, e.g. GPS [Global Positioning System], GLONASS [Global Orbiting Navigation Satellite System] or GALILEO
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12

Abstract

A personal locator device includes a housing that has a processor being coupled to a bus and a memory being coupled to the bus in the housing. The personal locator device also has a global positioning system comprising a receiver and a transmitter being coupled to the bus. The memory comprises an identification code. The personal locator device also has a mobile communication unit being coupled to the bus and a user interface comprising at least two inputs disposed on the housing. The personal locator device also has a power source. The transmitter is adapted to be controlled by the processor to provide a distress signal to a remote entity identifying the personal locator device by the identification code that a user associated with the personal locator device is in distress and the mobile communication unit is adapted to be programmable to at least two destinations to initiate communication to at least two individuals with each individual associated with one of the at least two inputs being preset in the memory. The personal locator device is adapted to not include a keypad for entering destination information individuals other than the at least two inputs being preset in the memory so the personal locator device qualifies to be carried in an setting that prohibits mobile telephones.

Claims

1. A personal locator device comprising:

a housing including a processor being coupled to a bus, and a memory being coupled to the bus disposed in the housing;

a global positioning system comprising a receiver and a transmitter, the receiver and transmitter being coupled to the bus;

the memory comprising an identification code;

a mobile communication unit being coupled to the bus;

a user interface comprising at least two inputs disposed on the housing;

a power source;

the transmitter being adapted to be controlled by the processor to provide a distress signal to a remote entity, the distress signal identifying the personal locator device by the identification code that a user associated with the personal locator device is in distress; and

the mobile communication unit being adapted to be programmable to at least two destinations to initiate communication to at least two individuals with each individual associated with one of the at least two inputs being preset in the memory; and

the personal locator device being adapted to not include a keypad for entering destination information to individuals other than the at least two inputs being preset in the memory so the personal locator device qualifies to be carried in an setting that prohibits mobile telephones.

2. The personal locator device of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a watch adapted to surround a wrist of a wearer.

3. The personal locator device of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is adapted to be controlled by the processor to provide the distress signal to a satellite.

4. The personal locator device of claim 3, wherein the satellite relays the distress signal to a second entity.

5. The personal locator device of claim 3, wherein the satellite relays the distress signal to a rescuer.

6. The personal locator device of claim 1, wherein the personal locator device qualifies to be carried in an educational setting that prohibits mobile telephones.

7. The personal locator device of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a band adapted to fit around a child'"'"'s wrist.

8. The personal locator device of claim 1, wherein the identification number is stored on a SIM card being coupled to an adapter connected to the bus.

9. The personal locator device of claim 1, wherein the distress signal is communicated to at least two different entities.

10. The personal locator device of claim 1, wherein the distress signal is communicated in a silent inaudible manner.

11. The personal locator device of claim 1, wherein at least one input is used to store a telephone number of a child'"'"'s parent.

12. The personal locator device of claim 1, wherein at least one input is used to store a telephone number of a child'"'"'s mother and at least the other input is used to store the telephone number of a child'"'"'s father.

13. The personal locator device of claim 1, wherein the housing is connected to a band that surrounds a wrist of the wearer and wherein at least one input is a first button used to store a telephone number or electronic address of a child'"'"'s mother and at least the other input is a second button used to store the telephone number or electronic address of a child'"'"'s father, wherein the first and the second buttons are disposed on an exterior surface of the housing.

14. The personal locator device of claim 13, wherein the housing resembles a wrist watch.

15. A method of locating an individual in distress comprising:

selectively transmitting a distress signal to a remote entity identifying a personal locator device by an identification code that a user associated with the personal locator device is in distress; and

providing the personal locator device with a mobile communication unit, which is operable to make voice calls, the personal locator device being adapted to be programmable to initiate communication to only at least two individuals with each individual associated with an input being stored in a memory; and

qualifying that the personal locator device is permitted in an setting that prohibits mobile telephones, the personal locator device being adapted to not include a keypad for entering destination information to individuals other than the at least two individuals associated with the inputs being preset in the memory.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising transmitting the distress signal to a satellite identifying the personal locator device by the identification code.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising transmitting the distress signal from the satellite to a second entity being a rescuer.

18. The method of claim 15, further comprising storing a family member'"'"'s phone number or electronic address as at least one input.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising storing a child'"'"'s mother'"'"'s and a child'"'"'s father'"'"'s phone numbers or electronic addresses as the at least two inputs.

20. A personal locator device comprising:

a housing including a processor being coupled to a bus, a memory being coupled to the bus disposed in the housing;

the housing comprising a wrist watch housing and a band being connected to the wrist watch housing;

a global positioning system comprising a receiver and a transmitter being coupled to the bus;

the memory comprising an identification code;

a mobile communication unit being coupled to the bus comprising a speaker and a microphone;

a user interface comprising at least two inputs disposed on the housing;

a power source; and

the transmitter being adapted to be controlled by the processor to provide a distress signal to a remote entity identifying the personal locator device by the identification code that a user associated with the personal locator device is in distress; and

the mobile communication unit being adapted to be programmable to at least two destinations to initiate communication to at least two individuals with each individual associated with one of the at least two inputs being preset in the memory, the at least two individuals being at least a guardian of a child wearing the watch; and

the personal locator device being adapted to not include a keypad for entering destination information to individuals other than the at least two inputs being preset in the memory so the personal locator device qualifies to be carried in an setting that prohibits mobile telephones.