Child Locator

• US 20120050048A1
• Filed: 08/30/2010
• Published: 03/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Johnston Sandra, Luz E. Latorre
• Original Assignee: Johnston Sandra, Luz E. Latorre
• Inventors: Sandra, Johnston, LaTorre, Luz E.
• Application Number:
  US12/871,627
• Publication Number:
  US 20120050048A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/573.4
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/17 Emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0269 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect the exact location of child or item using a navigation satellite system, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0277 Communication between units on a local network, e.g. Bluetooth, piconet, zigbee, Wireless Personal Area Networks [WPAN]
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0288 Attachment of child unit to child/article
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0294 Display details on parent unit

Abstract

An electronic locator system comprised of at least a beacon, a display assembly and a key. The beacon receives a GPS signal, calculates its position and wirelessly re-broadcasts the encrypted position. The display assembly is only able to receive and decrypt the encrypted position information when in close proximity to the key. The location of the beacon is thereby only available to the person who has both the display assembly and the key. Because both the key and the display assembly must be in close proximity to each other the likelihood of an unauthorized person being able to receive location of the beacon is reduced. Optionally, the display assembly may have alert parameters to notify the user of the display assembly when the beacon has crossed a predetermined boundary.

Claims

1. An electronic locator system comprising a beacon, a display assembly and a key;

Said beacon receives global positioning data and calculates a geographical location of the beacon;

Said beacon encrypts said geographical location and wirelessly broadcasts the geographical location of the beacon;

Said display assembly is capable of receiving the encrypted geographical location;

Said display assembly is capable of decrypting the geographical location of the beacon only when in close proximity to said key;

Said display assembly displays a graphical representation of the location of the beacon;

Said display assembly issues an alert if a predetermined event occurs.

2. An electronic locator systems as described in claim 1 further characterized in that said predetermined event is defined as when the beacon crosses a predetermined geographical boundary.

3. An electronic locator systems as described in claim 1 further characterized in that said beacon can be removably affixed to a human wrist.

4. An electronic locator systems as described in claim 1 further characterized in that said beacon can be integrated into an article of clothing, a wheel chair, a bag, a purse, a backpack or a vehicle.