TRACKING AND CONTROL OF PERSONAL EFFECTS

• US 20140002239A1
• Filed: 06/27/2013
• Published: 01/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Treefrog Developments Incorporated (Otter Products LLC)
• Original Assignee: Treefrog Developments Incorporated (Otter Products LLC)
• Inventors: Rayner, Gary
• Granted Patent: US 9,443,366 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.61
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/18 Devices to prevent theft or loss of purses, luggage or hand carried bags
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/24 Devices for sound-producing, piercing, gas-discharging, or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/62 Comprising means for indicating the status of the lock
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 2209/63 Comprising locating means for detecting the position of the data carrier, i.e. within the vehicle or within a certain distance from the vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00896 specially adapted for particular uses
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2462 Asset location systems combined with EAS inventory, tracking, logistic G06Q10/00; entrance control systems G07C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

One or more location and status monitoring tags, locks, or luggage may be used in conjunction with a monitoring or controlling device or system to indicate the whereabouts and condition of a personal effect.

Claims

1. An apparatus for communicating with at least one external controller to control luggage, the luggage having a securing mechanism to secure the luggage, the apparatus comprising:

one or more data inputs to receive data from corresponding one or more data sources associated with the luggage;

one or more control outputs to output a control signal to corresponding one or more actuators associated with the securing mechanism;

at least one wireless communication module for wireless data communication with the at least one external controller;

a non-transient storage device storing instructions; and

a processor responsive to the instructions to;

receive the data from the one or more data inputs;

generate the control signal for the one or more control outputs; and

generate the wireless data communication for the at least one wireless data communication module based on the data from the one or more data sources and/or the control signal from the one or more control outputs.

2. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the securing mechanism includes a locking mechanism having an unlocked state and a locked state, the unlocked state and the locked state of the locking mechanism being responsive to the control signal from the one or more control outputs.

3. The apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein the luggage includes a lockable compartment, and wherein the locking mechanism is connected with the compartment to secure the compartment in the locked state, and allow access to the compartment in the unlocked state.

4. The apparatus in accordance with claim 2, wherein the luggage includes at least one wheel, and wherein the locking mechanism includes a wheel stop associated with the at least one wheel, the wheel stop locking the at least one wheel in the locked state, and unlocking the at least one wheel in the unlocked state.

5. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the one or more data sources associated with the luggage include a geolocation data source.

6. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the one or more data sources associated with the luggage include one or more environmental sensors.

7. The apparatus in accordance with claim 6, wherein the one or more environmental sensors is selected from the group of environmental sensors that consists of:

a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a moisture sensor, a light sensor, a velocity sensor, a movement sensor, an accelerometer, an air pressure sensor, a camera and/or a microphone.

8. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1, wherein the wireless data communication by the at least one wireless data communication module includes a notification representing a change in state of data from the one or more data sources.

9. The apparatus in accordance with claim 8, wherein the notification includes an alert formatted for the at least one external controller.

10. The apparatus in accordance with claim, 8, wherein the alert is related to a geographical position of the luggage.

12. The system in accordance with claim 10, further comprising:

an application program for running on the at least one external controller, the application program being configured to;

receive the wireless data communication from the at least one wireless communication module of the location and status monitoring subsystem; and

generate an visual and/or audible notification based on the wireless data communication received from the at least one wireless communication module.

16. The system in accordance with claim 12, wherein the application program running on the at least one external controller is further configured to generate and transmit one or more external control signals to control the securing mechanism of the luggage.

17. The system in accordance with claim 16, wherein the luggage includes a compartment, and wherein the securing mechanism includes locking mechanism to lock and/or unlock the compartment based on the one or more external control signals from the application program running on the at least one external controller.

18. The system in accordance with claim 16, wherein the luggage includes at least one wheel, and wherein the securing mechanism includes a locking mechanism to lock and/or unlock the at least one wheel based on the one or more external control signals from the application program running on the at least one external controller.

19. The system in accordance with claim 16, wherein the luggage includes a handle, and wherein the securing mechanism includes a locking mechanism to lock and/or unlock the handle based on the one or more external control signals from the application program running on the at least one external controller.

20. The system in accordance with claim 16, wherein the luggage includes an alarm responsive to the one or more control signals from the application program running on the at least one controller.

11. A system comprising:

a luggage having a securing mechanism to secure the luggage;

a location and status monitoring subsystem connected with the luggage, the location and status monitoring subsystem comprising;

one or more data inputs to receive data from corresponding one or more data sources associated with the luggage;

one or more control outputs to output a control signal to corresponding one or more actuators associated with the securing mechanism;

at least one wireless communication module for wireless data communication with at least one external controller;

a non-transient storage device storing instructions; and

a processor responsive to the instructions to;

receive the data from the one or more data inputs;

generate the control signal for the one or more control outputs; and

generate wireless data communication for the at least one wireless data communication module based on the data from the one or more data sources and/or the control signal from the one or more control outputs.

13. The system in accordance with claim 11, wherein the one or more data sources includes a geolocation data source, wherein the data from the geolocation data source includes geolocation data, and wherein the wireless data communication from the at least one wireless communication module includes the geolocation data.

14. The system in accordance with claim 11, wherein the securing mechanism includes a locking mechanism having an unlocked state and a locked state, the unlocked state and the locked state of the locking mechanism being responsive to the control signal from the one or more control outputs.

15. The system in accordance with claim 11, wherein the tracking and security subsystem includes a housing to house at least part of the one or more data inputs, at least part of the one or more control outputs, the at least one wireless communication module, the non-transient storage device storing instructions, and the processor.

21. A tag for a luggage having a securing mechanism to secure the luggage, the tag comprising:

a locking mechanism for attaching to the securing mechanism of the luggage, the locking mechanism include at least one actuator;

one or more data inputs to receive data from corresponding one or more data sources associated with the luggage;

one or more control outputs to output a control signal to the at least one actuator;

at least one wireless communication module for wireless data communication with at least one external controller;

a non-transient storage device storing instructions; and

a processor responsive to the instructions to;

receive the data from the one or more data inputs;

generate the control signal for the one or more control outputs; and

generate wireless data communication for the at least one wireless data communication module based on the data from the one or more data sources and/or the control signal from the one or more control outputs.

22. The tag in accordance with claim 21, wherein the luggage includes a compartment and the securing mechanism includes an engagement mechanism, and wherein the actuator is configured to lock and/or unlock the engagement mechanism based on the control signal.

23. The tag in accordance with claim 21, wherein the luggage includes at least one wheel and the securing mechanism includes a wheel stop, and wherein the actuator is configured to lock and/or unlock the wheel stop based on the control signal.

24. The tag in accordance with claim 21, wherein the luggage includes a handle and the securing mechanism includes a handle lock, and wherein the actuator is configured to lock and/or unlock the handle lock based on the control signal.

25. The tag in accordance with claim 21, wherein the at least one wireless communication module is configured to receive an external control signal from the at least one external controller, and wherein the actuator of the locking mechanism of the tag is responsive to the external control signal.

26. The tag in accordance with claim 21, wherein the one or more data sources associated with the luggage include one or more environmental sensors.

27. The tag in accordance with claim 26, wherein the one or more environmental sensors is selected from the group of environmental sensors that consists of:

a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, a moisture sensor, a light sensor, a velocity sensor, a movement sensor, an accelerometer, an air pressure sensor, a camera and/or a microphone.

28. The tag in accordance with claim 21, wherein the wireless data communication by the at least one wireless data communication module includes a notification representing a change in state of data from the one or more data sources.

29. The tag in accordance with claim 28, wherein the notification includes an alert formatted for the at least one external controller.

30. The tag in accordance with claim 21, further comprising a housing to house at least part of the one or more data inputs, at least part of the one or more control outputs, the at least one wireless communication module, the non-transient storage device storing instructions, and the processor.

31. An apparatus for communicating with at least one external controller to control luggage, the luggage having a securing mechanism to secure the luggage, the apparatus comprising:

an input device that receives status data from one or more data sources associated with the luggage;

a wireless communication device that communicates the status data with the external controller, and configured to receive an instruction signal from the external controller;

a processing device that receives the status data from the input device, and generates a control signal for controlling the securing mechanism of the luggage, the control signal being based on the status data from the one or more data sources and/or instruction signal from the external controller; and

an output device that outputs the control signal to the securing mechanism to control the securing mechanism of the luggage.