System and Method For Item Self-Assessment As Being Extant or Displaced

• US 20140089243A1
• Filed: 01/07/2013
• Published: 03/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ImagiStar LLC
• Original Assignee: ImagiStar LLC
• Inventors: Oppenheimer, Steven Charles
• Granted Patent: US 9,224,096 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 706/46
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3419 by assessing time
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3438 monitoring of user actions tracking the activity of the user H04L67/535
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/50 Monitoring users, programs or devices to maintain the integrity of platforms, e.g. of processors, firmware or operating systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/88 Detecting or preventing theft or loss
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2101 Auditing as a secondary aspect
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2111 Location-sensitive, e.g. geographical location, GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/022 Processes or apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/041 Constructional details G06K19/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 2007/10504 Data fields affixed to objects or articles
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10009 sensing by radiation using wavelengths larger than 0.1 mm, e.g. radio-waves or microwaves
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10099 the directional field being used for pinpointing the location of the record carrier, e.g. for finding or locating an RFID tag amongst a plurality of RFID tags, each RFID tag being associated with an object, e.g. for physically locating the RFID tagged object in a warehouse
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10326 the antenna being of the very-near field type, e.g. capacitive
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 3/08 Learning methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 5/02 Knowledge representation; Symbolic representation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1436 with motion detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/2428 Tag details
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0275 Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS] tag technology used for parent or child unit, e.g. same transmission technology, magnetic tag, RF tag, RFID
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 : Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 25/0226 : sounding signals per se
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 : specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 : Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 : Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 : Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/33 : for indoor environments, e.g. buildings
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/38 : for collecting sensor information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 : Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication

Abstract

A portable item reporting device (200) is configured to be attached to and in substantial collocation with a portable item (100), or to be integrated into a portable item (100). The device (200) includes environmental sensors (210) to monitor item location, movement, ambient light, sounds, temperature, etc. The device (200) is configured to store usage expectation data (600) indicative of historical and/or expected item usage and environments when the item (100) is in normal use/storage associated with an authorized user (AU). The device (200) monitors current environmental conditions (104) surrounding and pertaining to the item. If the current environment (104) is inconsistent with expected conditions (600), the device (200) assesses that the item (100) is displaced (503.0), meaning either that the item (100) is in abnormal use or abnormal storage, or is under the control of an unauthorized user (UU) who is other than the authorized user (AU). Based on the assessment the device initiates a signal (372) or message (374) to an authorized user (AU) of the item (100), indicating that the item (100) usage/storage is displaced (503.0) or otherwise anomalous (503.2).

Claims

1. A method for a device (200) to self-assess a state of a portable item (100) as being one of extant and displaced, the device (200) configured for use when the device (200) is in substantial and sustained collocation with the portable item (100), the method comprising:

storing in a memory (206) of the device (200) at least one item usage expectation (600) which is;

associated with a detection context (123);

descriptive of an environmental phenomena which an environmental sensor (210) of the device (200) is configured to detect;

indicative of a first possible state (503) of the portable item (100) as being extant (503.1), wherein the portable item (100) is subject to an expected environment (144) which is associated with the detection context (123); and

indicative of a second state (503) of the portable item (100) as being displaced (503.0), wherein the portable item (100) is subject to another environment, said another environment being other than the expected environment (144) which is associated with the detection context (123);

obtaining, via the environmental sensor (210), usage data (700.U) for the portable item (100), wherein the usage data (700.U) is indicative of a substantially current environment of the portable item (100);

comparing via a processor (204) of the device (200) the usage data (700.U) with the at least one item usage expectation (600); and

assessing by the processor (204), via the comparing, whether the portable item (100) is extant (503.1) or displaced (503.0).

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the detection context (123) comprises a time frame (105).

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the expected environment (144) comprises an expected location (144.L) where the portable item (100) is expected to be found during the time frame (105).

4. The method of claim 3, wherein:

being extant (503.1) comprises the portable item (100) being at or within the expected location (144.L) during the time frame (105); and

being displaced (503.0) comprises the item (100) being other than within the expected location (144.L) during the time frame (105).

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the detection context (123) comprises:

identity-related sensed data (154) indicative of an authorized user of the portable item (100); and

a time frame (105) when the portable item (100) is expected to be associated with the authorized user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the detection context (123) comprises:

an expected location (144.L); and

a time frame (105) when the portable item (100) is expected to be found at or within the expected location (144.L).

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

being extant (503.1) comprises the portable item (100) having an expected personal motion status (139); and

being displaced (503.0) comprises the portable item (100) having another personal motion status (139) which is other than the expected personal motion status (139).

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

being extant comprises the portable item (100) being one of possessed by an authorized user and most recently having been possessed by the authorized user; and

being displaced comprises the portable item (100) being one of possessed by an unauthorized user and most recently having been possessed by the unauthorized user.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one item usage expectation (600) for the expected environment (144) comprises of at least one of:

(a) an expected location (144.L);

(b) a personal motion status (139);

(c) an on-person/off-person status (138); and

(d) identity-related sensed data (154) indicative of at least one of;

(i) an authorized user associated with the portable item (100) and (ii) usage of the portable item (100) by the authorized user.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein:

the at least one usage expectation (600) for the expected environment (144) comprises at least two of elements (a), (b), (c) and (d), and;

the assessing by the processor (204), via the comparison, of whether the item (100) is extant (503.1) or displaced (503.0) comprises assessing at least one subsidiary state (503) of being displaced (503.0) from among a plurality of subsidiary states (503);

wherein said plurality comprises at least two of a lost state (503.0.1), a misplaced state (503.0.2), a misappropriated state (503.0.3), a stolen state (503.0.4), and a state of wandering (503.0.5).

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the environmental phenomena comprises at least one of:

(a) a location of the portable item (100);

(b) a personal motion of the portable item (100);

(c) a light intensity impinging on the portable item (100);

(d) a sound intensity impinging on the portable item (100);

(e) an identifiable image property of an environment surrounding the portable item (100);

(f) an identifiable sound property of the environment surrounding the portable item (100);

(g) a temperature of the environment surrounding the portable item (100);

(h) a moisture or humidity of the environment surrounding the portable item (100);

(i) an electromagnetic energy of the environment surrounding the portable item (100);

(j) a chemical in the environment surrounding the portable item (100); and

(k) a physiological property of a person in proximity to the portable item (100).

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the expected environment (144) comprises two or more of elements (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), (h), (i), (j) and (k);

and;

the assessing by the processor (204), via the comparison, of whether the item (100) is extant (503.1) or displaced (503.0) comprises assessing at least one subsidiary state (503) of being displaced (503.0) from among a plurality of subsidiary states (503);

wherein said plurality comprises at least two of a lost state (503.0.1), a misplaced state (503.0.2), a misappropriated state (503.0.3), a stolen (503.0.4) state, and a wandering (503.0.5) state.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one usage expectation (600) for the expected environment (144) comprises an expected internal status (501.Act) of the item (100).

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the assessing further comprises:

distinguishing, via the processor (204) a plurality of mutually exclusive possible displaced states (503.0) of the portable item (100), said possible displaced states (503.0) comprising;

a lost state (503.0.1);

a misplaced state (503.0.2); and

a wandering state (503.0.5).

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising distinguishing via the processor (204) among the states (503) of the portable item (100) as being extant (503.1), the lost state (503.0.1), the misplaced state (503.0.2), or the wandering state (503.0.5) by:

determining based on data (700) from a location sensor (210.L) of the device (200) and a clock/calendar/timer (208) of the device (200), whether the portable item (100) has a status (501) of being absent without leave (128), wherein the portable item (100) is other than present at an expected home base location (142) associated with the detection context (123), during a time range (105) also associated with the detection context (123);

determining, based on data (700) from at least one sensor (210) of the portable item (100) whether the item (100) has one of a status (501) of being on-person (138.OnP) and off-person (138.OffP);

upon a determination that the portable item (100) has a status (501) of being off-person (138.OffP), determining a motion status (139) wherein;

if the portable item (100) has the status (501) of being off-person (138.OffP) for one of less than and equal to an allowed time limit (133), then the portable item (100) has a motion status (139) of being stationary (139.StaT); and

if the portable item (100) has the status (501) of being off-person (138.OffP) for greater than the allowed time limit (133), then the portable item (100) has a motion status (139) of being stagnant (139.StG); and

based on the determination of the AWOL status (128), the on-person/off-person status (138), and the motion status (139), assessing whether the portable item (100) is in a state (503) of being extant (503.1), lost (503.0.1), misplaced (503.0.2), or wandering (503.0.5).

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the assessing further comprises:

distinguishing, via the processor (204), a plurality of additional mutually exclusive possible displaced states (503) of the portable item (100), said additional mutually exclusive possible displaced states (503) comprising one of;

a misappropriated state (503.0.3); and

a stolen state (503.0.4);

wherein;

the lost state (503.0.1), the misplaced state (503.0.2), and the wandering state (503.0.5) reflect the portable item (100) being associated with an authorized user of the portable item (100); and

the misappropriated state (503.0.3) and the stolen state (503.0.4) reflect the portable item (100) being associated with a person who is other than the authorized user.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the assessing further comprises:

distinguishing via the processor (204), a plurality of possible displaced states (503.0) of the portable item (100), said possible displaced states (503.0) comprising at least one of;

a lost state (503.0.1);

a misplaced state (503.0.2);

a misappropriated state (503.0.3);

a stolen state (503.0.4); and

a wandering state (503.0.5).

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the distinguishing comprises:

comparing, via the processor (204) of the device (200) the usage data (700.U) with a set of usage expectations (600) that pertain to a set of expected item statuses (501) of the portable item (100), the set of expected item statuses (501) comprising at least two of;

a absent without leave status (128);

a personal motion status (139);

an expected location status (141); and

a set of identity-related sensed data (154) indicative of an authorized user of the item (100).

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the assessing further comprises:

distinguishing, via the processor (204), a state (503) of being borrowed (503.1.2), the borrowed state (503.1.2) being a subsidiary state of the extant state (503.1), wherein said borrowed state (503.1.2) is characterized by the portable item (100) being possessed by a secondary authorized user who is other than a primary authorized user.

20. A non-transitory, physical storage medium (206.S.F, 206.S.R, 206.R) configured for a transfer of processor-executable code contained thereon to a processor-based device (200), the non-transitory, physical storage medium (206.S.F, 206.S.R, 206.R) comprising processor-executable code for the processor-based device (200) to electronically self-assess a state (503) of a portable item (100), said processor-executable code to be executed by the processor-based device (200) when the processor-based device (200) is in substantial collocation with the portable item (100), the processor-executable code comprising:

first executable code to store in a memory (206) of the device (200) at least one item usage expectation (600) which is;

associated with a detection context (123);

descriptive of an environmental phenomena which an environmental sensor (210) of the device (200) is configured to detect;

indicative of a first possible state (503) of the portable item (100) as being extant (503.1), wherein the portable item (100) is subject to an expected environment (144) which is associated with the detection context (123); and

indicative of a second state (503) of the portable item (100) as being displaced (503.0), wherein the portable item (100) is subject to another environment, said another environment being other than the expected environment (144) which is associated with the detection context (123);

second executable code to obtain, via the environmental sensor (210), usage data (700.U) for the portable item (100), wherein the usage data (700.U) is indicative of a substantially current environment of the portable item (100);

third executable code to compare, via a processor (204) of the device (200), the usage data (700.U) with the at least one item usage expectation (600); and

fourth executable code to assess, by the processor (204), via the comparing, whether the portable item (100) is extant (503.1) or displaced (503.0).

21. A device (200) configured to be operated while substantially collocated with a portable item (100), and configured to self-assess a state (503) of the portable item (100), comprising:

a processor (204);

a memory (206); and

an environmental sensor (210);

wherein;

the memory (206) is configured to store at least one item usage expectation (600) which is;

associated with a detection context (123);

descriptive of an environmental phenomena which the environmental sensor (210) is configured to detect;

indicative of a first possible state of the portable item (100) as being extant (503.1), wherein the portable item (100) is subject to an expected environment (144) which is associated with the detection context (123); and

indicative of a second possible state (503) of the portable item (100) as being displaced (503.0), wherein the item (100) is other than subject to the expected environment (144) which is associated with the detection context (123);

the environmental sensor (200) is configured to obtain usage data (700.U) for the portable item (100), wherein the usage data (700.U) is indicative of a substantially current environment (104) of the portable item (100);

the processor (204) is configured to perform a comparison of the usage data (700.U) with the at least one item usage expectation (600); and

the processor (204) is configured to assess, via the comparison, whether the item (100) is one of extant (503.1) or displaced (503.0).

22. The device (200) of claim 21, wherein the device (200) is configured to determine the at least one usage expectation (600) based on an historical usage of the portable item (100) by an authorized user of the portable item (100), the historical usage being determined based on sensor data (700) obtained by the environmental sensor (210).

23. The device of (200) claim 21, wherein the device (200) is configured to receive the at least one usage expectation (600) from a user interface (290, 665, 668, 670, 900, 1000, 1020, 1030, 1060, 1070, 1080, 1090, 1120, 1140, 1708, 1900).

24. The device (200) of claim 21, wherein:

the device (200) is configured to be at least one of;

coupled to an item (100.Act) which has at least one of an internal item sensor and an internal item processor; and

integrated into the item (100.Act) which has at least one of the internal item sensor and the internal item processor; and

the processor (204) of the device (200) is configured to perform the self-assessment that the portable item (100.Act) is extant (503.1) or displaced (503.0) based on at least one of;

a comparison of an internal operational status (501.Act) of the portable item (100.Act) with the at least one item usage expectation (600); and

a combination of;

the comparison of the internal operational status (501.Act) with the at least one usage expectation (600); and

the comparison of the usage data (700.U) with the at least one item usage expectation (600).

25. The device (200) of claim 24, wherein the processor is (204) configured to alter an internal item state (503.Act) associated with the internal operational status (501.Act) of the portable item (100.Act) in response to the self-assessment that the portable item (100.Act) is displaced (503.0).

26. The device (200) of claim 21, further comprising a primary power source (216.S) and a secondary power source (216.E), both of which are structurally integrated into the device, wherein:

the secondary power source (216.E) is configured to sustain essential power in the event the primary power source (216.S) is at least one of failed and is disabled.

27. The device (200) of claim 21, further comprising:

a coupling (202) configured to sustain the substantial collocation of the device (200) and the portable item (100); and

a link integrity detector (224) configured to monitor an integrity of the coupling (202).

28. A method to determine a possibility that a second portable item among a geographically proximate team (1400) of portable items (100.IT) is displaced (503.0), the method to be performed by a processor (204) and a communications element (220, 240) associated with a first portable item (100.IT) of the team, the method comprising:

monitoring at the communications element (220, 240) a substantially periodic, repetitive, or sustained status signal (1405) which is expected from the second portable item (100.IT);

determining via the processor (204) that the status signal (1405) is anomalous; and

upon the determination, signaling a user of the geographically proximate team (1400) of portable items (100.IT) that the second portable item may be displaced (503.0).

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the determining comprises at least one of:

identifying a time delay in receiving the status signal (1405);

identifying a received signal level of the status signal (1405) which is lower than an expected received signal level;

or

identifying a failure to receive the status signal (1405).

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the determining comprises a determination that the second portable item (100.IT) is at a second location (104.L) removed a first location (104.L) of the first portable item (100.IT) by more than a designated threshold distance.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein the determining comprises a determination that a first state of motion (104.M) of the first portable item (100.IT) is different from a second state of motion (104.M) of the second portable item (100.IT) by more than a designated motion differential threshold.

32. The method of claim 28, wherein the determining comprises a determination that the data content of the status signal (1405) indicates an anomalous internal state (503.Act) of the second portable item (100.IT).

33. A personal safety system (1800), comprising:

a personal utility portable item (100) configured for portable use by an individual for the convenience, comfort, or safety of the individual;

a first sensor (210) integrated into said personal utility portable item, and configured to obtain first environmental data to identify if a user is any one of holding, carrying, in substantial contact with, being held within, being contained within, being supported by, or in substantial proximity to said personal utility portable item (100);

a second sensor (210) integrated into said personal utility portable item, and configured to obtain second environmental data to determine a possible presence of an environmental condition which poses an environmental risk to a user in proximity to the personal safety system (1800);

a processor (204) integrated into said personal utility portable item (100), and configured to determine based on the first environmental data and the second environmental data that the user who is holding, carrying, in substantial contact with, being held within, being contained within, being supported by, or in substantial proximity to said personal utility portable item (100) is exposed to the environmental risk; and

a signaling element (230) configured to emit an alert signal in response to said determination.

34. The personal safety system (1800) of claim 33, wherein:

the personal utility portable item comprises a child safety seat (100.H.CSS); and

the first sensor (210.BU, 210.SP) comprises a sensor configured to identify a presence of a child in the seat.

35. The personal safety system (1800) of claim 33, wherein the second sensor (210) comprises:

a temperature sensor (210.T) configured to identify a crossing of a temperature threshold at which a health of the child is placed at risk.

36. The personal safety system (1800) of claim 33, wherein the second sensor (210) comprises:

a motion sensor (210.M) configured to identify, in conjunction with a timer (208) of the personal safety system (1800), a lack of motion for greater than a threshold period of time indicative of a possibility that the child has been left unattended in the child safety seat (100.H.CSS).

37. The personal safety system of claim 33, wherein the second sensor (210) comprises:

a wind sensor (210.WV-P) configured to identify a velocity of wind indicative of a possibility that the child safety seat (100.H.CSS) is on the roof, trunk, or other exterior surface of a moving vehicle.

38. A personal transport container (1700) configured to contain a portable item (100), comprising:

a processor (204);

a memory (206); and

one or more radio frequency query systems (210.RIFD, 240);

wherein;

the memory (206) is configured to store an electronic signature which is uniquely associated with a portable item (100); and

the container is configured to detect via the radio frequency query system (210.RFID, 240) whether the electronic signature uniquely associated with the portable item (100) is received from the portable item (100), said identifying electronic signature being indicative of a substantial proximity of the portable item (100) to the personal transport container (1700); and

the processor (204) is configured to determine based on a respective reception or lack of reception of the electronic signature that the portable item (100) respectively is or is not in substantial proximity to the personal transport container (1700).

39. The personal transport container (1700) of claim 38, wherein the one or more radio frequency systems (201.RFID, 240) comprises an RFID interrogator (210.RFID) configured to query an RFID tag (1409) coupled to the portable item (100).

40. The personal transport container (1700) of claim 38, wherein the one or more radio frequency systems (201.RFID, 240) comprises an a remote communications transceiver (240) configured to query a portable item reporting device (200) coupled to the portable item (100).

41. The personal transport container (1700) of claim 38, further comprising:

a shielding element (1706) configured to shield the personal transport container (1700) from radio frequency signals which are external to said personal transport container (1700), wherein;

the radio frequency query system (210.RFID, 240) can only read radio frequency signals from personal items (100) contained within an interior (1702) of the personal transport container (1700); and

a determination that the personal item (100) is in substantial proximity to the personal transport container is indicative of the portable item (100) being contained within the interior (1702) of the personal transport container (1700).

42. The personal transport container (1700) of claim 38, further comprising:

an antenna (240.RFID) of the radio frequency query system (210.RFID, 240) configured so that the radio frequency query system (210.RFID, 240) is substantially limited to receiving only those radio frequency signals which are generated interior (1702) to the personal transport container (1700), wherein a determination that the portable item (100) is in substantial proximity to the personal transport container (1700) is indicative of the portable item (100) being contained within the interior (1702) of the personal transport container (1700).

43. The personal transport container (1700) of claim 38, wherein the personal transport container (1700) is configured to perform a scan of the interior (1702) of the personal transport container (1700), and to store in the memory (206) a first list of portable items (100) which have been stored within.

44. The personal transport container (1700) of claim 43, wherein the personal transport container (1700) is further configured:

to perform a scan of the interior (1702) of the personal transport container (1700);

to determine a current second list of portable items (100) which are currently stored within;

to compare the current second list with the first list which is stored in memory (204); and

based on the comparing, prepare a third list of portable items (100) which should be stored within but are not, and a fourth list of portable items (100) which are stored within but are not expected to be stored within.

45. A portable item (100) configured with a processor (204), a light emitting element (1864), and a light detecting element (210.Opt);

said light emitting element (1864) and said light detecting element (210.Opt) so configured and arranged such that the light detecting element (210.Opt) does not directly receive light (1866) transmitted from the light emitting element (1864);

said light emitting element (1864) and said light detecting element (210.Opt) further configured and arranged such that the light detecting element (210.Opt) may received reflected light (1868) resulting from a reflection by a light reflecting element (1870) of light (1866) transmitted by the light emitting element (1864);

the processor (204) further configured to determine that when the light detecting element (210.Opt) receives a reflected light (1868) of the light (1866) transmitted by the light emitting element (1864), the portable item (100) is in proximity to the light reflecting element (1870).

46. The portable item (100) of claim 45, wherein an overall arrangement of the portable item (100), the light emitting element (1864), and the light detecting element (210.Opt) are such that the reception by the light detecting element (210.Opt) of reflected light (1868) originating from the light emitting element (1864) is indicative of the portable item (100) being covered by the light reflecting element (1870).