PERSONAL LOCATOR DEVICE

• US 20140323079A1
• Filed: 04/30/2013
• Published: 10/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Paul S. Paolini
• Original Assignee: Paul S. Paolini
• Inventors: Paolini, Paul S.
• Application Number:
  US13/874,338
• Publication Number:
  US 20140323079A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/404.2
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0261 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect trespassing over a fixed physical boundary, e.g. the end of a garden
• 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 21/0283 via a telephone network, e.g. cellular GSM
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/043 detecting an emergency event, e.g. a fall
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0446 worn on the body to detect changes of posture, e.g. a fall, inclination, acceleration, gait
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• 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 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]

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 (GPS) receiver, a GSM module and a G force sensor module. The transmitter is adapted to be controlled by the processor to provide a distress signal to a remote entity identifying the personal locator device. The mobile communication unit is adapted to be programmable to initiate communication to at least two individuals and report its location. The personal locator device is configured to raise an alert based data from on one or more of the GPS receiver, G force sensor and on activation of a SOS button provided on the housing of the personal locator device.

Claims

1. 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.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting the distress signal to a satellite identifying the personal locator device by the identification code.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising transmitting the distress signal from the satellite to a second entity being a rescuer.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing a family member'"'"'s phone number or electronic address as at least one input.

5. The method of claim 1, 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.

6. 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 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.

7. The personal locator device of claim 6, wherein, the at least two individuals being at least a guardian of a child wearing the watch.

8. A method of locating individuals in distress comprising:

providing a personal locator device comprising a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, a global system for mobile (GSM) module, a g force sensor module and a panic button disposed on an exterior part of a housing enclosing the personal locator device, said GPS receiver, said GSM module, said g force sensor module and said panic button communicatively coupled to at least one processor;

communicatively coupling said personal locator device with a platform;

deactivating said GPS receiver and said GSM module;

creating an alert event based on activation of said panic button, said alert event comprising;

reactivating said GSM module and GPS receiver;

sending an alert to at least one individual via said platform;

initiating communication to said at least one individual using a predefined electronic address of said individual; and

providing location information to said platform by said GPS receiver, wherein said at least one individual is provided with said location information of said personal locator device.

9. A method of locating individuals in distress comprising:

providing a personal locator device comprising a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, a global system for mobile (GSM) module, a g force sensor module and a panic button disposed on an exterior part of a housing enclosing the personal locator device, said GPS receiver, said GSM module, said g force sensor module and panic button communicatively coupled to at least one processor;

communicatively coupling said personal locator device with a platform;

deactivating said GPS receiver;

creating an alert event on one of;

detecting one of an abnormal and a sudden change in said g force sensor readings;

detecting an activation of said panic button;

wherein said alert event comprises;

reactivating said GPS receiver;

sending an alert to at least one individual via said platform;

initiating communication to said at least one individual using a predefined electronic address of said individual; and

providing location information to said platform by said GPS receiver, wherein said at least one individual is provided with said location information of said personal locator device.

10. A method of locating individuals in distress comprising:

providing a personal locator device comprising a global positioning system (GPS) receiver, a global system for mobile (GSM) module, a g force sensor module and a panic button disposed on an exterior part of a housing enclosing the personal locator device, said GPS receiver, said GSM module, said g force sensor module and panic button communicatively coupled to at least one processor;

communicatively coupling said personal locator device with a platform;

creating an alert event on one of;

detecting the location of said personal locator device based on location information provided by said GPS receiver, wherein said detected location is outside a predefined bounded perimeter;

detecting one of an abnormal and a sudden change in said g force sensor readings;

detecting an activation of said panic button;

wherein said alert event comprises;

sending an alert to at least one individual via said platform;

initiating communication to said at least one individual using a predefined electronic address of said individual;

providing location information to said platform by said GPS receiver, wherein said at least one individual is provided with said location information of said personal locator device.