WIRELESS PAIRING AND TRACKING SYSTEM FOR LOCATING LOST ITEMS

• US 20150296477A1
• Filed: 01/31/2013
• Published: 10/15/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Salutica Allied Solutions Sdn. Bhd.
• Original Assignee: Salutica Allied Solutions Sdn. Bhd.
• Inventors: Pan, Yoon Shing, Chong, Kean Hoo, Tan, Wee Yeoh, Ho, Chang Tih
• Granted Patent: US 9,485,613 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0247 System arrangements wherein the alarm criteria uses signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0258 System arrangements wherein both parent and child units can emit and receive
• 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: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• 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

The present invention relates to a wireless pairing and tracking system for lost item searching, the system includes: a) an observing device (NODE Owner); b) at least one associating identifier device (NODE) with wireless or Radio Frequency (RF) link; c) at least one participating observing device; and d) a host apparatus; wherein the observing device (NODE Owner) and the participating observing device are implemented with suitable application software (NODE-APP) in association with the host apparatus; and wherein any lost identifier devices (LOST-NODE) is discovered by any participating observing device whenever the participating observing device comes near within Radio Frequency (RF) range of the LOST NODE.

Claims

1. A wireless pairing and/or tracking system (10) for lost item searching, the system includes:

a) an observing device (NODE Owner) (20);

b) at least one associating identifier device (NODE) (30) with wireless or Radio Frequency (RF) link;

c) at least one participating observing device (70); and

d) a host apparatus;

wherein the observing device (NODE Owner) (20) and the participating observing device (70) are implemented with suitable application software (NODE-APP) in association with the host apparatus; and

wherein any lost identifier devices (LOST-NODE) (50) is discovered by any participating observing device (70) whenever the participating observing device (70) comes near within Radio Frequency (RF) range (60) of the LOST NODE (50).

2. The wireless pairing and/or tracking system (10) claimed in claim 1, wherein the wireless pairing and/or tracking system (10) involves using the observing device (NODE Owner) (20) and participating observing device (70) application software (NODE-APP), which are in communication with the associating identifier devices (NODE) (30) and/or any lost identifier devices (LOST-NODE) (50) via the host apparatus.

3. The wireless pairing and/or tracking system (10) claimed in claim 2, wherein the host apparatus includes any wireless network communication devices or database server (NODE-SERVER) (40) which is accessible through interne and/or wireless or Radio Frequency (RF) link.

4. The wireless pairing and/or tracking system (10) claimed in claim 1, wherein the identifier device (NODE) (30) and/or any lost identifier devices (LOST-NODE) (50) is paired with the observing device (NODE Owner) (20) and/or participating observing devices (70) via wireless or Radio Frequency (RF) connection.

5. The wireless pairing and/or tracking system (10) claimed in claim 4, wherein the wireless or Radio Frequency (RF) connection is a Bluetooth connection.

6. The wireless pairing and/or tracking system (10) claimed in claim 4, wherein an identity of identifier device (NODE-ID) is stored in the observing device (NODE Owner) (20) via the application software (NODE-APP) after the identifier device (NODE) (30) is paired with the observing device (NODE Owner) (20).

7. The wireless pairing and/or tracking system (10) claimed in claim 1, wherein the observing device (NODE Owner) (20) and participating observing device (70) provide infrastructure for the system such as power supply and a user interface.

8. The wireless pairing and/or tracking system (10) claimed in claim 7, wherein the wherein the power supply is a battery or any other portable current source powers.

9. The wireless pairing and/or tracking system (10) claimed in claim 7, wherein the user interface of the observing device (20, 70) includes visual monitor or display, audible signal, or vibration signal.

10. The wireless pairing and/or tracking system (10) claimed in claim 1, wherein the observing device (NODE Owner) (20) and participating observing device (70) includes a Bluetooth-enabled cellular or mobile phone, smart phone, laptop, tablet computer or any communication devices and the like.

11. The wireless pairing and/or tracking system (10) claimed in claim 1, wherein the identifier devices (NODE) (30) includes a tag equipped with wireless or Radio Frequency (RF) connection device.

12. The wireless pairing and/or tracking system (10) claimed in claim 11, wherein the wireless or Radio Frequency (RF) connection device includes Bluetooth and/or any other suitable devices which are capable of communicating with the observing device (NODE Owner) (20) and/or participating observing device (70).

13. The wireless pairing and/or tracking system (10) claimed in claim 1, wherein the identifier device (NODE) (30) is configured or attached to any object, item or personal belonging that is to be monitored in the event that it has gone missing.

14. The wireless pairing and/or tracking system (10) claimed in claim 13, wherein the identifier device (NODE) (30) is to be carried, embedded, configured or attached to any object, item or personal belonging by means of string tied, wrist wrap, put-in pocket, stick-on, embedded therein, etc.

15. The wireless pairing and/or tracking system (10) claimed in claim 1, wherein the identifier device (NODE) (30) is provided with a Radio Frequency antenna (30a) for transmitting and receiving RF signal.

16. The wireless pairing and/or tracking system (10) claimed in claim 15, wherein the identifier device (NODE) (30) is further provided with a Radio Frequency (RF) chip (30b) with specific RF protocol stacks, such as Bluetooth, including RF transmitter and receiver chips.

17. The wireless pairing and/or tracking system (10) claimed in claim 16, wherein the identifier device (NODE) (30) further provided with a processor (30c) to hold application software.

18. The wireless pairing and/or tracking system (10) claimed in claims 16 to 17, the Radio Frequency (RF) chip (30b) and the processor (30c) can be combined into one chip using System on Chip Technology.

19. The wireless pairing and/or tracking system (10) claimed in claim 18, wherein the identifier device (NODE) (30) is further provided with a power source.

20. The wireless pairing and/or tracking system (10) claimed in claim 19, wherein the power source is a battery (30d) or any other portable current source powers or solar powers.

21. The wireless pairing and/or tracking system (10) claimed in claim 20, wherein the identifier device (NODE) (30) is further provided with power management circuitries (30e) to manage voltage levels and current consumption of the identifier device (NODE) (30).

22. The wireless pairing and/or tracking system (10) claimed in claim 21, wherein the identifier device (NODE) (30) is further provided with a tilt sensor and/or an accelerometer (300 for detecting the movement of the identifier device (NODE) (30).

23. The wireless pairing and/or tracking system (10) claimed in claim 22, wherein the identifier device (NODE) (30) is further provided with a Real Time Clock chip (30g) which serves to provide current date and time to the processor (30c).

24. The wireless pairing and/or tracking system (10) claimed in claims 17 and 23, wherein the processor (30c) serves to detect the movements of the identifier device (NODE) (30) and record the date and time of such instance.

25. The wireless pairing and/or tracking system (10) claimed in claims 22 and 24, wherein the processor (30c) in the identifier device (NODE) (30) starts its timer and continuously recording elapsed time in the event that Real Time Clock is not provided and the identifier device (NODE) (30) is stopped from moving.

26. The wireless pairing and/or tracking system (10) claimed in claim 25, wherein the recorded elapsed time indicates time interval of the identifier device (NODE) (30) has been stopped from being moved, and defined as “

Last Being Moved Time Interval”

.

27. The wireless pairing and/or tracking system (10) claimed in claim 25, wherein the processor (30c) in the identifier device (NODE) (30) stops the timer and reset the elapsed time to zero in the event that the identifier device (NODE) (30) is being moved again.

28. The wireless pairing and/or tracking system (10) claimed in claim 27, wherein the elapsed time remains zero until the identifier device (NODE) (30) is stopped from being moved again for certain time interval, which the processor (30c) will start the time elapsed recording steps over again.

29. The wireless pairing and/or tracking system (10) claimed in claim 1, wherein the observing device (NODE Owner) (20) is provided with a Global Positioning System (GPS) chip (20a) which is used in combination with a GPS antenna (20d) to detect the observing device'"'"'s geographical coordinates.

30. The wireless pairing and/or tracking system (10) claimed in claim 29, wherein the observing device (NODE Owner) (20) is further provided with a Wi-Fi chip (20b) in combination with a Wi-Fi antenna (20e) to detect the observing device'"'"'s geographical coordinates and to connect the observing device (NODE Owner) (20) to the internet.

31. The wireless pairing and/or tracking system (10) claimed in claim 30, wherein the observing device (NODE Owner) (20) is further provided with a 3G chip (20c) in combination with a 3G antenna (200 to detect the observing device'"'"'s geographical coordinates and to connect the observing device (20) to the internet.

32. The wireless pairing and/or tracking system (10) claimed in claim 31, wherein the observing device (NODE Owner) (20) is further provided with a Radio Frequency antenna (20i) for transmitting and receiving RF signals.

33. The wireless pairing and/or tracking system (10) claimed in claim 32, wherein the observing device (NODE Owner) (20) is further provided with a Radio Frequency (RF) chip (20g) with specific RF protocol stacks, such as Bluetooth, including RF transmitter and receiver chips.

34. The wireless pairing and/or tracking system (10) claimed in claim 33, wherein the observing device (NODE Owner) (20) further provided with a processor (20h) to run the application software (NODE-APP).

35. The wireless pairing and/or tracking system (10) claimed in claim 1, wherein the identifier device (NODE) (30) is entered into “

Broadcasting Mode”

in the event that the Radio Frequency (RF) link between the identifier device (NODE) (30) and the observing device (NODE Owner) (20) is disconnected.

36. The wireless pairing and/or tracking system (10) claimed in claim 35, wherein a user can activate a “

search for me”

or “

Web Search Me”

function in the observing device (NODE Owner) (20) via application software (NODE-APP).

37. The wireless pairing and/or tracking system (10) claimed in claim 36, wherein the application software (NODE-APP) of the observing device (NODE Owner) (20) sends identity of the identifier device (NODE-ID) to the database server (NODE-SERVER) (40) to register the NODE-ID as a “

LOST NODE”

as soon as the “

Search for Me”

or “

Web Search Me”

function is activated.

38. The wireless pairing and/or tracking system (10) claimed in claim 37, wherein the application software (NODE-APP) of participating observing devices (70) is connected to the database server (NODE-SERVER) (40) to pull all the “

LOST NODE”

data periodically.

39. The wireless pairing and/or tracking system (10) claimed in claim 38, wherein the “

LOST NODE”

data is stored into NODE-APP-LOST-NODE-ID database of the participating observing devices (70), and the participating observing devices (70) will have this latest LOST NODE'"'"'s ID stored.

40. The wireless pairing and/or tracking system (10) claimed in claims 39, wherein the application software (NODE-APP) is either working as an active software application in the participating observing devices (70) or running at the background of the participating observing devices (70).

41. The wireless pairing and/or tracking system (10) claimed in claim 40, wherein the application software (NODE-APP) is implemented by pre-installing in the observing devices (20, 70) by the manufacturer, or to be downloaded and/or installed by end users.

42. The wireless pairing and/or tracking system (10) claimed in claim 41, wherein the application software (NODE-APP) in any of the participating observing devices (70) scans its environment and to check any Broadcasting NODE (30) or LOST NODE (50) within the Radio Frequency (RF) range (60).

43. The wireless pairing and/or tracking system (10) claimed in claim 42, wherein the participating observing devices (70) will connect to the LOST NODE (50) and retrieve the LOST NODE'"'"'s ID in the event that the participating observing devices (70) detected the Broadcasting NODE (30) and/or LOST NODE (50).

44. The wireless pairing and/or tracking system (10) claimed in claim 43, wherein the participating observing devices (70) retrieve the LOST NODE'"'"'s ID and compare within the NODE-APP-LOST-NODE-ID database.

45. The wireless pairing and/or tracking system (10) claimed in claim 44, wherein the participating observing devices (70) is come to into Radio Frequency (RF) range (60) of the LOST NODE (50) if there is a match between the NODE'"'"'s ID and the NODE-APP-LOST-NODE-ID database.

46. The wireless pairing and/or tracking system (10) claimed in claim 42, wherein the Broadcasting NODE (30) and/or LOST NODE (50) can also be detected, where after retrieving the LOST NODE'"'"'s ID, the NODE-APP of the participating observing device (70) can send the LOST NODE'"'"'s ID to the NODE-SERVER (40) and to allow the NODE-SERVER (40) to perform a search in its LOST NODE database.

47. The wireless pairing and/or tracking system (10) claimed in claim 46, wherein the NODE-SERVER (40) notifies the NODE-APP of the participating observing device (70) that it comes into RF range of the LOST NODE (50) if there is a match of LOST NODE'"'"'s ID in the LOST NODE database.

48. The wireless pairing and/or tracking system (10) claimed in claims 45 and 47, wherein the application software (NODE-APP) activates participating observing device'"'"'s (70) Mobile Position/Location Determination function to obtain the geographical coordinates.

49. The wireless pairing and/or tracking system (10) claimed in claim 48, wherein the geographical coordinates information with Received Signal Strength Indication (RSSI) value between the LOST NODE (50) found and the participating observing devices (70) is updated to the database server (NODE-SERVER) (40).

50. The wireless pairing and/or tracking system (10) claimed in claim 49, wherein latest LOST NODE (50) movement date and time (or “

Last Being Moved Time Interval”

) is also updated to the database server (NODE-SERVER) (40).

51. The wireless pairing and/or tracking system (10) claimed in claim 50, wherein the “

Last Being Moved Time Interval”

is retrieved by participating observing device (70) and updated to the database server (NODE-SERVER) (40) in the event that Real Time Clock is not provided in the system.

52. The wireless pairing and/or tracking system (10) claimed in claim 51, wherein the “

Last Being Moved Time Interval”

is the total time elapsed since the last movement of the LOST NODE (50).

53. The wireless pairing and/or tracking system (10) claimed in claim 50, wherein the NODE-SERVER (40) immediately push all information to the observing device (NODE Owner) (20) which reported the LOST NODE (50) via “

Search for Me”

or “

Web Search Me”

activation.

54. The wireless pairing and/or tracking system (10) claimed in claim 53, wherein the application software (NODE-APP) of the observing device (NODE Owner) (20) will alert the user and show the geographical coordinates information which has been stored in the database server (NODE-SERVER) (40), by either pulled from or pushed by the NODE-SERVER (40).

55. The wireless pairing and/or tracking system (10) claimed in claim 54, wherein the application software (NODE-APP) of the observing device (NODE Owner) (20) will only pull the geographical coordinates with highest RSSI value, or the NODE-SERVER (40) will only push the geographical coordinates with highest RSSI value to the observing device (NODE Owner) (20), should more than one participating observing devices (70) detect the LOST NODE (50).

56. The wireless pairing and/or tracking system (10) claimed in claim 55, wherein the user has the option to send his/her contact information to the database server (NODE-SERVER) (40).

57. The wireless pairing and/or tracking system (10) claimed in claim 56, wherein the contact information will either be pulled by the participating observing device'"'"'s (70) NODE-APP or pushed by NODE-SERVER (40) to the participating observing device'"'"'s (70) NODE-APP.

58. The wireless pairing and/or tracking system (10) claimed in claim 57, wherein the application software (NODE-APP) of the participating observing devices (70) will then alert or inform the participant of the contact information of the user.

59. The wireless pairing and/or tracking system (10) claimed in claim 58, wherein the application software (NODE-APP) will alert the user to deactivate the “

Search for Me”

or “

Web Search Me”

function whenever the user'"'"'s observing device (NODE Owner) (20) comes within Radio Frequency (RF) range (60) of the LOST NODE (50).

60. The wireless pairing and/or tracking system (10) claimed in claim 59, wherein the application software (NODE-APP) of the observing device (NODE Owner) (20) will automatically identify and connect to the LOST NODE (50), said NODE-APP will then alert the user and show the “

LOST NODE RSSI”

value.

61. The wireless pairing and/or tracking system (10) claimed in claim 60, wherein the nearer the observing device (NODE Owner) (20) approaches the LOST NODE (50), the higher RSSI value;

and the user is based on the RSSI value to find and retrieve back the LOST NODE (50).

62. The wireless pairing and/or tracking system (10) claimed in claim 59, wherein the application software (NODE-APP) will then update the database server (NODE-SERVER) (40) that the LOST NODE (50) has been found as soon as the user de-activates the “

Search for Me”

or “

Web Search Me”

function.