APPARATUS AND METHOD TO AID IN FINDING MISPLACED, FORGOTTEN, OR UNUSED ITEMS

• US 20160069925A1
• Filed: 11/17/2015
• Published: 03/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Crucs Holdings, LLC
• Original Assignee: Crucs Holdings, LLC
• Inventors: Crucs, Kevin M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,851,376 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 13/00 Indicating or recording presence, absence, or direction, of movement electric switches H01H; counting moving objects G06M7/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/00 Measuring acceleration; Measuring deceleration; Measuring shock, i.e. sudden change of acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0263 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect the direction in which child or item is located
• 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 21/0272 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect exact location of child or item using triangulation other than GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0423 detecting deviation from an expected pattern of behaviour or schedule
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons

Abstract

Devices to aid in finding items, including purses or other luggage, along with methods of operation of the devices. The resultant movement of an item during use, and lack of movement of an item during non-use, are exploited to alert a user to the whereabouts of the item through adaptive techniques. A device is located with the item, purse, or other luggage, and configured to sense motion information. Location notification may be based on such motion information.

Claims

1. A device to aid in finding an associated item, said device comprising:

a controller;

a transmitter operatively coupled with the controller and configured to communicate with a device of a user;

a location receiver located with the associated item and operatively coupled with the controller configured to identify a location of the device; and

a motion sensor located with the associated item and operatively coupled with the controller configured to detect motion information, the transmitter provides a notification including the location based on the motion information.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the location receiver utilizes at least a mobile phone network.

3. The device of claim 1, the location receiver utilizes at least a global positioning system signal.

4. The device of claim 1, the motion sensor is an accelerometer.

5. The device of claim 1, the device is re-initialized based on the motion information.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the notification is based on the motion information exceeding a defined threshold.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising an energy source, the energy source includes at least a DC battery.

8. The device of claim 1, the controller tracks intervals of motion inactivity based on the motion information.

9. The device of claim 1, the controller tracks intensity of motion activity based on the motion information.

10. A system, comprising:

a purse;

a location receiver located with the purse and configured to identify a location of the purse;

a motion sensor located with the purse and configured to detect motion information of at least the purse;

a controller; and

a transmitter operatively coupled with the controller and configured to communicate with at least the location receiver, the transmitter provides a notification including the location based on the motion information.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the location receiver utilizes at least a mobile phone network.

12. The system of claim 10, the location receiver utilizes at least a global positioning system signal.

13. The system of claim 10, the motion sensor is an accelerometer.

14. The system of claim 10, the system is re-initialized based on the motion information.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the notification is based on the motion information exceeding a defined threshold.

16. The system of claim 10, further comprising an energy source, the energy source includes at least a DC battery.

17. The system of claim 10, the controller tracks intervals of motion inactivity based on the motion information.

18. The system of claim 10, the controller tracks intensity of motion activity based on the motion information.

19. A system, comprising:

a luggage item;

a location receiver located with the luggage item and configured to identify a location of the luggage item;

a motion sensor located with the luggage item and configured to detect motion information of at least the luggage item;

a controller; and

a transmitter operatively coupled with the controller and configured to communicate with at least the location receiver, the transmitter provides a notification including the location based on the motion information.

20. The system of claim 19, the controller determines a standard time interval of motion inactivity based on the motion information, the controller tracks a current time interval of motion inactivity, and the controller re-initializes with respect to the standard time interval of motion inactivity when an intensity associated with the motion information exceeds an intensity threshold.