PERSONAL MONITORING USING A REMOTE TIMER

• US 20170238142A1
• Filed: 09/02/2016
• Published: 08/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Real Agent Guard-IP, LLC
• Original Assignee: Real Agent Guard-IP, LLC
• Inventors: Hornor, Justyn P., Brasuell, Timothy S.
• Granted Patent: US 10,368,201 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/00 Error detection; Error correction; Monitoring error detection, correction or monitoring in information storage based on relative movement between record carrier and transducer G11B20/18; monitoring, i.e. supervising the progress of recording or reproducing G11B27/36; in static stores G11C29/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/0757 by exceeding a time limit, i.e. time-out, e.g. watchdogs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0415 detecting absence of activity per se
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/28 characterised by path configuration, e.g. LAN [Local Area Networks] or WAN [Wide Area Networks] wireless communication networks H04W ; arrangements for dividing the transmission path H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2814 Exchanging control software or macros for controlling appliance services in a home automation network arrangements for maintenance or administration involving configuration of the network and network elements H04L41/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2823 Reporting information sensed by appliance or service execution status of appliance services in a home automation network device-related reporting H04L43/065; arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom H04Q9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/56 Packet switching systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/604 Address structures or formats
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/659 Internet protocol version 6 [IPv6] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/12 Network monitoring probes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/00 Routing or path finding of packets in data switching networks routing or path finding in wireless networks H04W40/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/74 Address processing for routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 49/254 Centralised controller, i.e. arbitration or scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/00 Network arrangements, protocols or services for addressing or naming
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5038 for local use, e.g. in LAN or USB networks, or in a controller area network [CAN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/061 : for key exchange, e.g. in peer-to-peer networks cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key agreement H04L9/0838
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0823 : using certificates cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving certificates H04L9/3263
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 : using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 : in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46
• 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 67/34 : involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 : specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• 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: H04L 69/165 : Combined use of TCP and UDP protocols; selection criteria therefor
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/22 : Parsing or analysis of headers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0861 : Generation of secret information including derivation or calculation of cryptographic keys or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/14 : using a plurality of keys or algorithms
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/30 : Public key, i.e. encryption algorithm being computationally infeasible to invert or user's encryption keys not requiring secrecy
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/32 : including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system or for message authentication, e.g. authorization, entity authentication, data integrity or data verification, non-repudiation, key authentication or verification of credentials
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3247 : involving digital signatures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3263 : involving certificates, e.g. public key certificate [PKC] or attribute certificate [AC]; Public key infrastructure [PKI] arrangements network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using certificates in a packet data network H04L63/0823
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3265 : using certificate chains, trees or paths; Hierarchical trust model
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0084 : Network monitoring; Error detection; Error recovery; Network testing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/04 : Key management, e.g. using generic bootstrapping architecture [GBA]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/0471 : Key exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 : Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/069 : using certificates or pre-shared keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/04 : Arrangements for maintaining operational condition
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/10 : Scheduling measurement reports ; Arrangements for measurement reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 : Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 40/246 : Connectivity information discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0212 : managed by the network, e.g. network or access point is master and terminal is slave
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/383 : power control in peer-to-peer links
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 : Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/53 : based on regulatory allocation policies
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 : Connection setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 : Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/045 : involving different protocol versions, e.g. MIPv4 and MIPv6
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 : WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 : Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 : Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 : adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 : adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 : in wireless communication networks
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/18 : Network protocols supporting networked applications, e.g. including control of end-device applications over a network

Abstract

Method and apparatus for monitoring the status and location of personnel using a remote timer. In some embodiments, a method includes logging in, through a network accessible device, a geo position of a subject to initiate a monitored session associated with the subject. A countdown timer of a remote server is initiated to denote a monitored time interval, the remote server in communication with the network accessible device over a network. A notification is generated and transmitted across the network to a monitoring device responsive to a conclusion of the monitored time interval.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

identifying a predefined zone that encompasses a selected geo-position of interest;

using a subject application (app), stored as program instructions in a memory of and executable by a processor circuit of a first network accessible device of a subject, to initiate a monitored session associated with the subject responsive to the first network accessible device being within the predefined zone;

selecting, by the subject using the subject app, a selected monitored time interval of the monitored session from among a population of different available monitored time intervals for the predefined zone responsive to an assessment of the predefined zone by the subject;

using the subject app to transmit, via a network, the selected monitored time interval to a remote server;

initiating a countdown timer circuit of the remote server responsive to receipt of the selected monitored time interval; and

transmitting a notification, from the remote server to a second network accessible device of a monitor associated with the monitored session, responsive to a conclusion of the selected monitored time interval indicated by the countdown timer circuit.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the remote server receives updated geo position data associated with different geo positions of the first network accessible device during the monitored session.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the remote server further operates to transmit a notification, from the remote server to the second network accessible device of the monitor, indicating that a detected geo position of the first network accessible device is outside the predefined zone during the monitored session.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising using the subject app to transmit, via network responsive to an input by the subject, a status update to the remote server, the status update resetting the selected monitored time interval to a new value.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting biometric input data associated with the subject, via the subject app, to the remote server during the monitored session.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitored session is initiated by logging into the subject app responsive to detection of a geo position of the first network accessible device passing into the predefined zone.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the predefined zone is characterized as a stationary zone that surrounds and encompasses the selected geo position.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the selected geo position of interest is a preplanned route to be taken by the subject and the predefined zone encompasses the preplanned route.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the subject selects the monitored time interval while the subject and the first network accessible device are both located within the predefined zone.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the first network accessible device is a device configured to be worn by the subject.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the subject app forms a portion of a host operating system (OS) of the first network accessible device.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitor is a human user of the second network accessible device.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitor comprises program instructions stored in a memory of and executed by a processor circuit of the second network accessible device.

14. A system comprising:

a first network accessible device of a subject comprising a programmable processor circuit and a memory that stores a subject application (app) as a sequence of program instructions executable by the programmable processor circuit, the subject app configured to initiate a monitored session associated with the subject responsive to a geo position of the first network accessible device being detected within a predefined zone that encompasses a selected geo position of interest, the subject app further configured to enable the subject to identify a selected monitored time interval of the monitored session from among a population of different available monitored time intervals for the predefined zone responsive to an assessment of the predefined zone by the subject;

a remote server coupled to the first network accessible device by a network and configured to initiate a countdown timer circuit responsive to receipt, via the network, of the selected monitored time interval from the subject app; and

a second network accessible device of a monitor associated with the subject and configured to receive, from the remote server, a notification responsive to a conclusion of the selected monitored time interval as indicated by the countdown timer circuit.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the second network accessible device comprises a programmable processor circuit and a memory that stores a monitor app as a sequence of program instructions executable by the programmable processor circuit, the monitor app configured to transmit a status request, via the network, to the first network accessible device responsive to the notification from the remote server.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the remote server is further configured to receive updated geo position data associated with different geo positions of the first network accessible device during the monitored session, and to transmit a second notification to the second network accessible device of the monitor, indicating that a detected geo position of the first network accessible device is outside the predefined zone during the monitored session.

17. The system of claim 14, further comprising a biometric circuit associated with the first network accessible device configured to transmit biometric input data associated with a biometric state of the subject to the subject app for transfer, via the network, to the remote server.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the monitored session is initiated by logging into the subject app responsive to detection of a geo position of the first network accessible device passing into the predefined zone.

19. The system of claim 14 wherein the predefined zone is characterized as a stationary zone that surrounds and encompasses the selected geo position.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the monitor is a human user of the second network accessible device.

21. A computer implemented method, comprising:

logging in, through executing a subject application (app) on a network accessible device, a geo position of a subject to initiate a monitored session associated with the subject;

initiating a countdown timer of a remote server in communication with the network accessible device over a network responsive to the logging in of the subject to denote a monitored time interval of the monitored session; and

transmitting a notification, from the remote server to a second network accessible device of a monitor associated with the monitored session, responsive to a conclusion of the selected monitored time interval indicated by the countdown timer circuit.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the countdown timer is initiated responsive to interaction between the subject and a lockbox adjacent the geo position.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the lockbox comprises a transmitter that transmits a signal to the network accessible device, and the countdown timer is initiated responsive to the transmitted signal.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the countdown timer is initiated responsive to interaction between the subject and a yard sign adjacent the geo position, the yard sign comprises a transmitter that transmits a signal to the network accessible device, and the countdown timer is initiated responsive to the transmitted signal.

25. The method of claim 21, further comprising selecting, by the subject using the subject app, a selected monitored time interval of the monitored session from among a population of different available monitored time intervals for the predefined zone responsive to an assessment of the predefined zone by the subject.

26. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

identifying a predefined zone that encompasses the geo position of the subject; and

using the subject app to initiate the monitored session associated with the subject responsive to the network accessible device being within the predefined zone.