Method and apparatus for keeping track of children

• US 6,078,260 A
• Filed: 12/21/1998
• Issued: 06/20/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Desch, David Alan
• Primary Examiner(s): TONG, NINA C
• Application Number:
  US09/217,072
• Time in Patent Office: 547 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/573.4, 340/539
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/023 Power management, e.g. system sleep and wake up provisions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0247 System arrangements wherein the alarm criteria uses signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0288 Attachment of child unit to child/article

Abstract

A system for monitoring the proximity and location of a child by a parent includes two transceiver units which communicate wirelessly. The child unit will transmit a signal to the parent unit so that the parent unit can determined the proximity of the child unit and its direction. A safe zone may be set by controls on the parent unit. When the child unit moves beyond the safe zone, the parent unit will generate an alert.

Claims

1. An apparatus for monitoring the location of a mobile object, a pet or a person, particularly a child, the apparatus comprising:

a child transceiver unit comprising a transmitter for transmitting a wireless signal; and

a parent transceiver unit for receiving said signal and determining a distance to said child unit based on said received signal;

wherein said parent unit comprises a power switch which controls powering of both said parent and child units;

said parent unit transmitting a signal to said child unit to activate or deactivate said child unit when said power switch on said parent unit is actuated.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said parent unit compares said distance to a predetermined safe range and generates an alert when said distance exceeds said predetermined safe range.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said parent unit further comprises a control device for setting said predetermined safe range.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said parent unit further comprises a directional indicator for indicating from which direction said signal is received.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said child unit further comprises a receiver and said parent unit further comprises a panic button and a transmitter such that, when said panic button is actuated, said parent unit signals said child unit and, in response, said child unit generates an alarm to call attention to said child unit.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein each of said parent unit and said child unit comprise a device for attaching said respective units to a person to be worn by said person.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said child device further comprises a panic button such that, when said panic button is actuated, said child unit transmits a panic signal to said parent unit causing said parent unit to generate an alert.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein

said parent unit compares said distance to a predetermined safe range and transmits a warning signal to said child unit when said distance exceeds said predetermined safe range.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said child unit generates an alert in response to receiving said warning signal.

10. The apparatus of claim 1,

wherein said child transceiver for selectively transmits a panic signal to said parent transceiver unit in response to actuation of an input device, wherein said parent transceiver unit generates an alert upon receipt of said panic signal;

said apparatus further comprising an audible alarm on said child transceiver unit which is sounded in response to the transmission of said panic signal to said parent transceiver unit to call attention to said child in conjunction with transmission of said panic signal.

11. A method of monitoring the location of a mobile object, a pet or a person, particularly a child, the method comprising:

determining a distance to a child transceiver unit based on a wireless signal transmitted from said child transceiver to a parent transceiver; and

controlling the powering of both said parent and child transceiver units with a power switch on said parent unit, said parent unit transmitting a signal to said child unit to activate or deactivate said child unit when said power switch on said parent unit is actuated.