System for tracking possessions

• US 6,084,517 A
• Filed: 08/12/1998
• Issued: 07/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: MRSI International
• Original Assignee: Michael C. Rabanne, Steven D. Ivie
• Inventors: Rabanne, Michael C., Ivie, Steven D.
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US09/132,916
• Time in Patent Office: 692 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.4, 340/572.1, 340/568.1, 340/539, 340/571, 340/691.3
• US Class Current: 340/573.4
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/16 Anti-theft; Abduction
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/17 Emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/34 Power consumption
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0072 Transmission between mobile stations, e.g. anti-collision systems
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0216 Alarm cancellation after generation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0227 System arrangements with a plurality of child units
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0247 System arrangements wherein the alarm criteria uses signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0252 System arrangements wherein the child unit emits, i.e. the child unit incorporates the emitter
• 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 21/0294 Display details on parent unit

Abstract

A system for selectively detecting the presence of a plurality of objects in proximity to a person. The system includes a plurality of child units each having a first communicating device (such as a transceiver) for sending a locator signal and for receiving a control signal. Further, the system includes a parent unit having a second communicating device for receiving the locator signal from at least one of the plurality of child units, a processor for monitoring the at least one child unit and for determining whether the child unit is within a preselected range, at least one alarm for signaling the person when the selected child unit is outside the preselected range, and controls for selectively controlling the child units to be monitored and for controlling activation of the child units.

Claims

1. A system for selectively detecting the presence of a plurality of objects in proximity to a person comprising:

a plurality of child units each having a first communicating device for sending a locator signal and for receiving a control signal;

a parent unit having a second communicating device for receiving the locator signal from at least one of the plurality of child units, a processor for monitoring the at least one child unit and for determining whether the at least one child unit is within a preselected range, the processor of the parent unit programmed to de-activate the second communicating device of the parent unit and the first communicating device of each of the plurality of child units when certain external communication signals are detected by the second communication device, and controls for selectively controlling the child units to be monitored.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor of the parent unit comprises a microprocessor.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor of the parent unit comprises at least one of analog and digital circuitry.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the first and second communicating devices comprise a first and a second transceiver.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a first global positioning device associated with the parent unit and a second global positioning device associated with the child unit for providing global positions of the child unit and the parent unit, the global positions for determining a relative position of the child unit with respect to the parent unit.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the first communicating device of the child unit comprises a control mechanism for sending a signal to the second communicating device for locating the parent unit with the child unit.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the parent unit further including at least one alarm comprising at least one of a speaker, a vibrator and at least one light for indicating when the selected child unit is outside the preselected range.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the at least one alarm of the parent unit comprises a vibrator for silently indicating when the selected child unit is outside a first preselected range, a light for indicating a visual signal when the selected child unit is outside a second preselected range, and a speaker for indicating an audible signal when the selected child unit is outside a third preselected range.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein the controls of the parent unit for selectively controlling the child units include a mechanism for adjusting the preselected range at which the at least one alarm will signal the person when the selected child unit is outside of the preselected range.

10. The system of claim 7 wherein the at least one alarm is a variable alarm that varies according to the distance between the parent unit and the at least one child unit.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the parent unit includes a mechanism for temporarily terminating signals between the second communicating device of the parent unit and the first communicating device of each of the plurality of child units, and an adjustable timer for selecting a period of temporary termination of the communication signals.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the parent unit includes a tracking mechanism for assisting the person to locate at least one of the plurality of child units with the parent unit.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein the child unit includes an alarm mechanism for producing a humanly perceptible alarm when signaled by the tracking mechanism of the parent unit.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein the tracking mechanism includes a display for indicating the proximity of the at least one child unit to the parent unit.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein said first and second communicating devices each comprise digital communicating devices.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein said processor of said parent unit is programmed to selectively de-activate at least one of the child units, wherein the selective de-activation includes deactivating the locator signal of the first communication device.

17. A system for selectively detecting the presence of a plurality of objects in proximity to a person comprising:

a plurality of child units each having a first communicating device for sending a locator signal and for receiving a control signal;

a parent unit having a second communicating device for receiving the locator signal from at least one of the plurality of child units, a processor for monitoring the at least one child unit and for determining whether the at least one child unit is within a preselected range, a mechanism for temporarily terminating signals between the second communicating device of the parent unit and the first communicating device of each of the plurality of child units, and controls for selectively controlling the child units to be monitored and for controlling activation of the child units.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the processor of the parent unit comprises a microprocessor.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein the first and second communicating devices comprise a first and a second transceiver.

20. The system of claim 17 further including a first global positioning device associated with the parent unit and a second global positioning device associated with the child unit for providing global positions of the child unit and the parent unit, the global positions for determining a relative position of the child unit with respect to the parent unit.

21. The system of claim 17 wherein the first communicating device of the child unit comprises a control mechanism for sending a signal to the second communicating device for locating the parent unit with the child unit.

22. The system of claim 17 wherein the mechanism temporarily terminates signals between the second communicating device of the parent unit and the first communicating device of each of the plurality of child units when certain external communication signals are detected by the second communication device.

23. The system of claim 17 wherein the parent unit further includes at least one alarm comprising at least one of a speaker, a vibrator and a light for indicating when the selected child unit is outside the preselected range.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the at least one alarm is a variable alarm that varies according to the distance between the parent unit and the at least one child unit.

25. The system of claim 17 wherein the parent unit includes an adjustable timer for selecting a period of temporary termination of the communication signals.

26. The system of claim 17 wherein the parent unit includes a tracking mechanism for assisting the person to locate at least one of the plurality of child units with the parent unit.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein the tracking mechanism includes a display for indicating the proximity of the at least one child unit to the parent unit.

28. The system of claim 17 wherein the controls of the parent unit for selectively controlling the child units include a mechanism for adjusting the preselected range at which the at least one alarm will signal the person when the selected child unit is outside of the preselected range.

29. A system for selectively detecting the presence of a plurality of objects in proximity to a person comprising:

a plurality of child units each having a first communicating device for sending a locator signal and for receiving a control signal;

a parent unit having a second communicating device for receiving the locator signal from at least one of the plurality of child units, a processor for monitoring the at least one child unit and for determining whether the at least one child unit is within a preselected range, the processor of the parent unit programmed to selectively de-activate at least one of the at least one child unit, the selective de-activation includes deactivating the locator signal of the first communication device of the at least one of the at least one child unit, and controls for selectively controlling the child units to be monitored.