Biotelemetry locator

• US 6,169,494 B1
• Filed: 02/20/1998
• Issued: 01/02/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Lopes, Robert Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Horabik, Michael
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAN, MAN U
• Application Number:
  US09/026,974
• Time in Patent Office: 1,047 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.49, 340/825.54, 340/825.34, 340/825.44, 340/825.31, 340/870.17, 340/870.16, 340/870.28, 340/573.1, 340/573.4, 340/825.36, 340/5.8, 340/5.82, 340/5.83, 342/42, 342/450
• US Class Current: 340/8.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0008 Temperature signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 3/046 Displays or indicators
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0211 Combination with medical sensor, e.g. for measuring heart rate, temperature
• 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 21/0286 Tampering or removal detection of the child unit from child or article
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link

Abstract

A biotelemetry tracking and locating system uses a person'"'"'s own physical or biological measurement as an identification code used by a tracked unit, e.g., a bracelet worn by a child, to track and/or locate the person from a tracking/locating unit, e.g., worn or carried by a parent. The tracking/locating unit includes a transmitter and optionally a receiver. The tracking/locating unit detects a combination of encoded biological measurements (e.g. body temperature, and/or heart rate) and combines the biological measurements into a substantially unique ID code. The tracking/locating unit may be carried, e.g., by a parent to track the continued presence within a reception range of, e.g., a child wearing the tracked unit. A directional antenna, e.g., a YAGI type antenna, in the tracking/locating unit allows the tracking/locating unit to determine which direction the tracked unit is in, e.g., with respect to the tracking/locating unit. A panic button can be included with the tracked unit to allow a child or other person wearing a tracked unit to alert the tracking person, e.g., a parent to a dangerous situation. The tracking unit may include a paging button to output a paging signal to desired tracked units, which is emitted visually or aurally at the tracked unit.

Claims

1. A biotelemetry locating system used to track a desired individual, comprising:

a mobile tracked unit comprising at least one biological sensor;

a mobile tracking/locating unit;

a code generator for generating a substantially unique identifying code based on data from said at least one biological sensor that measures a biological parameter that is substantially unique to a biological being;

said mobile tracked unit being capable of transmitting said identifying code to said mobile tracking/locating unit.

2. The biotelemetry locating system according to claim 1, wherein said tracking/locating unit further comprises:

a code memory for associating said identifying code generated by said code generator in said tracked unit with a wearer'"'"'s name.

3. The biotelemetry locating system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one biological sensor senses at least one parameter selected from:

a heart waveform as measured by an EKG; and

a fingerprint.

4. The biotelemetry locating system according to claim 1, wherein said tracked unit further comprises:

a panic button to activate an alarm signal transmitted to said tracking/locating unit.

5. The biotelemetry locating system according to claim 1, wherein said tracked unit further comprises:

a display adapted to display a message received from said tracking/locating unit.

6. The biotelemetry locating system according to claim 1, wherein said tracked unit further comprises:

a speaker to output an audible tone in response to a signal received from said tracking/locating unit.

7. The biotelemetry locating system according to claim 1, wherein said tracking/locating unit further comprises:

a directional type antenna.

8. The biotelemetry locating system according to claim 1, wherein said tracked unit further comprises:

an optical scanner to determine an optical biological parameter relating to a wearer of the tracked unit.

9. The biotelemetry locating system according to claim 7, wherein said tracking/locating unit further comprises:

a display adapted to display a direction to said tracked unit.

10. The biotelemetry locating system according to claim 1, wherein said tracking/locating unit further comprises:

a pager function adapted to activate a paging signal transmitted to said tracked unit.

11. A tracked unit of a biotelemetry locating system comprising:

a biotelemetry sensor adapted to measure a biological parameter that is substantially unique to a wearer of said tracked unit;

a code generator, coupled to said biological sensor, adapted to generate a substantially unique ID code based on said measured parameter; and

a transmitter to transmit said substantially unique ID code.

12. The tracked unit according to claim 11, wherein:

said biotelemetry sensor is an EKG sensor that measures a heart waveform.

13. The tracked unit according to claim 11, wherein:

said biotelemetry sensor is a fingerprint scanner.

14. The tracked unit according to claim 11, further comprising:

a transmitter; and

a panic button to activate an alarm condition transmitted from said tracked unit.

15. A tracking/locating unit of a biotelemetry locating system comprising:

a receiver circuit in a mobile unit;

a processor, in communication with said receiver circuit, adapted to identify a substantially unique identifying code based on a biological parameter that is substantially unique to a wearer of a mobile tracked unit; and

a display adapted to display a location of said mobile tracked unit based on a reception by said receiver of a signal including a substantially unique identifying code based on a biological parameter that is substantially unique to said wearer of said tracked unit.

16. The tracking/locating unit according to claim 15, further comprising:

a directional antenna.

17. The tracking/locating unit according to claim 15, further comprising:

a pager circuit adapted to transmit a paging signal to said tracked unit.

18. The tracking/locating unit according to claim 15, further comprising:

a keyboard input device to said tracking/locating unit.

19. A biotelemetry locating system used to track desired individuals or animals, comprising:

a tracking unit; and

at least one tracked unit, said at least one tracked unit being adapted and arranged to generate a unique identification signal based on an algorithmic combination of a plurality of biological parameters of a wearer of said at least one tracked unit.

20. A method of tracking a biological being, comprising:

measuring in a mobile tracked unit a biological parameter having a value that is substantially unique to said biological being;

generating in said mobile tracked unit a substantially unique identifying code from said measured substantially unique biological parameter;

transmitting in said mobile tracked unit said substantially unique identifying code to a mobile tracking unit.