System for tracking possessions

• US 6,304,186 B1
• Filed: 01/31/2000
• Issued: 10/16/2001
• 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:
  US09/495,535
• Time in Patent Office: 624 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 at least one object in proximity to a person comprising:

at least one child unit attached to an object to be detected, the at least one child unit 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 the at least one child unit, and a processor 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 the at least one child unit when certain external communication signals are detected by the second communication device.

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 for providing a global position of the parent unit, the at least one child unit being configured to locate the position of the parent unit.

6. The system of claim 5 further comprising a second global positioning device associated with the child unit for providing a global position of the child unit and for locating the child unit with the parent unit.

7. 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.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the parent unit further includes 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.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the at least one alarm of the parent unit comprises a first alarm for indicating when the selected child unit is outside a first preselected range, a second alarm for indicating when the selected child unit is outside a second preselected range, and a third alarm for indicating when the selected child unit is outside a third preselected range.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the controls of the parent unit for selectively controlling the at least one child unit include a mechanism for adjusting the preselected range at which the at least one alarm will signal the person when the at least one child unit is outside of the preselected range.

11. The system of claim 8 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.

12. 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 the at least one child unit, and an adjustable timer for selecting a period of temporary termination of the communication signals.

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

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

15. The system of claim 13 wherein the tracking mechanism includes a display for indicating the proximity of the at least one child unit to the parent unit.

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

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

18. A system for detecting the proximity of at least one object to a person comprising:

at least one child unit 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 the at least one child unit, a processor for monitoring the at least one child unit, for determining whether the at least one child unit is within a preselected range, and user controls for selectively temporarily terminating signals between the second communicating device of the parent unit and the first communicating device of the at least one child unit so that the child unit can move beyond the preselected range without placing the parent unit in an alarm state.

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

20. The system of claim 18 wherein the first and second communicating devices comprise a first and a second transceiver.

21. The system of claim 18 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.

22. The system of claim 18 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.

23. The system of claim 22 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 parent unit with respect to the child unit.

24. The system of claim 18 wherein the mechanism temporarily terminates signals between the second communicating device of the parent unit and the first communicating device of the at least one child unit when certain external communication signals are detected by the second communication device.

25. The system of claim 18, wherein the parent unit comprises at least one humanly perceptible alarm for indicating when the at least one child unit is outside the preselected range.

26. The system of claim 18 wherein the parent unit includes an adjustable timer associated with said user controls for providing a user selected period of temporary termination of the communication signals, such that the communication signals resume when the period of temporary termination expires.

27. The system of claim 18 wherein the parent unit includes a tracking mechanism for assisting the person to locate the at least one child unit with the parent unit.

28. The system of claim 18 wherein the parent unit includes a display for providing a visual indicator of the location of the at least one child unit relative to the parent unit.

29. The system of claim 18 wherein the controls of the parent unit for selectively controlling the at least one child unit includes a mechanism for adjusting the preselected range at which the at least one alarm will signal the person when the child unit is outside of the preselected range.

30. The system of claim 18 wherein the parent unit includes at least one humanly perceptible alarm that varies according to the distance between the parent unit and the at least one child unit.