Personal recovery system

• US 6,377,179 B1
• Filed: 08/17/2000
• Issued: 04/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John G. Fulton
• Original Assignee: John G. Fulton
• Inventors: Fulton, John G.
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US09/639,939
• Time in Patent Office: 614 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.49, 340/539, 340/990, 340/574.1, 348/135, 348/143, 348/158
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0216 Alarm cancellation after generation
• 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 21/028 Communication between parent and child units via remote transmission means, e.g. satellite network
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0283 via a telephone network, e.g. cellular GSM
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0288 Attachment of child unit to child/article
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0446 worn on the body to detect changes of posture, e.g. a fall, inclination, acceleration, gait
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/001 Alarm cancelling procedures or alarm forwarding decisions, e.g. based on absence of alarm confirmation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12

Abstract

A personal recovery unit including a transmitter unit carried by a user is disclosed. The transmitter unit includes an accelerometer, safe zone and/or a video unit used to providing desired warning signals.

Claims

1. A user carried recovery unit, comprising:

a transmitter unit carried by a user, the transmitter unit including a transmitter case housing functional electrical components of the transmitter unit;

the transmitter unit includes a transmitter for selectively transmitting a warning signal to a central processing center and a motion detector recording rapid deceleration, wherein the motion detector is associated with the transmitter for activating the transmitter to send a warning signal to the central processing center for immediate emergency action when a rapid deceleration is recorded by the motion detector;

further including means for resetting associated with the transmitter for preventing the transmission of a warning signal in the event the impending transmission of a warning signal is undesired.

2. The personal recovery unit according to claim 1, wherein the means for resetting including an alarm activated when the accelerometer records a rapid deceleration, and the means for resetting signals the transmitter to cease transmission of a warning signal when an individual presses a reset button within a predetermined time in response to the alarm and the transmitter sends the warning signal to the central processing center when the individual does not press the reset button within a predetermined time.

3. The personal recovery unit according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter unit includes a clock and means for initiating the transmission of a warning signal at a specified time of day such that the location of an individual is provided at a specified time of day, and the means for initiating includes a manual input integrally formed with the transmitter unit for selectively setting the specified time of day at which the transmitter unit is to transmit a warning signal.

4. The personal recovery unit according to claim 1, wherein warning signals are regularly transmitted after the transmission of warning signals is initiated.

5. The personal recovery unit according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter unit further includes a video unit for recording an image of the area surrounding the individual carrying the personal recovery unit, wherein the video unit is associated with the transmitter such that the recorded image is sent with the warning signal to the central processing center.

6. The personal recovery unit according to claim 1, wherein the transmitter unit further includes means for defining a safe zone;

and the transmitter selectively transmits a warning signal to the central processing center when the transmitter unit is moved beyond the safe zone.

19. The personal recovery unit according to claim 1, wherein the motion detector is an accelerometer.

7. A user carried personal recovery unit, comprising:

a transmitter unit carried by a user, the transmitter unit including a transmitter case housing functional electrical components of the transmitter unit;

the transmitter unit includes a transmitter for selectively transmitting a warning signal including information regarding the status and the location of the user to a central processing center and a video unit for recording an image of the area surrounding the individual carrying the personal recovery unit, wherein the video unit is associated with the transmitter such that the recorded image is sent with the warning signal to the central processing center.

8. The personal recovery unit according to claim 7, wherein the recorded image is sent via asynchronous transfer mode.

9. The personal recovery unit according to claim 8, wherein the recorded image is sent over a cellular network to the central processing center.

10. The personal recovery unit according to claim 7, wherein the transmitter unit includes a clock and means for initiating the transmission of a warning signal at a specified time of day such that the location of an individual is provided at a specified time of day, and the means for initiating includes a manual input integrally formed with the transmitter unit for selectively setting the specified time of day at which the transmitter unit is to transmit a warning signal.

11. The personal recovery unit according to claim 7, wherein warning signals are regularly transmitted after the transmission of warning signals is initiated.

12. The personal recovery unit according to claim 7, wherein the transmitter unit further includes means for defining a safe zone;

and the transmitter selectively transmits a warning signal to the central processing center when the transmitter unit is moved beyond the safe zone.

13. A user carried personal recovery unit, comprising:

a transmitter unit carried by a user, the transmitter unit including a transmitter case housing functional electrical components of the transmitter unit;

the transmitter unit further including means for defining a safe zone housed within the transmitter case and a transmitter activated to transmit a warning signal to a central processing center when the transmitter unit is moved beyond the safe zone; and

wherein the transmitter unit includes means for regularly rechecking its position relative to the predefined safe zone and determining whether the transmitter unit is still within the safe zone, and in the event the transmitter unit determines that it is beyond the safe zone the transmitter unit instructs the transmitter contained therein to issue a warning signal to the central processing center.

14. The personal recovery unit according to claim 13, wherein the safe zone includes a horizontal element.

15. The personal recovery unit according to claim 14, wherein the safe zone includes a vertical element.

16. The personal recovery unit according to claim 13, wherein the safe zone includes a vertical element.

17. The personal recovery unit according to claim 13, wherein the safe zone is programmed via programming buttons on the transmitter unit.

18. The personal recovery unit according to claim 13, wherein the safe zone is programmed remoted from the central processing center.