Tracking apparatus and associated method for a radio frequency enabled reminder system

• US 6,747,555 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2002
• Issued: 06/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Fellenstein, Craig William, Hamilton, Rick Allen II, Watts, Campbell Victor Barford, Van Duinen, Gabe
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US10/254,833
• Publication Number:
  US 20040066295A1
• Time in Patent Office: 623 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/539.13, 340/539.14, 340/539.15, 340/539.16, 340/539.17, 340/539.18, 340/539.19, 340/539.21, 340/539.32, 340/568.1, 340/57.1, 340/572.1, 340/573.4, 340/524
• US Class Current: 340/524
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0208 Combination with audio or video communication, e.g. combination with "baby phone" function
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0211 Combination with medical sensor, e.g. for measuring heart rate, temperature

Abstract

An alert system and associated method protect against accidental loss or intentional theft of personal valuables. Users may define a set of corrective actions associated with each satellite item registered with the alert system. The alert system is generally comprised of a plurality of alert devices, a plurality of remote sensors, and at least one processing unit. When a satellite item provided with the alert device becomes separated from its user, the item alerts the user of an impending loss or separation prior to the occurrence of such an event.

Claims

1. An alert system for tracking a satellite item, comprising:

a remote sensor that defines an alert zone;

a plurality of alert devices located within the alert zone, that are paired with a plurality of satellite items, and that communicate with the remote sensor to provide information about relative positions of the plurality of satellite items with respect to the alert zone and the remote sensor; and

a processing unit that registers the plurality of alert devices and that communicates with the remote sensor, so that the remote sensor alerts the processing unit when a satellite item becomes disassociated from the remote sensor;

wherein the processing unit identifies the plurality of alert devices as transient items that are not limited to the alert zone, or permament items that are limited to the alert zone;

wherein the processing unit calculates a satellite distance between the remote sensor and each of the satellite items to determine the location of the satellite items relative to the remote sensor;

wherein the processing unit determines if a transient item is inappropriately located within the alert zone;

the remote sensor selectively providing an alert signal if any one of the satellite items becomes disassociated from the remote sensor; and

the remote sensor further selectively providing the alert signal if the transient item is determined to be inappropriately located within the alert zone.

2. The alert system of claim 1, wherein the processing unit further determines if the transient item is inappropriately located within the alert zone concurrently with a permanent item;

and

if the transient item is inappropriately located within the alert zone, the processing unit calculates a response time to correct an adverse situation that could arise from the transient item that is inappropriately located within the alert zone.

3. The alert system of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of remote sensors that define a plurality of alert zones and that communicate with the plurality of alert devices.

4. The alert system of claim 3, wherein the processing unit communicates with the plurality of the remote sensors over a network.

5. The alert system of claim 4, wherein the network comprises the Internet.

6. The alert system of claim 1, wherein each alert device periodically transmits radio-frequency signals to the remote sensor to provide the relative position information of the satellite item that is paired with each alert device.

7. The alert system of claim 1, wherein the remote sensor alerts the processing unit when a satellite item becomes disassociated from the remote sensor beyond a predetermined period of time.

8. The alert system of claim 1, wherein each of the alert devices of the satellite items comprises a transponder.

9. The alert system of claim 8, wherein the processing unit prompts the transponder to send a signal to the remote sensor confirming a relative position of the satellite item within the alert zone.

10. The alert system of claim 1, wherein the processing unit determines the satellite distance between the remote sensor and each of the satellite items by measuring the strength of a confirmation signal from the alert device.

11. The alert system of claim 1, wherein the processing unit determines the satellite distance between the remote sensor and each of the satellite items by measuring a timing of signals received from the alert device.

12. The alert system of claim 1, wherein the alert signal comprises any one or more of:

a visual signal, an audible signal, a data signal, and a video signal.

13. The alert system of claim 1, wherein one alert device is secured to one satellite item.

14. The alert system of claim 1, wherein one remote sensor is secured to one satellite item.

15. An alert system for tracking a satellite item, comprising:

a remote sensing means for defining an alert zone;

a plurality of alert means located within the alert zone and that are paired with a plurality of satellite items, for communicating with the remote sensing means to provide information about relative positions of the plurality of satellite items with respect to the alert zone and the remote sensing means; and

a processing means for registering the plurality of alert means and for communicating with the remote sensing means, so that the remote sensing means alerts the processing unit when a satellite item becomes disassociated from the remote sensing means;

wherein the processing means identifies the plurality of alert means as transient items that are not limited to the alert zone, or permament items that are limited to the alert zone;

wherein the processing means calculates a satellite distance between the remote sensing means and each of the plurality of satellite items to determine the location of the plurality of satellite items relative to the remote sensing means;

wherein the processing means determines if a transient item is inappropriately located within the alert zone;

wherein the remote sensor selectively provides an alert signal if any one of the satellite items becomes disassociated from the remote sensor; and

wherein the remote sensor further selectively provides the alert signal if the transient item is determined to be inappropriately located within the alert zone.

16. The alert system of claim 15, wherein the remote sensing means comprises a plurality of remote sensors that define a plurality of alert zones and that communicate with the plurality of alert devices.

17. The alert system of claim 15, wherein the remote sensing means alerts the processing means when a satellite item becomes disassociated from the remote sensing means beyond a predetermined period of time.

18. A method for tracking a satellite item, comprising:

defining an alert zone by means of a remote sensor;

locating a plurality of alert devices that are paired with a plurality of satellite items and that communicate with the remote sensor within the alert zone;

providing information about relative positions of the plurality of satellite items with respect to the alert zone and the remote sensor;

a processing unit registering the plurality of alert devices, and communicating with the remote sensor so that the remote sensor alerts the processing unit when a satellite item becomes disassociated from the remote sensor;

the processing unit identifying the plurality of alert devices as transient items that are not limited to the alert zone, or permament items that are limited to the alert zone;

the processing unit further calculating a satellite distance between the remote sensor and each of the satellite items to determine the location of the satellite items relative to the remote sensor;

the processing unit further determining if a transient item is inappropriately located within the alert zone;

the remote sensor selectively providing an alert signal if any one of the satellite items becomes disassociated from the remote sensor; and

the remote sensor further selectively providing the alert signal if the transient item is determined to be inappropriately located within the alert zone.

19. The alert system of claim 18, wherein the processing unit further determines if the transient item is inappropriately located within the alert zone concurrently with a permanent item;

and

if the transient item is inappropriately located within the alert zone, the processing unit calculating a response time to correct an adverse situation that could arise from the transient item that is inappropriately located within the alert zone.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising defining a plurality of alert zones by means of a plurality of remote sensors that communicate with the plurality of alert devices.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the processing unit communicates with the plurality of the remote sensors over the Internet.

22. The alert system of claim 18, wherein each alert device periodically transmits radio-frequency signals to the remote sensor to provide the relative position information of the satellite item that is paired with each alert device.