Object locator

• US 6,771,213 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2002
• Issued: 08/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pfizer Inc.
• Original Assignee: Jennifer Durst
• Inventors: McAlexander, Joseph C., Fowler, Eugene F., Durst, Jennifer
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, DAO LINDA
• Application Number:
  US10/187,287
• Publication Number:
  US 20030122707A1
• Time in Patent Office: 749 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.01, 342/357.06, 342/357.07, 342/357.1, 701/213, 701/215, 340/273.1, 340/273.4
• US Class Current: 342/357.55
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 27/009 with electric-shock, sound, magnetic- or radio-waves emitting devices
• 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 19/36 relating to the receiver frond end
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/008 using a mobile telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0247 System arrangements wherein the alarm criteria uses signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0261 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect trespassing over a fixed physical boundary, e.g. the end of a garden
• 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

Abstract

There is disclosed an object locator system for obtaining information about the location of an individual, animal or moveable object, having a lightweight, attached object locator, that is present in a region served by a two-way paging system and a global positioning satellite system. The object locator may be selectively activated to conserve power or enabled to respond only when beyond a boundary.

Claims

1. A portable locator, comprising:

a first device for receiving and transmitting paging signals via a two-way paging system during communication with a base station wherein said first device has transmission/reception characteristics that can be affected by its physical proximity to other objects;

a second device for receiving location information signals from a satellite of a global positioning system wherein said second device has transmission/reception characteristics that can be affected by its physical proximity to other objects;

a third device, coupled to said first and second devices and for processing said location information signals upon activation, to provide location information for communication in said transmitting of paging signals; and

a portable housing, for supporting said first, second and third devices and for securing said housing to a person and disposable on said person is such a manner as to facilitate electromagnetic interaction with said signals such that the proximity of said first and second devices to the person is such that the transmission/reception characteristics thereby are affected minimally;

wherein said locator may be activated to provide said location information by reception of a query via a receiving paging signal or by traversing a predetermined distance limit or by a timer.