Anti-abduction system and method

• US 6,847,295 B1
• Filed: 04/08/2004
• Issued: 01/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kevin Mark Klughart, Vernice Doyle Taliaferro
• Original Assignee: Kevin Mark Klughart, Vernice Doyle Taliaferro
• Inventors: Klughart, Kevin Mark, Taliaferro, Vernice Doyle
• Primary Examiner(s): Pope, Daryl C.
• Application Number:
  US10/820,901
• Time in Patent Office: 292 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.13, 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/539.15, 340/539.21, 340/539.32, 340/573.1, 340/573.4
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0211 Combination with medical sensor, e.g. for measuring heart rate, temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0225 Monitoring making use of different thresholds, e.g. for different alarm levels
• 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

An anti-abduction system and method is disclosed which utilizes a radio frequency transceiver attached to a slave to communicate with a corresponding master transceiver to detect and prevent abductions, which may be advantageously applied to situations in which child abduction is a possibility. The disclosed system and method utilizes communication protocols to notify the master of the proximal locality of the slave unit and any spatial deviation of the slave from the master. Utilization of varying strength transceiver signaling between the master and slave permits the distance between the master and slave to be approximated. Additionally, the slave may contain an optional heartbeat monitor to detect and report situations in which the device is removed from the potential abduction victim. The present invention may be generally targeted towards preventing child abductions, but has applications as an anti-terrorist device in preventing kidnappings of political persons and other innocents by terrorist groups and the like.

Claims

1. An anti-abduction system comprising:

(a) a master transceiver, which may be proximal to a monitor;

(b) a slave transceiver, which may be attached to a potential abductee;

wherein

said master transceiver communicates with said slave transceiver utilizing varying degrees of power transmission to determine the spatial proximity of said slave to said master;

said master transceiver is notified when communication with said slave transceiver is disrupted;

said slave transceiver has a unique identification code which is broadcasted at high power if said communication is disrupted with said master transceiver.

2. The anti-abduction system of claim 1 wherein said slave transceiver is packaged in a wristwatch.

3. The anti-abduction system of claim 1 wherein said slave transceiver is packaged in the form of a pendant.

4. The anti-abduction system of claim 1 wherein said slave transceiver is packaged in the form of paper currency.

5. The anti-abduction system of claim 1 wherein said slave transceiver further comprises a heartbeat monitor.

6. The anti-abduction system of claim 1 wherein said slave transceiver notifies said master transceiver of any loss in abductee heartbeat.

7. The anti-abduction system of claim 1 wherein said slave transceiver transmits audio information to said master transceiver.

8. The anti-abduction system of claim 1 wherein said slave transceiver transmits a video image to said master transceiver.

9. The anti-abduction system of claim 1 wherein said slave transceiver transmits a digital image to said master transceiver.

10. The anti-abduction system of claim 1 wherein said slave transceiver transmits GPS location information to said master transceiver.

11. An anti-abduction method comprising:

(1) a master transceiver communicating with a slave transceiver at low power with limited communication distance;

(2) it said slave transceiver responds, said master transceiver assuming said slave is proximal to said master and in no danger;

(3) if said slave responds to said master, proceeding to step (5).

(4) otherwise, said master assumes said slave is in danger and said master attempts to communicate with said slave, then proceeds to step (6);

(5) if said slave issues a panic alert, then proceeding to step (6), otherwise proceeding to step (1);

(6) said slave communicating to said master and/or law enforcement at high transmission power with identification to indicate an alert status, and then proceeding to step (1).

12. The anti-abduction method of claim 11 wherein said slave transceiver is packaged in a wristwatch.

13. The anti-abduction method of claim 11 wherein said slave transceiver is packaged in the form of a pendant.

14. The anti-abduction method of claim 11 wherein said slave transceiver is packaged in the form of paper currency.

15. The anti-abduction method of claim 11 wherein said slave transceiver further comprises a heartbeat monitor.

16. The anti-abduction method of claim 11 wherein said slave transceiver notifies said master transceiver of any loss in abductee heartbeat.

17. The anti-abduction method of claim 11 wherein said slave transceiver transmits audio information to said master transceiver.

18. The anti-abduction method of claim 11 wherein said slave transceiver transmits a video image to said master transceiver.

19. The anti-abduction method of claim 11 wherein said slave transceiver transmits a digital image to said master transceiver.

20. The anti-abduction method of claim 11 wherein said slave transceiver transmits GPS location information to said master transceiver.