Method and apparatus for wide area surveillance of a terrorist or personal threat

• US 7,109,859 B2
• Filed: 03/06/2003
• Issued: 09/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentag, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Gentag, Inc.
• Inventors: Peeters, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Pope, Daryl C
• Application Number:
  US10/382,606
• Publication Number:
  US 20040119591A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,293 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.11, 340/539.22, 340/539.24, 340/539.26
• US Class Current: 340/539.11
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0222 Message structure or message content, e.g. message protocol
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/023 Power management, e.g. system sleep and wake up provisions
• 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 21/0272 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect exact location of child or item using triangulation other than GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0283 via a telephone network, e.g. cellular GSM
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/12 responsive to undesired emission of substances, e.g. pollution alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/006 Alarm destination chosen according to type of event, e.g. in case of fire phone the fire service, in case of medical emergency phone the ambulance
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/012 using recorded signals, e.g. speech G08B25/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 31/00 Predictive alarm systems characterised by extrapolation or other computation using updated historic data

Abstract

The present invention is related to a means for detecting external threats by the use of methods and apparatuses for the wide area detection of chemical, radiological or biological threats using modified personal wireless devices combined with new advanced micro and nanosensor technologies. A cost effective method is provided for wide area surveillance of a potential terrorist or personal threat. Personal electronic devices such as mobile phones, PDAs or watches, in combination with new microsensor technologies described herein, can be used as a new type of platform detection technology for wide area surveillance of major threats. A “Homeland Security” chip is further provided which combines the elements of geo-location, remote wireless communication and sensing into a single chip. The personal electronic devices can be further equipped for detecting various medically related threats. Similarly modified personal devices can be used to detect external threats that are person-specific.

Claims

1. A personal wireless device with a unique electronic ID or signature, the device being typically carried by or used on a regular basis by a user, the device comprising:

a transceiver for telecommunications functionality, said transceiver being capable of communicating with a network;

said wireless device defining a slot adapted to receive an interchangeable sensor module;

an optional interchangeable sensor module adapted to be received in said slot;

said interchangeable sensor module having at least one sensor associated therewith, said at least one sensor having the capability of detecting, identifying and quantifying the level of at least one of a plurality of hazardous agents in an area surrounding said sensor module;

said sensor module further having a unique electronic ID for identifying the type of said sensor module;

said wireless device having an interrogator function for reading the electronic ID of said interchangeable sensor;

said sensor module being in intermittent communication with a data storage device;

said wireless device having a user interface for said user to direct said wireless device to communicate the identity and level of at least one said hazardous agent detected by said sensor module at a specific point in time to said data storage device;

said wireless device further having a notification alert function responsive to said sensor module for emitting an alert that the sensor has detected the level of at least one hazardous agent which said user has stored in said data storage device at said specific point in time;

said wireless device having a microprocessor or microcontroller for controlling the transceiver, the sensor module, the user interface and the notification alert function; and

said wireless device having the capability of sending said notification signal to remote receivers through said network via said transceiver.

2. The personal wireless device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the wireless device is a modified mobile phone.

3. The personal wireless device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the mobile phone is disposable.

4. The personal wireless device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the wireless device is a modified Personal Digital Assistant.

5. The personal wireless device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the wireless device is a modified two-way pager.

6. The personal wireless device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the wireless device is a modified watch.

7. The personal wireless device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the device has a unique signature ID that can be identified via the network.

8. The personal wireless device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a geo-positioning means for determining the location of the user.

9. The personal wireless device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the geo-positioning means is based on triangulation technology.

10. The personal wireless device as claimed in claim 9 wherein the geo-positioning means is internal to the personal wireless device.

11. The personal wireless device as claimed in claim 10 wherein the geo-positioning means is based on geo-stationary satellites and the wireless device further includes global position satellite (GPS) means.

12. The personal wireless device as claimed in claim 9 wherein the geo-positioning means are external to the personal wireless device.

13. The personal wireless device as claimed in claim 12 wherein the geo-positioning means are based on a land-based transmission system.

14. The personal wireless device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sensor module includes sensors selected from the group consisting of radiation sensors, chemical sensors, biological sensors and combinations thereof.

15. The personal wireless device as claimed in claim 14 wherein the sensor module further comprises one or more microsensors, microsensor arrays, or nanosensors.

16. The personal wireless device as claimed in claim 14 wherein the sensor module is able to detect at least one of the hazardous agents selected from the group consisting of chemical agents, radiological agents, biological agents and combinations thereof.

17. The personal wireless device as claimed in claim 14 wherein the sensor module further includes an integrated circuit having an integrated measurement and control device for the at least one hazardous agent.

18. The personal wireless device as claimed in claim 14 wherein the sensor module comprises a radiation sensor that can detect the level of radiation present in the area surrounding the wireless device.

19. The personal wireless device as claimed in claim 18 wherein the personal device further comprises:

a programmable means for storing and recognizing a given radiation signature as a threat to human health;

a means to manually select a function of notification, wherein the signal for notification is selected from the group consisting of an automated dial-in of said threat to an external programmable number via a wireless link which provides step-by-step screen or voice instructions, telephone numbers and an audible warning to the user relating to the presence of the threat and combinations thereof.

20. The personal wireless device as claimed in claim 18 wherein the radiation sensor further comprises:

a sensor having at least two microdevices, wherein at least one microdevice is sensitive and at least one microdevice is insensitive to the presence of a radiological agent;

a shielding material, wherein the shielding material is provided on select sensor components;

and means to compare electrical outputs provided by the microdevices, the sensor tailored to recognize specific types of radiation through microdevice detection levels.

21. The personal wireless device as claimed in claim 20 wherein the microdevices include at least two clocks having doped and undoped crystals, wherein the microdevice detection levels are provided by specific doping of the doped crystals.

22. The personal wireless device as claimed in claim 18 wherein the radiation sensor further includes a diode which serves the dual function of capture and measurement of an external neutron source.

23. The personal wireless device as claimed in claim 22 wherein the diode is selected from the group consisting of boron, lithium doped, coated ultra pure diodes and combinations thereof.

24. The personal wireless device as claimed in claim 18 wherein the radiation sensor includes a nanowire for electron tunneling in a nanowire.

25. The personal wireless device as claimed in claim 24 wherein the nanowire includes boron-doped silicon nanowires having a gap.

26. The personal wireless device as claimed in claim 25 further comprising an embedded capture area consisting of lithium.

27. The personal wireless device as claimed in claim 25 further comprising an embedded capture area consisting of boron 6.

28. The personal wireless device as claimed in claim 18 wherein the radiation sensor includes an electronic directional semiconductor neutron sensor with amplification.

29. The personal wireless device as claimed in claim 28 wherein the radiation sensor further includes a neutron concentration means having a miniature beryllium concave dish.

30. The personal wireless device as claimed in claim 18 wherein the wireless device is a modified mobile phone and wherein the radiation sensor further includes internal logic gate components of a mobile phone whereby radiation sensitive, radiation hardened, and shielded areas provided directly within the internal circuitry of said mobile phone.

31. The personal wireless device as claimed in claim 18 wherein the radiation sensor further includes a miniature Geiger-Muller tube.

32. The personal wireless device as claimed in claim 18 wherein the radiation sensor further includes a Direct Ion Storage MOSFET transistor.

33. The personal wireless device as claimed in claim 18 wherein the device further comprises multiple miniature solid state radiation detectors for dual gamma and neutron recognition having built in software and calibration means to recognize specific radiation signatures with said detectors.

34. The personal wireless device as claimed in claim 18 further comprising a function for turning the wireless device off but leaving the radiation sensor and notification means on, thereby allowing conservation of a power-supply system.

35. The personal wireless device as claimed in claim 14 wherein the sensor detects the level of chemical agents present in the surrounding area.

36. The personal wireless device as claimed in claim 35 wherein the sensor further comprises fully reversible sensor arrays that can measure a number of different chemical components simultaneously.

37. The personal wireless device as claimed in claim 35 wherein the sensor further comprises a self-contained disposable chemical nose comprising multiple sensors or a sensor array.

38. The personal wireless device as claimed in claim 37 wherein the chemical nose further comprises:

a counter made of a degradable compound for determining the time to replace the chemical nose; and

a humidity sensor.

39. The personal wireless device as claimed in claim 37 wherein the sensor includes conjugated polymers.

40. The personal wireless device as claimed in claim 37 wherein the sensor includes chemicals doped with nanoparticles.

41. The personal wireless device as claimed in claim 14 wherein said sensor is a dual detection sensor whereby chemical agents and radiation levels are both capable of being detected.

42. The personal wireless device as claimed in claim 14 wherein the sensor includes a biological agent sensor that can detect the level of biological agents present in the surrounding area.

43. The personal wireless device as claimed in claim 14 wherein the sensor is able to detect anthrax.

44. The personal wireless device as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a built-in power supply system.

45. The personal wireless device as claimed in claim 44 wherein said built-in power supply includes a rechargeable battery.

46. The personal wireless device as claimed in claim 44 wherein the built-in power system consists of a one-use battery supply.

47. The personal wireless device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the device includes two-way voice communication circuitry.

48. The personal wireless device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the device includes text communication circuitry.

49. The personal wireless device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the notification signal is selected from the group consisting of audible alarms, text alarms, and direct connection to an emergency response system, and combinations thereof.

50. The personal electronic device as claimed in claim 1 wherein a person-specific profile of hazardous agents can be determined by the use of the user interface.

51. The personal electronic device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one hazardous agent causes person-specific chemical allergies.

52. The personal electronic device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the hazardous agent causes person-specific asthma due to the presence of certain specific chemicals in the air.

53. The personal electronic device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the hazardous agent causes a person-specific radiation-sensitivity.

54. The personal electronic device as claimed in claim 1 that is able to detect a person-specific medical condition that is triggered by at least one hazardous agent by the use of a specific sensor module.

55. The personal electronic device as claimed in claim 54 wherein the electronic device further provides the capability of compiling a library of person-specific sensor values associated with the onset of said medical condition.

56. The personal electronic device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said storage device is a secure database.

57. The personal electronic device as claimed in claim 56 wherein the storage means contains data collected by said sensor module and said data is used to produce person-specific tailored drugs or treatments.

58. The personal electronic device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sensor module includes a disposable nose.

59. A method of detecting a personalized level of an agent hazardous to human health, said method comprising the steps of:

a. providing a wireless device having a transceiver and a slot for receiving an interchangeable sensor module;

b. said wireless device further having a user interface;

c. inserting in said slot a sensor module having at least one sensor which can detect the identity and quantity of at least one hazardous agent;

d. transporting said wireless device from location to location via a user;

e. when said user undergoes a physiological change due to a hazardous agent, recording the identity and quantity of said at least one hazardous agent in a storage means using said user interface; and

f. repeating steps “

a”

through “

e”

to train said wireless device to emit an alarm when the wireless device detects the type and quantity of said at least one hazardous agent which evokes said physiological response in said user.

60. The method as claimed in claim 59 further comprising the step of providing network software and recording the identity and quantity of said at least one hazardous agent to a remote storage means.

61. The method as claimed in claim 60 wherein said network software also eliminates false positives.

62. The method as claimed in claim 59 further comprising using a geo-location positioning means in order to detect the location of said wireless device providing the hazardous detection information.

63. The method as claimed in claim 62 wherein said geo-location positioning means is based on land-based triangulation geo-positioning methods.

64. The method as claimed in claim 62 wherein said geo-location positioning means is based on a global positioning satellite system.

65. The method as claimed in claim 62 wherein said geo-location positioning means is based on a combination of land-based triangulation positioning methods and global positioning satellite systems.

66. The method as claimed in claim 59 wherein said transceiver communicates with an emergency network response system which includes 911 and E911.

67. The method as claimed in claim 59 wherein said wireless device are modified mobile phones.

68. The method as claimed in claim 67 wherein said modified mobile phones are disposable.

69. The method as claimed in claim 59 wherein said wireless device is a modified Personal Digital Assistant.

70. The method as claimed in claim 59 wherein said wireless device is a modified two-way pager.

71. The method as claimed in claim 59 wherein said wireless device is a modified watch.

72. The method as claimed in claim 59 wherein said transceiver communicates with any remote network in any given country.