Human locator system and method

• US 7,336,189 B1
• Filed: 07/08/2005
• Issued: 02/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Barry W. Thomas
• Original Assignee: Barry W. Thomas
• Inventors: Thomas, Barry W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass; Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAI, ANNE VIET NGA
• Application Number:
  US11/177,612
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/573.4, 340/825.49, 340/539.12, 340/539.13, 455/404.2, 342/357.07
• US Class Current: 340/573.4
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/00 Measuring for diagnostic purposes radiation diagnosis A61B6/00; diagnosis by ultrasonic, sonic or infrasonic waves A61B8/00; Identification of persons
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0205 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular conditions and different types of body conditions, e.g. heart and respiratory condition
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/16 Anti-theft; Abduction
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/17 Emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0211 Combination with medical sensor, e.g. for measuring heart rate, temperature
• 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

A human locator system and method conducts long-range locating with components or steps that are not readily visible on the person of the lost human, and that is fully independent of external communications and power systems. The human subject is provided with a beacon that may be concealed on or in the body, which is activated to produce a signal which may be sensed by a sensor or receiver deployed to scan a field of search in which the human subject may be located. The beacon indicates a signal origination point that is indicative of the location of the human subject by differentiating the human subject in a pre-arranged manner from the background region in which the human subject is located.

Claims

1. A method of locating from a substantial distance a human subject disposed at an unknown location within a background region, the method comprising the steps of:

providing the human subject with a swallowable device for altering body chemistry of the human subject to generate a beacon for differentiating the human subject within the background region;

concealing the device on the human subject;

activating the device to generate the beacon; and

repetitively scanning the background region to apprehend the beacon by detecting the altered body chemistry and identify the location of the human subject.

2. A method according to claim 1,

wherein the beacon comprises an electromagnetic signal indicative of a signal origination point.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the electromagnetic signal is a radio signal.

4. A method according to claim 2, wherein the electromagnetic signal is a microwave signal.

5. A method according to claim 2, wherein the electromagnetic signal is an infrared signal.

6. A method according to claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

sensing health condition information for the human subject; and

transmitting the health condition information as part of the electromagnetic signal.

7. A method according to claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

using a global positioning system receiver to identify location information for the human subject; and

transmitting the location information as part of the electromagnetic signal.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of activating the beacon includes the step of generating the beacon through excretion of body wastes.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of repetitively scanning the background region includes the step of apprehending a pulse from the beacon.

10. A method of locating from a substantial distance a human subject disposed at an unknown location within a background region, comprising the steps of:

providing the human subject with visually undetectable differentiating means for sensibly differentiating himself from the background region, comprising a body-chemistry-altering device in order to generate a differentiation beacon through excretion of body wastes;

activating the differentiating means by placing the differentiating means in the body of the human subject; and

repetitively scanning the background region to identify the location of the human subject by detecting the differentiation beacon emanating from body wastes.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein the step of providing the human subject with a visually undetectable differentiating means includes the step of providing the human subject with a powered body-chemistry-altering device.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the powered body-chemistry-altering device includes a power source selected from the group consisting of a chemical battery, a capacitor, a kinetic battery, and a fuel cell.

13. A method according to claim 10, further comprising the step of:

concealing the differentiating means on the human subject.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the step of concealing the differentiating means includes the step of inducing the human subject to swallow the differentiating means.

15. A method according to claim 13, wherein the step of activating the differentiating means includes the step of painting the human subject with the differentiating means.

16. A method according to claim 10, wherein the step of repetitively scanning the background region includes the step of apprehending a differentiation condition signaled by the differentiating means.