Close proximity alert system and method

• US 7,375,629 B1
• Filed: 04/04/2006
• Issued: 05/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kyocera Wireless Corporation (Kyocera Corporation)
• Inventors: Moyer, Dale Eldon
• Primary Examiner(s): Goins; Davetta W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAI, ANNE VIET NGA
• Application Number:
  US11/398,203
• Time in Patent Office: 777 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.13, 340/572.4, 340/825.49, 340/573.4, 342/357.08, 342/357.09
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12

Abstract

A method for tracking location of a first class of user and a second class of user includes determining a location of a first class of user, updating a first class of user location database with the location of the first class of user, determining a location of a second class of user, updating a second class of user location database with the location of the second class of user, comparing location of the first class of user with the location of the second class of user, determining whether predetermined criteria related to the location of the first class of user with the location of the second class of user is met, and initiating a communication to one or more entities if the predetermined criteria is met.

Claims

1. A method for tracking the location of a first class of user and a second class of user, comprising:

providing a wireless communication device for the first class of user, the wireless communication device including an antenna system configured to send and receive signals over a wireless physical medium;

a radio system configured to manage the antenna system for use with a radio access technology to provide connection to the wireless network;

a location identification mechanism for obtaining and providing location information on the wireless communication device;

a central processing unit configured to execute instructions stored in a data storage area and access data stored in a data storage area;

a panic module executable by the central processing unit, the panic module configured to put the wireless communication device in a quasi-operative mode that appears to be off to the user and to place a communication to a remote operator, and to maintain the connection with the remote operator as long as the remote operator desires;

remote operator-control module executable by the central processing unit, the remote operator-control module configured to allow the remote operator to maintain control of the communication with the wireless communication device and to allow the remote operator to remotely control one or more functions of an emergency ringer and audio output level on the wireless communication device;

an auto-answer module executable by the central processing unit, the auto-answer module configured to automatically establish a connection with the wireless communication device from an incoming call that is not answered manually;

a power-down module executable by the central processing unit, the power-down module configured to cause the handset to appear to power-down upon actuation of a power-down sequence while continuing to maintain a connection between the wireless communication device and the remote operator;

determining a location of a first class of user via the location identification mechanism of the wireless communication device;

updating a first class of user location database with the location of the first class of user;

determining a location of a second class of user;

updating a second class of user location database with the location of the second class of user;

comparing location of the first class of user with the location of the second class of user;

determining whether predetermined criteria related to the location of the first class of user with the location of the second class of user is met;

initiating a communication to one or more entities if the predetermined criteria is met.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first class of user is a child and the wireless communication device is a handset, the second class of user is a sex offender with a GPS transponder, determining a location of a first class of user includes determining the location of the child by determining the location of the handset via the location identification mechanism, and determining a location of a second class of user includes determining the location of the sex offender by determining the location of the GPS transponder.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein determining whether predetermined criteria related to the location of the first class of user with the location of the second class of user is met includes determining whether the sex offender is within a predetermined distance of the child.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein initiating a communication to one or more entities includes initiating a communication to at least one of a 911 operator, a telephone operator, police, a parent, a guardian, and a school official.

5. A system for tracking the location of a first class of user and a second class of user, comprising:

a wireless communication device carried by the first class of user, the wireless communication device including an antenna system configured to send and receive signals over a wireless physical medium;

a radio system configured to manage the antenna system for use with a radio access technology to provide connection to the wireless network;

a location identification mechanism for obtaining and providing location information on the wireless communication device;

a central processing unit configured to execute instructions stored in a data storage area and access data stored in a data storage area;

a panic module executable by the central processing unit, the panic module configured to put the wireless communication device in a quasi-operative mode that appears to be off to the user and to place a communication to a remote operator, and to maintain the connection with the remote operator as long as the remote operator desires;

remote operator-control module executable by the central processing unit, the remote operator-control module configured to allow the remote operator to maintain control of the communication with the wireless communication device and to allow the remote operator to remotely control one or more functions of an emergency ringer and audio output level on the wireless communication device;

an auto-answer module executable by the central processing unit, the auto-answer module configured to automatically establish a connection with the wireless communication device from an incoming call that is not answered manually;

a power-down module executable by the central processing unit, the power-down module configured to cause the handset to appear to power-down upon actuation of a power-down sequence while continuing to maintain a connection between the wireless communication device and the remote operator;

a location identification mechanism carried by the second class of user;

one or more servers including one or more modules configured to;

determine a location of a first class of user;

update a first class of user location database with the location of the first class of user;

determine a location of a second class of user;

update a second class of user location database with the location of the second class of user;

compare location of the first class of user with the location of the second class of user;

determine whether predetermined criteria related to the location of the first class of user with the location of the second class of user is met;

initiate a communication to one or more entities if the predetermined criteria is met.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the first class of user is a child and the wireless communication device is a handset with the location identification mechanism, the second class of user is a sex offender and the location identification mechanism is a GPS transponder, and the one or more modules determine the location of the child by determining the location of the handset, and determine the location of the sex offender by determining the location of the GPS transponder.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the one or more modules determine whether the sex offender is within a predetermined distance of the child.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the one or more modules initiate a communication to at least one of a 911 operator, a telephone operator, police, a parent, a guardian, and a school official.

9. A wireless communication device configured to be communicatively coupled to a wireless network, the wireless communication device comprising:

an antenna system configured to send and receive signals over a wireless physical medium;

a radio system configured to manage the antenna system for use with a radio access technology to provide connection to the wireless network;

a location identification mechanism for obtaining and providing location information on the wireless communication device;

a central processing unit configured to execute instructions stored in a data storage area and access data stored in a data storage area;

a panic module executable by the central processing unit, the panic module configured to put the wireless communication device in a quasi-operative mode that appears to be off to the user and to place a communication to a remote operator, and to maintain the connection with the remote operator as long as the remote operator desires;

a remote operator-control module executable by the central processing unit, the remote operator-control module configured to allow the remote operator to maintain control of the communication with the wireless communication device and to allow the remote operator to remotely control one or more functions of an emergency ringer and audio output level on the wireless communication device;

an auto-answer module executable by the central processing unit, the auto-answer module configured to automatically establish a connection with the wireless communication device from an incoming call that is not answered manually;

a power-down module executable by the central processing unit, the power-down module configured to cause the handset to appear to power-down upon actuation of a power-down sequence while continuing to maintain a connection between the wireless communication device and the remote operator.

10. The wireless communication device of claim 9, wherein the wireless communication device is one or more of a cell phone, a personal digital assistant, a personal computer, a laptop computer, a PC card, and special purpose equipment.

11. The wireless communication device of claim 9, wherein the wireless communication device includes a battery to power the wireless communication device, and the battery is integrated into the wireless communication device and not easily removable.

12. The wireless communication device of claim 9, wherein the remote operator is a member from the group consisting of a 911 operator, a telephone operator, a parent, a guardian, a school official, and a police officer.

13. The wireless communication device of claim 9, wherein the auto-answer module is configured to establish a three-way call with the wireless communication device, another entity, and the remote operator.

14. The wireless communication device of claim 9, wherein the wireless communication device includes a display, lights, and audio output, and the power-down module is configured to cause the display, lights, and audio output to be turned off while the wireless communication device continues to operate.

15. The wireless communication device of claim 9, wherein the remote operator-control module is configured so that the emergency ringer on the wireless communication device is remotely actuatable by the remote operator to ring loudly to distract someone in the area of the wireless communication device.