Determining location and survivability of a captive person under a disaster situation by use of a mobile device

• US 7,640,003 B1
• Filed: 12/28/2008
• Issued: 12/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yang Pan
• Original Assignee: Yang Pan
• Inventors: Pan, Yang
• Primary Examiner(s): Yun; Eugene
• Application Number:
  US12/344,519
• Time in Patent Office: 366 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.1, 455/404.2, 455/414.1, 455/414.2, 4554561-4563, 455/457, 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/521, 455/572, 455/574, 455/127.1, 455/127.5, 455/343.1, 455/343.6
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 29/181 due to failing power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/1615 Switching on; Switching off, e.g. remotely battery saving circuits associated with selective call operation H04W52/00; details of power consumption reduction in a PLL, H03L7/0802, H03L7/14, H03L2207/08, H03L2207/18; muting amplifiers by gain control see H03G3/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72418 for supporting emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0274 by switching on or off the equipment or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A mobile computing and communication device for an emergency occasion is disclosed. The device, for example, is useful for a trapped person under a mound of debris created by a fallen building during an earthquake or a terrorist attack. The invention is based upon a conventional mobile communication device with an additional communication unit. The additional unit is based upon a short-range and ad hoc communication network. The invention is characterized by that a power management unit is used to monitor the remaining power of a battery system for the mobile device. If the power is below a preset threshold value, the main function of the mobile device as a mobile phone is switched off and the reserved power is used to supply energy for the second communication unit, which typically consumes much less power and lasts for very long time. An authorized signal delivered by a nearby mobile rescue station will switch on the mobile device to provide the information with regard to trapped person'"'"'s identity, location and status. A sensory unit such as an accelerometer and/or a gyroscope may detect a signal if the person touches and/or moves the device after receiving a triggering signal.

Claims

1. A handheld mobile computing and communication device powered by a battery system for use at least as a mobile phone in a normal operation mode and for use as a survivability detecting device when a person is trapped in a disaster situation, the device comprising:

(a) a first communication unit providing a means for communicating with another communication device through a public telephone network;

(b) a second communication unit providing a means for communicating with another communication device through an ad hoc communication network after said first communication unit is powered off;

(c) an accelerometer/gyroscope for detecting motion of said device induced by the trapped person; and

(d) a power management unit comprising;

a means for supplying power for the first communication unit in a normal operation;

a means for measuring remaining power of the battery system in a normal operation;

a means for switching off power supply to the first communication unit if the measured power is below a predetermined value;

a means for supplying power for said second communication unit after said first communication unit is powered off; and

a means for supplying additional power to activate said accelerometer/gyroscope if an authorized external signal is received by said second communication unit,

whereby said power management unit enables said device to operate for a prolonged period of time by efficiently utilizing the reserved battery power while the trapped person is waiting for the rescue, which maximizes the opportunity that a trapped person is rescued in a disaster situation such as after an earthquake or a terrorist attack.

2. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein said handheld mobile computing and communication device is contained in a single case.

3. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein said device further including:

a GPS (Global Positioning System) for determining the location of said device.

4. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein the second communication unit comprising a short range communication device, for providing said ad hoc communication means, conforming to a standard or a combination of standards from the following group:

ZigBee (IEEE 802.15.4 and its amendments);

Bluetooth (IEEE 802.11b and its amendments);

WiFi (IEEE 802.11 and its amendments); and

RFID (Radio Frequency Identification).

5. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein said authorized external signal is from a mobile rescue station comprising a communication device at least conforming to the same communication standard (s) as the second communication unit of the mobile device.

6. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein said second communication unit further comprising a means for a low power operation as a receiver only before the authorized external signal is received.

7. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein said second communication unit is operated as a transceiver after the authorized external signal is received.

8. The device as recited in claim 1, wherein said battery system comprising a main battery and an auxiliary battery.

9. The device as recited in claim 8, wherein said auxiliary battery is exclusively used for the second communication unit, accelerometer/gyroscope and other said function blocks for the emergency use.

10. A method of communication between a handheld mobile computing and communication device associated with a trapped person and a mobile rescue station associated with a rescue team, wherein the mobile device comprising a first communication unit for communicating through a public telephone network, a second communication unit for communicating through an ad hoc communication network, an accelerometer/gyroscope, a battery system, and functional blocks for delivering an event of notable vibration and/or a ring tone, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) switching off the power supply from the battery system to said first communication unit;

(b) switching on the power supply from the battery system to support the operation of said second communication unit;

(c) operating said second communication unit under a low power mode as a receiver only;

(d) receiving an authorized signal from the mobile rescue station;

(e) switching on the accelerometer/gyroscope and said functional blocks;

(f) delivering alert signals including an event of notable vibrations and/or a ring tone;

(g) measuring signals generated from the accelerometer and/or gyroscope in a predetermined frequency; and

(h) operating the second communication unit as a transceiver and transmitting the measured signals to the mobile rescue station.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein said second communication unit comprising a short range communication device conforming to a standard or a combination of standards from the following group:

ZigBee (IEEE 802.15.4 and its amendments);

Bluetooth (IEEE 802.11b and its amendments);

WiFi (IEEE 802.11n and its amendments); and

RFID (Radio Frequency Identification).

12. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein the mobile rescue station comprising a communication device at least conforming to the same communication standard (s) as the second communication unit of the mobile device.

13. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein said mobile computing and communication device further including a GPS (Global Positioning System) for determining the position of the trapped person.

14. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein said mobile computing and communication device further comprising a microphone and the survivability of the trapped person is determined by receiving voice signals triggered by the trapped person and by subsequently transmitting the signals to the rescue station by said second communication unit.

15. The method as recited in claim 10, wherein said mobile computing and communication device further comprising an on-board infrared sensor and the survivability of the trapped person is determined by receiving signals induced by the trapped person and by subsequently transmitting the signals to the rescue station by said second communication unit.