Proximity locator system

• US 7,724,137 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2007
• Issued: 05/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Card Logistics Properties, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Zoltar Systems Corporation
• Inventors: Page, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood; Jennifer
• Application Number:
  US11/673,371
• Publication Number:
  US 20070194911A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,201 Days
• Field of Search: 3405721-5729, 340 58- 586, 3405391-53915
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/65 stored on portable record carriers, e.g. on smartcards, RFID tags or CD
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 50/80 for detecting, monitoring or modelling epidemics or pandemics, e.g. flu

Abstract

A Proximity Locator System for individuals includes a credit card size card which is carried in an individual'"'"'s wallet. The card is provided with a wireless communication device which is used in conjunction with a locating device to locate an individual. This may be utilized to locate individuals lost at sea, in an avalanche, or under the debris of a fallen building. The communication device on the card may be solar powered or activated by a RF signal from the locator device. The card does not require a battery to power the communication device. Therefore it may be carried by and individual and activated at any time. In this manner it is fully operational when someone is attempting to locate the card. The card also contains a smart chip with vital information about the individual which can be accessed by individuals with different authority levels.

Claims

1. A reader device comprising:

a first interface;

a second interface;

said first interface being adapted to be brought into an operable relationship with an authorization device; and

said second interface being adapted to be brought into an operable relationship with an information device;

wherein while said first interface is brought into said operable relationship with said authorization device and said second interface is brought into said operable relationship with said information device, simultaneously;

said reader device is adapted to communicate with said authorization device so as to obtain authorization to access information stored in said information device;

wherein the reader device obtains authorization to access information stored in the information device by obtaining authorization information from the authorization device, submitting the authorization information to the information device such that the information device determines, based on the authorization information, whether to permit access by the reader device to the information stored in the information device thereby obtaining access to the information stored on the information device if, based on the determination, the information device permits the reader device to access the information.

2. A reader device of claim 1, wherein an operable relationship comprises one of a direct physical connection and a direct wireless connection.

3. The reader device of claim 1, wherein said authorization device and said information device each comprise a smart card chip.

4. The reader device of claim 1, wherein said information device stores a plurality of types of information;

said information device storing a first type of said plurality of types of information with a first permission requirement and a second type of said plurality of types of information with a second permission requirement; and

said reader device obtains access to types of information based on a permission level of said authorization device.

5. A method for accessing information stored on a information device by a reader device, said reader device comprising:

a first interface;

a second interface;

said first interface being adapted to be brought into an operable relationship with an authorization device; and

said second interface being adapted to be brought into an operable relationship with an information device;

said method comprising;

bringing said first interface into said operable relationship with said authorization device and bringing said second interface into said operable relationship with said information device, simultaneously; and

communicating, by said reader device, with said authorization device so as to obtain authorization to access data stored by said information device;

wherein the communicating, by said reader device, with said authorization device so as to obtain authorization comprises;

obtaining authorization information from the authorization device;

submitting the authorization information to the information device;

determining, by the information device, based on the authorization information, whether to permit access by the reader device to the information stored in the information device and permitting access to the reader device based on the determining.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein an operable relationship comprises one of a direct physical connection and a direct wireless connection.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said authorization device and said information device each comprise a smart card chip.

8. A reader device comprising:

a biometric device; and

an interface;

said biometric device being adapted to obtain biometric information;

said interface being adapted to be brought into an operable relationship with an information device;

wherein, when said interface is brought into said operable relationship with said information device;

said reader device submits biometric information, obtained by said biometric device, to said information device to obtain authorization to access information stored in said information device;

wherein the reader device submits the biometric information to the information device such that the information device determines, based on the biometric information, whether to permit access by the reader device to the information stored in the information device thereby obtaining access to the information stored on the information device if, based on the determination, the information device permits the reader device to access the information.

9. A reader device of claim 8, wherein an operable relationship comprises one of a direct physical connection and a direct wireless connection.

10. The reader device of claim 8, wherein said information device comprises a smart card chip.