Large area position/proximity correction device with alarms using (D)GPS technology

• US 7,920,066 B2
• Filed: 07/24/2008
• Issued: 04/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Research Institute, Inc.
• Original Assignee: International Research Institute, Inc.
• Inventors: Troxler, Robert Ernest
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US12/179,078
• Publication Number:
  US 20080278309A1
• Time in Patent Office: 985 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/573.3, 340/573.4, 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/539.13, 340/539.26, 340/686.1, 340/988, 340/989, 701/1, 701/3, 342/357.07, 342/357.06
• US Class Current: 340/573.4
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 15/023 Anti-evasion devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/005 with correlation of navigation data from several sources, e.g. map or contour matching G01C21/30 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0211 Combination with medical sensor, e.g. for measuring heart rate, temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/023 Power management, e.g. system sleep and wake up provisions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0261 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect trespassing over a fixed physical boundary, e.g. the end of a garden
• 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 21/0277 Communication between units on a local network, e.g. Bluetooth, piconet, zigbee, Wireless Personal Area Networks [WPAN]

Abstract

A collar to be worn on an object or a large or small animal has been designed incorporating (D)GPS technology. The operation of the device includes programming the three dimensional boundary into the memory of the device and simply installing the collar on the animal. As the animal approaches the preprogrammed boundary, a first alarm sounds when the subject is within an arbitrary user defined distance, and a second more drastic alarm such as a shock correction is applied when the subject approaches a second position closer to the boundary. Means to easily program the device are also included in the system. The device has the capability to call or transmit important information such as location, speed, identity, and medical parameters, etc. to a station automatically or when polled. All necessary analog and digital circuitry, microprocessor, programming, communications hardware are integrated into the collar. The device also has applications in land, air and sea navigation, farming, construction, tracking stolen vehicles, and keeping track of children. This device could also be embedded in a specialized lawnmower that would know where your yard ended and your neighbor'"'"'s began, and traverse around all obstacles in the yard. Important Military applications would include warning and directing soldiers of front line boundaries, minefield mapping and 3-D direction around MOA'"'"'s for aircraft.

Claims

1. A movable boundary detection device, comprising:

(a) a receiver operable to receive a positioning signal including actual position coordinates of a movable device in a first space;

(b) a memory module including a memory to store predefined position coordinates for defining a boundary between a second space and the first space;

(c) a processor module connected to the receiver and the memory module and operable to compare the actual position coordinates to the predefined position coordinates; and

(d) an indicator connected to the processor module and operable to indicate when the actual position coordinates are a predetermined distance from the boundary between the first space and the second space.

2. The device of claim 1 comprising a transmitter configured to transmit a request for assistance.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the receiver receives a request for information.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the requested information includes at least one of medical parameters, location, speed, satellite health, and diagnostics.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the processor assigns one of a secure area designation and an unsecure area designation to one of the volumes and areas defined by the first and second spaces.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first and second spaces is located within a residence, a hospital, a battlefield, a military operations area, a civilian area.

7. The device of claim 1 wherein the processor is configured to assign by default a secure designation to at least one of the first and second spaces.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein the indicator provides an audible signal when the actual position coordinates are a predetermined distance from the boundary between the first space and the second space.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein the processor is configured to define an object space around a subject.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein the subject includes a person.

11. The device of claim 9 wherein the subject includes one of an Alzheimer'"'"'s patient and a soldier.

12. The device of claim 9 wherein the subject wears a device that includes the receiver, the memory module, the processor, and the indicator.

13. The device of claim 1 wherein the device is further configured to one of continuously communicate, intermittently communicate, and automatically communicate data with a plurality of wearable devices and a base station.

14. The device of claim 1 wherein the communication data include at least one of location, speed, identity, medical parameters, and physical parameters of the subject.

15. The device of claim 1 wherein the processor is configured to take a corrective action when the actual position coordinates of the movable device are a predetermined distance from the actual position coordinates of a second movable device.

16. The device of claim 1 wherein the indicator is configured to send a signal to a base station and wherein the base station is configured to automatically alert an authority in response to receiving the signal.

17. The device of claim 1 comprising a transmitter configured to transmit an alarm signal when the first space intersects the second space.

18. The device of claim 17 wherein the alarm signal includes one of a message communicated via one of a cellular network and a wireless network.

19. The device of claim 17 comprising a base station that includes:

(i) a second receiver operable to receive the alarm signal from the transmitter; and

(ii) an indicator connected to the second receiver configured to indicate the receipt of the alarm signal.

20. The device of claim 17 wherein the alarm signal includes one of a text message, a voice message, and a digital message transmitted by a cellular network.

21. The device of claim 20 wherein the device is polled via one of a cellular network and the Internet and wherein the position coordinates are reported.

22. The device of claim 21 wherein the reported position coordinates are used to track at least one of a child, a patient, a soldier, equipment, a vessel, aircraft, and a pet.

23. The device of claim 1 wherein the position coordinates are defined by one of a geographic information system (GIS) and a web-based program and the position coordinates are downloaded to the wearable boundary detection device.

24. The device of claim 1 wherein the position coordinates are manually defined and input to the device.

25. The device of claim 1 wherein the position coordinates are updated and changed using wireless or cell phone techniques.

26. A method for determining the location of an object using movable boundary detection device, the method comprising:

(a) receiving, by a receiver, a positioning signal including actual position coordinates of a movable device in a first space;

(b) storing, at a memory module including a memory, predefined position coordinates for defining a boundary between a second space and the first space;

(c) comparing, at a processor module connected to the receiver and the memory module the actual position coordinates to the predefined position coordinates; and

(d) indicating, by an indicator connected to the processor module, when the actual position coordinates are a predetermined distance from the boundary between the first space and the second space.

27. The method of claim 26 comprising transmitting a request for assistance.

28. The method of claim 27 comprising receiving a request for information.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the requested information includes at least one of medical parameters, location, speed, satellite health, and diagnostics.

30. The method of claim 27 comprising assigning one of a secure area and an unsecure area designation to one of the volumes and areas defined by the first and second spaces.

31. The method of claim 27 wherein at least one of the first and second spaces is located within a residence, a hospital, a battlefield, a military operations area, a civilian area.

32. The method of claim 27 comprising assigning by default a secure designation to at least one of the first and second spaces.

33. The method of claim 27 comprising providing an audible signal when the actual position coordinates are a predetermined distance from the boundary between the first space and the second space.

34. The method of claim 27 comprising defining an object space around a subject.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein the subject includes a person.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein the subject includes one of an Alzheimer'"'"'s patient and a soldier.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein the subject wears a device that includes the receiver, the memory module, the processor, and the indicator.

38. The method of claim 27 comprising one of continuously communicating, intermittently communicating, and automatically communicating data with a plurality of wearable devices and a base station.

39. The method of claim 27 wherein communicating data with a plurality of wearable devices and a base station includes communicating at least one of location, speed, identity, medical parameters, and physical parameters of the subject.

40. The method of claim 27 comprising taking a corrective action when the actual position coordinates of the movable device are a predetermined distance from the actual position coordinates of a second movable device.

41. The method of claim 27 comprising sending a signal to a base station and automatically alerting an authority.

42. The method of claim 27 comprising transmitting an alarm signal when the first space intersects the second space.

43. The method of claim 42 wherein transmitting the alarm signal includes transmitting a message via one of a cellular network and a wireless network.

44. The method of claim 42 comprising, at a base station,

receiving, by a second receiver, the alarm signal from the transmitter;

and

indicating, by an indicator connected to the second receiver, receipt of the alarm signal.

45. The method of claim 27 comprising defining the position coordinates by one of a geographic information system (GIS) and a web-based program and the position coordinated are downloaded to the wearable boundary detection device.

46. The method of claim 27 comprising manually defining the position coordinates and inputting the position coordinates into the device.

47. The method of claim 27 wherein the alarm includes one of a text message, a voice message, and a digital message transmitted by a cellular network.

48. The method of claim 47 wherein the device is polled via one of a cellular network and the Internet and the position coordinates are reported.

49. The method of claim 48 wherein the reported location or information is used to track at least one of a child, a patient, a soldier, equipment, a vessel, aircraft, and a pet.

50. The method of claim 27 wherein the position coordinates are updated and changed using wireless or cell phone techniques.