Personal safety and locator device

• US 8,669,865 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2010
• Issued: 03/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: King SAUD University
• Original Assignee: King SAUD University
• Inventors: Al-Rehaili, Ahmed G., Al-Rehaili, Abdullah Ghazi M.
• Primary Examiner(s): MCNALLY, KERRI L
• Application Number:
  US12/762,300
• Publication Number:
  US 20100308992A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,425 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.13, 340/573.1, 340/573.6, 340/945, 340/963, 340/966, 340/961, 340/539.18, 340/539.2, 340/435, 340/436, 340/572.1
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: B63C 9/0005 by means of alarm devices for persons falling into the water, e.g. by signalling, by controlling the propulsion or manoeuvring means of the boat alarms responsive to presence of persons in a body of water in general G08B21/08
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/685 using pulse modulation, e.g. pulse frequency modulation
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/17 Emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence

Abstract

An automatically provisioned passenger safety and locator device is described. In one aspect, the locator device includes a microcontroller with a processor coupled to the memory comprising computer-program instructions executable by the processor that, responsive to activation, detects a seat number for the seat of a plurality of seats coupled to a transportation vehicle. The seat is in proximity to and in association with the tracking apparatus. Additionally, the computer program instructions generate and communicate a signal to a search and rescue center. The signal includes the seat number and location coordinates of the tracking apparatus. The seat number is utilized by the search rescue team to facilitate respective operations by determining personal information associated with any passenger assigned to the seat.

Claims

1. A personal search and locator device (“

tracking apparatus”

) comprising;

a microcontroller including at least one processor coupled to a memory, the memory comprising computer-program instructions executable by the processor to perform steps comprising;

responsive to activation;

detecting a seat number for a single seat from a plurality of seats coupled to a transportation vehicle, the step of detecting the seat number configured to automatically provision only the single seat as in proximity to and in association with the tracking apparatus; and

generating and communicating a signal to a search and rescue center, the signal comprising the seat number and location coordinates of the tracking apparatus, the seat number for reconciling with reservation information to identify personal information associated with any passenger assigned to the seat.

2. The tracking apparatus of claim 1, wherein the seat number is preconfigured in the memory.

3. The tracking apparatus of claim 1, wherein the seat number is automatically determined and stored in the memory responsive to power activation of the tracking apparatus.

4. The tracking apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tracking apparatus is made from a material that is one or more of fireproof, substantially resistance to breakage, and waterproof.

5. The tracking apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tracking apparatus is operatively coupled to a compartment associated with an oxygen mask such that upon release of the oxygen mask to a passenger in the seat, the tracking apparatus is also delivered to the passenger.

6. The tracking apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tracking apparatus is a bracelet configured to be worn on a passenger wrist, a glove, or a necklace.

7. The tracking apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tracking apparatus comprises a compass configured to present a direction of travel to a viewer.

8. The tracking apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tracking apparatus comprises a mirror configured to reflect light as a signal.

9. The tracking apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tracking apparatus comprises a global positioning system chip set.

10. The tracking apparatus of claim 1, wherein the tracking apparatus comprises a secondary power source operatively configured to provide power to components of the tracking apparatus.

11. The tracking apparatus of claim 10, wherein the secondary power source is a set of photovoltaic energy cells.

12. A system for search, rescue, and recovery of one or more vehicle passengers, the system comprising:

a safety device;

a set of satellites;

a search, rescue, and recovery authority;

wherein the safety device comprises;

a processor operatively coupled to a memory, the memory comprising computer-program instructions executable by the processor to;

automatically provisioning the safety device with a unique identifier;

automatically send the unique identifier in combination with geographical coordinates corresponding to the location of the safety device to the set of satellites for communication to the search, rescue, and recovery authority (“

authority”

), the unique identifier corresponding to a particular one passenger of the one or more vehicle passengers; and

wherein, responsive to receiving the unique identifier and the geographical coordinates, the authority determines characteristics of the particular one passenger to facilitate any search, rescue, and recovery operations for the particular one passenger.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the unique identifier is a seat number.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the set of satellites represents a respective portion of a global positioning system.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the characteristics are determined from a passenger reservation system.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein the system further comprises;

a transportation vehicle; and

a delivery system, the delivery system providing the safety device to the particular one passenger responsive to one or more events.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the one or more events comprise a predetermined threshold drop in oxygen level in the transportation vehicle.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the one or more events comprise a manual activation event from a user.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the transportation vehicle is airplane, bus, or a boat.