Personal items network, and associated methods

• US 8,688,406 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2013
• Issued: 04/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Vock, Curtis A., Amsbury, Burl W., Jonjak, Paul, Larkin, Adrian F., Youngs, Perry
• Primary Examiner(s): Barbee, Manuel L
• Application Number:
  US13/761,829
• Publication Number:
  US 20130151699A1
• Time in Patent Office: 418 Days
• Field of Search: 702/150, 702/178, 702/187, 702/188
• US Class Current: 702/188
• CPC Class Codes: A01K 29/005 Monitoring or measuring activity, e.g. detecting heat or mating
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/046 Means for detecting hazards or accidents
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/04 Babies, e.g. for SIDS detection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/10 Athletes
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0214 of power generation or supply
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0242 adapted to measure environmental factors, e.g. temperature, pollution
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0285 Apparatus for single use
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0412 Low-profile patch shaped housings
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0456 Apparatus provided with a docking unit
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/166 the sensor is mounted on a specially adapted printed circuit board
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02438 with portable devices, e.g. worn by the patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1113 Local tracking of patients, e.g. in a hospital or private home
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1114 Tracking parts of the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1117 Fall detection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1118 Determining activity level
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/112 : Gait analysis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1122 : of movement trajectories
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14532 : for measuring glucose, e.g. by tissue impedance measurement
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/14542 : for measuring blood gases A61B5/14551 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/22 : Ergometry; Measuring muscular strength or the force of a muscular blow exercising apparatus A63B21/00 ; measuring of work or force in general G01L
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4866 : Evaluating metabolism A61B5/083 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6807 : Footwear
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 : Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/6833 : Adhesive patches
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/721 : using a separate sensor to detect motion or using motion information derived from signals other than the physiological signal to be measured
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7242 : using integration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2208/12 : specially adapted for children
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/30 : Speed
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/40 : Acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2220/50 : Force related parameters
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 : Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/00 : Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of preceding groups; Controlling or monitoring of exercises, sportive games, training or athletic performances
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/0028 : for running, jogging or speed-walking movable endless bands A63B22/02
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/16 : for cycling , i.e. arrangements on or for real bicycles
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 69/26 : attached to the human body
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/798 : for assessing skills or for ranking players, e.g. for generating a hall of fame computing the game score A63F13/46
• CPC Class Codes: B68B 1/00 : Devices in connection with harness, for hitching, reining, training, breaking or quietening horses or other traction animals devices of this kind combined with traction harness B68B3/00; stable equipment A01K1/00; devices forming part of a vehicle B62C
• CPC Class Codes: B68C 1/00 : Saddling equipment for riding- or pack-animals
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/16 : for measuring distance of clearance between spaced objects
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/44 : for weighing persons
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/00 : Auxiliary devices for weighing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/3728 : with wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/04 : by measuring elastic deformation of gauges, e.g. of springs
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/16 : using properties of piezoelectric devices
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/22 : using resistance strain gauges
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 1/127 : for acceleration values
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/00 : Measuring acceleration; Measuring deceleration; Measuring shock, i.e. sudden change of acceleration
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/0891 : with indication of predetermined acceleration values G01P15/135 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 15/18 : in two or more dimensions
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/00 : Measuring linear or angular speed; Measuring differences of linear or angular speeds G01P5/00 - G01P11/00 take precedence; direction and speed indication G01P13/045; counting mechanisms G06M
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/50 : for measuring linear speed G01P3/56 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/08 : Systems for determining direction or position line
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/00 : Satellite radio beacon positioning systems; Determining position, velocity or attitude using signals transmitted by such systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3089 : Monitoring arrangements determined by the means or processing involved in sensing the monitored data, e.g. interfaces, connectors, sensors, probes, agents software debugging using additional hardware using a specific debug interface G06F11/3656; performance evaluation by tracing or monitoring G06F11/3466
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 : Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/10 : together with the recording, indicating or registering of other data, e.g. of signs of identity
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/24 : Race time-recorders
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 : using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/20 : Monitoring the location of vehicles belonging to a group, e.g. fleet of vehicles, countable or determined number of vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 9/00 : Traffic control systems for craft where the kind of craft is irrelevant or unspecified
• CPC Class Codes: G16Z 99/00 : Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 : Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/04 : Processing captured monitoring data, e.g. for logfile generation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 : using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2209/40 : using a wireless architecture
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 : Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 : using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/33 : for indoor environments, e.g. buildings
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 : Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H05K 5/0247 : Electrical details of casings, e.g. terminals, passages for cables or wiring

Abstract

A personal items network, comprising a plurality of items, each item having a wireless communications port for coupling in network with every other item, each item having a processor for determining if any other item in the network is no longer linked to the item, each item having an indicator for informing a user that an item has left the network, wherein a user may locate lost items. A method for locating lost personal items, comprising: linking at least two personal items together on a network; and depositing one or both of time and location information in an unlost item when one of the items is lost out of network.

Claims

1. A personal item comprising:

an indicator;

a receiver operative to receive broadcast communications from at least one of a plurality of other personal items; and

a processor operative to;

determine that a communication is no longer being received from the at least one of the plurality of other personal items at a particular time;

determine a current location of the personal item;

direct the indicator to provide an indication to a user at the personal item that the communication is no longer being received; and

retain the determined current location and the particular time.

2. The personal item of claim 1, further comprising dedicated positioning circuitry for determining the current location of the personal item.

3. The personal item of claim 1, wherein:

the receiver ceases receiving communications from the at least one of the plurality of other personal items when distance between the at least one of the plurality of personal items and the personal item exceeds a network distance.

4. The personal item of claim 3, wherein the network distance is between 50 feet and 100 feet.

5. The personal item of claim 1, wherein:

the receiver maintains receiving communications from the at least one of the plurality of other personal items when distance between the at least one of the plurality of personal items and the personal item is within a network distance.

6. The personal item of claim 1, wherein the indication comprises at least one of:

a visual indication;

an auditory indication; and

a tactile indication.

7. The personal item of claim 6, wherein the processor is further operative to:

direct the indicator to display at least one of the retained current location and the retained particular time.

8. The personal item of claim 6, wherein the indicator comprises a light emitting diode (“

LED”

).

9. The personal item of claim 1, wherein the personal item comprises at least one of:

a cell phone;

keys;

a wallet;

a purse;

a personal data assistant;

a watch; and

a computer.

10. The personal item of claim 1, wherein the receiver comprises a Bluetooth receiver.

11. A method for locating a lost electronic device, comprising:

establishing a communications path between a first electronic device and a second electronic device, wherein the communications path is within a personal items network;

determining that the first electronic device is no longer communicating with the second electronic device;

storing, in the first electronic device, at least one of a time and a location of the first electronic device in response to determining that the first electronic device is no longer communicating with the second electronic device; and

providing an output using the first electronic device informing a user at the first electronic device that the second electronic device is no longer communicating with the first electronic device in response to determining that the first electronic device is no longer communicating with the second electronic device, wherein the output is indicative of the stored at least one of time and location to guide the user to the second electronic device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the first electronic device comprises a cell phone providing the location.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the first electronic device comprises a GPS receiver providing the location.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein at least one of the first electronic device and the second electronic device comprises at least one device of the group consisting of a wallet, purse, personal data assistant, personal computer, watch, credit card, keys, and a cell phone.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein at least one of the first electronic device and the second electronic device comprises a credit card having a transceiver to facilitate the communications path.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein at least one of the first electronic device and the second electronic device comprises a transponder to reflect data to at least one other item within the personal items network.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

communicating the at least one of the time and the location from the first electronic device to a third electronic device.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the output comprises at least one of:

a visual output;

an auditory output; and

a tactile output.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

defining a cookie of information using the first electronic device to assist in locating lost items.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the defined cookie of information comprises the time and the location.