Communicating radio frequency modem for intrusion detection and tracking

• US 8,890,688 B2
• Filed: 08/03/2012
• Issued: 11/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jerry Schell
• Original Assignee: Jerry Schell
• Inventors: Schell, Jerry
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Hai
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bousono, Orlando
• Application Number:
  US13/566,021
• Publication Number:
  US 20140035743A1
• Time in Patent Office: 837 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/539.13, 34053931-53932, 340540-542, 340/545.6, 3405681-5682, 340569-5729, 340 101- 1052, 340/539.22, 340/539.26, 3405451-557, 340561-5683, 340/568.7, 109/21, 109/31, 109/38
• US Class Current: 340/541
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/126 for a housing, e.g. a box, a safe, or a room
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1436 with motion detection

Abstract

A cellular modem may give notice of changes in modes. The modem will change modes as a result of the breaking of a trip wire or the closing of contacts that are normally open or the opening of contacts that are normally closed or sensing motion or light, or sensing variations in resistance. One contact is provided to wake the unit from “sleep” and the other is provided to detect intrusion, motion, etc. Light detectors can detect light, such as when a closed container is opened. Closed contacts can be used in parallel to change any mode or open/closed contacts in parallel/series. The modem can be used to apprehend people breaking into or stealing luggage, equipment, boxes, etc. The present invention informs the user when the object being monitored is being moved or opened and can track the object'"'"'s location.

Claims

1. A modem for intrusion detection and tracking, comprising:

a) a modem removably attached on or within a container and switchable between a sleep mode and an active mode, said modem always connected to a source of power;

b) said modem including communication means for wirelessly transmitting in said active mode a first signal to a remote receiver responsive to sensing one or more triggering conditions;

c) plural sensing means connected to said modem for sensing said one or more triggering conditions, said plural sensing means being chosen form the group consisting of motion of said container, light shining on a light sensing means previously shielded from light, and intrusion into said container;

d) whereby, responsive to said plural sensing means sensing said one or more triggering conditions, (1) said plural sensing means send second signal to said modem which, responsive thereto, switches from said sleep mode to said active mode and then send said first signal to said remote receiver to notify said remote receiver that (a) said one or more triggering conditions has/have been sensed, and (b) identifying a particular triggering condition or particular triggering conditions from said one or more triggering conditions and identifying which one(s) of said motion of said container, said light shining on said light sensing means previously shielded from light, and/or said intrusion into said container which has/have been sensed, and (2) said modem activates means for tracking a location of said container, said means for tracking the location of said container being deactivated prior to its activation; and

e) wherein said active mode comprises;

(1) a tracking mode in which any one of said plural sensing means is employed and signals no present intrusion, said tracking mode operating both when said container is still and when said container is in motion;

(2) a motion detecting mode that detects whether said container is still or in motion by notifying to the remote receiver when a change from still to moving or from moving to still has taken place; and

(3) an alarm mode in which, responsive to actuation of any one of said plural sensing means, an enunciation is changed to denote intrusion, said alarm mode operating both when said container is still and when said container is in motion.

2. The modem of claim 1, wherein said first signal is transmitted via a system of cellular towers.

3. The modem of claim 1, wherein said first signal is transmitted via a system of radio towers.

4. The modem of claim 1, wherein said container comprises a box and said light shining on said light sensing means previously shielded from light is sensed when said box is opened.

5. The modem of claim 1, wherein said container comprises a suitcase.

6. The modem of claim 1, wherein said modem is battery powered.

7. The modem of claim 1, wherein said modem comprises a radio frequency modem.

8. The modem of claim 7, wherein said first signal is transmitted via a system of radio towers.

9. The modem of claim 1, wherein said plural sensing means comprises a trip wire.

10. The modem of claim 9, wherein said trip wire senses opening of a suitcase.

11. The modem of claim 9, wherein said trip wire is connected between said container and a stationary object whereby movement of said container with respect to said stationary object may be sensed.

12. A modem for intrusion and/or motion detection and tracking, comprising:

a) a radio frequency modem powered by a battery and removably attached within a container and always connected to said battery, said radio frequency modem being switchable between a sleep mode and an active mode;

b) said radio frequency modem including communication means for wirelessly transmitting a first signals via a system of cellular or radio towers to a remote receiver responsive to sensing one or more triggering conditions;

c) plural sensing means connected to said radio frequency modem for sensing said one or more triggering conditions, at least one of said one or more triggering conditions comprising motion of said container sensed by a trip wire having two ends connected to terminals on said communication means and a loop connected to said container, and at least another one of said one or more triggering conditions comprising intrusion into said container;

d) whereby, when said plural sensing means senses said one or more triggering conditions, including the breaking of said trip wire or disconnection of at least one of said two ends of said trip wire from one of said terminals, said plural sensing means sends a second signal to said radio frequency modem which, responsive thereto, switches from said sleep mode to said active mode and send said first signal to said remote receiver to notify said remote receiver that (1) said one or more triggering conditions has/have been sensed, and (2) identifying a particular triggering condition or particular triggering conditions from said one or more triggering conditions which has/have been sensed; and

e) wherein said active mode comprises;

(1) a tracking mode in which any one of said plural sensing means is employed and signals no present intrusion, said tracking mode operating both when said container is still and when said container is in motion;

(2) a motion detecting mode that detects whether said container is still or in motion by notifying to the remote receiver when a change from still to moving or from moving to still has taken place; and

(3) an alarm mode in which, responsive to actuation of any one of said plural sensing means, an enunciation is changed to denote intrusion, said alarm mode operating both when said container is still and when said container is in motion.

13. The modem of claim 12, wherein, responsive to sensing at least one of said one or more triggering conditions, said modem activates means for tracking a location of said container.

14. The modem of claim 12, wherein said container comprises a box or a suitcase and light shining on a light sensing means previously shielded from light is sensed when said box or suitcase is opened.

15. The modem of claim 12, wherein said plural sensing means solely comprise trip wires.

16. The modem of claim 12, wherein said one or more triggering conditions are chosen from the group consisting of said motion of said container, light shining on a sensor previously shielded from light, and said intrusion into said container.

17. The modem of claim 16, wherein said plural sensing means may sense all of said motion of said container, said light shining on said sensor previously shielded from light, and said intrusion into said container.