Electronic monitoring home unit and installation methods

• US 9,324,223 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2012
• Issued: 04/26/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Attenti Electronic Monitoring Ltd.
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Shuva, David, Zygman, Meir, Rosenfeld, Ido, Shechter, Omer
• Primary Examiner(s): Lieu, Julie
• Application Number:
  US13/492,060
• Publication Number:
  US 20130328678A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,418 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0227 System arrangements with a plurality of child units
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0236 Threshold setting
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0238 adding new units to the system
• 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 21/0294 Display details on parent unit
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49764 with testing or indicating

Abstract

A new and improved electronic monitoring home units and associated installation methods. The present disclosure provides for an electronic monitoring home unit capable of automated confirmation of location and method of automated confirmation of location when a home unit has been installed. The present disclosure provides for a home unit capable of intelligent inclusion zone setting for a home unit and a method of such inclusion zone setting. The present disclosure also provides for a streamlined installation method with automated communication between a home unit and central monitoring system.

Claims

1. A method of location confirmation of a stationary electronic monitoring home unit, the method comprising:

providing a security bracelet;

providing an electronic monitoring home unit, the home unit including a processor storing a destination location for the home unit, a communication module with location capabilities for detecting the location of the home unit, wireless communication capabilities, and a display;

binding the security bracelet to the home unit;

the communication module detecting the location of the electronic monitoring home unit;

the processor confirming that the detected location of the home unit is within a predetermined radius of the destination location, wherein an alarm is activated if the detected location of the home unit is not within the predetermined radius of the destination location; and

upon activation and installation, the communication module transmitting a confirmation that the home unit has been installed, the confirmation including the location of the home unit.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the location capabilities include Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) based location capabilities.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the location capabilities include cellular triangulation.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein, if the home unit does not transmit a confirmation within a predetermined period of time, an alarm is activated.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the home unit is bound to multiple security bracelets.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein a single security bracelet is bound to multiple home units.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein, upon activation of the home unit, a secondary confirmation is sent by the security bracelet.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the confirmation is sent to a central monitoring system.

9. A stationary electronic monitoring home unit with automated location confirmation capabilities, the home unit comprising:

a processor storing a destination location for the home unit;

a communication module with location capabilities for detecting the location of the home unit and wireless communication capabilities, wherein the communication module is configured to communicate wirelessly with a security bracelet;

a display;

wherein the processor confirms that the detected location of the home unit is within a predetermined radius of the destination location, wherein an alarm is activated if the detected location of the home unit is not within the predetermined radius of the destination location; and

wherein, upon activation and installation of the home unit, the communication module is configured to transmit an installation confirmation to a central monitoring system, the confirmation including the location of the home unit.

10. The home unit of claim 9, wherein the location capabilities include GNSS based location capabilities.

11. The home unit of claim 10, wherein the location capabilities include cellular triangulation.

12. The home unit of claim 10, wherein, the processor controls the display to show installation instructions.

13. The home unit of claim 10, further including a user interface capable of providing audible feedback.

14. The home unit of claim 13, wherein the user interface provides audible installation instructions.

15. The home unit of claim 10, wherein, if the location of the installed home unit is not within a predetermined radius of a programmed destination location, the home unit triggers an alarm.

16. A method of setting an inclusion zone range for a stationary electronic monitoring home unit, the method comprising:

providing a stationary electronic monitoring home unit, the home unit including a processor, a communication module with location capabilities for detecting the location of the home unit and wireless communication capabilities, and a display, wherein the processor is programmed with a predetermined maximum allowed range for an inclusion zone and with a destination location for the home unit;

confirming, with the processor, that the detected location of the home unit is within a predetermined radius of the destination location, wherein an alarm is activated if the detected location of the home unit is not within the predetermined radius of the destination location;

binding the home unit to a security bracelet;

detecting, by the home unit, the distance of the security bracelet worn by a monitored person from the home unit; and

adjusting the inclusion zone range based on the distances detected.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the distance of the security bracelet from the home unit is detected based on the received signal strength from the security bracelet.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the home unit varies the inclusion zone range based on the time of day.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the home unit transmits an alert to the central monitoring system if the security bracelet is detected to be outside the inclusion zone range for a predetermined period of time.

20. A stationary electronic monitoring home unit capable of automatically adjusting a home inclusion zone, the home unit comprising:

a communication module with location capabilities for detecting the location of the home unit and wireless communication capabilities, wherein the communication module is configured to communicate with a security bracelet;

a display;

a processor programmed with a predetermined maximum allowed range for a home inclusion zone and with a destination location for the home unit;

wherein the processor confirms that the detected location of the home unit is within a predetermined radius of the destination location, wherein an alarm is activated if the detected location of the home unit is not within the predetermined radius of the destination location;

wherein the home unit is bound to a security bracelet, wherein, when the home unit is installed, the home unit is configured to detect the distance of the security bracelet worn by a monitored person from the home unit; and

wherein the home unit adjusts the inclusion zone range based on the distances detected.

21. The home unit of claim 20, wherein the distance of the security bracelet from the home unit is detected based on the received signal strength from the security bracelet.

22. The home unit of claim 20, wherein the distance of the security bracelet from the home unit is detected based on at least one of time of arrival (TOA) or angle of arrival (AOA).

23. The home unit of claim 20, wherein the home unit adjusts the inclusion zone range based on the time of day.

24. The home unit of claim 20, wherein the home unit transmits an alert to the central monitoring system if the security bracelet is detected to be outside the inclusion zone range for a predetermined period of time.

25. A method for remotely installing a stationary electronic monitoring home unit, comprising:

providing a home unit and a security bracelet at a monitoring location for a monitored person, wherein the home unit includes a processor, and wherein the processor stores a destination location for the home unit, a communication module with location capabilities for detecting the location of the home unit and wireless communication capabilities, and a display, and wherein the security bracelet includes wireless communication capabilities;

securing the security bracelet onto a limb of the monitored person;

physically installing the home unit at a desired location within the monitoring location;

binding the security bracelet to the home unit through wireless communication; and

wherein, upon activation, the home unit automatically communicates with a central monitoring system to confirm completed installation of the home unit;

the processor confirms that the detected location of the home unit is within a predetermined radius of the destination location, wherein an alarm is activated if the detected location of the home unit is not within the predetermined radius of the destination location; and

wherein the display shows information confirming completed installation.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein, before the bracelet is secured onto a limb of the monitored person, the security bracelet is programmed with information identifying the monitored person.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the home unit further comprises location capabilities, and wherein, upon installation, the home unit communicates its location to the central monitoring system.