Personal security alert and monitoring apparatus

• US 9,473,920 B2
• Filed: 07/21/2015
• Issued: 10/18/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pom-Co Partners, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Pom-Co Partners, Inc.
• Inventors: Leahy, Andrew, Lampe, Lukas
• Primary Examiner(s): DEAN, JR, JOSEPH E
• Application Number:
  US14/804,860
• Publication Number:
  US 20160029195A1
• Time in Patent Office: 455 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72421 with automatic activation of emergency service functions, e.g. upon sensing an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]

Abstract

A personal monitoring apparatus and methods of using the personal monitoring apparatus for contacting one or more third parties through wireless signals and/or a communication network in the event of an emergency. The personal apparatus comprises a data storage device configured to store information selected from the group consisting of user identification information, GPS location information, health information, insurance information, third party contact information and environmental information, a wireless transmitter connected to the data storage device, configured to transmit the information of the data storage device to a third party and an input device configured to simultaneously or near simultaneously activate the wireless transmitter, transmit the stored information of the data storage device and open a line of communication with the third party.

Claims

1. A personal monitoring apparatus comprising:

a data storage device with user identification information, a telephone number and a log file stored thereon, said data storage device configured to communicate the user identification information and the log file from the data storage device to a server of a cloud network;

a wireless transmitter connected to the data storage device, the wireless transmitter configured to establish a wireless tether between the personal monitoring apparatus and a computing device connected to the server; and

an input device affixed to the personal monitoring apparatus, said input device having a single input mechanism to direct the computing device via the wireless transmitter, to submit a web service request to the server, wherein said web service request is configured to simultaneously or near simultaneously, transmit the user identification information stored on the data storage device to a third party and transmit location information from a GPS processor of the computing device to the third party;

and the input device is further configured to select the telephone number stored on the data storage device based on the location information of the GPS processor and direct the computing device to open a line of voice or text communication between the personal monitoring apparatus tethered to the computing device and the third party, wherein the data storage device is a universal serial bus (USB) flash drive.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wireless transmitter is a Bluetooth, or Bluetooth low energy (BLE) transmitter.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising one or more sensors configured to automatically track and monitor a health related variable of a user or movement data.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the computing device is directed to submit the web service request in response to a change in the health related variable or the movement data.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus further includes one or more application programming interface (API) to integrate a feature of a third party product.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the single input mechanism selects the third party by the number of successive times the single input is pressed or the length of time the single input is pressed.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the data storage device of the apparatus further stores GPS location information received from the GPS processor of the computing device.

8. The personal monitoring apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a messaging service loaded into the data storage device.

9. A method for using the personal monitoring apparatus of claim 1, comprising the steps of:

receiving via the wireless transmitter connected to the personal monitoring apparatus a mass alert from a third party or a second personal monitoring apparatuses, said wireless transmitter being a Bluetooth or Bluetooth low energy transmitter;

storing the mass alert on the data storage device of the personal monitoring apparatus;

automatically re-broadcasting via the wireless transmitter, the mass alert to one or more personal monitoring apparatuses within range of the wireless transmitter.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a chain port attached to the personal monitoring apparatus, an identifying key or code imprinted on the personal monitoring apparatus and a low power state configured to reduce the amount of energy consumed by the personal monitoring apparatus.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wireless transmitter is a Bluetooth or Bluetooth low energy transmitter configured to broadcast or ping the computing device with a location of the apparatus or position of the apparatus relative to computing device and display the current apparatus location or position relative to the computing device on a display of the computing device.

12. A method for using a personal monitoring apparatus comprising the steps of:

storing user identification information, a telephone number and a log file on a data storage device of the personal monitoring apparatus, tethering the data storage device via a wireless transmitter to a computing device, said computing device connected to a server of a cloud network;

activating the personal monitoring apparatus, via a single input of an input device connected to the personal monitoring apparatus, wherein the single input selects a third party and directs the computing device, via the wireless transmitter to submit a web service request to the server, wherein the server simultaneously transmits the user identification information stored on the data storage device to the third party and transmits location information from a GPS processor of the computing device to the third party;

selecting, by the personal monitoring apparatus, the telephone number from the data storage device based on the location information of the GPS processor and directing the computing device via the wireless transmitter to open a line of voice or text communication between the personal monitoring apparatus tethered to the computing device and the telephone number of the third party, wherein the data storage device is a USB flash drive.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the wireless transmitter is a Bluetooth, or Bluetooth low energy (BLE) transmitter.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the step of activating, and opening the line of communication occurs automatically in response to one or more sensors tracking and monitoring a health related variable or movement data.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the one or more sensors are a third party product sensor communicating with the personal monitoring apparatus via an application programming interface (API), network connection, server, cloud network or a combination thereof.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of connecting via the wireless transmitter, to a second personal monitoring apparatus, transmitting a request for assistance and the user identification information stored on the data storage device to the second personal monitoring apparatus.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of forwarding the request for assistance and the user identification information stored on the data storage device from the second personal monitoring apparatus to the third party.

18. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of:

loading into the data storage device a messaging service; and

launching the messaging service.

19. A personal monitoring apparatus consisting of:

a chain port;

a logic board;

a data storage device having a USB form factor powered by a USB rechargeable power source, wherein said data storage device consists of user identification information, a telephone number and a log file stored thereon, and the data storage device is configured to communicate the user identification information and the log file from the data storage device to a server of a cloud network;

a wireless transmitter configured to establish a wireless tether between the personal monitoring apparatus and a computing device connected to the server;

an available low power state configured to conserve energy of the personal monitoring apparatus;

an input device affixed to the personal monitoring apparatus having a single input mechanism configured to select a third party and direct the computing device, via the wireless transmitter, to submit a web service request to the server, said web service request configured to simultaneously or near simultaneously transmit the user identification information stored on the data storage device and transmit GPS location information stored by the computing device;

the input device is further configured to select the telephone number stored on the data storage device based on the GPS location information stored by the computing device and open a line of voice or text communication between the personal monitoring apparatus tethered to the computing device and the third party; and

a means for producing an output signal selected from the group consisting of flashing lights, sounds, vibrations and a combination thereof.