Multi-modal tracking locator alarm system

• US 9,786,153 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2015
• Issued: 10/10/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Justin London
• Original Assignee: Justin London
• Inventors: London, Justin
• Primary Examiner(s): Garcia, Santiago
• Application Number:
  US14/950,556
• Publication Number:
  US 20160240067A1
• Time in Patent Office: 686 Days
• Field of Search: 34053932
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/023 Power management, e.g. system sleep and wake up provisions
• 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 21/0269 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect the exact location of child or item using a navigation satellite system, e.g. GPS
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0275 Electronic Article Surveillance [EAS] tag technology used for parent or child unit, e.g. same transmission technology, magnetic tag, RF tag, RFID
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0277 Communication between units on a local network, e.g. Bluetooth, piconet, zigbee, Wireless Personal Area Networks [WPAN]
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/028 Communication between parent and child units via remote transmission means, e.g. satellite network
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0288 Attachment of child unit to child/article
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information

Abstract

Tagged receivers, tracking locator alert systems, and methods of transmitting an alert are disclosed. A tagged receiver receives a command over the network interface hardware, executes the received command, send data indicative of the status of an asset to which the tagged receiver is attached over the network interface hardware, determines an alert event has occurred, and activates an alert in response to determining that the alert event has occurred. The command includes arming the tagged receiver, disarming the tagged receiver, emitting an alert from the tagged receiver, sending data indicative of location, or a combination thereof. The alert event includes the motion sensors sensing a movement of the asset, receiving a command to emit an alert over the network interface hardware, the asset leaving a predetermined geo-fenced area, or a combination thereof.

Claims

1. A tagged receiver comprising:

one or more processors;

one or more memory modules communicatively coupled to the one or more processors;

an alarm light indicator communicatively coupled to the one or more processors;

a speaker communicatively coupled to the one or more processors;

network interface hardware communicatively coupled to the one or more processors;

one or more motion sensors communicatively coupled to the one or more processors;

a power supply, providing power to the tagged receiver, comprising one or more embedded chips, wherein the one or more embedded chips comprise one or more WiFi Chips, one or more GPS chips, one or more Bluetooth Chips, one or more RFID Chips, or a combination thereof;

a satellite antenna for sending and receiving GPS location data; and

machine readable instructions stored in the one or more memory modules that cause the tagged receiver to perform at least the following when executed by the one or more processors;

receive a command over the network interface hardware, wherein the command includes arming the tagged receiver, disarming the tagged receiver, emitting an alert from the tagged receiver, sending data indicative of location, or a combination thereof;

execute the received command;

send data indicative of the status of an asset to which the tagged receiver is attached over the network interface hardware;

determine an alert event has occurred, wherein the alert event includes the motion sensors sensing a movement of the asset, receiving a command to emit an alert over the network interface hardware, the asset leaving a predetermined geo-fenced area, or a combination thereof; and

activate an alert in response to determining that the alert event has occurred, wherein the alert includes a user programmable audio alarm output with the speaker, wherein the user programmable audio alarm optionally comprises a high decibel alarm that is output at a higher decibel than an output of the speaker when the alert event has not occurred.

2. The tagged receiver of claim 1 further comprising:

a body;

a removable body panel, wherein the one or more motion sensors are configured to sense an unauthorized motion of the removable body panel; and

an activation switch located behind the removable body panel, wherein the activation switch is configured to place the tagged receiver in an on state or an off state.

3. The tagged receiver of claim 1 further comprising a display communicatively coupled to the one or more processors, wherein the one or more processors execute machine readable instructions to visually output on the display data regarding the armed status of the asset.

4. The tagged receiver of claim 3 further comprising an accelerometer configured to measure the speed and acceleration of the tagged receiver.

5. The tagged receiver of claim 1 further comprising a camera communicatively coupled to the one or more processors, wherein the one or more processors automatically execute machine readable instructions in response to an alarm event to actuate the camera to automatically capture images in the vicinity of the tagged receiver.

6. The tagged receiver of claim 1, wherein the user programmable audio alarm is personalized to the type of asset to which the tagged receiver is attached.

7. The tagged receiver of claim 1 further comprising tactile input hardware communicatively coupled to the one or more processors, wherein the tactile input hardware includes an alarm activation button, that when depressed, cause the one or more processors to execute machine readable instructions to the alert.

8. The tagged receiver of claim 1 further comprising tactile input hardware communicatively coupled to the one or more processors, wherein the tactile input hardware includes a passcode entry system that includes a keypad, a security card receiving slot, a retina scanner, a finger print scanner, or a combination thereof.

9. The tagged receiver of claim 1 further comprising a microphone communicatively coupled to the one or more processors, wherein the microphone receives acoustic vibrations, and the one or more processors execute machine readable instructions to transform the acoustic vibrations received by the microphone into a speech input signal.

10. The tagged receiver of claim 1 further comprising and RFID scanner, wherein the one or more memory modules comprise one or more RFID decoder algorithms, wherein the one or more processors execute the RFID decoder algorithms to process RFID signals read by the RFID scanner.

11. A tracking locator alert system comprising:

a control device comprising;

a first one or more processors;

a first one or more memory modules communicatively coupled to the one or more processors;

a first display communicatively coupled to the first one or more processors;

a first power supply, providing power to the control device;

a digital compass including a magnetic sensor, wherein the digital compass is communicatively coupled to the one or more processors;

a first microphone communicatively coupled to the first one or more processors;

first tactile input hardware communicatively coupled to the first one or more processors;

first network interface hardware communicatively coupled to the first one or more processors;

a first satellite antenna for sending and receiving GPS location data; and

first machine readable instructions stored in the first one or more memory modules that cause the control device to perform at least the following when executed by the first one or more processors;

receive, through the first network interface hardware, a data signal indicative of the location and the status of an asset;

display the location and the status of the asset on the first display; and

send at least one command via the first network interface hardware indicative of at least one of arming the tracking locator alert system, disarming the tracking locator alert system, and activating an alert of the tracking locator alert system; and

one or more tagged receivers configured to communicate wirelessly with the control device, each of the one or more tagged receivers comprising;

a second one or more processors;

a second one or more memory modules communicatively coupled to the second one or more processors;

a magnet that emits a magnetic field that can be detected by magnetic sensors;

mounting hardware configured to affix the tagged receiver to a tracked asset;

a second alarm light indicator communicatively coupled to the second one or more processors;

a second speaker communicatively coupled to the second one or more processors;

second network interface hardware communicatively coupled to the second one or more processors;

one or more motion sensors communicatively coupled to the second one or more processors;

a second power supply, providing power to the tagged receiver, comprising one or more embedded chips, wherein the one or more embedded chips include one or more WiFi chips, one or more GPS chips, one or more Bluetooth chips, one or more RFID chips, or a combination thereof;

a second satellite antenna for sending and receiving GPS location data;

second machine readable instructions stored in the second one or more memory modules that cause the tagged receiver to perform at least the following when executed by the second one or more processors;

receive a command over the second network interface hardware, wherein the command includes arming the tagged receiver, disarming the tagged receiver, emitting an alert from the tagged receiver, sending data indicative of location, or a combination thereof;

execute the received command;

send data indicative of the status of an asset to which the tagged receiver is attached over the second network interface hardware to the control device;

determine an alert event has occurred, wherein the alert event includes the motion sensors sensing a movement of the asset, receiving a command to emit an alert over the second network interface hardware, the asset leaving a predetermined geo-fenced area, or a combination thereof; and

activate an alert in response to determining that the alert event has occurred.

12. The tracking locator alert system of claim 11, wherein the control device further comprises a speaker communicatively coupled to the first one or more processors of the control device, wherein the speaker outputs audible prompts and information regarding the status of an asset, the location of an asset, turn by turn directions to an asset, or a combination thereof.

13. The tracking locator alert system of claim 11, the control device further comprising a first alarm light indicator communicatively coupled to the first one or more processors, wherein the first alarm light indicator provides a visual indicator of when the tracking locator alert system is armed and when the tagged receiver experiences the alert event.

14. The tracking locator alert system of claim 11, wherein the control device and the tagged receiver are remotely synced over one of their respective RFID scanners, Bluetooth chips, WiFi chips, GPS chips, or a combination thereof.

15. The tracking locator alert system of claim 11 further comprising a remote server, wherein location data sent from the tagged receiver through the second network interface hardware is stored and is accessible by one of the control device through the first network interface hardware, an application on a mobile device, and authorized third parties.

16. The tracking locator alert system of claim 11, wherein the tagged receiver further comprises a casing, the casing comprising:

an electronic lock including an associated passcode entry key system, wherein the electronic lock is communicatively coupled to the second one or more processors of the tagged receiver;

a security card reader; and

a security card enabled to be read by the security card reader, wherein the security card is encoded at least to do one of arming the tracking locator alarm system, disarming the tracking locator alarm system, unlocking the electronic lock, or a combination thereof.

17. A method of transmitting an alert comprising:

syncing a tagged receiver configured to attach to and track an asset to a control device such that the tagged receiver and the control device wirelessly communicate with each other;

setting user preferences including geo-fencing parameters, sensitivity of motion sensors, personalized alert output, personalized alert events, or a combination thereof;

monitoring the asset for an alert event;

determining that the alert event has occurred;

activating an alert in response to determining that the alert event has occurred, wherein the alert includes a user programmable audio alarm output with a speaker, wherein the user programmable audio alarm optionally comprises a high decibel alarm that is output at a higher decibel than an output of the speaker when the alert event has not occurred; and

transmitting an alert message comprising GPS coordinates of the tagged receiver to the control device, an internet server, or a combination thereof.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the tagged receiver comprises a camera, the method further comprising:

capturing images of the vicinity of the tagged receiver with the camera in response to activating the alert; and

transmitting the image to the control device, an internet server, or a combination thereof.

19. The method of claim 17 further comprising:

disarming the tagged receiver by remotely transmitting a command from the control device to the tagged receiver to disarm the tagged receiver; and

programming the user programmable audio alarm on the tagged receiver so that it cannot be deactivated without the user disarming it.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

displaying the location of the asset; and

directing the user to the location of the asset once the user is in the geographic vicinity of the asset.