Tracking and monitoring apparatus and system

• US 9,898,915 B2
• Filed: 11/04/2013
• Issued: 02/20/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kinderguard Limited
• Original Assignee: Kinderguard Limited
• Inventors: Douglas, Raymond
• Primary Examiner(s): Lau, Hoi
• Application Number:
  US14/070,784
• Publication Number:
  US 20140152435A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,569 Days
• Field of Search: 3405371, 3405391-53919, 340 58, 340 552, 340438, 340 571, 340 582, 600300, 600301, 128903-905, 128920
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02055 Simultaneously evaluating both cardiovascular condition and temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/00 Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more direction or position line determinations; Position-fixing by co-ordinating two or more distance determinations using active systems G01S13/00, G01S15/00, G01S17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0211 Combination with medical sensor, e.g. for measuring heart rate, temperature
• 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 21/18 Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence

Abstract

A programmable mobile unit for a portable host, such as a person, comprising a microcontroller in communication with each of a detachable freespace communication module for communication with a control center, a GPS unit for communication with at least a GPS satellite system and a biometric sensor for monitoring and identifying the host.

Claims

1. A programmable mobile unit that is wearable by a host person, comprising:

a detachable freespace communication module for communication with a control center;

a GPS unit operable to take up communication with at least a GPS satellite system;

a biometric sensor arranged to monitor the host person and thereby obtain biological data specific to the host person, the biometric sensor comprising a plurality of body contacting elements; and

a microcontroller operable to take up communication with each of the communication module, the GPS unit and the biometric sensor, and to process the biological data in order to identify the host person by mapping the biological data against a biometric signature;

wherein the programmable mobile unit is wearable on a wrist of the host person;

wherein the microcontroller includes an interpretation program stored in a memory of the microcontroller;

wherein the interpretation program detects exception values falling outside allowable tolerances defined in a database stored in the memory of the microcontroller;

wherein the interpretation program prioritizes the exception values falling outside allowable tolerances defined in the database;

wherein the interpretation program selects those exception values which indicate that the host person is encountering significant difficulties;

wherein the microcontroller transmits the selected exception values to the control center via the communications module in communication with the microprocessor.

2. The programmable mobile unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detachable freespace communication module selectively switches between different freespace communication protocols for communicating with the control center.

3. The programmable mobile unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the memory of the microcontroller includes a database of acceptable behavior parameters for the host person.

4. The programmable mobile unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein the database defines the boundaries of acceptable geographical locations and acceptable biological values as a function of time for the host person.

5. The programmable mobile unit as claimed in claim 3, wherein the database is remotely programmable to take new activities and routines of the host person into account.

6. The programmable mobile unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein an initial identification of the host person takes place during a learning phase when the biometric sensor is first attached to the host person and the mobile unit is initially powered up.

7. The programmable mobile unit as claimed in claim 6, wherein the initial identification provides a reproducible, identifiable biometric signature for the host person.

8. The programmable mobile unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the biometric sensor comprises a power source and a flexible multi-sensor patch which continuously monitors the host person'"'"'s ECG, body temperature and respiration rate.

9. The programmable mobile unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the biometric sensor is provided with flexible circuitry allowing the sensor to adapt to the shape of the host person'"'"'s body.

10. The programmable mobile unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the biometric sensor and the microcontroller communicate using Bluetooth technology.

11. The programmable mobile unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the microcontroller is pre-programmed to periodically monitor and download up-to-date information from the GPS unit and the biometric sensor.

19. The programmable mobile unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein, during a learning phase, the microcontroller is configured to identify the host person by:

generating and transmitting signals into the body of the host person;

receiving signals from the host person'"'"'s body after they have been attenuated by the bioelectrical impedance of the host person'"'"'s body; and

analyzing the attenuated signals to produce a bioelectrical impedance signature capable of identifying the host person, wherein the bioelectrical impedance signature forms at least a part of the identifiable biometric signature.

20. The programmable mobile unit as claimed in claim 19, wherein, in a normal operation mode entered after the learning phase, the microcontroller is configured to check for exception values falling outside acceptable tolerances by:

comparing the bioelectrical impedance signature of the host person recorded during said learning phase with a live bioelectrical impedance signature recorded from the host person'"'"'s body.

21. The programmable mobile unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein, to identify the host person, the microcontroller is configured to:

compare a bioelectrical impedance signature of a host person recorded during a secure enrolment with a live bioelectrical impedance signature recorded from the host person'"'"'s body.

22. The programmable mobile unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the microcontroller is configured to generate a real exception value signifying a change in host person wearing the mobile unit responsive to a change in at least one of:

skin definition and ECG.

23. A control program embedded on a non-transitory computer readable medium, executable on a microcontroller of a programmable mobile unit as claimed in claim 1, to cause the programmable mobile unit to:

receive, by the microcontroller, information from the GPS unit and the biometric sensor and to store said information;

access, by the microcontroller, a database of acceptable behavior parameters for a host person, said database defining the boundaries of acceptable behavior for the host person including acceptable geographical locations for the host person in addition to acceptable biological values; and

compare, by the microcontroller, the information received from the GPS unit and the biometric sensor against the database;

wherein the microcontroller includes an interpretation program stored in a memory of the microcontroller;

wherein the interpretation program detects the exception values falling outside allowable tolerances defined in the database;

wherein the interpretation program prioritizes the exception values falling outside allowable tolerances defined in the database;

wherein the interpretation program selects those exemption values which indicate that the host person is encountering significant difficulties;

wherein the microcontroller transmits the selected exemption values to a control center via a communications module in communication with the microprocessor.

24. The control program as claimed in claim 23, wherein the control program is executable on the microcontroller to cause the microcontroller to be operable to periodically monitor and download up-to-date information from the GPS unit and the biometric sensor.

25. The control program as claimed in claim 23, wherein the acceptable biological values include at least one of:

body temperature, heart rate and bioelectrical impedance at any given point in time.

26. The control program as claimed in claim 23, wherein the control program is executable on the microcontroller to cause the microcontroller to compare the information received from the GPS unit and the biometric sensor against the database every time new location and biometric information is captured and downloaded from both the biometric sensor and the GPS unit.

27. The programmable mobile unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the biometric sensor comprises an ECG.

12. A system for monitoring and tracking a person wearing a programmable mobile unit, comprising:

a programmable mobile unit which is wearable on a wrist of a host person, comprising;

a. a detachable freespace communication module for communication with a control center;

b. a GPS unit operable to take up communication with at least a GPS satellite system;

c. a biometric sensor arranged to monitor the host person and operable to obtain biological data specific to the host person, wherein the biometric sensor comprises a plurality of body contacting elements; and

d. a microcontroller operable to take up communication with each of the communication module, the GPS unit and the biometric sensor, and to process the biological data in order to identify the host person by mapping the biological data against a biometric signature; and

a control center in freespace communication with said mobile unit and a GPS satellite system;

wherein the microcontroller includes an interpretation program stored in a memory of the microcontroller;

wherein the interpretation program detects exception values falling outside allowable tolerances defined in a database stored in the memory of the microcontroller;

wherein the interpretation program prioritizes the exception values falling outside allowable tolerances defined in the database;

wherein the interpretation program selects those exception values which indicate that the host person is encountering significant difficulties;

wherein the microcontroller transmits the selected exception values to the control center via the communications module in communication with the microprocessor.

13. The system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the mobile unit and the control center periodically communicate with each other using freespace communication protocols.

14. The system as claimed in claim 12, wherein an acceptable behavior database of acceptable behavior parameters for the host person is stored at the control center and on the mobile unit.

15. The system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the system includes a web-based interface to a database driven secure environment for dynamic creation and modification of the acceptable behavior database stored in the control center and the mobile unit.

16. The system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the control center of the system and third parties are in communication using predetermined communication protocols.

17. The system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the control center includes means for alerting custodians and third parties of the selected exception values via predetermined communication protocols.

18. The system as claimed in claim 16, wherein the third parties and the control center have means for contacting the mobile unit via predetermined communication protocols.

28. The system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the biometric sensor comprises an ECG.