Mobile device reminder/controller system

• US 9,961,499 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2017
• Issued: 05/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cyber Group USA Inc.
• Original Assignee: Cyber Group USA Inc.
• Inventors: Mei, David, Bao, Jin-Xia, Mei, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): SHEDRICK, CHARLES TERRELL
• Application Number:
  US15/471,600
• Publication Number:
  US 20180007509A1
• Time in Patent Office: 399 Days
• Field of Search: 455457, 455 412
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 17/318 Received signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/16 Threshold monitoring
• 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 64/006 with additional information processing, e.g. for direction or speed determination
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 68/04 multi-step notification using statistical or historical mobility data

Abstract

A mobile device management system includes a mobile device, a locator unit, and an operation unit. The locator unit includes a transmitter and is disposed on or in the mobile device. The operation unit is configured to receive the wireless signal. The units are configured to determine a distance between the locator unit and the operation unit and to cause a notification device to perform a notification when the distance is greater than a threshold signal strength value. The mobile device can also be configured to send a wireless signal to the locator unit when the mobile device receives a call or a message. The operation unit can be used to control the mobile device. A method using the system can help a person remember to retrieve the mobile device, to know to pick up a phone call, or to control a mobile device remotely.

Claims

1. A method for mobile device management, the method comprising steps of:

emitting a reminder signal via a transmitter of a locator unit, said locator unit being connected to or disposed in a mobile device, the mobile device comprising a mobile device transmitter and a mobile device CPU unit, the reminder signal being a first wireless signal;

receiving, via a receiver of an operation unit, said reminder signal;

determining, via a processor and via said reminder signal, a distance between said locator unit and said operation unit;

comparing, via an operation CPU unit of said operation unit, said distance with a threshold distance value stored in a memory unit of said operation unit;

causing, via said operation CPU unit, a notification device of said operation unit to perform a first notification when said distance exceeds said threshold distance;

emitting a notification signal via said mobile device transmitter when said mobile device receives a message, said notification signal being a second wireless signal;

receiving, via the receiver of the operation unit, said notification signal; and

causing, via said operation CPU unit, said notification device to perform a second notification when said receiver receives said notification signal.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said operation CPU unit determines said distance between said locator unit and said operation unit in that:

a sensor unit of said operation unit senses a signal strength of said wireless signal received by said receiver;

said operation memory unit stores a relation of signal strengths to distances; and

said operation CPU unit, using said signal strength and said relation, determines said distance.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said operation unit is attached to, is built into, or is a member selected from the group consisting of a clothing collar, a shoulder, an arm, a clothing sleeve, a waist, a belt, a button, a pocket, a cloth, a purse, a bag, a wearable object, a remote mini controller or device, a key-chain controller, a watch, a hand band, a ring, a patch, a mini decoration item, a wireless earphone, a wireless headphone, an audio player, and a video game player.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising steps of:

inputting, via an input device of said operation unit, input for controlling said mobile device; and

controlling said mobile device via transmitting via an operation transmitter of said operation unit a control signal based on said input, said control signal being transmitted via an operation transmitter of said operation unit, said control signal being transmitted as another wireless signal to control said mobile device such that said operation unit remotely controls said mobile device.

5. A mobile device management system comprising:

a mobile device comprising a mobile device transmitter and a mobile device CPU unit, said mobile device CPU unit being configured to cause said mobile device transmitter to transmit a notification signal as a first wireless signal when said mobile device receives a message;

a locator unit, said locator unit comprising a transmitter, said locator unit being configured to send a reminder signal as a second wireless signal via said transmitter, said locator unit being configured to be connected to or disposed in said mobile device; and

an operation unit comprising an operation CPU unit, an operation memory unit, a receiver, a sensor unit, and a notification device, said receiver being configured to receive said notification signal and said reminder signal, a threshold distance value being stored in said operation memory unit;

wherein said operation CPU unit is configured to use said reminder signal to determine a distance between said locator unit and said operation unit;

wherein said operation CPU unit is configured to compare said distance with said threshold distance value and to cause said notification device to perform a first notification when said distance exceeds said threshold distance value;

wherein said sensor unit is configured to recognize said notification signal after said receiver receives said notification signal; and

wherein said operation CPU unit is configured to cause said notification device to perform a second notification when said sensor unit recognizes said notification signal.

6. The mobile device management system according to claim 5, wherein said transmitter is configured to send at least one wireless signal selected from a group consisting of a laser, non-harmful radiation, a radio wave, light, a microchip signal, Wi-Fi, a GPS signal, an electromagnetic wave, and a satellite signal.

7. The mobile device management system according to claim 5, wherein said notification device comprises at least one member selected from a group consisting of a display, a light, a speaker, a vibrator, and a shocking device.

8. The mobile device management system according to claim 5, wherein said locator unit further comprises a first fastener and is connected to said mobile device via said first fastener;

and

wherein said operation unit is attached to, is built into, or is a member selected from a group consisting of a clothing collar, a shoulder, an arm, a clothing sleeve, a waist, a belt, a button, a pocket, a cloth, a purse, a bag, a wearable object, a remote mini controller or device, a key-chain controller, a watch, a hand band, a ring, a patch, a mini decoration item, a wireless earphone, a wireless headphone, an audio player, and a video game player.

9. The mobile device management system according to claim 8, wherein said first fastener is selected from the group consisting of a tie, a chain, a rope, a clip, a hook, a bar, a string, a cable, a rope, a cord, and a key.

10. The mobile device management system according to claim 5, wherein said locator unit is configured to emit said wireless signal intermittently or continuously from said transmitter.

11. The mobile device management system according to claim 5, wherein said locator unit further comprises a shell unit.

12. The mobile device management system according to claim 11, wherein said shell unit has a form of a member selected from a group consisting of a key chain, a button attachment, an animal, a flower, a leaf, a design, a toy, a mini decoration item, and a combination thereof.

13. The mobile device management system according to claim 5, wherein said operation unit further comprises a display unit.

14. The mobile device management system according to claim 5, wherein said operation unit further comprises an input/output device and an operation transmitter;

wherein said input/output device is configured to receive input from a user; and

wherein based on said input said operation CPU unit is configured to generate a control signal and to cause said operation transmitter to transmit said control signal as another wireless signal to control said mobile device such that said operation unit is configured to act as a remote controller of said mobile device.

15. The mobile device management system according to claim 14, wherein said message received by said mobile device is selected from a group consisting of a telephone call, a text message, an email, a reminder, a clock alarm, and an app message;

wherein said mobile device CPU unit is programmed to cause said mobile device transmitter to transmit a message signal to said operation unit as a third wireless signal;

wherein said receiver of said operation unit is configured to receive said message signal; and

wherein via said message signal, via said operation CPU unit, and via said input/output device of said operation unit, said operation unit is configured to take the telephone call, to answer the text message, the email, or the app message, or to play the reminder or the clock alarm.

16. The mobile device management system according to claim 5, wherein said operation CPU unit is configured to determine said distance between said locator unit and said operation unit in that:

said sensor unit is configured to sense a signal strength of said reminder signal received by said receiver;

said operation memory unit stores a relation of signal strengths to distances; and

said operation CPU unit, using said signal strength and said relation, determines said distance.

17. The mobile device management system according to claim 5, wherein said operation unit further comprises a display unit;

wherein said locator unit further comprises a locator CPU unit, a locator sensor unit, and a locator receiver;

wherein said locator receiver is configured to receive said notification signal from said mobile device;

wherein said locator sensor unit is configured to recognize said notification signal after said locator receiver receives said notification signal; and

wherein said locator CPU unit is configured to cause said transmitter to transmit a further notification signal as a further wireless signal when said locator sensor unit recognizes said notification signal.