Immediate alert for tracking movement via wireless tethered devices

• US 10,229,573 B1
• Filed: 05/06/2017
• Issued: 03/12/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lawrie, David
• Original Assignee: Lawrie, David
• Inventors: Lawrie, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Joseph H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Point, Rufus C
• Application Number:
  US15/588,621
• Time in Patent Office: 675 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0227 System arrangements with a plurality of child units
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0247 System arrangements wherein the alarm criteria uses signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/00 Signalling systems according to more than one of groups G08B3/00 - G08B6/00; Personal calling systems according to more than one of groups G08B3/00 - G08B6/00
• 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 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]

Abstract

An immediate alert notification system via wireless tethered devices is provided. The system comprises a processor, a memory, and an application stored in the memory that when executed on the processor receives a first message from a first mobile device. The system also determines that the first message indicates that a slave device is within range of a first master device associated with the first mobile device. The system also determines that the slave device is not associated with the first master device and is associated with a second master device and determines that the slave device was previously reported as lost. The system also sends a second message to a second mobile device associated with the second master device, the second message advising that the slave device has been located and further providing recovery information for the slave device.

Claims

1. An immediate alert notification system via wireless tethered devices, comprising:

a processor;

a memory; and

an application stored in the memory that when executed on the processor;

receives a first message from a first mobile device,

determines that the first message indicates that a slave device is within range of a first master device associated with the first mobile device,

determines that the slave device is not associated with the first master device and is associated with a second master device,

determines that the slave device was previously reported as lost, and

sends a second message to a second mobile device associated with the second master device, the second message advising that the slave device has been located and further providing recovery information for the slave device,

wherein the system further comprises;

the slave device that broadcasts wireless signals; and

the second master device that;

receives the wireless signals,

analyzes at least signal strength of the wireless signals,

determines, based on the analyzed at least signal strength, that signal strength is below a predetermined threshold, and

activates an alert, based on the determination;

wherein the second master device passively monitors received wireless signals and does not transmit signals to the slave device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the slave device is carried by a first user and the second master device is carried by a second user and wherein the system enables notification of certain movements of the first user.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the alert indicates that the slave device has been moved beyond a predetermined distance from the second master device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein alerts emitted by the second master device comprise at least one of vibratory alerts and audible alerts.

5. The system of claim 1,

wherein the second mobile device sends an alert to the second master device indicating that the slave device has been located,

wherein the first master device silently receives signaling from the slave device and silently sends the first message to the first mobile device,

wherein the application additionally makes the recovery information available by at least one of voice and Internet access, and

wherein via at least one of the voice and Internet access an authorized party at least one of initiates contact with and receives contact from at least the application and receives the recovery information.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the system calculates Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) values associated with the wireless signals in analysis of signal strength.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a third portable device and an application executing thereon that configure at least one of signal strength levels, the predetermined threshold, and the type(s) of alert(s).

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the third portable device is a smartphone.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the third portable device configures the second portable device to monitor wireless signals broadcasted by portable devices in addition to the first portable device.

10. An immediate alert notification system via wireless tethered devices, comprising:

a processor;

a memory; and

an application stored in the memory that when executed on the processor;

receives a first message from a first mobile device,

determines that the first message indicates that a slave device is within range of a first master device associated with the first mobile device,

determines that the slave device is not associated with the first master device and is associated with a second master device,

determines that the slave device was previously reported as lost, and

sends a second message to a second mobile device associated with the second master device, the second message advising that the slave device has been located and further providing recovery information for the slave device,

wherein the first mobile device further receives an instruction to configure the first master device to monitor a second slave device, wherein the first master device is presently configured to monitor a third slave device;

the mobile device sends a third message to the first master device, the third message identifying the second slave device and configuring at least settings on the first master device to process wireless signals broadcasted from the second slave device and for alerts to be emitted by the first master device upon certain movements of the second slave device in addition to movements of the third slave device as previously configured; and

the mobile device receiving a fourth message from the first master device confirming receipt of the third message and confirming implementation and storage of the settings,

wherein the first master device passively monitors received wireless signals from the second slave device and the third slave device and does not transmit signals to the second and third slave devices, and

wherein the first and second mobile devices are smartphones.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein based on the configuration, the first master device simultaneously measures signal strength of Bluetooth low energy signals broadcasted by the third slave device and the second slave device.

12. The system method of claim 10, wherein alerts emitted by the first master device associated with movements of the first third slave device differ perceptibly from alerts emitted by the first master device associated with movements of the second slave device.

13. The system of claim 10,

wherein the second mobile device sends an alert to the second master device indicating that the slave device has been located,

wherein the first master device silently receives signaling from the slave device and silently sends the first message to the first mobile device,

wherein the application additionally makes the recovery information available by at least one of voice and Internet access, and wherein via at least one of the voice and Internet access an authorized party at least one of initiates contact with and receives contact from at least the application and receives the recovery information.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the first master device calculates Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) values associated with the wireless signals in analysis of signal strength.

15. An immediate alert notification system via wireless tethered devices, comprising:

a processor;

a memory; and

an application stored in the memory that when executed on the processor;

receives a first message from a first mobile device,

determines that the first message indicates that a slave device is within range of a first master device associated with the first mobile device,

determines that the slave device is not associated with the first master device and is associated with a second master device,

determines that the slave device was previously reported as lost, and

sends a second message to a second mobile device associated with the second master device, the second message advising that the slave device has been located and further providing recovery information for the slave device.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the second mobile device sends an alert to the second master device indicating that the slave device has been located.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the range is one of 100 feet, 300 feet, and 500 meters.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the first master device silently receives signaling from the slave device and silently sends the first message to the first mobile device.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the application additionally makes the recovery information available by at least one of voice and Internet access.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein via at least one of the voice and Internet access an authorized party at least one of initiates contact with and receives contact from at least the application and receives the recovery information.