Lost person notification system

• US 20050012624A1
• Filed: 01/28/2004
• Published: 01/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Art Charen, Robert E. Glaser
• Original Assignee: Art Charen, Robert E. Glaser
• Inventors: Charen, Art, Glaser, Robert E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,495,571 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/573.400
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0202 Child monitoring systems using a transmitter-receiver system carried by the parent and the child

Abstract

An electronic system, for use at a facility, to immediately display notification, at a plurality of locations within the facility, that a person is missing. The system includes a portable data storage medium containing information related to a person, including an image of the person, to be carried by a guardian. The system also includes a network of stations and a system server equipped to receive the data from the portable data storage medium, in the event that the person and the guardian are separated, and to display an image of the person at a plurality of stations to assist security personnel and bystanders in locating the person. The invention also includes a method of recording information related to a person on a portable data storage medium and providing a network of stations and a system server to receive information including an image of the person and to display the image simultaneously at a plurality of locations.

Claims

1. A method for alerting security personnel and bystanders that a person is missing, comprising the steps of:

photographing one or more images of a person;

recording said images electronically;

collecting and recording identifying information related to said person and a guardian or responsible person;

transferring said identifying information and said recorded images to a portable storage medium;

transferring said recorded images and identifying information to a system server on demand;

processing and storing said recorded images and identifying information in a data file; and

displaying said recorded image on a plurality of display monitors at multiple locations.

2. The method for alerting security personnel and bystanders that a person is missing, of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

obtaining a fingerprint of said person;

converting said fingerprint to a digital record;

transferring said fingerprint record to a portable storage medium;

transferring said fingerprint record to a system server on demand;

processing and storing said fingerprint record in a data file; and

generating a finger print image in print format.

3. The method for alerting security personnel and bystanders that a person is missing of claim 1, further comprising the step of printing a label.

4. The method for alerting security personnel and bystanders that a person is missing of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

broadcasting a verbal message via a public address amplifier; and

broadcasting a sound alarm via a public address amplifier and power horn.

5. The method for alerting security personnel and bystanders that a person is missing of claim 1, further comprising the step of erasing the data from the portable storage media.

6. A lost person notification system for alerting security personnel and bystanders that a person is missing comprising:

cameras for photographing and recording one or more images of a person;

personal identification forms;

portable storage medium;

data handler software;

data compression modules;

a system server;

personal computers;

display monitors;

network protocol; and

notification software.

7. The lost person notification system of claim 6 wherein said data handler software comprises:

a data collection module;

a database; and

a data transfer module.

8. The lost person notification system of claim 6 wherein said data compression software compresses the fingerprint and full-body photograph images into smaller records than the face photograph image.

9. The lost person notification system of claim 6 wherein said notification software comprises:

a signal monitoring module;

a data processor module; and

an output module.

10. The lost person notification system of claim 6 further comprising a fingerprint sensor.

11. The lost person notification system of claim 6 further comprising a public address amplifier.

12. The lost person notification system of claim 6 further comprising a power horn.

13. The lost person notification system of claim 6 further comprising a smart card reader.

14. The lost person notification system of claim 6 wherein said portable storage medium is a conventional smart card and associated smart card reader.

15. The lost person notification system of claim 6 wherein said portable storage medium is a flash memory.

16. The lost person notification system of claim 6 wherein said data handler software further comprises a label printer.

17. The lost person notification system of claim 6 wherein said network protocol is a standard wireless protocol.

18. The lost person notification system of claim 6 further comprising a wireless access point (WAP) device.