Method for monitoring the movements of individuals in and around buildings, rooms and the like, and direction transmitter for execution of the method and other applications

• US 20050035872A1
• Filed: 10/29/2002
• Published: 02/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NSC Training Systems AB
• Original Assignee: Jan Bengtsson
• Inventors: Nyfelt, Leif
• Granted Patent: US 7,180,414 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/825.490
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/08 involving use of the magnetic field of the earth

Abstract

A method of monitoring movements of an individual (1) in and around buildings, rooms and like spaces, wherein an individual (1) or an object is provided with a direction indicator (3) that is adapted to send to a monitoring centre from a mechanical or electronic sensor a signal that discloses the direction of the direction indicator so as to enable, together with other signals sent to the monitoring centre and disclosing the position of the individual/the object, the individual/object to be shown on a display screen in the form of a correctly-turned three-dimensional animated picture of said individual/said object. The invention also relates to a direction indicator that includes an indicating element which is adapted to take essentially the same position regardless of the orientation of the direction indicator, wherein the direction indicator includes sensors for sensing the position of the indicating element and to produce a signal that can be sent to a monitoring unit in a wireless fashion so that said unit can show the direction of the individual or of the object carrying the direction indicator.

Claims

1-10. -10. (cancelled)

11. A method of monitoring the movements of an individual (1) in and around buildings, rooms and like spaces, characterised by providing an individual (1) or an object (5) with a direction indicator (3, 4) which is arranged to send a wireless signal to a monitoring centre from a mechanical or electronic sensor (6, 7) which discloses the direction of the direction indicator (3, 4) such as, together with other signals sent to the monitoring centre and disclosing the position of the individual/the object, to enable the individual/the object to be disclosed on a display screen in the form of a correctly turned three-dimensional animated picture.

12. A method to claim 11, characterised in that the direction indicator (3, 4) is caused to sense the direction of the individual (1) or the object (5) in a horizontal plane.

13. A method according to claim 11, characterized in that the direction indicator is caused to sense the direction of the individual (1) or the object (5) in a vertical plane.