Attachment/location monitoring of a signal generating entity
First Claim
1. A method for locating an entity generating a continuous signal that does not function as a location reporting signal, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a entity that generates a entity signal continuously over time;
providing a entity attachment monitoring device that when activated, is configured to attach to said entity and to communicate a first reporting signal to a remote entity, said first reporting signal representing a presence of said entity signal and a presence of a first attachment to said entity;
providing a location reporting device that when activated, is configured to communicate a second reporting signal representing its device location to said remote entity;
attaching said attachment monitoring device to said entity via said first attachment and attaching said location reporting device to said attachment monitoring device via a second attachment and activating said attachment monitoring device and said location reporting device at a first time; and
assigning an entity location to said entity, said entity location being assigned as being approximately equal to said device location during a period of time where said entity signal has been received continuously since said first time to said remote entity.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method, apparatus and system for monitoring status information associated with a mobile entity, such as a person, another type of living thing or a device that generates a characteristic entity signal. The presence of a physical attachment between an attachment location reporting device and a mobile entity is verified via detection of the entity signal by the attachment monitoring device. Optionally, the attachment monitoring device can transmit a signal that reports the status of the attachment and can also function as, or be attached to, or be located within a range of proximity to, a location reporting device. Hence, the attachment monitoring device can report upon the status of the proximity of a location reporting device with respect to the location of the mobile entity.
103 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A method for locating an entity generating a continuous signal that does not function as a location reporting signal, said method comprising the steps of:
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providing a entity that generates a entity signal continuously over time;
providing a entity attachment monitoring device that when activated, is configured to attach to said entity and to communicate a first reporting signal to a remote entity, said first reporting signal representing a presence of said entity signal and a presence of a first attachment to said entity;
providing a location reporting device that when activated, is configured to communicate a second reporting signal representing its device location to said remote entity;
attaching said attachment monitoring device to said entity via said first attachment and attaching said location reporting device to said attachment monitoring device via a second attachment and activating said attachment monitoring device and said location reporting device at a first time; and
assigning an entity location to said entity, said entity location being assigned as being approximately equal to said device location during a period of time where said entity signal has been received continuously since said first time to said remote entity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. An apparatus for reporting the location of an entity that generates a continuous signal that does not function as a location reporting signal, comprising:
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an entity attachment monitoring component that when activated, is configured to attach to an entity and to communicate a first reporting signal to a remote entity, said first reporting signal represents a presence and a reception of said entity signal by said attachment monitoring component and represents a presence of an attachment to said entity by said attachment monitoring component;
a location reporting component that when activated, is configured to communicate a second reporting signal representing a device location to said remote entity;
an attachment component that constitutes an attachment between said entity attachment monitoring component and said location reporting component, said attachment component is configured such that severance of said attachment is communicated to said remote entity.
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25. A system for locating an entity that generates a continuous signal, comprising:
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an entity attachment monitoring device that when activated, is configured to attach to an entity that generates a continuous entity signal over time and that is configured to communicate a first reporting signal that represents an attachment to said entity and represents the presence of said entity signal to a remote entity;
a location reporting device that when activated, is configured to communicate a second reporting signal representation of its device location, to said remote entity;
and where said entity attachment monitoring device is attached to said entity and where said location reporting device is attached to said attachment monitoring device and where said attachment monitoring device and said location reporting device are activated at a first time; and
where an entity location is assigned to said entity as being approximately equal to said device location during a period of time where said first reporting signal has been received continuously since said first time and while said attachment has not been severed.
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Specification