WEARABLE COIN-SIZED SENSORY DEVICES, AND RELATED SYSTEMS AND METHODS, PROVIDING IMMEDIATE WIRELESS NOTIFICATION OF ACTIVITIES ON SEPARATE ELECTRONIC DEVICES

• US 20090072955A1
• Filed: 09/17/2007
• Published: 03/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Patrick Kearney Cary
• Original Assignee: Patrick Kearney Cary
• Inventors: Cary, Patrick Kearney
• Application Number:
  US11/856,126
• Publication Number:
  US 20090072955A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/407.100
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 1/08 using electric transmission ; transformation of alarm signals to electrical signals from a different medium, e.g. transmission of an electric alarm signal upon detection of an audible alarm signal
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface

Abstract

Wearable coin-sized sensory devices, and related systems and methods, providing immediate wireless notification of activities occurring on separate electronic devices, such that the invention can be worn in contact or near contact with the user'"'"'s skin, which does not require the user to replace, reconfigure or retrofit items already possessed by the user and worn on the body, and which does not disturb others in the vicinity of the user. When one of the designated separate electronic devices not actually held in the user'"'"'s hand or face-to-face with the user, e.g., emits a wireless signal as a result of an occurrence on such separate electronic device, the invention senses such wireless signal and immediately produces a tactile indication, silent or near-silent, to the user. The invention is merely coin-sized and thus can be versatility attached or affixed to items in contact or near contact with the user'"'"'s body in multiple ways.

Claims

1. A notification device for a user of one or more separate electronic devices, such notification device providing an immediate silent or near-silent tactile indication to the user of activities associated with the separate electronic devices, such notification device comprising:

a coin-sized or smaller housing, physically unconnected to the separate electronic devices, such that the notification device can be worn, or affixed to an item, in contact or near-contact with the user'"'"'s skin; and

such housing containing inside a means for wirelessly receiving signals from the separate electronic devices of activities associated therewith, a means for providing a silent or near-silent tactile indication to the user of such signals, and a means for powering such tactile indication.

2. The notification device of claim 1 wherein the device can be worn or affixed using a clip attached to the housing.

3. The notification device of claim 1 wherein the device can be worn or affixed using a pin attached to the housing.

4. The notification device of claim 1 wherein the device can be worn or affixed using a clasp.

5. The notification device of claim 1 wherein the device can be worn or affixed using an adhesive.

6. The notification device of claim 1 wherein the device can be worn or affixed using a magnet.

7. The notification device of claim 1 wherein the device can be worn or affixed using a band, elastic or otherwise.

8. The notification device of claim 1 wherein the means for wirelessly receiving signals from the separate electronic devices utilizes the WiBree™

(also known as “

ULP [Ultra Low Power] Bluetooth”

) technology protocol.

9. The notification device of claim 1 wherein the means for wirelessly receiving signals from the separate electronic devices utilizes a Bluetooth™

technology protocol.

10. The notification device of claim 1 wherein the means for wirelessly receiving signals from the separate electronic devices utilizes a ZigBee™

technology protocol.

11. The notification device of claim 1 wherein the means for wirelessly receiving signals from the separate electronic devices utilizes a Z-Wave™

technology protocol.

12. The notification device of claim 1 wherein the means for wirelessly receiving signals from the separate electronic devices utilizes the IEEE 802.15.4 technology protocol.

13. The notification device of claim 1 wherein the means for wirelessly receiving signals from the separate electronic devices utilizes a combination of wireless protocols.

14. The notification device of claim 1 wherein the means for powering the tactile indication is a battery.

15. The notification device of claim 1 wherein the means for powering the tactile indication is kinetic energy.

16. The notification device of claim 1 wherein the means for providing a silent or near-silent tactile indication to the user of the signals on separate electronic devices is vibration.

17. A notification system comprising:

one or more separate electronic devices having the ability to transmit wireless signals of activities associated with such devices; and

an immediate notification device providing a silent or near-silent tactile indication to the user of activities associated with the separate electronic devices,

wherein the notification device is comprised of a coin-sized or smaller housing, physically unconnected to the separate electronic devices, such that the notification device can be worn, or affixed to an item, in contact or near-contact with the user'"'"'s skin, and

wherein such housing contains inside a means for wirelessly receiving signals from the separate electronic devices of activities associated therewith, a means for providing a silent or near-silent tactile indication to the user of such signals, and a means for powering such tactile indication.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the device can be worn or affixed using a clip attached to the housing.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein the device can be worn or affixed using a pin attached to the housing.

20. The system of claim 17 wherein the device can be worn or affixed using a clasp.

21. The system of claim 17 wherein the device can be worn or affixed using an adhesive.

22. The system of claim 17 wherein the device can be worn or affixed using a magnet.

23. The system of claim 17 wherein the device can be worn or affixed using a band.

24. The system of claim 17 wherein the means for wirelessly receiving signals from the separate electronic devices utilizes the WiBree™

(also known as “

ULP [Ultra Low Power] Bluetooth”

) technology protocol.

25. The system of claim 17 wherein the means for wirelessly receiving signals from the separate electronic devices utilizes a Bluetooth™

technology protocol.

26. The system of claim 17 wherein the means for wirelessly receiving signals from the separate electronic devices utilizes a ZigBee™

technology protocol.

27. The system of claim 17 wherein the means for wirelessly receiving signals from the separate electronic devices utilizes a Z-Wave™

technology protocol.

28. The system of claim 17 wherein the means for wirelessly receiving signals from the separate electronic devices utilizes the IEEE 802.15.4 technology protocol.

29. The system of claim 17 wherein the means for wirelessly receiving signals from the separate electronic devices utilizes a combination of wireless protocols.

30. The system of claim 17 wherein the means for powering the tactile indication is a battery.

31. The system of claim 17 wherein the means for powering the tactile indication is kinetic energy.

32. The system of claim 17 wherein the means for providing a silent or near-silent tactile indication to the user of the signals on separate electronic devices is vibration.

33. A method of immediately notifying a user of one or more separate electronic devices of activities associated with such devices, the method comprising the steps of

providing a coin-sized or smaller notification device, that can be worn or affixed to an item in contact or near-contact with the skin of a user of one or more separate electronic devices which generate wireless signals when various activities on such separate electronic devices occur;

providing in the notification device a receiver of wireless signals generated by the separate electronic devices;

providing in the notification device a silent or near-silent tactile indicator such wireless signals have been received by such notification device.

34. The method of claim 33 and further comprising the step of receiving on the notification device signals generated by the separate electronic devices via Bluetooth™

technology.

35. The method of claim 33 and further comprising the step of receiving on the notification device signals generated by the separate electronic devices via ZigBee™

technology.

36. The method of claim 33 and further comprising the step of receiving on the notification device signals generated by the separate electronic devices via WiBree™

technology.

37. The method of claim 33 and further comprising the step of causing the notification device to issue a tactile indication via vibration.