THE LEASH

• US 20120235826A1
• Filed: 10/04/2010
• Published: 09/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kevin Perry
• Original Assignee: Kevin Perry
• Inventors: Perry, Kevin
• Granted Patent: US 11,105,881 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/686.6
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/68 Marker, boundary, call-sign, or like beacons transmitting signals not carrying directional information
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0226 Transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection
• 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 21/0252 System arrangements wherein the child unit emits, i.e. the child unit incorporates the emitter
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0266 System arrangements wherein the object is to detect the exact distance between parent and child or surveyor and item
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms

Abstract

An apparatus and method for tracking an object includes a transmitter that generates a signal and a receiver that receives the signal generated by the transmitter. The receiver generates an alert signal when a distance between the transmitter and receiver is greater than a predetermined value. The receiver is retained in a retaining element, such as a wrist band, while the transmitter is secured to an object. The receiver is programmable to generate the alert signal only when the predetermined distance has been exceeded. The retaining element optionally includes multiple retaining features so that multiple receivers may be retained in a single retaining element. Each receiver is programmable to communicate only with one corresponding transmitter by assigning each transmitter/receiver pair with a unique identification code. The unique identification code expires after use so that each transmitter may only communicate with a single receiver.

Claims

1. A method for tracking an object, comprising:

automatically generating a unique identification code;

assigning the unique identification code to a transmitter and to a receiver;

enabling receipt by the receiver of a signal generated by the transmitter; and

generating an alert signal when a distance between the transmitter and the receiver is greater than a predetermined value.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal generated by the transmitter has a variable signal strength associated with the distance between the transmitter and the receiver, wherein the predetermined value is associated with a corresponding signal strength, and wherein the alert signal is generated when the variable signal strength falls below the corresponding signal strength for the predetermined value.

3. A method of claim 1, further comprising manually generating a user input code and assigning the user input code to the transmitter and the receiver.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein assigning the unique identification code to the transmitter and to the receiver comprises coupling the transmitter and the receiver with a processing device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising removing the unique identification code from a list of available identification codes after assigning the unique identification code to the transmitter and the receiver.

6. The method claim 1, further comprising restricting the receiver to communicate only with the transmitter having the unique identifier.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising setting the predetermined value to a number in the range of 1 to 5 feet.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising setting the predetermined value to a number in the range of 100 to 200 feet.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

automatically generating an additional unique identification code;

assigning the additional unique identification code to an additional transmitter and to an additional receiver;

enabling receipt by the additional receiver of a signal generated by the additional transmitter; and

generating an alert signal when a distance between the additional transmitter and the additional receiver is greater than an additional predetermined value.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising retaining the first and second receivers in a retaining element, the retaining element having multiple receiver retaining slots.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising altering at least one of the predetermined value and the additional predetermined value by actuating a button corresponding to the receiver or the additional receiver.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the signal generated by the transmitter includes global positioning information.

13. A system for tracking an object, comprising:

a receiver capable of receiving programming instructions from a processing device;

a transmitter capable of receiving programming instructions from the processing device and capable of being secured to the object;

a selectable coupling configured to facilitate communication between the processing device and the receiver and transmitter; and

a retaining device having a least one slot for retaining the receiver;

wherein the receiver and the transmitter are configured to receive a unique identifier code;

wherein the transmitter is configured to generate a signal;

wherein the receiver configured to receive the signal generated by the transmitter; and

wherein the receiver is configured to generate an alert signal when a distance between the transmitter and the receiver is greater than a predetermined value.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the signal generated by the transmitter has a variable signal strength associated with the distance between the transmitter and the receiver, wherein the predetermined value is associated with a corresponding signal strength, and wherein the alert signal is generated when the variable signal strength falls below the corresponding signal strength for the predetermined value.

15. A system of claim 13, wherein the receiver and transmitter is capable of receiving a user input code.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the unique identification code is transmitted to the transmitter and to the receiver via the selectable coupling.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the processing device is configured to remove the unique identification code from a list of available identification codes after assigning the unique identification code to the transmitter and the receiver.

18. The system claim 13, wherein the receiver is configured to communicate only with the transmitter having the unique identifier.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein the predetermined value to a number in the range of 1 to 5 feet.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein the predetermined value to a number in the range of 100 to 200 feet.

21. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

an additional receiver capable of receiving programming instructions from the processing device; and

an additional transmitter capable of receiving programming instructions from the processing device and capable of being secured to the object,

wherein the selectable coupling is configured to facilitate communication between the processing device and the additional receiver and the additional transmitter,

wherein the retaining device comprises at least one additional slot for retaining the additional receiver,

wherein the additional receiver and the additional transmitter are configured to receive an additional unique identifier code,

wherein the additional transmitter is configured to generate a signal,

wherein the additional receiver is configured to receive the signal generated by the additional transmitter, and

wherein the additional receiver is configured to generate an alert signal when a distance between the additional transmitter and the additional receiver is greater than an additional predetermined value.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein the receiver and the additional receiver are disposed within the at least one slot and the at least one additional slot of the retaining element.

23. The system of claim 13, wherein the retaining element comprises at least one button corresponding to the receiver, wherein the button is configured the predetermined value upon actuation of the at least one button.

24. The system of claim 13, wherein a surface of the transmitter comprises an adhesive to enable securing of the transmitter to the object.

25. The system of claim 13, wherein the retaining element is a wrist band.

26. The system of claim 22, wherein the button is disposed within a recessed channel of the retaining element.

27. The system of claim 25, further comprising an actuator element for actuating the button by inserting the actuator element into the recessed channel.

28. The system of claim 13, wherein the signal generated by the transmitter includes global positioning information.