Individual location system

• US 5,652,570 A
• Filed: 10/16/1995
• Issued: 07/29/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Robert Lepkofker
• Original Assignee: Robert Lepkofker
• Inventors: Lepkofker, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): MULLEN, THOMAS J
• Application Number:
  US08/581,020
• Time in Patent Office: 652 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573, 340/574, 340/539, 340/407.1, 340/825.08, 455/100, 455/88-90, 455/53.1, 455/54.1, 128/690, 128/689, 128/687, 342/42, 342/44, 342/350, 342/352, 342/357, 342/450, 342/451, 342/458, 395/900, 379/37, 379/38
• US Class Current: 340/573.4
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2503/06 Children, e.g. for attention deficit diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/681 Wristwatch-type devices
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/90 Identification means for patients or instruments, e.g. tags
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0211 Combination with medical sensor, e.g. for measuring heart rate, temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/023 Power management, e.g. system sleep and wake up provisions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0283 via a telephone network, e.g. cellular GSM
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0286 Tampering or removal detection of the child unit from child or article
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0288 Attachment of child unit to child/article
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0294 Display details on parent unit
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 706/90 Fuzzy logic

Abstract

An interactive individual location and monitoring system includes a central monitoring system for maintaining health, location, and other data with respect to an individual. A watch unit carried by the individual receives medical and other information selected by and inputted directly from the individual. The watch unit broadcasts the medical and other information locally by radio in a region near the individual. A belt worn pod unit is worn by the individual, including a transponder for receiving the information from the watch unit. The pod unit transmits the information to the central monitoring system. The pod unit tracks the location of the individual and transmits the location to the central monitoring system. The pod unit includes a triaxial accelerometer for gathering acceleration data for transmission of the data to the central monitoring station for analysis at a later time. The central monitoring system broadcasts alerts and queries directed to the individual and the transponder pod unit receives and rebroadcasts the alerts and queries locally. The watch unit receives the alerts and queries, and the watch unit includes a vibratory annunciator which alerts the individual of an inquiry signal from the pod unit.

Claims

1. Interactive individual location and monitoring system comprising:

a. a central monitoring system for maintaining health, location, and other data with respect to a plurality of clients, including said individual;

b. an information receiver and transmitting unit carried by said individual in a manner for conveniently receiving medical and other information selected by and inputted directly from said individual and broadcasting locally by radio said information in a region proximate to said individual;

c. pod means worn by said individual including transponder means for receiving said information from said information receiver and transmitting unit and transmitting said information to said central monitoring system, said pod means including means for tracking the location of said individual and transmitting said location to said central monitoring system;

d. said pod means including a triaxial accelerometer gathering acceleration data for transmission of said data to said central monitoring station for analysis at a later time;

e. said central monitoring system including means for broadcasting alerts and queries directed to said individual, said transponder pod means receiving and rebroadcasting said alerts and queries locally, said information receiver and transmitting unit including means to receive said alerts and queries, said information receiver and transmitting unit including vibratory annunciator means for alerting said individual to receipt of a signal from said pod means.

2. The interactive individual location and monitoring system of claim 1 in which said information receiver and transmitting unit has the appearance of a wrist watch worn by said individual in a manner to permit convenient access to input and receive information, and including only sufficient battery power to communicate by wireless means to said pod means.

3. The interactive individual location and monitoring system of claim 1 in which said pod means is secreted within the clothing of, or within a pack carried by, said individual and carrying sufficient battery power to provide long distance radio communications with said central monitoring station and obtain location information from satellites.

4. The interactive individual location and monitoring system of claim 3 in which all communications of said information and data between said central monitoring system and said pod means are encrypted.

5. The interactive individual location and monitoring system of claim 1 in which said central monitoring system includes means for tracking and displaying the movements of said individual.

6. The interactive individual location and monitoring system of claim 5 in which said information receiver and transmitting unit includes a plurality of color coded buttons for initiating transmittal of signals representing different types of emergencies including "accident", "medical", "hold-up", and "kidnapping".

7. The interactive individual location and monitoring system of claim 1 in which said pod means includes alarm button means for initiating an alarm signal to said central monitoring station.

8. The interactive individual location and monitoring system of claim 1 in which said information receiver and transmitting unit includes means for monitoring the pulse rate of said individual and initiating automatically the transmittal of a signal in the event a predetermined anomaly in the pulse rate occurs.

9. The interactive individual location and monitoring system as in claim 1 wherein said central monitoring system further includes a write only file storage means storing periodic data packets from each client of said plurality of clients, including said individual, said periodic data packets stored in said storage means, said periodic data packets intermittently read upon the occurrence of a predetermined selective event upon authorization from designated officials of said central monitoring system.

10. The interactive individual location and monitoring system as in claim 9 wherein said write only file storage means provides a time line of coherent data covering a long term period of time.

11. The interactive individual location and monitoring system as in claim 10 wherein said subsequent periodic packets of data overlay the oldest periodic packets of data of said periodic packets of data in said write only file storage means.

12. The interactive individual location and monitoring system as in claim 1 wherein said triaxial accelerometer provides said data to a neural network and a fuzzy logic processor in said central monitoring system to infer modes of transportation activity.

13. The interactive individual location and monitoring system as in claim 1 wherein said central monitoring system has a display means displaying said data, said data display means having a format thereof consisting of alphanumeric characters and/or graphical map data.

14. The interactive individual location and monitoring system as in claim 13 wherein said data display means is audio-enhanced.

15. The interactive individual location and monitoring system as in claim 13 wherein said graphical map data of said data display means is a multi-color graphical map display showing a global view of movement of the individual over an extended period of time.

16. A method of remotely and interactively communicating with and monitoring the location and condition of an individual comprising the steps of:

a. establishing a central monitoring system for maintaining health, location, and other data with respect to said individual,

b. transmitting location and condition information from said individual to said central monitoring system by the steps of inputting information to an information receiver and transmitting unit worn by said individual, broadcasting locally by radio said information by said information receiver and transmitting unit to a pod means also worn by said individual, and rebroadcasting said information by said pod means to said central monitoring system; and

c. broadcasting alerts and queries by said central monitoring system for receipt and rebroadcast by said pod means to said information receiver and transmitting unit, said information receiver and transmitting unit alerting said individual to the receipt of said alerts and queries;

d. providing at least one microprocessor in said information receiver and transmitting unit which supports a continuous polling sequence monitoring alarm conditions including code word decoding and pulse rate anomalies, and,

e. providing at least one further microprocessor in said pod means which supports a further continuous polling sequence monitoring updates of;

i) global positioning system (GPS) location information;

ii) said alarm conditions received from said information receiver and transmitting unit;

iii) compressed ambient noise data; and

,

iv) accelerometer data;

said further continuous polling sequence also monitoring;

v) said queries from said central monitoring system; and

,

f. accumulating said data for transmission and sending said data as a single multi-data packet to said central monitoring system.

17. Interactive individual location and monitoring system comprising:

a. a central monitoring system for maintaining health, location, and other data with respect to said individual;

b. an information receiver and transmitter unit carried by said individual in a manner for conveniently receiving medical and other information selected by and inputted directly from said individual and broadcasting locally by radio said information in a region proximate to said individual;

said information receiver and

transmitter unit further communicating with

c. a pod means including transponder means for transmitting said information to said central monitoring system, said pod means including means for tracking the location of said individual and transmitting said location to said central monitoring system;

d. said pod means including a triaxial accelerometer gathering acceleration data for transmission of said data to said central monitoring station for analysis at a later time;

e. said central monitoring system including means for broadcasting alerts and queries directed to said individual, said transponder pod means receiving and rebroadcasting said alerts and queries locally, said information receiver and transmitting unit including means to receive said alerts and queries, said information receiver and transmitting unit including vibratory annunciator means for alerting said individual to receipt of a signal from said pod means,

said information receiver and transmitting unit having the appearance of a wrist watch worn by said individual in a manner to permit convenient access to input and receive information, and including only sufficient battery power to communicate by wireless means to said pod means,

said pod means being secreted within the clothing of or packs carried by said individual and carrying sufficient battery power to provide long distance radio communications with said central monitoring station and obtain location information from satellites,

wherein all communications between said central monitoring system and said pod means are encrypted,

said central monitoring system including means for tracking and displaying the movements of said individual,

said information receiver and transmitting unit including a plurality of color coded buttons for initiating transmittal of signals representing different types of emergencies including "accident", "medical", "hold-up", and "kidnapping",

said pod means including an alarm button means for initiating an alarm signal to said central monitoring station,

said information receiver and transmitter unit includes a means for monitoring the pulse rate of said individual and initiating automatically the transmittal of a signal in the event a predetermined anomaly in the pulse rate occurs,

said central monitoring system further including a write only file storage means storing periodic data packets from each client, said periodic data packets stored in said storage means, said periodic data packets intermittently read upon the occurrence of a predetermined selective event upon authorization from designated officials of said central monitoring system,

said write only file storage means providing a time line of coherent data covering a long term period,

said subsequent periodic packets of data overlay the oldest periodic packets of data in said write only file storage means,

said triaxial accelerometer provides said data to a neural network and fuzzy logic processor to infer modes of transportation activity,

said central monitoring system having a display means displaying said data, said data display format consisting of alphanumeric characters and/or graphical map format, and,

said graphical map data being a multi-color graphical map display showing a global view of movement of the individual over an extended period of time.

18. A system for determining the location of an individual comprising:

a) an object carried by said individual from which an alarm signal is generated, said object comprising;

i) a housing means,

ii) alarm generating means, disposed within said housing means, for generating an alarm signal, in response to a triggering signal,

iii) means disposed on or within said housing means, coupled to said alarm generating means, for generating a triggering signal when actuated by pressure exerted against said means by said individual,

iv) transmitter means, disposed within said housing means, coupling to said alarm generating means, for transmitting said alarm signal; and

,

v) said transmitter means including a triaxial accelerometer gathering acceleration data for transmission of said data to a central monitoring system;

b) remote receiver means, for detecting said alarm signal and producing an output signal in response thereto; and

c) remote position locating means, coupled to said remote receiver means, for determining the location of said object in response to said output signal.

19. The system as recited in claim 18 wherein said system further comprises:

d) remote activation means, for transmitting an activation signal, and wherein said object further comprises,

v) triggering receiver means, disposed within said housing means, coupled to said alarm generating means, for detecting said activation signal and producing a triggering signal in response thereto.