Personal security and tracking system

• US 8,149,124 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2006
• Issued: 04/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Pragmatus Mobile LLC (Pragmatus, LLC)
• Inventors: Hoffman, Judd, Hoffman, Ann, Doe, David, Hoffman, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Mullen, Thomas J
• Application Number:
  US11/404,206
• Publication Number:
  US 20070243855A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,181 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/573.4, 340/539.1, 34053911-53913, 340/825.49, 340/8.1, 379/37, 379/38, 455/404.1, 455/404.2, 455/456.1
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/023 Power management, e.g. system sleep and wake up provisions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/028 Communication between parent and child units via remote transmission means, e.g. satellite network
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0283 via a telephone network, e.g. cellular GSM
• 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: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/006 Alarm destination chosen according to type of event, e.g. in case of fire phone the fire service, in case of medical emergency phone the ambulance
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence

Abstract

A signaling system is provided for rendering an alarm for an individual in distress combined with a locating and tracking system to thus alert and direct appropriate personnel to the needs of the individual in distress and to monitor the location of that individual. The system comprises a portable signaling unit, a remote alarm switch device, a central dispatch station, and makes use of a wireless communication system. The portable signaling unit and the remote alarm switch may be adapted to be worn at different locations on the person'"'"'s body. The remote alarm switch way be concealed in the form of a wristband or in the form of any other object such as a broach, pendant, or keychain.

Claims

1. A method for tracking a portable signaling unit comprising:

receiving, with a GPS receiver coupled to a portable signaling unit, a GPS signal;

using the GPS signal to determine a position of the portable signaling unit;

transmitting, from the portable signaling unit and over a wireless communication system to a computer, data regarding the position of the portable signaling unit, wherein the data is used to determine a location of the portable signaling unit; and

displaying, on a display, a map having a symbol identifying the location of the portable signaling unit, wherein the display is remote from the computer and connected to the computer by a network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying act further comprises running a digital map program.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the displaying act further comprises superimposing the symbol on the map.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the displaying act further comprises displaying detailed geographical area maps including street names and addresses, and plotting data at appropriate positions on said map.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the data regarding the position of the portable signaling unit is used by the computer to determine a location of the portable signaling unit.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the display comprises a display console at a central dispatch station.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the data is transmitted to track the position of the portable signaling unit.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a voice communication with the portable signaling unit.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting, from the portable signaling unit, an identifier which identifies the portable signaling unit.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable signaling unit comprises a cellular telephone device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable signaling unit includes an identifier which identifies the portable signaling unit.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable signaling unit comprises a transmitter and a first receiver.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the portable signaling unit comprises a second receiver separate from the first receiver.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first receiver is adapted to a receive a cellular telephone signal and the second receiver is adapted to receive a signal different from the cellular telephone signal.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the second receiver is adapted to receive a radio signal.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the first receiver is adapted to receive signals containing voice communications.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable signaling unit comprises:

a transmitter;

a first receiver;

a first antenna;

a second receiver;

a microcontroller; and

a speaker.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the portable signaling unit further comprises:

a keypad; and

a microphone.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the portable signaling unit further comprises:

a second antenna; and

a third antenna.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein:

the first receiver is adapted to receive a cellular telephone signal;

the second receiver is adapted to receive a signal different from the cellular telephone signal;

the first receiver is adapted to receive voice communications; and

the transmitter is adapted to transmit voice communications.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising the acts of:

receiving with the second receiver a first signal containing data; and

transmitting with the transmitter a second signal based on the data received with the

second receiver, the second signal being a cellular telephone signal.