Communications: electrical – Selective – Having indication or alarm
Reexamination Certificate
1998-01-23
2001-11-06
Kizou, Hassan (Department: 2635)
Communications: electrical
Selective
Having indication or alarm
C340S573100, C340S573400
Reexamination Certificate
active
06313733
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a child pager system in which a transmitter can selectively communicate with any one of a number of receiver units, can determine the relative distance of each receiver unit and can receive a distress signal therefrom. Each receiver unit has an automatic panic means which when activated transmits a distress signal back to the transmitter which can then attribute the signal to a particular pager.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
In certain situations, it is almost impossible for parents to continuously monitor their children as is often the case in shopping malls, amusement parks, restaurants and other public places where children typically wander or stray. Whenever a child becomes lost or is accosted, it is typically difficult for the child to communicate with his or her parents. If a child is old enough to operate a telephone and a telephone is accessible, the parents may not be near a phone to receive a call. In most cases, however, a phone will not be accessible, or, in the case of an emergency, such as a kidnaping or an assault, the child will simply not be able to call. Additionally, parents often need a convenient method to transmit a message directly to a child in non-emergency situations such as notifying the child to return home or to a predesignated meeting place.
Many devices have previously been developed which are designed to transmit messages or signals from a remote location to a receiving device such as a pager. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,247,293 issued to Nakagawa relates to a wireless device allowing a user to remotely control and listen to a cassette player in communication therewith.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,998,095 issued to Shields relates to an emergency transmitter system comprising a plurality of fixed transceivers located at various locations within a predetermined geographic area which communicate with various portable transmitters issued to selected individuals.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,924,211 issued to Davies relates to a personal monitoring system designed for people under house arrest comprising a plurality of local units for transmitting signals to a corresponding mobile unit.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,640,147 issued to Chek et al relates to a child monitoring system comprising a device attachable to a child's clothing having a sensitive audio microphone thereon in communication with a receiver unit allowing the holder of the receiver unit to periodically listen to activity proximal the child unit.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,557,259 issued to Musa relates to a proximity alert and direction transmitter mounted on a person's shoe which communicates with a receiver bracelet. The receiver has a proximity detector with a threshold set that emits an audible sound when the distance between the subject and the observer exceeds a preset distance.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,245,314 issued to Kah, Jr. relates to a location and monitoring system comprising a radio frequency transmitter and receiver in which the receiver sounds an alarm at a predetermined time after failure to receive a transmitter signal. The device is capable of scanning for several transmitter signals so that one person with the receiver can monitor the location of several children.
Although child monitoring devices exist in the prior art, these devices do not have the features and advantages of the present invention such as a receiver unit having an automatic panic means which activates a sound recording chip and transmits a panic signal to the transmitter. The transmitter further comprises a plurality of message transmission means each corresponding to a different level of urgency with which a person receiving the message should respond. Furthermore, the present invention has a unique tracking mechanism which allows a holder of the transmitter unit to selectively determine the relative distance between it and a select one of a plurality of receiver units in communication therewith.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a child pager system comprising a transmitter unit having radio frequency transmission and receiver circuitry therein. On the exterior surface of the transmitter unit are a plurality of channel selection buttons each corresponding to a discrete square wave frequency signal to be transmitted via an externally mounted, telescoping antenna. Each discrete frequency transmission signal will communicate with a separate child pager/receiver device which is attachable to a child's clothing or belt. Accordingly, the transmitter can selectively transmit messages to or receive messages from any one of a plurality of different receivers allowing a user to selectively monitor one or more children.
Adjacent each channel selection button is a channel signal light for indicating which pager device is transmitting a panic signal as described below. Horizontally disposed along the exterior of the transmitter unit are a plurality of aligned signal strength indicator lights each in selective communication with the channel selection switches and the corresponding pager units. The strength indicator lights are arranged sequentially from varying shades of green, amber to red each corresponding to a different relative distance of the pager unit transmitting or receiving a signal. Accordingly, a user may press one of the channel selection buttons at which time the signal strength indicator lights indicate the relative distance of the corresponding receiver/pager unit. Progressing from green to red, each succeeding light would correspond to a greater relative distance between the transmitter and the corresponding pager. Accordingly, a person holding the transmitter may “track” the person holding a pager unit by periodically pressing the corresponding channel selection button as the user travels from one location to another.
The pager/receiver unit resembles a standard pager device having a substantially rectangular housing within which is a transmitter and receiver means similar to that of the transmitter unit. On a side of the housing are a plurality of light means for indicating that a message has been transmitted from the transmitter unit. Each light means corresponds to a different level of urgency with which the person receiving the signal should respond thereto.
The pager unit has a pivotally engaging belt clip for easily securing the device to a user's belt. The belt clip normally engages a pressure sensitive panic button in communication with an external microphone and a recording sound chip. When the device is attached to a user's belt, the clip is disengaged from the panic button. Accordingly, if a child is in distress, he or she may remove the receiver causing the belt clip to engage the panic button, automatically activating the recorder allowing the child to record a message. At the end of the predetermined recording duration, a speaker on a side of the housing would emit a piercing sound emission to alert people in the immediate area or to frighten an attacker. A play button is provided on a side of the receiver unit allowing the recorded message to be replayed. The panic button is also in radio communication with a panic light on the transmitter unit such that when the panic button is activated, the panic light on the transmitter is illuminated. When the panic button on a particular pager is activated, a channel signal light corresponding to the pager is likewise illuminated thereby visually indicating which pager's panic button has been activated. An audible alarm is also emitted through a speaker on the transmitter unit.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a child pager system which may selectively communicate with any one of a plurality of receiver units.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a child pager system in which the receiver/pager units have an automated sound recording means thereon.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a child pager system having a transmitter device which can selectively determine the relative distance of any one of a
Ho Duc
Kizou Hassan
Tolar Kenneth L.
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