Communications: electrical – Condition responsive indicating system – Specific condition
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-31
2001-12-18
Hofsass, Jeffery (Department: 2632)
Communications: electrical
Condition responsive indicating system
Specific condition
C340S568100, C340S572100, C340S870030, C340S010100, C340S010320
Reexamination Certificate
active
06331817
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to tracking objects. More specifically, the invention relates to reporting when an object is not near an expected location, object or person.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
People often have sets of objects that they need to have with them at different times during the day or for tasks they need to accomplish. For example, when a person leaves home to go to work in the morning, the person may need keys to the house, keys to the office, keys to the car, a wallet or purse, and a variety of other items. While in the person's car, the person may need a car key and a wallet containing the person's driver's license.
Moreover, groups of objects may be associated with each other. For example, an automobile may be equipped with a jack, a portable cell phone, a pass to a parking lot, and a variety of other things. A hand drill may have associated with it a chuck key, an extension cord, a battery and a set of drill bits, all of which may be necessary for the drill to work. A service technician dispatched to perform a particular job may need a specific set of tools and supplies to accomplish the job. Leaving the dispatch station without all of the specified objects may result in a wasted trip to retrieve the necessary tools or supplies.
Further, some of these objects may be valuable. For example, a person may desire to take a laptop computer or a personal digital assistant (PDA) to work, to a library, or to some other location where the device might be put to use. In those locations, however, the person may leave the object for a few moments, for example, to look in the library stacks, leaving the object unguarded and vulnerable to being stolen.
Clearly a need exists for tracking an object or associated group of objects in an organized fashion.
REFERENCES:
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patent: 5677673 (1997-10-01), Kipnis
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Bethards Charles W.
Hofsass Jeffery
Motorola Inc.
Pham Toan
Watanabe Hisashi D.
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