Communications: electrical – Condition responsive indicating system – Specific condition
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-30
2001-07-24
Mullen, Thomas (Department: 2632)
Communications: electrical
Condition responsive indicating system
Specific condition
C340S328000, C340S571000, C340S686600
Reexamination Certificate
active
06265974
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to systems and methods for monitoring mobile objects, and more particularly, to remotely controlled motion and proximity sensitive systems for monitoring spatial relationship between a monitored person, such as a child, and a monitoring person, such as a parent.
BACKGROUND ART
The unintentional separation of a child from a parent, and worse, the outright abduction of a child has been a serious and increasing problem in the U.S. as well as abroad. It has been noted that abduction occurs more often than not in situations wherein the child is in the immediate proximity of a parent. However, because the parent may be otherwise preoccupied, distracted, or has a momentary lapse in attention directed to the child, the child is permitted to stray away from the parent. Common scenarios involve the parent and child walking through a department store, a crowded mall or amusement park. In a moment of inattention by the parent, as he or she may be focusing on a particular item in a store, a display or locating a particular ride or facility, the child may accidentally wander away and becomes abducted. Another scenario may involve a child, in an attempt to explore his surroundings during an activity, such as bike riding or hiking, proceeding far more ahead of the parent than normally permitted. These are but a few examples. However, with the lifestyle of many young families becoming more and more active, the potential for abduction greatly increases.
Approaches to parent-child security have varied in detail ranging from mechanical tethers or physical restraints, similar to a pet leash, to different combinations of separation detectors and signaling devices for remote control and alarm devices. For example, one existing system includes a harness, to be placed on the child, and an extension cord attached to the harness and to be held or worn on the wrist of the parent. This system, although effective, can limit the range that a child may be separated from the parent. The system can also be cumbersome and difficult to manage, particularly in a crowd, as the extension cord must be maneuvered around people should there be any distance between the parent and child. The extension cord may further trip those in the crowd or bring additional dangers to those in the crowd.
Several known devices trigger an alarm when two units (a detector unit and a transmitter unit) are separated by more than a preset distance. For example, one system discloses a device to deter kidnapping of a child. The system generates a signal at the transmitter unit and provides for an alarm trigger at the child unit. This and other similar systems are based on proximity or separation sensing, and may offer little added functionality, such as two-way communications, adaptive alarming or child panic provisions. The power output and hence range of a pure proximity transmitter may also be limited by regulations set forth by the Federal Communications Commission. As such, these systems do not permit for a very large proximity range, and can often be encumbered by frequent false alarms as a result. Moreover, such systems are frequently provided only with an alarm-on and alarm-off state. Accordingly, the parent is permitted little or no discretion in terms of varying proximity range or other functionalities to adapt to different environments.
There remains, therefore, a need for a spatial monitoring and security system that is convenient in use, relatively free from false alarms, functional over a relatively large range, and affords both the parent and the child the ability to page one another or issue an alarm in a panic situation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one embodiment, the invention provides a substantially immediate notification to the parent of the movement of a child when the child is outside a preset proximity radius (i.e., range). Furthermore, the present invention combines motion activated response with two-way wireless signaling to enable the parent to automatically screen false alarms and set the proximity radius accordingly. The invention also permits the system to be carried in the armed state without nuisance to the parent or child, and is only active when the child or parent is in motion. This provides for an effective means to manage power and extend battery life. In another embodiment, the invention uses the aforementioned combination of a motion sensor and a separation distance (i.e., proximity) sensor to reduce incidences of false alarms. In one embodiment, an audible alert or alarm will sound only if both proximity and motion sensors indicate a potential separation. The invention, in a further embodiment, provides a tamper resistant switch without need for a keyed or combination locking switch. In another embodiment, the invention provides an adaptive alarm function where the parent is given the ability to cause an audible locating beacon at selectable volume levels prior to sounding an alarm in a panic situation.
These and other embodiments of the invention will become apparent in light of the specification, claims and drawings.
The invention, in accordance with one embodiment, comprises two units, a Child Detector Unit (hereinafter “Child Unit”) to be carried with or attached to the child, and a Parent Control Unit (hereinafter “Parent Unit”) to be carried or controlled by the parent or guardian of the child to be protected. The system can be armed and disarmed conveniently using the Parent Unit. When armed, the Child Unit monitors the child for motion. Once motion is detected, the proximity sensor sends a signal to the Parent Unit, and determines whether the Child Unit is within a near field proximity (i.e., preset proximity range) relative to the Parent Unit. If the Child Unit is within the preset proximity range, the Parent Unit sends confirmation signal to the Child Unit to indicate that it is within the near field proximity range. If the Parent Unit is not within the near field proximity, a confirmation signal will not be sent in response to the proximity signal from the Child Unit. In the absence of the confirmation signal, if the system is in Normal Mode, an alert signal is sent from the Child Unit to the Parent Unit, which triggers a small warning alarm on the Parent Unit to alert the parent discretely. The parent may then use the Parent Unit to transmit a signal to the Child Unit, triggering an audible locating beacon or alarm of selectable volume. The alarm is designed to provide a means for locating the child and if necessary interrupt an abduction in progress.
If the system is in Automatic Mode, in the absence of the confirmation signal, the combination motion detection and proximity detection system may automatically sound an alarm at the Child Unit to prevent an attempted abduction or to alert the parent that the security of the child may be compromised. The automatic mode of operation is useful when the parent may be temporarily out of sight or range of the child and thus cannot screen for false alarms. The automatic mode can sound the alarm in an adaptive sequence that varies the alarm according to the time the child remains separated from and unlocated by the parent. It should be noted that an isolated movement of the child causes only a brief warning burst from the alarm if outside the preset proximity range from the parent. A persistent movement by the child, as would occur in an attempted abduction, on the other hand, causes the alarm to rapidly escalate to a full scale alarm. The adaptive alarm responds to an attempted abduction with a full scale alarm, yet allows the parent the opportunity to locate the child and get back within the preset range before the full scale alarm sounds.
By combining both the motion and proximity detection over a two-way wireless communication link, the Parent Unit is permitted to remain active with the Child Unit in the armed state without generating a false alarm or false alert in the Parent Unit, despite the constant motion caused by the child. This is because the parent, and therefore, the Parent Unit,
Bresler Robert G.
D'Angelo Michael R.
Eggert Geoffrey M.
Qualitz Joseph E.
Foley Hoag & Eliot LLP
Lexent Technologies, Inc.
Mullen Thomas
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