U.S. patent application number 12/200110 was filed with the patent office on 2008-12-18 for multi-hazard alarm system using selectable power-level transmission and localization.
This patent application is currently assigned to Zoltar Satellite Alarm Systems. Invention is credited to William B. Baringer, Dan Schlager.
Application Number | 20080311882 12/200110 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37744542 |
Filed Date | 2008-12-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080311882 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Schlager; Dan ; et
al. |
December 18, 2008 |
MULTI-HAZARD ALARM SYSTEM USING SELECTABLE POWER-LEVEL TRANSMISSION
AND LOCALIZATION
Abstract
A personal alarm system includes a monitoring base station and
one or more remote sensing units in two-way radio communication. An
electronic handshake between the base station and each remote unit
is used to assure system reliability. The remote units transmit at
selectable power levels. In the absence of an emergency, a remote
unit transmits at a power-conserving low power level. Received
field strength is measured to determine whether a remote unit has
moved beyond a predetermined distance from the base station. If the
distance is exceeded, the remote unit transmits at a higher power
level. The remote unit includes sensors for common hazards
including water emersion, smoke, excessive heat, excessive carbon
monoxide concentration, and electrical shock. The base station
periodically polls the remote units and displays the status of the
environmental sensors. The system is useful in child monitoring,
for use with invalids, and with employees involved in activities
which expose them to environmental risk. Alternative embodiments
include a panic button on the remote unit for summoning help, and
an audible beacon on the remote unit which can be activated from
the base station and useful for locating strayed children. In
another embodiment, the remote unit includes a Global Positioning
System receiver providing location information for display by the
base station.
Inventors: |
Schlager; Dan; (Tiburon,
CA) ; Baringer; William B.; (Oakland, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WOLF GREENFIELD & SACKS, P.C.
600 ATLANTIC AVENUE
BOSTON
MA
02210-2206
US
|
Assignee: |
Zoltar Satellite Alarm
Systems
Tiburon
CA
|
Family ID: |
37744542 |
Appl. No.: |
12/200110 |
Filed: |
August 28, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
11493935 |
Jul 25, 2006 |
|
|
|
12200110 |
|
|
|
|
10695560 |
Oct 27, 2003 |
|
|
|
11493935 |
|
|
|
|
10216033 |
Aug 10, 2002 |
|
|
|
10695560 |
|
|
|
|
10010971 |
Dec 4, 2001 |
|
|
|
10216033 |
|
|
|
|
09728167 |
Dec 1, 2000 |
6518889 |
|
|
10010971 |
|
|
|
|
09325030 |
Jun 3, 1999 |
6198390 |
|
|
09728167 |
|
|
|
|
08849998 |
Jul 6, 1998 |
5963130 |
|
|
PCT/US96/17473 |
Oct 28, 1996 |
|
|
|
09325030 |
|
|
|
|
08330901 |
Oct 27, 1994 |
5461365 |
|
|
08849998 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
455/404.2 ;
340/539.11; 455/404.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G08B 25/016 20130101;
G08B 21/088 20130101; G08B 21/0294 20130101; G08B 26/007 20130101;
G08B 13/1427 20130101; B63C 9/0005 20130101; G08B 21/0286 20130101;
G08B 21/0288 20130101; H04W 4/90 20180201; G08B 21/023 20130101;
G08B 21/0227 20130101; G08B 21/0283 20130101; G08B 21/0255
20130101; G08B 19/00 20130101; G08B 21/0211 20130101; G08B 25/10
20130101; G08B 21/028 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
455/404.2 ;
455/404.1; 340/539.11 |
International
Class: |
H04M 11/04 20060101
H04M011/04 |
Claims
1. A personal alarm system remote unit having a radio transmitter,
a radio receiver, a navigational receiver, the navigational
receiver providing remote unit location information, and the remote
unit including a manually operated switch, wherein: the radio
transmitter and the radio receiver comprises a cellular telephone
providing a two-way communication link with a microphone and
speaker connected for two-way voice communication, the navigational
receiver being connected to the cellular telephone for cellular
data transmission of the remote unit location information from the
remote unit to a safety response center; the cellular telephone is
configured so that activation of the manually operated switch
initiates a call to a predetermined telephone number of a safety
response center to transmit from the remote unit to the safety
response center remote unit location information provided by said
navigational receiver and to open a voice channel between the
remote unit and the safety response center.
2. A personal alarm system remote unit as claimed in claim 1,
wherein a plurality of manually operated switches are provided for
initiating calls to predetermined telephone numbers in addition to
the safety response center.
3. A personal alarm system remote unit as claimed in claim 1,
wherein the remote unit comprises timing circuits for providing
time information, and a demodulator for demodulating the received
navigational information, wherein operation of the switch causes
transmission of the demodulated navigational information and the
time information from the remote unit to the safety response
center.
4. A method for determining the location of a personal alarm system
remote unit, the method comprising: providing a remote unit as
claimed in claim 1; and, in response to activation of said switch,
initiating a call to a predetermined telephone number of a safety
response center, thereby transmitting from the remote unit to the
safety response center remote unit location information provided by
said navigational receiver and opening a voice channel between the
remote unit and the safety response center.
5. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the remote unit
comprises timing circuit for providing time information, and a
demodulator for demodulating the received navigational information,
wherein operation of the switch causes transmission of the
demodulated navigational information and the time information from
the remote unit to the safety response center and wherein, in
response to activation of said switch, the method further comprises
transmitting demodulated received navigational information and time
information; and using computation means to combine the received
demodulated navigational information and the time information to
determine the location of the remote unit.
6. A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the computational means
is provided at the safety response center and the step of
determining the location of the remote unit is carried out at the
safety response center.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation application that claims
the benefit under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 120 of U.S. application Ser. No.
11/493,935 entitled "MULTI-HAZARD ALARM SYSTEM USING SELECTABLE
POWER-LEVEL TRANSMISSION AND LOCALIZATION," filed on Jul. 25, 2006,
which is a continuation application that claims the benefit under
35 U.S.C. .sctn. 120 of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/695,560,
entitled "SELF-LOCATING ALARM SYSTEM EQUIPPED PARACHUTE," filed on
Oct. 27, 2003, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application
Ser. No. 10/216,033, entitled "PORTABLE, SELF-LOCATING SMART
DEFRIBILLATOR SYSTEM," filed on Aug. 10, 2002, which is a
continuation-in part of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/010,971,
entitled "SELF-LOCATING ALARM SYSTEM EQUIPPED PARACHUTE," filed on
Dec. 4, 2001, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application
Ser. No. 09/728,167, entitled "VOICE-ACTIVATED PERSONAL ALARM",
filed on Dec. 1, 2000, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S.
application Ser. No. 09/325,030, entitled "SELF-LOCATING REMOTE
MONITORING SYSTEMS," filed on Jun. 3, 1999, which is a continuation
of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/849,998, entitled "SELF-LOCATING
REMOTE MONITORING SYSTEMS," filed on Jul. 6, 1998, which is a U.S.
National stage entry of PCT/US96/17473, filed on Oct. 28, 1996,
which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No.
08/330,901, entitled "MULTI-HAZARD ALARM SYSTEM USING SELECTABLE
POWER-LEVEL TRANSMISSION AND LOCALIZATION," filed on Oct. 27, 1994,
of which U.S. application Ser. No. 08/547,026, entitled
"SELF-LOCATING REMOTE MONITORING SYSTEMS," filed on Oct. 23, 1995,
is a continuation-in-part. Each of these above-referenced patent
applications are hereby incorporated by reference in their
entirety.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of Invention
[0003] This invention relates to personal alarm systems and in
particular to such systems transmitting at a higher power level
during emergencies.
[0004] 2. Discussion of Related Art
[0005] Personal alarm systems are well known in the art (see for
example U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,777,478, 5,025,247, 5,115,223, 4,952,928,
4,819,860, 4,899,135, 5,047,750, 4,785,291, 5,043,702, and
5,086,391). These systems are used to maintain surveillance of
children. They are used to monitor the safety of employees involved
in dangerous work at remote locations. They are even used to find
lost or stolen vehicles and strayed pets.
[0006] These systems use radio technology to link a remote
transmitting unit with a base receiving and monitoring station. The
remote unit is usually equipped with one or more hazard sensors and
is worn or attached to the person or thing to be monitored. When a
hazard is detected, the remote unit transmits to the receiving base
station where an operator can take appropriate action in responding
to the hazard.
[0007] The use of personal alarm systems to monitor the activities
of children has become increasingly popular. A caretaker attaches a
small remote unit, no larger than a personal pager, to an outer
garment of a small child. If the child wanders off or is confronted
with a detectable hazard, the caretaker is immediately notified and
can come to the child's aid. In at least one interesting
application, a remote unit includes a receiver and an audible alarm
which can be activated by a small hand-held transmitter. The alarm
is attached to a small child. If the child wanders away in a large
crowd, such as in a department store, the caretaker actives the
audible alarm which then emits a sequence of "beeps" useful in
locating the child in the same way one finds a car at a parking lot
through the use of an auto alarm system.
[0008] A number of novel features have been included in personal
alarm systems. Hirsh et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,777,478, provide for a
panic button to be activated by the child, or an alarm to be given
if someone attempts to remove the remote unit from the child's
clothing. Banks, U.S. Pat. No. 5,025,247, teaches a base station
which latches an alarm condition so that failure of the remote
unit, once having given the alarm, will not cause the alarm to turn
off before help is summoned. Moody, U.S. Pat. No. 5,115,223,
teaches use of orbiting satellites and triangulation to limit the
area of a search for a remote unit which has initiated an alarm. In
U.S. Pat. No. 4,952,928 to Carroll et al., and in U.S. Pat. No.
4,819,860 to Hargrove et al., the apparatus provides for the remote
monitoring of the vital signs of persons who are not confined to
fixed locations.
[0009] Ghahariiran, U.S. Pat. No. 4,899,135, teaches a child
monitoring device using radio or ultra-sonic frequency to give
alarm if a child wanders out of range or falls into water.
Hawthorne, U.S. Pat. No. 4,785,291, teaches a distance monitor for
child surveillance in which a unit worn by the child includes a
radio transmitter. As the child moves out of range, the received
field strength, of a signal transmitted by the child's unit, falls
below a limit and an alarm is given.
[0010] Clinical experience in the emergency rooms of our hospitals
has taught that a limited number of common hazards account for a
majority of the preventable injuries and deaths among our toddler
age children. These hazards include the child's wandering away from
a safe or supervised area, water emersion, fire, smoke inhalation,
carbon monoxide poisoning and electrical shock. Child monitoring
devices, such as those described above, have been effective in
reducing the number of injuries and deaths related to these common
preventable hazards.
[0011] However, considering the importance of our children's
safety, there remains room for improvement of these systems. One
such area for improvement relates to increasing the useful life of
a battery used to power the remote unit of these toddler telemetry
systems, as they have come to be called.
[0012] The remote unit is typically battery operated and, in the
event of an emergency, continued and reliable transmission for use
in status reporting and direction finding is of paramount
importance. In other words, once the hazard is detected and the
alarm given, it is essential that the remote unit continue to
transmit so that direction finding devices can be used to locate
the child.
[0013] The remote unit of most child monitoring systems is
typically quite small and the available space for a battery is
therefore quite limited. Despite recent advances in battery
technology, the useful life of a battery is typically related to
the battery size. For example, the larger "D" cell lasting
considerably longer than the much smaller and lighter "AAA" cell.
Though the use of very low power electronic circuits has made
possible the use of smaller batteries, a battery's useful life is
still very much a factor of its physical size, which, as stated
above, is limited because of the small size of a typical remote
unit. Therefore, additional efforts to reduce battery drain are
important.
[0014] Given that much reliance is placed on the reliability of any
child monitoring system, it would be desirable for the remote unit
to transmit at a low power or not at all when no danger exists. In
this way battery life is increased and system reliability is
improved overall, since the hazards are usually the exception
rather than the rule.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0015] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
personal alarm system in which the battery operated remote unit
normally transmits at low power and switches to a higher power when
the distance between the remote unit and base station exceeds a
predetermined limit.
[0016] It is also an object of the present invention to provide
such a system which includes sensors for the hazardous conditions
typically confronting young children.
[0017] It is a further object of the present invention to provide
such a personal alarm system which includes a periodic handshake
exchange between the remote unit and base station to demonstrate
that the system continues to be operational.
[0018] In accordance with the above objects and those that will
become apparent below, a so personal alarm system is provided,
comprising:
[0019] a remote unit including radio transmitting means and radio
receiving means;
[0020] the remote unit transmitting means being able to transmit at
more than one power level and defining a higher power level;
[0021] a base station including radio transmitting means and radio
receiving means;
[0022] the remote unit and the base station being in radio
communication and defining a separation distance between the remote
unit and the base station;
[0023] measuring means for determining whether the separation
distance exceeds a predetermined limit;
[0024] means responsive to the measuring means for causing the
remote unit transmitting means to transmit at the higher power
level when the separation distance exceeds the limit; and
[0025] alarm means for indicating when the separation distance
exceeds the limit.
[0026] In one embodiment of the invention, the base station
transmits a periodic polling signal and the remote unit monitors
the field strength of the received polling signal. If the received
field strength falls below a limit, corresponding to some maximum
distance between the two devices, the remote unit transmits at high
power. The signal transmitted at high power includes an indication
that transmission is at high power. When this signal is received by
the base station, an alarm is given. The remote unit also is
equipped to detect one or more hazards.
[0027] In another embodiment of the invention, there are multiple
remote units each able to identify itself by including a unit
identification number in its transmitted signal. The remote unit is
equipped to detect one or more hazards and to identify detected
hazards in its transmission. The base station is able to display
the transmitting unit identification number and the type of any
detected hazard.
[0028] In another embodiment, the base station, rather than the
remote unit, measures the field strength of the received remote
unit transmission and instructs the remote unit to transmit at high
power when the received field strength falls below a preset
limit.
[0029] In another embodiment, the remote unit includes both visual
and audible beacons which can be activated by the base station for
use in locating the child.
[0030] In another embodiment, the remote unit includes a panic
button which the child or concerned person can use to summon
help.
[0031] In another embodiment, the base station includes the ability
to initiate a phone call via the public telephone system, for
example by initiating a pager message to alert an absent
caretaker.
[0032] In another embodiment, the remote unit includes a global
positioning system ("GPS") receiver which is activated if a hazard
is detected or if the child wanders too far from the base station.
The remote unit then transmits global positioning coordinates from
the GPS receiver. These coordinates are received by the base
station and used in locating the child. In an alternative
embodiment, the remote unit is attached to a child, pet or vehicle
and the GPS receiver is activated by command from the base station.
The global positioning coordinates are then used by the base
station operator to locate the remote unit.
[0033] In another embodiment, the remote unit is worn by an
employee doing dangerous work at a remote location such as an
electrical power lineman repairing a high voltage power line. The
remote unit is equipped with a GPS receiver and an electrical shock
hazard sensor and the remote unit will instantly transmit the
workman's location in the event of electrical shock. The device
will permit an emergency medical crew to rapidly find and give aid
to the injured workman and possibly save a life.
[0034] It is an advantage of the present invention to periodically
test system integrity by exchanging an electronic handshake and
giving an alarm in the event of failure.
[0035] It is also an advantage of the present invention to prolong
the remote unit battery life by transmission at low power in the
absence of a defined emergency.
[0036] It is also an advantage of the present invention that the
system is able to detect and give alarm for a number of common and
dangerous hazards.
[0037] It is a further advantage of the present invention to permit
rapid and precise location of the remote unit which is equipped
with a GPS receiver.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0038] For a further understanding of the objects, features and
advantages of the present invention, reference should be had to the
following description of the preferred embodiment, taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which like parts are
given like reference numerals and wherein:
[0039] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a personal alarm system in
accordance with one embodiment of the present invention and
transmitting at selectable power levels.
[0040] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of another embodiment of the
personal alarm system illustrated in FIG. 1 including multiple
remote units.
[0041] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating another embodiment of
the personal alarm system in accordance with the present
invention.
[0042] FIG. 4 is a pictorial diagram illustrating a preferred
message format used by the personal alarm system illustrated in
FIG. 2.
[0043] FIG. 5 is a pictorial diagram illustrating another preferred
message format used by the personal alarm system illustrated in
FIG. 2.
[0044] FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of the
personal alarm system of the present invention using the Global
Positioning System to improve remote unit location finding.
[0045] FIG. 7 is a pictorial diagram illustrating a base station
and remote unit of the personal alarm system of FIG. 1, in a
typical child monitoring application.
[0046] FIG. 8 is a pictorial diagram illustrating a remote unit in
accordance with the present invention being worn at the waist.
[0047] FIG. 9 is a pictorial diagram illustrating a mobile base
station in accordance with the present invention for operation from
a vehicle electrical system.
[0048] FIG. 10 is a pictorial diagram illustrating a base station
in accordance with the present invention being operated from
ordinary household power.
[0049] FIG. 11 is a block diagram illustrating a man-over-board
alarm system in accordance with one aspect of the present
invention.
[0050] FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating another embodiment
of the man-over-board alarm system.
[0051] FIG. 13 is a block diagram illustrating an invisible fence
monitoring system according to another aspect of the present
invention.
[0052] FIG. 14 is a pictorial diagram illustrating a boundary
defining a geographical region for use with the invisible fence
system of FIG. 13.
[0053] FIG. 15 is another pictorial diagram illustrating a defined
region having a closed boundary.
[0054] FIG. 16 is another pictorial diagram illustrating a defined
region including defined subdivisions.
[0055] FIG. 17 is a block diagram illustrating another aspect of
the invisible fence system.
[0056] FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing a fixed-location
environmental sensing system according to another aspect of the
present invention.
[0057] FIG. 19 is a block diagram of a personal alarm system
including navigational location in which the geometric dilution of
precision calculations are done at the base station.
[0058] FIG. 20 is a block diagram showing an invisible fence alarm
system in which the fence is stored and compared at the base
station.
[0059] FIG. 21 is a block diagram illustrating a man-over-board
alarm system.
[0060] FIG. 22 is a partial block diagram illustrating a one-way
voice channel on a man-over-board alarm system.
[0061] FIG. 23 is a partial block diagram illustrating a two-way
voice channel on a man-over-board alarm system.
[0062] FIG. 24 is a block diagram illustrating an invisible fence
system.
[0063] FIG. 25 is a pictorial diagram illustrating geographical
regions for an invisible fence system.
[0064] FIG. 26 is a table defining a curfew for an invisible fence
system.
[0065] FIG. 27 is a block diagram illustrating another embodiment
of an invisible fence system.
[0066] FIG. 28 is a partial block diagram illustrating a base
station connected to a communication channel via a modem.
[0067] FIG. 29 is a partial block diagram illustrating an alarm
system including an oil/chemical sensor, and all sensors activating
transmission at a higher power level.
[0068] FIG. 30 is a block diagram illustrating another embodiment
of a personal alarm system.
[0069] FIG. 31 is a partial block diagram illustrating specific
circuits used to select a transmission power level.
[0070] FIG. 32 is a partial block diagram illustrating other
specific circuits used to select a transmission power level.
[0071] FIG. 33 is a block diagram illustrating a specific
embodiment of a personal alarm system.
[0072] FIG. 34 is a block diagram illustrating a weather alarm
system.
[0073] FIG. 35 is a pictorial diagram representing a specific
embodiment of a weather region.
[0074] FIG. 36 is a pictorial diagram illustrating another specific
embodiment of a weather region.
[0075] FIG. 37 is a partial block diagram illustrating a
conditional activation of a navigational receiver for a weather
alarm system.
[0076] FIG. 38 is a block diagram illustrating another specific
embodiment of a weather alarm system.
[0077] FIG. 39 is a block diagram illustrating a specific
embodiment of a remote monitoring unit.
[0078] FIG. 40 is a block diagram illustrating another specific
embodiment of a remote monitoring unit.
[0079] FIG. 41 is a partial block diagram illustrating a plurality
of sensors in a specific embodiment of a remote monitoring
unit.
[0080] FIG. 42 is a partial pictorial diagram illustrating a
typical status vector.
[0081] FIG. 43 is a partial block diagram illustrating an input
device connected for providing the value of a second variable in a
specific embodiment of the invention.
[0082] FIG. 44 is a block diagram illustrating a specific
embodiment of a personal alarm system remote unit.
[0083] FIG. 45 is a block diagram illustrating a specific
embodiment of a base station for use with a remote unit such as
shown in FIG. 44.
[0084] FIG. 46 is a block diagram of a personal alarm system
according to one aspect of the present invention.
[0085] FIG. 47 is a block diagram that illustrates another
embodiment of a personal alarm system remote unit.
[0086] FIG. 48 is a partial block diagram that illustrates the use
of a wireless phone within a personal alarm system remote unit
according to a specific embodiment of the present invention.
[0087] FIG. 49 is a partial block diagram illustrating the wireless
phone of FIG. 48 and including a circuit that automatically dials
"911" for transmitting the remote unit location.
[0088] FIG. 50 is a partial block diagram that illustrates the use
of a cellular telephone for transmitting the remote unit location
and for two-way radio communication.
[0089] FIG. 51 is a partial block diagram that illustrates the use
of a PCS telephone for transmitting the remote unit location and
for two-way radio communication.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0090] With reference to FIG. 1, there is shown a block diagram of
a personal alarm system according to one embodiment of the present
invention and depicted generally by the numeral 10. The personal
alarm system 10 includes a remote unit 12 and a base station 14.
The remote unit 12 has a radio transmitter 16 and a receiver 18,
and the base station 14 has a radio transmitter 20 and a receiver
22. The transmitters 16, 20 and receivers 18, 22 are compatible for
two-way radio communication between the remote unit 12 and the base
station 14.
[0091] In a preferred embodiment, the base station 14 includes an
interval timer 24 which causes the transmitter 20 to transmit at
predetermined intervals. The receiver 13 of the remote unit 12
receives the signal transmitted by the base station 14 and causes
the transmitter 16 to transmit a response to complete an electronic
handshake.
[0092] The remote unit transmitter 16 is capable of transmitting at
an energy conserving low-power level or at an emergency high-power
level. When the distance between the remote unit 12 and the base
station 14 exceeds a predetermined limit, the remote unit responds
at the higher power level.
[0093] To accomplish the shift to the higher power level, the
remote unit receiver 18 generates a signal 26 which is proportional
to the field strength of the received signal, transmitted by the
base station 14. The remote unit 12 includes a comparitor 28 which
compares the magnitude of the field strength signal 26 with a
predetermined limit value 30 and generates a control signal 32.
[0094] The remote unit transmitter 16 is responsive to a circuit 34
for selecting transmission at either the low-power level or at the
high-power level. The circuit 34 is connected to the control signal
32 and selects transmission at the low-power level when the
received field strength equals or exceeds the limit value 30, and
at the higher power level when the received field strength is less
than the limit value 30. Alternatively, the remote unit transmitter
16 transmits at one of a selectable plurality of transmission power
levels. In another alternative embodiment, transmission is
selectable within a continuous range of transmission power
levels.
[0095] Within an operating range of the personal alarm system 10,
the field strength of the base station 14 transmitted signal when
received at the remote unit 12 is inversely proportional to the
fourth power (approximately) of the distance between the two units.
This distance defines a `separation distance,` and the
predetermined limit value 30 is selected to cause transmission at
the higher power level at a desired separation distance within the
operating range.
[0096] In another embodiment, the remote unit 12 includes a hazard
sensor 36 which is connected to the transmitter 16. The hazard
sensor 36 is selected to detect one of the following common
hazards, water immersion, fire, smoke, excessive carbon monoxide
concentration, and electrical shock. In one embodiment, a detected
hazard causes the remote unit 12 to transmit a signal reporting the
existence of the hazardous condition at the moment the condition is
detected. In another embodiment, the hazardous condition is
reported when the response to the periodic electronic handshake
occurs.
[0097] In one embodiment, the base station 14 includes an audible
alarm 38 which is activated by the receiver 22. If the remote unit
fails to complete the electronic handshake or reports a detected
hazard or indicates it is out of range by sending an appropriate
code, the base station alarm 38 is activated to alert the
operator.
[0098] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating another embodiment of
the personal alarm system of the present invention. The alarm
system is indicated generally by the numeral 40 and includes a
first remote unit 42, a second remote unit 44 and a base station
46. The first remote unit 42 includes a transmitter 48, a receiver
50, an identification number 52, a received field strength signal
54, a comparitor 56, a predetermined limit value 58, a control
signal 60, a power level select circuit 62 and a hazard sensor
64.
[0099] The second remote unit 44 includes a separate identification
number 66, but is otherwise identical to the first remote unit
42.
[0100] The base station 46 includes a transmitter 68, an interval
timer 70, a receiver 72, an alarm 74 and an ID-Status display
76.
[0101] In one embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 2,
the radio transmission between the first remote unit 42 and the
base station 46 includes the identification number 52. The
transmission between the second remote unit 44 and the base station
46 includes the identification number 66. It will be understood by
those skilled in the art that the system may include one or more
remote units, each having a different identification number 52.
[0102] It will also be understood that each remote unit 42 may have
a different predetermined limit value 58. The limit value 58
defines a distance between the remote unit 42 and the base station
46 beyond which the remote unit will transmit at its higher power
level. If a number of remote units are being used to monitor a
group of children, in a school playground for example, the limit
values of each remote unit may be set to a value which will cause
high power transmission if the child wanders outside the playground
area. In other applications, the limit value 58 of each remote unit
42 may be set to a different value corresponding to different
distances at which the individual remote units will switch to high
power transmission.
[0103] In one embodiment, the base station 46 will provide an alarm
74 whenever a remote unit transmits at high power or reports the
detection of a hazard. The identification number of the reporting
remote unit and an indication of the type of hazard is displayed by
the base station on the ID-Status display 76. This information can
be used by the operator, for example a day-care provider, to decide
what response is appropriate and whether immediate caretaker
notification is required. If a child has merely wandered out of
range, the provider may simply send an associate out to get the
child and return her to the play area. On the other hand, a water
immersion hazard indication should prompt immediate notification of
caretakers and emergency personnel and immediate action by the
day-care employees.
[0104] In another embodiment, the remote unit receiver 50
determines that the separation distance between the remote unit 42
and the base station 46 exceeds the predetermined threshold. The
remote unit transmitter 48 transmits a code or status bit to
indicate that fact.
[0105] In an embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the polling message
transmitted periodically by the base station 14 is an RF carrier.
The carrier frequency is transmitted until a response from the
remote unit 12 is received or until a watchdog timer (not
illustrated) times out, resulting in an alarm The information
contained in the remote unit response must include whether
transmission is at low power or at high power, and whether a hazard
has been detected, since the base station provides an alarm in
either of these instances.
[0106] In an embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2, however, additional
information must be reported and the advantages of a digitally
formatted remote unit response will be apparent to those possessing
an ordinary level of skill in the art.
[0107] FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating another embodiment of
the personal alarm system in accordance with the present invention
and generally indicated by the numeral 80. Personal alarm system 80
includes a remote unit 82 and a base station 84.
[0108] The remote unit 82 includes a transmitter 86, a receiver 88,
a power level select circuit 90, an ID number 92, a visual beacon
94, an audible beacon 96, a watchdog timer 98, a plurality of
hazard sensors 100 including a water immersion sensor 102, a smoke
sensor 104, a heat sensor 106, a carbon monoxide sensor 108, a
tamper switch 109, and an electrical shock sensor 110, an emergency
switch ("panic button") 112, a battery 113, and a `low battery
power` sensor 114.
[0109] The base station 84 includes a transmitter 116, a receiver
118 which produces a received field strength signal 120, a
comparitor 122, a predetermined limit value 124, a comparitor
output signal 126, an interval timer 128, control signals 130 and
132, a visual alarm 134, an audible alarm 136, an ID and Status
display 138, a circuit 140 for initiating a phone call and a
connection 142 to the public telephone system.
[0110] The base station 84 and a plurality of the remote units 82
illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 3 communicate using a
digitally formatted message. One message format is used by the base
station 84 to command a specific remote unit 82, and a second
message format is used by a commanded remote unit 82 to respond to
the base station 84. These message formats are illustrated in FIGS.
5 and 4, respectively.
[0111] With reference to FIG. 4 there is shown a pictorial diagram
of a preferred digital format for a response from a remote unit in
a personal alarm system in accordance with the present invention,
indicated generally by the numeral 150. The digital response format
150 includes a remote unit ID number 152, a plurality of hazard
sensor status bits 154 including a water immersion status bit 156,
a smoke sensor status bit 158, a heat sensor status bit 160, an
excessive carbon monoxide concentration status bit 162, and an
electrical shock status bit 164. The response 150 also includes a
high power status bit, 166, a panic button status bit 168, a low
battery power detector status bit 170, a tamper switch status bit
171, and bits reserved for future applications 172.
[0112] FIG. 5 is a pictorial diagram of a preferred digital format
for a base station to remote unit transmission, generally indicated
by the numeral 180. The digital message format 180 includes a
command field 182 and a plurality of unassigned bits 190 reserved
for a future application. The command field 182 includes a coded
field of bits 184 used to command a specific remote unit to
transmit its response message (using the format 150). The command
field 182 also includes a single bit 186 used to command a remote
unit, such as the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, to transmit at
high power. The command field 182 includes command bit 188 used to
command a remote unit to activate a beacon, such as the visual
beacon 94 and the audible beacon 96 illustrated in FIG. 3. The
command field 182 also includes command bit 189, used to command a
remote unit to activate a GPS receiver, such as illustrated in FIG.
6.
[0113] In an alternative embodiment, the remote unit transmitter is
adapted to transmit at one of a plurality of transmission power
levels and the single command bit 186 is replaced with a multi-bit
command sub-field for selection of a power level. In another
embodiment, the remote unit transmitter is adapted to transmit at a
power level selected from a continuum of power levels and a
multi-bit command sub-field is provided for the power level
selection.
[0114] Again with respect to FIG. 3, the Base station 84
periodically polls each remote unit 82 by transmitting a command
180 requiring the remote unit 82 to respond with message format
150. The polling is initiated by the interval timer 128 which
causes the base station transmitter 116 to transmit the outgoing
message 180. The numerals 150 and 180 are used to designate both
the format of a message and the transmitted message. A specific
reference to the format or the transmitted message will be used
when necessary for clarity. As is common in the communications
industry, the message win sometimes be referred to as a `signal,`
at other times as a `transmission,` and as a `message;` a
distinction between these will be made when necessary for
clarity.
[0115] The message 180 is received by all remote units and the
remote unit to which the message is directed (by the coded field
184) responds by transmitting its identification number 152 and
current status, bits 154-170. The remote unit identification number
92 is connected to the transmitter 86 for this purpose.
[0116] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the function of
measuring received field strength to determine whether a
predetermined separation distance is exceeded is performed in the
base station 84. The base station receiver 118 provides a received
field strength signal 120 which is connected to the comparitor 122.
The predetermined limit value 124 is also connected to the
comparitor 122 which provides a comparitor output signal 126. If
the received field strength 120 is less than the limit value 124,
the comparitor output signal 126 is connected to assert the
"go-to-high-power" command bit 186 in the base unit 84 outgoing
message 180. The limit value 124 is selected to establish the
predetermined separation distance beyond which transmission at high
power is commanded.
[0117] In one embodiment, the selection of the limit value 124 is
accomplished by the manufacturer by entering the value into a
read-only memory device. In another embodiment, the manufacturer
uses manually operated switches to select the predetermined limit
value 124. In another embodiment, the manufacturer installs jumper
wires to select the predetermined limit value 124. In yet another
embodiment, the user selects a predetermined limit value 124 using
manually operated switches.
[0118] The remote unit transmitter 86 is capable of transmitting at
a power-conserving lower power level and also at an emergency
higher power level. Upon receiving a message 180 including the
remote unit identification number 184, the remote unit receiver
passes the "go-to-high-power" command bit 186 to the power level
select circuit 90 which is connected to command the remote unit
transmitter 86 to transmit a response 150 at the higher power
level. The response 150 includes status bit 166 used by the remote
unit 82 to indicate that it is transmitting at high power.
[0119] In one embodiment, the remote unit includes the watchdog
timer 98 (designated a `No Signal Timeout`) which is reset by the
receiver 88 each time the remote unit 82 is polled. If no polling
message 180 is received within the timeout period of the watchdog
timer 98, the remote unit transmitter 86 is commanded to transmit a
non-polled message 150.
[0120] In one embodiment of the invention, the remote unit 82
includes a manually operated switch ("panic button") 112 which is
connected to the transmitter 86 to command the transmission of a
non-potted message 150. The panic button status bit 168 is set in
the outgoing message 150 to indicate to the base station 84 that
the panic button has been depressed. Such a button can be used by a
child or invalid or other concerned person to bring help.
[0121] In another embodiment, the remote unit includes a tamper
switch 109 which is activated if the remote unit is removed from
the child, or is otherwise tampered with. The activation of the
tamper switch 109 causes the remote unit to transmit a code or
status bit to the base unit to identify the cause of the change of
status (`Tamper` status bit 171 illustrated in FIG. 4). In one
related alternative, the remote unit transmits at the higher power
level when the switch is activated by removal of the remote unit
from the child's person.
[0122] In another embodiment, the remote unit 82 includes a circuit
114 which monitors battery power. The circuit 114 is connected to
initiate a non-polled message 150 if the circuit determines that
battery power has fallen below a predetermined power threshold. The
message 150 will include the "low-battery-power" status bit 170. In
an alternative embodiment, a low battery power level will initiate
a remote unit transmission at the higher power level (see FIG.
3).
[0123] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the remote unit 82
includes several hazard sensors 100. These sensors are connected to
report the detection of common hazards and correspond to the sensor
status bits 154 in the remote unit response message 150.
[0124] In another embodiment of the present invention, the base
station receiver 118 is connected to a visual alarm 134 and an
audible alarm 136 and will give an alarm when a message 150 is
received which includes any hazard sensor report 154 or any of the
status bits 166-170.
[0125] The base station 84 also includes the status and ID display
138 used to display the status of all remote units in the personal
alarm system 80.
[0126] In another embodiment of the personal alarm system 80, the
base station 84 includes a circuit 140 for initiating a telephone
call when an emergency occurs. The circuit 140 includes the
telephone numbers of persons to be notified in the event of an
emergency. A connection 142 is provided to a public landline or
cellular telephone system. The circuit 140 can place calls to
personal paging devices, or alternatively place prerecorded
telephone messages to emergency personnel, such as the standard
"911" number.
[0127] FIG. 6 is a partial block diagram illustrating an embodiment
of the invention having a base station 200 and at least one remote
unit 202. The partially illustrated remote unit 202 includes a
transmitter 204, hazard sensors 201, 203, 205, a circuit 208 for
causing the transmitter to transmit at a higher power level, a
transmit interval timer 209, and a Global Positioning System
(`GPS`) receiver 210. The partially illustrated base station 200
includes a receiver 212, an alarm 213, a display 214 for displaying
global positioning coordinates of longitude and latitude, a circuit
216 for converting the global positioning coordinates into
predefined local coordinates, a map display 218 for displaying a
map in the local coordinates and indicating the location of the
remote unit 202, and a watchdog timer 219.
[0128] In a preferred embodiment of the alarm system, the remote
unit transmitter 204 is connected to receive the global positioning
coordinates from the GPS receiver 210 for transmission to the base
station 200.
[0129] The GPS receiver 210 determines its position and provides
that position in global positioning coordinates to the transmitter
204. The global position coordinates of the remote unit 202 are
transmitted to the base station 200. The base station receiver 212
provides the received global positioning coordinates on line 222 to
display 214 and to coordinate converter 216. The display 214
displays the global coordinates in a world-wide coordinate system
such as longitude and latitude.
[0130] In one embodiment of the alarm system, the coordinate
converter 216 receives the global positioning coordinates from line
222 and converts these into a preferred local coordinate system A
display 218 receives the converted coordinates and displays the
location of the remote unit 202 as a map for easy location of the
transmitting remote unit 202.
[0131] In another embodiment of the alarm system the GPS receiver
210 includes a low power standby mode and a normal operating mode.
The GPS receiver 210 remains in the standby mode until a hazard is
detected and then switches to the normal operating mode.
[0132] In another embodiment of the alarm system, the GPS receiver
210 remains in the standby mode until commanded by the base station
200 to enter the normal operating mode (see command bit 189
illustrated in FIG. 5).
[0133] In another embodiment of the alarm system, the remote unit
transmitter 204 is connected to the hazard sensors 201-205 for
transmission of detected hazards. The base station receiver 212 is
connected to activate the alarm 213 upon detection of a hazard.
[0134] In one embodiment, a conventional electrical shock sensor
205 includes a pair of electrical contacts 207 which are attached
to the skin of a user for detection of electrical shock.
[0135] In another embodiment, the remote unit 202 includes a
transmit interval timer 209 and an ID number 211. The timer 209 is
connected to cause the remote unit to transmit the ID number at
predetermined intervals. The base station 200 includes a watchdog
timer 219 adapted to activate the alarm 213 if the remote unit
fails to transmit within the prescribed interval.
[0136] In another embodiment of the alarm system, the remote unit
202 includes a carbon monoxide concentration sensor (see 108 of
FIG. 3) having an output signal connected to activate a sensor
status bit (see 162 of FIG. 4) for transmission to the base station
200.
[0137] FIGS. 7-10 are pictorial illustrations of alternative
embodiments of the personal alarm system of the present invention.
FIG. 7 illustrates a base station 250 in two-way radio
communication with a remote unit 252 worn by a child. The child is
running away from the base station 250 such that the separation
distance 256 has exceeded the preset threshold. The base station
has determined that an alarm should be given, and an audible alarm
254 is being sounded to alert a responsible caretaker. FIG. 8
illustrates a remote unit worn at the waist of a workman whose
location and safety are being monitored. FIG. 9 illustrates a
mobile base station 270 equipped with a cigarette lighter adapter
272 for operation in a vehicle. FIG. 10 illustrates a base station
280 adapted for operation from ordinary household current 282.
[0138] FIG. 11 is a block diagram which illustrates a
man-over-board system in accordance with one aspect of the present
invention, and designated generally by the numeral 300.
[0139] The man-over-board system 300 includes a remote unit 302,
having a navigational receiver 304 and antenna 306 for receiving
navigational information, a sensor 308, having an output signal
310, a manually operated switch 312, a radio transmitter 314 having
an antenna 316. The man-over-board system 300 also includes a base
station 318 having a radio receiver 320 connected to an antenna 322
for receiving radio transmissions from the remote unit 302. The
base station 318 also includes a display 324 for displaying the
navigational location of the remote unit 302, a display 326 for
displaying the status of the sensor 308, a circuit 328 for
comparing the field strength of the received radio transmission
with a predetermined limit 330, and an alarm 332 which is activated
when the received field strength 334 falls below the value of the
limit 330.
[0140] In use, the remote unit 302 is worn by a user and an alarm
will be given if the user falls over board and drifts too far from
the boat. The navigational receiver 304 receives navigational
information, as for example from global positioning satellites 336.
The navigational receiver 304 converts the navigational information
into a location of the remote unit 302 and outputs the location 338
to the radio transmitter 314 for transmission to the base station
318.
[0141] The sensor 308 provides an output signal 310 and defines a
sensor status. The output signal 310 is connected to the radio
transmitter 314 for transmitting the sensor status to the base
station 318.
[0142] The manually operated switch 312 includes an output 340
which is connected to the radio transmitter 314 and permits the
user to signal the base station 318 by operating the switch 312. In
a preferred embodiment, the manually operated switch 312 defines a
panic button.
[0143] The radio receiver 320 provides three outputs, the received
location 342 of the remote unit 302, the received sensor status
344, and an output signal 334 proportional to the field strength of
the received radio transmission. As described above with respect to
FIGS. 1-3, the remote unit 302 and the base station 318 define a
separation distance which is inversely proportional to the received
field strength. The comparitor circuit 328 compares the received
field strength 334 with a predetermined limit 330 and produces an
output signal 346 if the sign of the comparison is negative,
indicating that the field strength of the received signal is less
than the limit 330. If the user drifts beyond a separation distance
from the boat defined by the limit 330, the alarm 332 is activated
to alert the user's companions, who can then take appropriate
action.
[0144] In heavy seas or poor visibility, the base station 318
displays the current location of the remote unit 302 on a suitable
display 324. This is done in some appropriate coordinate system,
such as standard longitude and latitude. This feature permits the
base station to maintain contact with the man-over-board despite
failure to maintain direct eye contact.
[0145] FIG. 12 is a block diagram which illustrates a
man-over-board system including a two-way radio communication link
and designated generally by the numeral 350. The man-over-board
system 350 includes a remote unit 352 and a base station 354.
[0146] The remote unit 352 includes a navigational receiver 356, a
radio transmitter 358, a circuit 360 for causing the radio
transmitter 358 to transmit at a high power level, a radio receiver
362, and circuits 364 for activating a beacon.
[0147] The base station 354 includes a radio receiver 366, a radio
transmitter 368, a display 370 for displaying the location of the
remote unit 352, a compactor circuit 372, a predetermined limit
374, an alarm 376, and control circuits 378 for activating the
radio transmitter 368.
[0148] The navigational receiver 356 is connected to an antenna 380
for receiving navigational information, such as from global
positioning system satellites (not shown). The receiver provides
the location 382 of the remote unit 352 for radio transmission to
the base station 354.
[0149] The remote unit radio transmitter 358 and radio receiver 362
are connected to an antenna 384 for communication with the base
station 354. The base station radio receiver 366 and radio
transmitter 378 are connected to an antenna 386 for communication
with the remote unit 352.
[0150] The base station radio receiver 366 provides two outputs,
the location 388 of the remote unit for display by the location
display 370, and a signal 390 whose value is inversely proportional
to the field strength of the signal received by the radio receiver
366.
[0151] The received field strength signal 390 and the predetermined
limit 374 are compared by the comparitor circuit 372 to determine
whether the remote unit 352 is separated from the base station 354
by a distance greater than the predetermined limit 374. An alarm
376 is given when the separation distance exceeds the limit.
[0152] The control circuits 378 are used to cause the radio
transmitter 368 to send a control signal to the remote unit 352 for
selecting high-power remote unit radio transmission, or activating
a visual or audible beacon for use in locating the user in heavy
seas or bad visibility.
[0153] FIG. 13 is a block diagram which illustrates an invisible
fence for monitoring a movable subject and designated generally by
the numeral 400. The invisible fence 400 includes a remote unit 402
and a base station 404 in one-way radio communication.
[0154] The remote unit 402 includes a navigational receiver 406, a
radio transmitter 408, storage circuits 410 for storing information
defining a geographical region, a comparitor 412, second storage
circuits 414 for storing information defining a predetermined
positional status, an alarm 416, and a circuit 418 and having a
pair of electrical contacts 420, 422 for providing a mild
electrical shock.
[0155] The base station 404 includes a radio receiver 424, a
comparitor 426, storage circuits 428 for storing information
defining a predetermined positional status, and an alarm 430.
[0156] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 13, the invisible
fence 400 defines a geographical region, for example the outer
perimeter of a nursing home in which elderly persons are cared for.
If a particular patient tends to wander away from the facility,
creating an unusual burden upon the staff the remote unit 402 is
attached to the patient's clothing. If the patient wanders outside
the defined perimeter, the base station 404 alerts the staff before
the patient has time to wander too far from the nursing home.
[0157] Other applications are keeping a pet inside the yard, and
applying a mild electrical shock to the pet if it wanders too close
to a defined perimeter. Attaching the remote unit 402 to a child
and alerting the caregiver in the event the child strays from a
permitted area. Placing the remote unit around the ankle of a
person on parole or probation and giving an alarm if the parolee
strays from a permitted area. The invisible fence can also be used
to monitor movement of inanimate objects whose locations may change
as the result of theft.
[0158] The remote unit navigational receiver 406 provides the
location 432 of the remote unit. In a preferred embodiment, the
storage circuits 410 are inplemented using ROM or RAM, as for
example within an embedded microprocessor. Consideration of FIGS.
14-16 is useful to an understanding of how the invisible fence
operates.
[0159] FIGS. 14, 15 and 16 are pictorial diagrams illustrating
boundaries used to define geographical regions such as those used
in a preferred embodiment of the invisible fence 400.
[0160] FIG. 14 shows a portion 440 of a city, including cross
streets 442-454 and a defining boundary 456. The boundary 456
divides the map 440 into two portions, one portion above boundary
456, the other portion below.
[0161] FIG. 15 shows a portion 460 of a city, including cross
streets (not numbered) and a closed boundary 462 made up of
intersecting line segments 464, 466, 468, 470, 472 and 474. The
boundary 462 divides the city map 460 into two subregions, one
subregion defining an area 490 wholly within the boundary 462, and
the other subregion defining an area 492 outside the boundary
462.
[0162] FIG. 16 shows a geographical region 480 which includes
subregions 482 and 484. Subregion 482 is entirely surrounded by
subregion 484, while subregion 484 is enclosed within a pair of
concentric closed boundaries 486 and 488.
[0163] The information which defines these geographical regions and
boundaries is stored in the storage circuits 410, and serve as one
input to the comparitor 412 (FIG. 13). The comparitor 412 also
receives the location output 432 from the navigational receiver
406. The comparitor 412 compares the location of the remote unit
402 with the defined geographical region and defines a relationship
between the location and the defined region which is expressed as a
positional status. The comparitor 412 also receives an input from
the second storage circuits 414. These circuits store information
defining a predetermined positional status.
[0164] Some examples will be useful in explaining how the
positional status is used. Referring to FIG. 14, remote unit
locations 494 and 496 are illustrated as dots, one location 494
being above the boundary 456, the other location 496 being below
the boundary.
[0165] For the first example, assume that the location 494 is
"within a defined geographical region," and that the location 496
is "outside the defined geographical region." Assume also that the
predetermined positional status is that "locations within the
defined region are acceptable." Next assume that the navigational
receiver 406 reports the location 494 for the remote unit. Then the
comparitor 412 will define a positional status that "the location
of the remote unit relative to the defined region is acceptable."
This positional status will be transmitted to the base station 404
and will not result in activation of the alarm 430.
[0166] For the next example, assume that the navigational receiver
406 reports the location of the remote unit to be the location 496,
and that the other assumptions remain the same. Then the comparitor
412 will define a positional status that "the location of the
remote unit relative to the defined region is not acceptable." This
positional status will be transmitted to the base station 404 and
will result in activation of the alarm 430.
[0167] For the next example refer to FIG. 16 which includes three
successive locations 498, 500 and 502, shown linked by a broken
line, as for example by movement of the remote unit 402 from
location 498 to location 500 to location 502. Assume that the area
outside the boundary 488 defines an "acceptable" subregion. Assume
further that the area between the boundaries 488 and 486 defines a
"warning" subregion. Also assume that the area 482 inside the
boundary 486 defines a "prohibited" subregion. Finally, assume that
the navigational receiver 406 provides three successive locations
498, 500 and 502.
[0168] In a preferred embodiment, and given these assumptions in
the preceding paragraph, the comparitor 412 will determine that the
location 498 is acceptable and will take no further action. The
comparitor 412 will determine that the location 500 is within the
warning subregion 484 and will activate the remote unit alarm 416
to warn the person whose movements are being monitored that he has
entered a warning zone. When the remote unit 402 arrives at the
location 502, the comparitor 412 will determine that the remote
unit has entered a prohibited zone and will activate the mild
electric shock circuit 418 which makes contact with the skin of the
monitored person through the electrical contacts 420, 422. The
positional status reported by the remote unit 402 for the
successive locations 498, 500 and 502 is "acceptable," "warning
given," and "enforcement necessary," respectively.
[0169] In another embodiment, no enforcement or warning are given
by the remote unit 402. Instead, as when used to monitor the
movements of children or elderly patients, the positional status is
transmitted to the base station 404. There it is compared with a
stored predetermined positional status and used to set an alarm 430
if the positional status is not acceptable. The predetermined
positional status is stored in storage circuits 428 and the
comparison is made by the comparitor 426.
[0170] The preferred embodiment for the storage and comparison
circuits is the use of an embedded microprocessor.
[0171] FIG. 17 is a block diagram illustrating a personal alarm
system such as the invisible fence of FIG. 13, and designated
generally by the numeral 520. Personal alarm system 520 includes a
remote unit 522 and a base station 524.
[0172] The remote unit 522 includes a radio transmitter 526 and a
radio receiver 528 connected to a shared antenna 530. The base
station 524 includes a radio receiver 532 and a radio transmitter
534 connected to a shared antenna 536 and defining a two-way
communication link with the remote unit 522.
[0173] In one preferred embodiment, the communication link is
direct between the respective transmitters 526, 534 and the
corresponding receivers 528, 532. Other embodiments include access
to existing commercial and private communications networks for
completing the communication link between the remote unit 522 and
the base station 524. Typical networks include a cellular telephone
network 538, a wireless communications network 540, and a radio
relay network 542.
[0174] FIG. 18 is a block diagram showing an environmental
monitoring system for use in fixed locations, designated generally
by the numeral 550. The environmental monitoring system 550
includes a remote unit 552 and a base station 554.
[0175] The remote unit 552 includes storage circuits 556 for
storing information defining the location of the remote unit 552,
at least one sensor 558, a radio transmitter 560, and an antenna
562.
[0176] The base station 554 includes an antenna 564, a radio
receiver 566, a display 568 for displaying the location of the
remote unit 552, a comparitor 570, storage circuits 572 for storing
information defining a predetermined sensor status, and an alarm
574.
[0177] The environmental monitoring system 550 is useful for
applications in which the remote unit 552 remains in a fixed
location which can be loaded into the storage circuits 556 when the
remote unit 552 is activated. Such applications would include use
in forests for fire perimeter monitoring in which the sensor 558
was a heat sensor, or in monitoring for oil spills when attached to
a fixed buoy and the sensor 558 detecting oil. Other useful
applications include any application in which the location is known
at the time of activation and in which some physical parameter is
to be measured or detected, such as smoke, motion, and mechanical
stress. The environmental monitoring system 550 offers an
alternative to pre-assigned remote unit ID numbers, such as those
used in the systems illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.
[0178] The storage circuits 556 provide an output 576 defining the
location of the remote unit 552. This output is connected to the
radio transmitter 560 for communication with the base station 554.
The sensor 558 provides an output signal 578 defining a sensor
status. The output signal is connected to the radio transmitter 560
for communication of the sensor status to the base station 554.
[0179] The communications are received by the base stations radio
receiver 566 which provides outputs representing both the location
580 of the remote unit 552 and the sensor status 582. The location
580 is connected to the display 568 so that the location of the
remote unit 552 can be displayed. The comparitor 570 receives the
sensor status 582 and the information defining the predetermined
sensor status which is stored in the storage circuits 572. If the
comparitor 570 determines that the sensor status indicates an alarm
situation, it activates the alarm 574 to alert a base station
operator.
[0180] FIG. 19 is a block diagram which illustrates an alternative
embodiment of a personal alarm system in which the remote unit
transmits demodulated navigational and precise time-of-day
information to the base station, and the base station uses that
information to compute the location of the remote unit. This
alternative embodiment is designated generally by the numeral 600
and includes a remote unit 602 and a base station 604.
[0181] The remote unit 602 includes a navigational receiver 606, a
demodulator circuit 608, a precise time-of-day circuit 610, a
sensor 612, and a radio transmitter 614.
[0182] The base station 604 includes a radio receiver 616,
computational circuits 618 for computing the location of the remote
unit 602, a display 620 for displaying the computed location, a
second display (can be part of the first display) 622 for
displaying a sensor status, a comparitor 624, storage circuits 626
for storing information defining a predetermined sensor status, and
an alarm 628.
[0183] In a preferred embodiment, the navigational receiver 606
receives navigational information from global positioning system
satellites (not shown). In this embodiment, the raw navigational
information is demodulated by the demodulator circuit 608 and the
output of the demodulator 608 is connected to the radio transmitter
614 for communication to the base station 604.
[0184] The precise time-of-day circuits 610 provide the time-of-day
information needed to compute the actual location of the remote
unit based upon the demodulated navigational information. In the
case of GPS navigational information, geometric dilution of
precision computations are done at the base station 604 to derive
the actual location of the remote unit 602.
[0185] The sensor 612 provides an output signal defining a sensor
status. The demodulated navigational information, the precise
time-of-day information and the sensor status are all connected to
the radio transmitter 614 for communication to the base station
604.
[0186] At the base station 604, the radio receiver 616 provides the
navigational and precise time-of-day information to the computation
circuits 618 for determining the actual location. In a preferred
embodiment, the computation is made using an embedded
microprocessor. The computed location is displayed using the
display 620.
[0187] The radio receiver 616 also provides the received sensor
status which forms one input to the comparitor 624. Stored
information defining a predetermined sensor status is provides by
the storage circuits 626 as a second input to the comparitor 624.
If the received sensor status and the stored sensor status do not
agree, the comparitor 624 activates the alarm 628 to alert the base
station operator.
[0188] FIG. 20 is a block diagram which illustrates an alternative
embodiment of the invisible fence system in which the base station
computes the location of the remote unit, and in which the fence
definitions are stored at the base station rather than in the
remote unit. The alternative system is designated generally by the
numeral 650 and includes a remote unit 652 and a base station
654.
[0189] The remote unit 652 includes a navigational receiver 656, a
demodulator circuit 658, a precise time-of-day circuit 660, a radio
transmitter 662, a radio receiver 664, a shared antenna 666, and
control status circuits 668.
[0190] The base station 654 includes a radio receiver 670, a radio
transmitter 672, a shared antenna 674, computation circuits 676,
storage circuits 678, second storage circuits 680, a first
comparitor 682, a second comparitor 684, a display 686, an alarm
688, and control circuits 690.
[0191] The navigational receiver 656 provides raw navigational
information 692 to the demodulator circuit 658. The demodulator
circuit 658 demodulates the raw navigational information and
provides demodulated navigational information 694 to the radio
transmitter 662 for communication to the base station 654. The
precise time-of-day circuit 660 provides time-of-day information
696 to the radio transmitter 662 for communication to the base
station 654.
[0192] The base station radio receiver 670 provides received
navigational information 698 and received time-of-day information
700 to the computation circuits 676 for conversion to an actual
location 702 of the remote unit 652. The storage circuits 678 store
information defining a geographical region.
[0193] The first comparitor 682 receives the location 702 and the
region defining information 704 and provides a positional status
706, as described above with respect to FIGS. 13-16.
[0194] The second storage circuits 680 store information 708
defining a predetermined positional status. The second comparitor
684 receives the positional status 706 and the predetermined
positional status 708 and provides control output signals 710 based
upon the results of the positional status comparison. When the
location 702 is within a defined "warning" or "restricted" zone,
the second comparitor 684 activates the alarm 688 and causes the
location 702 to be displayed by the display 686.
[0195] In one preferred embodiment, the remote unit includes
circuits 668 which provide a means by which the base station 654
can warn the remote unit user or enforce a restriction, as for
example, by applying the mild electric shock of the embodiment
shown in FIG. 13. The second comparitor 684 uses a control signal
710 to activate the control circuits 690 to send a command via the
radio transmitter 672 to the remote unit 652 for modifying the
remote unit control status. For example, if the remote unit
location is within a restricted zone, the base station 654 will
command the remote unit 652 to provide an electric shock to enforce
the restriction.
[0196] FIG. 21 is a block diagram illustrating another embodiment
of a man-over-board alarm system, designated generally by the
numeral 750. The man-over-board alarm system 750 includes a remote
unit 752 and a base station 754.
[0197] The remote unit 752 includes a navigational receiver 756, a
radio transmitter 758, an environmental sensor 760, at least one
manually operated switch 762, a beacon 764, a circuit 766 for
activating the navigational receiver 756, and a control circuit
768.
[0198] The base station 754 includes a radio receiver 770, a
remote-unit location display 772, a sensor status display 774, an
alarm 776, a switch status display 778, a control circuit 780, and
storage 782 for a predetermined limit value.
[0199] The navigational receiver 756 receives navigational
information via an antenna 757 and provides a location 759 of the
remote unit to the radio transmitter 758 for transmitting the
remote unit location 759. The navigational receiver 756 has a
normal operational mode and a low-power standby mode. In a
preferred embodiment, the navigational receiver 756 is normally in
the low-power standby mode, thereby conserving operating power
which is normally supplied by batteries.
[0200] The circuit 766 is responsive to the control circuit 768 for
selecting the operational mode and thereby activating the
navigational receiver. In a specific embodiment, the control
circuit 768 is responsive to a hazard sensor 760, such as a
water-immersion sensor, for controlling the circuit 766 to activate
the navigational receiver 756. In another embodiment, the control
circuit 768 is responsive to a manually operated switch 762, such
as a manually operated panic button, for activating the
navigational receiver 756.
[0201] In a specific embodiment, the sensor 760 provides an output
signal 761, and defines a sensor status. The manually operated
switch 762 provides an output signal 763, and defines a switch
status. The control circuit 768 receives the sensor output signal
761 and the switch output signal 763, and connects each to the
radio transmitter 758 for communication of the sensor status and
the switch status to the base station 754.
[0202] In another specific embodiment, the control circuit 768 is
connected for activating the remote unit beacon 764 in response to
a change in the sensor status 761. In another embodiment, the
control circuit 768 activates the beacon 764 in response to a
change in the switch status 763. In one embodiment, the beacon 764
is a visual beacon, such as a flashing light. In another
embodiment, the beacon 764 is an audible beacon which emits a
periodic sound. The beacon 764 aids searchers in locating a
man-over-board.
[0203] In a specific embodiment, the control circuit 768 is
implemented using a programmed micro-processor. In another specific
embodiment, the control circuit 768 is implemented using an
imbedded, programmed micro-processor. In another embodiment the
control circuit 768 is implemented using a programmed
micro-controller.
[0204] The base-station radio receiver 770 receives the remote unit
location 759, the sensor status, and the switch status. The radio
receiver 770 is connected to the display 772 for displaying the
received remote unit location, is connected to the display 774 for
displaying the received sensor status, and is connected to the
display 778 for displaying the switch status. In a specific
embodiment, the radio receiver 770 is connected to the alarm 776
which is activated by a change in the sensor status, such as the
detection of immersion in water. In another specific embodiment,
the alarm is activated by a change in the switch status, such as a
manual operation of the panic button.
[0205] The radio receiver 770 provides a signal 771 corresponding
to a field strength of a received radio communication. The control
circuit 780 compares the received field strength 771 with a
predetermined limit value 783 provided by circuit 782. The control
circuit 780 is connected to activate the alarm 776 when the
received field strength is less than the predetermined limit value
783. The received field strength 771, the control circuit 780, and
the predetermined limit value 783 define a separation distance
between the remote unit 752 and the base station 754, as discussed
above with respect to other embodiments of the invention.
[0206] In a specific embodiment, the control circuit 780 and the
circuit 782 for providing the predetermined limit value 783 are
implemented using a programmed micro-controller. In another
specific embodiment, the circuit 780 and the circuit 782 are
implemented using an embedded, programmed micro-controller. The
functions performed by the circuits 780 and 782 are performed in
different embodiments alternatively by discrete integrated
circuits, by a programmed micro-controller, by an embedded,
programmed micro-controller, by a programmed micro-processor, and
by an embedded, programmed micro-processor.
[0207] In a specific embodiment of the man-over-board alarm system
illustrated in FIG. 21, the sensor 760 includes a plurality of
environmental, physiological and hazard sensors providing output
signals and defining a sensor status vector. In another specific
embodiment, the sensor 760 provides a plurality of output signals
761 defining another status vector. In another specific embodiment,
the sensor 760 provides an analog output signal 761, and the
control circuit 768 converts the analog signal 761 for radio
transmission as a sensor status vector. The base station 754
displays the sensor status vector using the display 774.
[0208] In another specific embodiment of the man-over-board alarm
system illustrated in FIG. 21, the manually operated switch 762
includes a plurality of manually operated switches providing
multiple output signals 763. The multiple output signals 763 define
a switch status vector which is connected to the control circuit
768 for radio transmission to the base station 754. The base
station 754 displays the switch status vector using the display
778. In a specific embodiment, the remote unit manually operated
switches 762 define a numeric keypad, and the base station 754
displays a manual entry made using the numeric keypad. In another
specific embodiment, the manually operated switches 762 define an
alpha numeric keypad, and the base station 754 displays manually
entered alpha numeric information.
[0209] FIG. 22 is a partial block diagram of the man-over-board
alarm system illustrated in FIG. 21, and designated generally by
the numeral 800. The alarm system 800 includes a remote unit 802
and a base station 804. The remote unit 802 includes a radio
transmitter 806 and a microphone 808. The base station 804 includes
a radio receiver 810 and a speaker 812. In this embodiment of the
alarm system 800, the microphone 808 is connected to the
transmitter 806 for defining a one-way voice radio communication
channel with the base station receiver 810 and speaker 812. In a
specific embodiment, the radio transmitter 806 is also used to
transmit the remote unit location, the sensor status vector, and
the switch status vector as discussed above with respect to FIG.
21. In another specific embodiment, the radio receiver 810 is also
used to receive the remote unit location, the sensor status vector,
the switch status vector, and to provide the received signal
strength signal.
[0210] FIG. 23 is also a partial block diagram of the
man-over-board alarm system shown in FIG. 21. The alarm system is
designated generally by the numeral 814. The alarm system 814
includes a remote unit 816 and a base station 818. The remote unit
816 includes a radio transmitter 820, a microphone 822, a radio
receiver 824 and a speaker 826. The base station 818 includes a
radio receiver 828, a speaker 830, a radio transmitter 832 and a
microphone 834. These elements are configured to provide a two-way
voice communication channel between the remote unit 816 and the
base station 818. In a specific embodiment, the radio transmitter
820 and radio receiver 828 are also used to communicate the remote
unit location, the sensor status vector, and the switch status
vector. In another specific embodiment, the radio receiver 828 also
provides a received signal strength signal.
[0211] FIG. 24 is a block diagram illustrating another embodiment
of an invisible fence system, designated generally by the numeral
850. The invisible fence system 850 includes a remote unit 852 and
a base station 854.
[0212] The remote unit 852 includes a navigational receiver 856, a
radio transmitter 858, a memory 860 for storing information
defining a geographic region, a memory 862 for storing information
defining a predetermined positional and time status, a circuit 863
for providing time-of-day information, a comparison circuit 864,
and an enforcement and alarm circuit 865.
[0213] The base station 854 includes a radio receiver 866, a memory
868 for storing a predetermined positional and time status, a
comparison circuit 870 and an alarm 872.
[0214] The invisible fence system illustrated in FIG. 24 differs
from the embodiment of FIG. 13 by providing an alarm and
enforcement based upon both time and location. The embodiment of
FIG. 24 allows the defining of zones of inclusion, and
alternatively zones of exclusion, which are defined in terms of
location and time-of-day. For example, a parolee equipped with the
remote unit 852 may be confined to, and alternatively excluded
from, a defined region between the hours of 6 PM and 6 AM. If the
parolee leaves the region of confinement, or enters the region of
exclusion, between those two time limits, a radio transmission
activates the alarm 872 at the base station 854, and simultaneously
activates an alarm and enforcement process 865 at the remote unit
852. In a specific embodiment, the parolee is first warned that he
has left a region of confinement at an unallowed time. If the
violation continues, the parolee is given a mild electrical shock.
If the violation continues, the intensity of the electrical shock
is increased. The authorities are put on notice by the base station
alarm 872 that the parolee has violated his defined
restrictions.
[0215] FIG. 25 is a pictorial diagram illustrating boundaries used
to define geographical regions such as those used in a preferred
embodiment of the invisible fence system 850. FIG. 25 shows a
portion 1000 of a city, including cross streets (not numbered) and
a closed boundary made up of intersecting line segments 1006, 1008,
1010 and 1012. The boundary divides the city map 1000 into two
subregions, one subregion defining an area 1002 wholly within the
boundary, and the other subregion defining an area 1004 outside the
boundary.
[0216] In a specific embodiment of an invisible fence system, such
as that illustrated in FIG. 24, a memory 860 stores information
defining a geographical region, for example the region 1002. In an
example of the operation of the specific embodiment, assume the
region 1002 represents a specific city block, surrounded by the
city streets 1006, 1008, 1010 and 1012. Further assume that a
parolee is wearing the remote unit 852, and that the parolee is
required by the terms of his parole to remain within the city block
1002 between the hours of 8 PM and 7 AM, and that at all other
times the parolee is permitted to be outside the region 1002.
[0217] FIG. 26 is a table defining a relationship between the
location of the remote unit 852 (FIG. 24) and the time-of-day for
use in understanding a curfew feature of a specific embodiment of
the invisible fence system 850. Each row of the table represents a
different location, and each column of the table represents a
subdivision of the time-of-day. The relationship defined by the
table represents an example of a curfew requiring the parolee (in
the preceding example) to remain at home, i.e., within the city
block 1002, between 8 PM and 7 AM. If the parolee leaves home
during the interval from 8 PM to 7 AM, an alarm 872 is activated at
the base station 854. The information represented by the table is
stored in a memory 862 in the remote unit 852, and is referred to
as a predetermined positional and time status.
[0218] With respect to the specific embodiment illustrated in FIG.
24, the memory 860 stores information defining the geographical
region 1002 (FIG. 25). The comparison circuit 864 receives the
remote unit location 859, the time-of-day 861, the information
defining the geographical region 1002, and the curfew defining
information 867. The comparison circuit 864 compares the named
items of information and provides a positional and time status 869
to the radio transmitter 858 for communication to the base station
854. In another embodiment of the invisible fence system 850, the
transmitter 858 periodically transmits the remote unit location 859
and time-of-day 861. This information is received at the base
station 854 where the predetermined positional and time status is
stored in a memory 868. The base station 854 makes an independent
determination of whether or not the curfew is violated. The
positional and time status is compared by circuit 870 with the
received location and time-of-day information. An alarm 872 is
given if the remote unit violates the established curfew.
[0219] FIG. 27 is a block diagram illustrating another embodiment
of an invisible fence system, designated generally by the numeral
1020. The invisible fence system 1020 includes a remote unit 1022
and a base station 1024. The remote unit 1022 includes a
navigational receiver 1026, a radio transmitter 1028, a radio
receiver 1030 and an enforcement and alarm circuit 1032. The base
station 1024 includes a radio receiver 1034, a radio transmitter
1036, a memory 1040 for storing information defining a geographical
region, a memory 1042 for storing information defining a
predetermined positional and time status, a display 1044 and an
alarm 1046.
[0220] The navigational receiver 1026 provides information 1027
defining a location of the remote unit 1022, and is connected to
the remote unit radio transmitter 1028 for communicating the remote
unit location to the base station 1024. The transmitted remote unit
location is received by the base station radio receiver 1034 and
provided on line 1035 to the control/compare circuit 1038. The base
station includes a circuit 1037 for providing time-of-day
information 1039 to the control/compare circuit 1038.
[0221] In a specific embodiment, the control/compare circuit 1038
is implemented as part of a programmed, imbedded
micro-processor/micro-controller. A memory of the imbedded
micro-processor provides the memory 1040 for storage of information
1041 defining a geographical region, and the memory 1042 for
storage of information 1043 defining a predetermined positional and
time status. The imbedded micro-processor implementation of the
control/compare circuit 1038 receives the remote unit location
1035, the time-of-day 1039, the information 1041 defining a
geographical region, and the information 1043 defining a
predetermined positional and time status.
[0222] In the previous example, the defined geographical region
corresponded to the region 1002 (FIG. 25), and the predetermined
positional and time status corresponded to the relationship defined
by the table in FIG. 26. The parolee was required to be within the
region 1002 between the hours of 8 PM and 7 AM. The compare/control
circuit 1038 compares the received information described above and
determines whether the parolee is in violation of the defined
curfew. The parolee is in violation of the curfew defined by the
table in FIG. 26 when he is outside his home between the hours of 8
PM and 7 AM. In this example, the region 1002 (FIG. 25) corresponds
to the parolee's home. Locations outside region 1002 are therefore
outside his home. In this example, if the parolee is in violation
of the curfew, the control/compare circuit 1038 generates a signal
1045, connected to the base station radio transmitter 1036 for
activating an alarm/enforcement device 1032 at the remote unit
1022. Such a device and an alarm/enforcement protocol have been
described above with respect to FIGS. 13 and 16.
[0223] In a specific embodiment of the invisible fence system shown
in FIG. 27, the location of the remote unit is displayed 1044 at
the base station 1024. In one embodiment, the control/compare
circuit 1038 continuously displays the remote unit location. In
another embodiment, the control/compare circuit 1038 provides and
alarm 1046 and displays the remote unit location when the parolee
has violated the curfew.
[0224] In a specific embodiment of the invisible fence system of
FIG. 27, the time-o-day circuit 1037 is implemented as part of the
imbedded micro-processor. When several remote units are
transmitting their locations from different time zones, the base
station time-of-day is adjusted at the base station to use the
correct time-of-day for each transmitting remote unit. For a curfew
type process, it is not necessary generally to use a precise
time-of-day. However, when a precise time-of-day is required, the
remote unit transmitter is connected to receive both a location and
a precise time-of-day from the navigational receiver, or other
precise time-of-day circuit, for transmission to the base station.
Such arrangements are illustrated in FIGS. 19, 20, 34 and 36.
[0225] FIG. 28 is a partial block diagram illustrating an alarm
system, designated generally by the numeral 1050. The alarm system
1050 includes a remote unit 1052 and a base station 1054 and is
intended to be representative of many of the alarm systems in
accordance with aspects of this invention. The remote unit 1052
includes a radio transmitter 1056 and a radio receiver 1058. The
base station 1054 includes a modem 1060. Through its modem 1060,
the base station 1054 is connected to a standard communications
channel, designated 1064 and a two-way radio link 1062, permitting
a two-way communication between the base station 1054 and the
remote unit 1052.
[0226] Such an arrangement provides a radio link for communicating
with the remote unit 1052 while not requiring the base station 1054
to include the necessary radio receiver and radio transmitter. In
such a case, the base station includes a communications receiver
and a communications transmitter which in one embodiment includes a
radio communications facility and in another embodiment provides
the modem capability. The modem 1060 permits the base station to be
connected via standard land line communications, such as a
commercial telephone network. Thus the standard communication
channel 1064 includes a standard telephone network, communications
satellites, relay type radio links and other common carrier
technologies such as cellular telephone, wireless communications,
and personal communications systems ("PCS").
[0227] FIG. 29 is a partial block diagram illustrating an
alternative embodiment of the personal alarm system 80 as depicted
in FIG. 3. Parts shown in FIG. 29 which correspond to parts shown
in FIG. 3 have the same identification numerals.
[0228] FIG. 29 illustrates a radio transmitter 86, a circuit 90 for
selecting a transmission power level for the transmitter 86. An
oil/chemical sensor 113 is added to the hazard sensors 100. Each
sensor provides an output signal defining a sensor status. The
sensor status of all sensors is connected via a line 111 to the
transmitter 86 for transmission of the sensor status. The output of
each sensor 100 is connected via line 117 to the selection circuit
90 for selecting a transmission power level. The transmitter 86
normally operates at a reduced power level to conserve battery
power. When a hazard sensor 100 detects a hazardous condition, the
line 117 communicates that fact to the circuit 90 which causes the
transmitter 86 to transmit at a higher power level.
[0229] FIG. 30 is a block diagram illustrating a specific
embodiment of a personal alarm system, designated generally by the
numeral 1080, and including a remote unit 1082 and a base station
1084. The remote unit 1082 includes a radio transmitter 1086, a
radio receiver 1088, a control circuit 1090, a transmission power
level selection circuit 1092 and a sensor 1094. The base station
1084 includes a radio receiver 1096, a radio transmitter 1098, an
alarm 1100 and a higher power level command circuit 1102.
[0230] FIG. 30 illustrates a system in which a sensor status 1095
is transmitted to the base station 1084 and generates an alarm
1100. The command circuit 1102 is responsive to the received sensor
status and causes the base station transmitter 1098 to transmit a
command to the remote unit 1082 causing the remote unit to transmit
at a higher power level. The command is received by the remote unit
receiver 1088 and is interpreted by the control circuit 1090 to
select a higher power transmission level 1092.
[0231] FIG. 31 is a partial block diagram illustrating a circuit
1130 including an analog-to-digital converter 1132 and a read-only
memory 1134. The analog-to-digital converter 1132 receives an
analog input signal 1131 and provides digital output signals 1133.
The digital output signals 1133 are connected to address input
lines of the read-only-memory 1134. The read-only-memory provides
digital output signals of stored information from an addressed
memory location on output lines 1135.
[0232] The circuit shown in FIG. 31 is used to convert a received
field strength signal such as signal 771 in the base station 754 of
FIG. 21, to a predetermined digital output vector on lines
1135.
[0233] FIG. 32 is a partial block diagram illustrating a
digital-to-analog converter 1140. The digital-to-analog converter
1140 receives digital input signals on lines 1141 and provides an
analog output signal on line 1142.
[0234] FIG. 33 is a block diagram illustrating an embodiment of a
personal alarm system designated generally by the numeral 1150, and
including a remote unit 1152 and a base station 1154. The remote
unit 1152 includes a radio transmitter 1156, a radio receiver 1158,
a circuit 1160 for selecting transmission power level and a sensor
1162. The base station 1154 includes a radio receiver 1164, a radio
transmitter 1166, an alarm 1168 and a command control circuit 1170.
The digital-to-analog converter illustrated in FIG. 32 is used in a
specific embodiment of the circuit 1160 of FIG. 33 for selecting
one of a plurality of transmission power levels, as commanded by
the base station. The base station receiver 1164 provides a signal
1165 proportional to a received field strength. In a specific
embodiment, the signal 1165 is an analog signal and is converted to
a digital form using the conversion circuit 1130 of FIG. 31. The
digital output signals 1135 are used by the command control circuit
1170 to generate a power-level command 1171 for transmission to the
remote unit 1152. In one embodiment of the remote unit select power
level circuit 1160, the received digital power-level command is
used directly to control the power level of the remote unit
transmitter 1156. In another embodiment, the received power-level
command is converted to an analog signal which is used to control
the power level of the remote unit transmitter 1156. In this
manner, the alarm system is able to compensate for an increase in
separation distance, low remote unit battery power or other
conditions which cause the received signal strength 1165 to be
reduced. The circuits are also able to command a reduction of the
remote unit transmitting power level to conserve remote unit
battery power.
[0235] FIG. 34 is a block diagram illustrating a specific
embodiment of a weather alarm system, designated generally by the
numeral 1180. The weather alarm system 1180 includes a remote unit
1182 and a base station 1184.
[0236] The remote unit 1182 includes a navigational receiver 1186,
a weather receiver 1188, a radio transmitter 1190, region defining
circuits 1192, weather threshold defining circuits 1194,
information combining circuits 1196, and information comparison
circuits 1198.
[0237] The base station 1184 includes a radio receiver 1200, a
display circuit 1202, and an alarm 1204.
[0238] The weather alarm system 1180 operates generally as follows,
the remote unit 1182 is deployed in the field, such as in a small,
private aircraft and is used to monitor the weather within a zone
surrounding the aircraft. As the aircraft moves, the zone
surrounding the aircraft moves also. A navigational receiver 1186
is used to determine the location of the aircraft at any point in
time. A weather receiver 1188 receives weather parameters broadcast
by a Weather Surveillance Radar System of the US Weather Service,
providing up-to-date weather information for the United States. The
remote unit is programmed to monitor specific weather parameters
within the zone surrounding the aircraft and to compare those
parameters with programmed limits. In the event that one or more of
the monitored parameters exceeds the programmed limit, the remote
unit transmitter 1190 is activated and transmits the location 1187
of the aircraft. In some embodiments, specific weather parameters
are also transmitted. The base station 1184 receives the
transmission, displays 1202 the location and any transmitted
weather parameters, and, if appropriate, gives an alarm 1204.
[0239] FIG. 35 is a pictorial diagram illustrating an example of a
weather region useful in understanding the operation of the weather
alarm system 1180 and similar embodiments. The weather region is
designated generally by the numeral 1220 and 1220 includes a region
1222 in which weather parameters are received from a weather
surveillance radar system. Within the region 1222 is a weather
alarm system remote unit at a moving location 1224 and surrounded
by a moving zone 1226 having a constant radius 1228. It is perhaps
more relevant to state that at any point in the contiguous 48
states of the lower continental United States the weather receiver
1188 receives weather parameters relevant to the current location
1224 of the weather alarm system remote unit 1182 (the aircraft, in
our example above). The aircraft is surrounded by a moving zone
1226 and the remote unit is monitoring specified weather parameters
within the moving zone, notifying the base station 1184 when any
monitored parameter exceeds its programmed limit.
[0240] FIG. 36 is a pictorial diagram illustrating an example of
another weather region, designated generally by the numeral 1240.
In this example, the weather region 1240 includes an area of
weather reporting 1242. The aircraft is located at point 1244 and
is moving in a direction and at a velocity shown by a vector 1246.
In this example, the defined zone of weather parameter monitoring
is 1248.
[0241] With respect once again to FIG. 34, the remote unit circuits
1192 are used to define the zone (1226 in FIG. 35, and 1248 in FIG.
26) which is moving relative to the aircraft. In a specific
embodiment, the circuits 1192 are a memory portion of a programmed
micro-controller, and the zone is defined by information stored in
the memory portion. The defined zone is designated by the numeral
1193.
[0242] The remote unit circuits 1194 define specific weather
parameters to be monitored and also define specific threshold
values, limits and ranges for use in monitoring the weather
parameters. The defined values are designated generally by the
numeral 1195 and in a specific embodiment are stored in a memory
portion of a programmed micro-controller.
[0243] As the aircraft proceeds on its flight, the navigational
receiver 1186 continues to provide a current location 1187, while
the weather receiver 1188 continues to provide current weather
information 1189. The location 1187 and the surrounding zone
defining information 1193 are combined by circuits 1196 and define
a zone relative to the weather reporting region (1222 in the
example of FIG. 35, and 1242 in the example of FIG. 36). This
relative zone is compared by circuits 1198 with the received
weather parameters 1189 and the selected weather parameters and
limit values 1195 to determine whether or not any monitored
parameter within the moving zone exceeds it limit. The line 1199 is
used to activate the remote unit transmitter 1190 for transmitting
the current location 1187 and the result 1199 of the
comparison.
[0244] FIG. 37 is a partial block diagram illustrating a specific
embodiment of a remote unit for a weather alarm system. The portion
of the remote unit is designated generally by the numeral 1250, and
includes a navigational receiver 1252, a circuit 1254 for defining
an activation threshold, and a comparison circuit 1256. In the
embodiment illustrated here, received weather parameters 1258 are
compared with limit values, threshold values and ranges stored in
the circuit 1254. If any specified weather parameter exceeds its
individual limit value, the comparison circuit 1256 activates the
navigational receiver 11252 which has been operating in a standby
mode. Since current location is not available until the
navigational receiver is activated, the received weather parameters
1258 are not limited to a moving zone around the aircraft, but
apply to the entire weather reporting region (1222 in the example
of FIG. 35, and 1242 in the example of FIG. 36). In a specific
embodiment, the circuits 1254 and 1256 are part of a programmed
micro-controller.
[0245] FIG. 38 is a block diagram of another specific embodiment of
a weather alarm system, designated generally by the numeral 1270.
The weather alarm system 1270 includes a remote unit 1272 and a
base station 1274.
[0246] The remote unit 1272 includes only a navigational receiver
1276, providing a current location to a radio transmitter 1278 for
transmission to a base station.
[0247] The base station 1274 includes a radio receiver 1280 for
receiving the current location 1281, a weather receiver 1282 for
receiving weather parameters, a region defining circuit 1284 for
defining a zone relative to the current remote unit location, a
weather threshold defining circuit 1286 for selecting specific
weather parameters and for defining limits, thresholds, and ranges
for the each selected weather parameter, an information combining
circuit 1288 for combining the current location and the zone
defining information, a comparison circuit 1290 for selecting the
specified parameters within the zone relative to the current
location, comparing the selected parameters within the zone with
their individual limits, and activating an alarm 1294 and
displaying 1292 the current location and comparison results when a
monitored weather parameter within the defined distance of the
remote unit exceeds its limit, falls below its defined threshold,
and falls inside/outside of a defined range.
[0248] In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 38 all the
intelligence is placed into the base station 1274, including the
weather receiver 1282. In a specific embodiment, the circuits 1284,
1286, 1288 and 1290 are part of a programmed micro-controller.
[0249] FIG. 39 is a block diagram illustrating a self-locating
remote alarm unit designated generally by the numeral 1300. The
remote unit 1300 includes a circuit 1302 defining a first variable
and providing a value 1303 for the first variable, a circuit 1304
defining a second variable and providing a value 1305 for the
second variable, a communications transmitter 1306, a circuit 1308
defining a condition and providing a value for the condition, a
circuit 1310 for comparing the value of the first variable with the
value of the condition, and a circuit 1312 responsive to the
comparison for enabling the communications transmitter 1306 to
transmit the value of the second variable and to transmit a
function of the value of the first variable.
[0250] Though the description of FIG. 39 is very abstract, the
figure represents the essence of the major embodiments of the
present invention, as the following examples will illustrate.
[0251] In a simple man-over-board monitor as illustrated in FIG.
11, the value 310 of the first variable is provided by a sensor
308, the value 338 of the second variable is provided by a
navigation receiver 304. When the sensor status 310 changes, a
transmitter 314 transmits the remote unit location 338 and the
sensor status 310.
[0252] In the same man-over-board monitor, when a panic button 312
is depressed, the transmitter 314 transmits the remote unit
location 338 and the switch status 340.
[0253] In an environmental monitor illustrated in FIG. 18, the
value of the first variable is a sensor status 578 for a monitored
environmental parameter, while the value of the second variable is
a location 576 of the remote unit stored in a memory. When the
sensor 558 detects a predetermined change in the monitored
environmental parameter, the transmitter 560 transmits the stored
location of the remote unit and the sensor status 578.
Alternatively, the remote unit 552 defines a patient monitor, and
the value of the second variable is stored information 556 which
identifies the patient, such as name, room and bed number, patient
identification code. The value of the first variable is the output
of a sensor 558 which monitors a physiological parameter, and
defines a sensor status 578. When a predetermined change in the
monitored physiological parameter occurs, the transmitter 560 is
activated and transmits the patient identification information 576
as the value of the second variable and transmits and the sensor
status 578 as the function of the first variable.
[0254] The circuits 1308, 1310 and 1312 of FIG. 39 find their
equivalents in the man-over-board monitor, the patient monitor and
in the environmental monitor in that a change in a sensor or switch
status activates a transmission of the value of the second
variable--dynamic location, patient ID, and static location,
respectively--and a transmission of an appropriate function of the
value of the first variable--sensor status.
[0255] In a man-over-board monitor 752 illustrated in FIG. 21, the
value of the second variable is provided by a dynamic location
determining device, in this case the navigational receiver 756.
Alternative embodiments use the World-wide LORAN navigation system,
a satellite navigational system such as the GPS system, and other
alternative global and regional navigational systems for providing
a value of the second variable which is the location of the remote
unit 752.
[0256] Another example of a remote unit represented by the block
diagram in FIG. 39 is a remote weather alarm 1182 illustrated in
FIG. 34 in which the value of the second variable is a remote unit
location 1187, and in which the function of the first variable is
defined by a circuit 1198 to be the result 1199 of a comparison of
a monitored weather parameter, within the defined zone relative to
the weather alarm location 1187, with a defined weather threshold
1195.
[0257] Another example of the remote unit represented by FIG. 39 is
an invisible fence monitor 852 as illustrated in FIG. 24. The value
of the second variable is a location 859 provided by a navigational
receiver 856, while the transmitted function of the first variable
is a positional and time status 869, the result of a comparison by
a circuit 864 of the location 859, a time-of-day 861 and a defined
curfew 860, 862.
[0258] When a microphone 808 is connected to the remote unit
transmitter 806, as shown in FIG. 22, the remote unit of FIG. 39
includes a one-way voice channel.
[0259] FIG. 40 is a block diagram illustrating a remote alarm unit
designated generally by the numeral 1320. The remote unit 1320
includes a circuit 1322 defining a first variable and providing a
value 1323 for the first variable, a communications transmitter
1324, a circuit 1326 defining a condition and providing a value for
the condition, a circuit 1328 for comparing the value of the first
variable with the value of the condition, and a circuit 1330
responsive to the comparison for enabling the communications
transmitter 1324 to transmit a function of the value 1323 of the
first variable. The remote unit 1320 also includes a communications
receiver 1332 for defining a two-way communications link.
[0260] When the remote unit shown in FIG. 39 includes a
communications receiver, such as the receiver 1332 of FIG. 40, the
communications channel is alternatively one of direct radio contact
such as illustrated in a variety of the figures, wireless,
cellular, radio telephone, radio relay, to name a few
representative communications channels as shown in FIGS. 17 and
28.
[0261] An example of a monitoring system such as illustrated in
FIG. 40 is shown in FIGS. 3, 30 and 33. In each instance, one or
more sensors and switches provide the value for the first variable
and the transmitted function of the value of the first variable is
alternatively the sensor value and the sensor/switch status. The
circuits 1326, 1328 and 1330 find their equivalents in an
activation of the transmitter upon a change of the sensor/switch
status. The remote monitoring system illustrated in FIG. 3 includes
both a remote unit 82 of the class shown in FIG. 40 and a
compatible base station 84.
[0262] FIG. 41 is a partial block diagram which illustrates a
plurality of sensor/switches designated by the numeral 1340. Each
sensor/switch 1342 provides an output signal 1343 defining a
sensor/switch status. A typical transmission format for a
sensor/switch status and defining a sensor/switch vector is shown
in the partial pictorial diagram of FIG. 42. The transmitted format
is designated generally by the numeral 1350 and includes a
plurality of sensor/switch status bits 1352 defining a status
vector 1354. A portion 1356 of the transmitted format 1350 is
unused and marked reserved.
[0263] Finally, FIG. 43 is a partial block diagram illustrating the
temporary connection of an input device to a remote monitor of the
type providing a stored value for the second variable. The figure
includes the removable input device 1350 temporarily connected to
the remote monitor 1362. The remote monitor 1362 includes a circuit
1364 for storing a value for the second variable. The input device
1350 is connected to the remote monitor 1362 and supplies a value
1361 for storage in the circuit 1364. Once the value 1361 has been
stored, the input device 1360 is disconnected from the remote
monitor 1362, and the remote monitor uses the value stored by the
circuit 1364 as the value of the second variable. The remote
monitor 1362 corresponds to the self-locating remote alarm unit
1300 of FIG. 39, and the storage circuit 1364 of FIG. 43
corresponds to the circuit 1304 of FIG. 39.
[0264] The two examples that are provided above for a self-locating
remote alarm unit which provides a stored value for the second
variable are the environmental monitor of FIG. 18 and its other
embodiment, the patient monitor. Both embodiments require that a
value be provided for the second variable. A method for doing so is
to connect an input device 1360 to the remote monitor 1362, to use
the input device to load a value for the second variable into the
storage circuit 1364 (1304 of FIG. 39, and 556 of FIG. 18), then to
disconnect the input device and to monitor the specified
environmental/physiological parameters. In one embodiment, the
input device is a keypad of manually operated switches. The keypad
is used to input an environmental monitor location, or,
alternatively, a patient's ID information. In one embodiment of the
procedure, a navigational receiver is used to provide a user with
the environmental monitor location, which the user then enters by
hand using the keypad input device 1360 attached to the
environmental monitor 1362 (552 of FIG. 18). In another embodiment,
the temporarily connected input device 1360 is a navigational
receiver and the location 1361 is stored in the storage circuit
1364 (556 of FIG. 13, 1304 of FIG. 39). After the location has been
stored in the storage circuit, the navigational receiver 1360 is
disconnected and the environmental monitor left to do its job.
[0265] While the foregoing detailed description has described
several embodiments of the personal alarm system in accordance with
this invention, it is to be understood that the above description
is illustrative only and not limiting of the disclosed invention.
Thus, the invention is to be limited only by the claims as set
forth below.
[0266] FIG. 44 is a block diagram illustrating a specific
embodiment of a personal alarm system remote unit. The remote unit
is designated generally by the reference numeral 1410, and includes
a satellite global positioning receiver (navigational receiver)
1412, a radio transmitter 1414, a sensor and threshold detector
1416, a microphone 1418, and a voice-activated detector 1420.
[0267] The navigational receiver 1412 receives positioning
information from geo-synchronous satellites via antenna 1422, and
provides a global location 1424 of the remote unit for transmission
by the radio transmitter 1414. The location 1424 is represented in
appropriate coordinates.
[0268] The sensor and threshold detector 1416 provides an output
signal 1426 that is activated when the sensor detects a condition
that exceeds a predetermined threshold level. A variety of specific
sensors is contemplated, including but not limited to the
following: a glucose sensor for monitoring the blood-glucose level
of a patient; an oxygen sensor for monitoring the oxygen level of
the ambient air; a motion sensor for detecting movement in excess
of a predetermined threshold; a light sensor for detecting ambient
light in excess of a predetermined threshold; a liquid immersion
sensor, a heat sensor for detecting temperature in excess of a
predetermined threshold; a carbon-monoxide sensor; and a smoke
detector.
[0269] The microphone 1418 and the voice-activated detector 1420
provide an output signal 1430 that becomes active when the
voice-activated detector 1420 detects a predetermined spoken
distress phrase such as "HELP!"
[0270] In a specific embodiment of the personal alarm system remote
unit 1410, no sensor and threshold detector are included. In this
embodiment, the radio transmitter 1414 is connected to transmit the
remote unit location 1424 when the voice-activated detector output
signal 1430 is active. This specific embodiment of the invention
permits the remote unit to be worn or carried by a person and the
person's global location will be transmitted via antenna 1428 when
a predetermined distress phrase is detected.
[0271] In another specific embodiment of the personal alarm system
remote unit 1410, the sensor and threshold detector 1416 are
included and the threshold detector portion is disabled. The radio
transmitter is connected to transmit the sensor output signal
(sensor status) 1426 when the remote unit location is transmitted.
In yet another embodiment of the personal alarm system remote unit
1410, the threshold detector is enabled and the radio transmitter
is connected for transmitting a sensor status 1426 and a remote
unit location 1424 when either of the sensor and threshold detector
output signal 1426 and the voice-activated detector output signal
1430 is active.
[0272] In various specific embodiments, the navigational receiver
is compatible with one of a geo-synchronous satellite global
navigation system, the infrastructure-based TDOA and RSSI systems,
the SATNAV system, and the LORAN system. The preferred embodiment
is that the navigational receiver 1412 is compatible with the U.S.
GPS system.
[0273] FIG. 45 is a block diagram illustrating a specific
embodiment of a base station for use with a remote unit such as
shown in FIG. 44. The base station is designated generally by the
reference numeral 1432 and includes an antenna 1434, a radio
receiver 1436, a display 1440 for displaying the remote unit
location, and an alarm 1442. In normal use, the radio receiver 1436
receives a radio transmission from a remote unit via the antenna
1434. The radio receiver provides two output signals. A first
output 1438 provides the global coordinates of the remote unit
location for display while a second output 1439 becomes active when
a transmission is received from a remote unit. The output 1439 is
used to activate the alarm 1442. In another specific embodiment of
the base station 1432, the output signal(s) 1438 includes both the
remote unit location information and sensor status information.
[0274] FIG. 46 is a block diagram of a personal alarm system
according to another aspect of the present invention. The personal
alarm system is designated generally by the reference numeral 1500
and includes a remote unit 1502 and a base station 1504.
[0275] The remote unit 1502 includes a navigational receiver 1506,
a demodulator circuit 1508, a precise time-of-day circuit 1510, a
voice-activated detector circuit 1512, a microphone 1514, a radio
transmitter 1515, a navigational receiver antenna 1516, and a radio
transmitter antenna 1518.
[0276] The navigational receiver provides modulated navigational
information 1530 to the demodulator circuit 1508. The demodulator
circuit 1508 "demodulates" the modulated navigational information
1530 and provides demodulated navigational information 1532 to the
radio transmitter 1515. The precise time-of-day circuit 1510
provides a precise time-of-day signal 1534 to the radio
transmitter.
[0277] The microphone 1514 is connected to the voice-activated
detector circuit 1512 permitting the detector circuit 1512 to
activate an output signal 1536 when a predetermined distress phrase
is detected, for example "HELP!"
[0278] The radio transmitter 1515 is connected to transmit the
demodulated navigational information 1532 and the precise
time-of-day information 1534 when the voice-activated output signal
1536 becomes active.
[0279] The base station 1504 includes an antenna 1520, a radio
receiver 1522 circuits 1524 for computing the remote unit location,
a display 1526 and an alarm 1528.
[0280] Radio transmissions from the remote unit 1502 are received
via the antenna 1520 and is converted by the radio receiver into
demodulated navigational information 1538, and precise time-of-day
information 1540. The circuits 1524 receive the demodulated
navigational information and the precise time-of-day information
and compute a global location 1544 for the transmitting remote unit
1502. The computed global location (in appropriate coordinates) is
displayed on the display 1526. The alarm 1528 is activated by a
receiver output signal 1542 when a radio transmission from the
remote unit is received.
[0281] FIG. 47 is a block diagram that illustrates another
embodiment of a personal alarm system remote unit. The remote unit
is designated generally by the reference numeral 1600 and includes
a navigational antenna 1616, a navigational receiver 1602, a
microphone 1610, a voice-activated detector 1604, a radio
transmitter 1606 a radio antenna 1618, a radio receiver 1608, and a
speaker 1612.
[0282] The navigational receiver 1602 receives navigational
information via the navigational antenna 1616 and provides a
location 1620 of the remote unit in appropriate coordinates.
[0283] The microphone 1610 and the voice-activated detector 1604
are connected to provide a Transmit Location signal 1628 that
becomes active when the detector 1604 recognizes an audible
predetermined distress phrase such as "HELP!" The radio transmitter
1606 is connected with the Transmit Location signal 1628, and with
the remote unit location information 1620 so that the location
information is transmitted when the signal 1628 becomes active.
Thus, in normal use, the remote unit 1600 transmits its own
location (in appropriate coordinates) when an audible,
predetermined distress phrase is detected. The predetermined
distress phrase is preset to a specific language. In another
embodiment, the predetermined distress phrase is programmed into a
programmable storage unit (not illustrated) that is connected with
the voice-activated detector 1604.
[0284] The remote unit 1600 includes a switch 1614 that connects
the microphone 1610 with the radio transmitter 1606 for
transmitting one-half of a two-way radio communication. The switch
1614 also is connected to generate a Transmit Voice signal 1626
that becomes active when the switch 1614 is operated. The radio
transmitter 1606 is connected with the Transmit Voice signal 1628
so that when the switch is operated, the microphone is connected
for voice transmission in a push-to-talk arrangement (half-duplex
mode), and the radio transmitter transmits the voice via radio
antenna 1618. The other half of the two-way radio communication is
received by the radio antenna 1618, then converted to audible sound
by the radio receiver 1608 and the speaker 1612.
[0285] FIG. 48 is a partial block diagram that illustrates the use
of a wireless phone within a personal alarm system remote unit
according to a specific embodiment of the present invention. The
personal alarm system remote unit is designated generally by the
reference numeral 1700, and includes a wireless phone 1702, a
wireless phone antenna 1704, remote unit location information 1706,
and a Transmit Location signal 1710.
[0286] The wireless phone 1702 typically includes elements
necessary for two-way radio communication (fill-duplex mode), such
as a microphone (1610 of FIG. 47) and a speaker (1612 of FIG.
47).
[0287] When the Transmit Location signal 1710 becomes active, the
wireless phone 1702 transmits the remote unit location information
1706.
[0288] FIG. 49 is a partial block diagram illustrating the wireless
phone of FIG. 48 and including a circuit that automatically dials
"911" for transmitting the remote unit location. The wireless phone
is designated by the reference numeral 1720, while the circuit that
automatically dials "911" is designated by the reference numeral
1722. When the Transmit Location signal 1724 becomes active, the
circuit 1722 automatically dials the dedicated public safety help
telephone number "911" via connection 1726 with the wireless phone
1720. Once the telephone connection with the 911 service is
established, the wireless phone 1720 transmits the remote unit
location information (1706 of FIG. 48). Recently, additional public
safety help telephone numbers have been contemplated and, in some
cases, assigned. A person having an ordinary level of skill in the
relevant arts will appreciate that (1) the use of these additional
telephone numbers is also contemplated by the present invention,
and (2) a typical wireless phone includes a keypad permitting a
user to place a call in the normal manner, including a call placed
to a dedicated public safety help telephone number.
[0289] FIG. 50 is a partial block diagram that illustrates the use
of a cellular telephone 1730 for transmitting the remote unit
location and for two-way radio communication. In the illustrated
embodiment, the wireless phone of FIGS. 48, 49 is the cellular
telephone 1730. FIG. 51 is a partial block diagram that illustrates
the use of a PCS telephone for transmitting the remote unit
location and for two-way radio communication. In the illustrated
embodiment the wireless phone of FIGS. 48, 49 is the PCS telephone
1740.
* * * * *