United States Patent [191
`Lepkofker
`
`[54] INDIVIDUAL LOCATION SYSTEM
`
`[76] Inventor: Robert Lepkoiker, 103 Virginia Ave..
`Oceanside, NY. 11572
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 581,020
`[22] Filed:
`Oct. 16, 1995
`
`Related US. Application Data
`
`[63] Continuation-impart of Ser. No. 246,149, May 19, 1994,
`abandoned.
`
`[51] Int. Cl.6 ................................................... .. G08B 23/00
`[52] US. Cl. ..................... .. 340/573; 128/690; 340/407.1;
`340/539; 340/574; 342/357; 342/419; 342/450;
`379/38; 395/900; 455/88; 455/38.4; 455/404;
`455/521
`[58] Field of Search ................................... .. 340/573, 574,
`340/539, 407.1, 825.08; 455/100, 88-90,
`53.1, 54.1; 128/690. 689, 687; 342/42,
`44. 350. 352. 357, 450, 451, 458; 395/900;
`379/37, 38
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`3,478,344 11/1969 Schwitzgebel et a1. .......... .. 3401539 X
`3,710,371
`1/1973 Whalen et al. ..
`340/571
`3,902,478
`9/1975 Konopasek et a1
`.. 128/706
`3,911,899 10/1975 Hattes ................ ..
`128/6531
`4,086,916 5/1978 Freeman et a1. .
`l28/661.07
`4,101,873
`7/1978 Anderson et a1.
`..... .. 340/539
`4,343,315
`8/1982 O’Leary ......... ..
`128/689
`4,403,215
`9/1983 Hofmann et a1. .......... ..
`340/573
`4,406,290
`9/1983 WalbeotIe-Wtlson et al. ..
`128/689
`4,566,461
`1/1986 Lubell et a1. .............. ..
`128/668
`4,596,988
`6/1986 Wanka
`342/457
`4,598,272
`7/1986 Cox .... ..
`340/539
`
`
`
`4,630,613 12/1986 Dennis 4,751,642 6/1988 Silva et a1. ..... ..
`4,764,757
`8/1988 DeMarco et a1.
`
`
`
`
`
`4,889,131 12/1989 Salem et a1. 4,891,650 1/1990 Sheffer .................................. .. 342/457
`
`US005652570A
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`5,652,570
`Jul. 29, 1997
`
`3/1990 Apsell et a1. ..... ..
`4,908,629
`4/1990 Geeenberg et a1.
`4,918,425
`5,072,598 12/1991 Dibrell .......... ..
`5,218,344
`6/1993 Ricketts ..
`
`342/457
`340/539
`62/2593
`340/573
`
`5,287,398
`
`2/1994 Briault . . . . . . . .
`
`. . . . . .. 379/38
`
`340/573 X
`4/1994 Sawyer et al.
`5,307,372
`340/573
`5/1994 Campman
`5,317,305
`340/573
`6/1994 Russek
`5,319,355
`128/697
`8/1994 Hafner
`5,333,617
`128/696
`8/1994 Nagashima ..
`5,335,664
`128/719
`5,355,893 10/1994 ly?ck et a1. ....... ..
`5,368,224 11/1994 Richardson et a1. .................. .. 128/633
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`Tetzeli, Rick, “Cargo That Phones Home”, Fortune Maga
`zine, Nov. 15, 1993, page unavailable.
`Primary Examiner—Thomas Mullen
`Attomey, Agent, or Firm—Alfred M. Walker
`
`[57]
`
`,
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`An interactive individual location and monitoring system
`includes a central monitoring system for maintaining health,
`location, and other data with respect to an individual. A
`watch unit carried by the individual receives medical and
`other information selected by and inputted directly from the
`individual. The watch unit broadcasts the medical and other
`information locally by radio in a region near the individual.
`A belt worn pod unit is worn by the individual. including a
`transponder for receiving the information from the watch
`unit. The pod unit transmits the information to the central
`monitoring system. The pod unit tracks the location of the
`individual and transmits the location to the central monitor
`ing system. The pod unit includes a triaxial accelerometer
`for gathering acceleration data for transmission of the data
`to the central monitoring station for analysis at a later time.
`The central monitoring system broadcasts alerts and queries
`directed to the individual and the transponder pod unit
`receives and rebroadcasts the alerts and queries locally. The
`watch unit receives the alerts and queries, and the watch unit
`includes a vibratory annunciator which alerts the individual
`of an inquiry signal from the pod unit
`
`19 Claims, 16 Drawing Sheets
`
`CENTRAL
`ALARM
`STATION
`
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`Sheet 11 of 16
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`5,652,570
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`Belt
`Pod Info
`Dump Request
`Rcvd.
`
`Set Xmit Flag
`
`Set Xmit Flag '
`
`Update Pulse Info
`in Xmit Packet
`
`t
`
`YES
`
`_]
`_
`Set Xmlt Flag
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`Set Button ID
`in Xmit Packet
`_____1
`_—_I
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`In Xmit Packet
`
`Transmit Packet
`to Bett Pod
`
`YES
`
`Pod
`Annunciator
`Command
`Rcvd.
`?
`
`NO
`
`Activate
`Annunciator
`
`Take Timeout
`Delay
`
`M
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`‘7
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`1
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`‘
`
`Fig. 8A
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`Sheet 12 of 16
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`5,652,570
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`‘
`
`|
`
`Send Info.
`Dump Request
`to W.W.
`
`Short Timeout
`
`Internal
`Timer
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`?
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`Noise to CMS
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`l
`Accelerometer
`Data to CMS
`Xmit Packet
`i
`Set'CMS
`Xmit Flag
`
`'
`
`______i
`
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`Command to W.W.
`
`Update Location
`Coordinates in
`CMS Xmilt Packet
`
`NO
`
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`
`‘——l
`Xmit CMS
`Packet
`
`'
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`I Reset CMS .
`
`Xmit Flag
`|
`
`-
`
`F.
`
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`Jul. 29, 1997
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`Sheet 13 of 16
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`5,652,570
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`‘—_t
`(SECURE OPERATION)
`Client
`Signal ‘——-————|
`Monitoring
`"Write-Only"
`(W.O.)
`File Updates
`
`U date
`Per
`C?rrent
`Client
`Display
`‘
`Narm
`t l 4
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`I
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`l
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`F»
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`Client
`
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`Signaling
`To Belt Pods
`
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`Inquiries
`
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`
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`'2
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`
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`
`NO
`
`l——<—
`Handle
`Alarm
`Manually
`
`Display
`Time-Line
`
`Reset
`Alarm
`Display
`
`END
`
`Neural/Manual
`Analysis of
`Noise &
`Accelerometer
`Data
`______'
`
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`Sheet 14 of 16
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`5,652,570
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`Jul. 29, 1997
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`Sheet 15 of 16
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`5,652,570
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`Sheet 16 of 16
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`5,652,570
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`1
`INDIVIDUAL LOCATION SYSTEM
`
`This application is a continuation-in-part of application
`Ser. No. 08/246149 ?led May 19. 1994. now abandoned
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`The individual location of the present invention prefer
`ably includes a portable two-module alarm communicator to
`be attached to or carried by an individual, along with a
`central monitoring system. Each part of the system has
`well-de?ned functions and communications protocols.
`This invention also relates to a practical system for
`locating a selected individual carrying an object from which
`an alarm signal is generated. More particularly. this inven
`tion concerns a system for locating an individual carrying
`such an object. such as a child who is kidnaped and tracking
`the child’s position if the child is moved. It may also locate
`a hiker or disabled person in a remote location. while
`monitoring the person’s vital signs. such as pulse. heart beat
`or body temperature.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION '
`
`There are various systems which attempt to locate a
`missing person by remote activation of a signal from the user
`at a remote location. Other devices remotely monitor the
`wearer of a monitoring device, to ascertain vital medical
`signs. However. these monitoring devices, such as portable
`telemetry units or wristbands. are generally con?ned within
`an institutional structure. such as in a hospital. Therefore,
`these medical monitoring devices are not designed for
`remote use outdoors. such as in a remote environmental
`park. Furthermore. the devices are not designed to be worn
`by a child or an in?rm person. to track the person at a remote
`location of vast parameters. Moreover. existing prior art
`devices do not function after the transmitting portion of the
`device is disabled or removed from the individual using the
`device to provide time-line data which enable a rescuer to
`ascertain the whereabouts the victim by simulating where
`the person might be located. even without the actual func
`tioning of the device.
`The statistics on child kidnaping in the United States are
`signi?cant and their elfect on the child’s parents and rela
`tives is emotionally devastating.
`U.S. Pat. No. 4.598.272 to Cox discloses a child moni
`toring device comprising two portable units. each having a
`radio transceiver and an antenna. One of the units. is secured
`to the child’s person and the other is carried by the parent.
`The child’s unit transmits a reference signal and can receive
`a different locator signal and has an audible alarm speaker
`which can be actuated by the locator signal. The parent’s
`unit receives the reference signal from the child’ s transmitter
`and. by threshold direction. sounds a beep when the child’s
`location exceeds a pre-determined distance. Alight signal in
`the parent’s unit remains lit as an indication that the child’s
`unit is transmitting and that the threshold conditions have
`not been met. When the beep in the parent’s unit indicate
`wandering of the child. the parent. by pressing a button. can
`actuate transmission of the location signal. which is stronger
`than the reference signal, to sound a raucous alarm in the
`child’s unit to indicate the whereabouts of the child. Clearly
`this device is applicable only to very special situations and
`is intended to operate in a limited geographical area.
`Among other prior art patents include U.S. Pat. No.
`5.218.344 of Ricketts for wrist mounted transponders for
`surveillance of persons. such as inmates. U.S. Pat. No.
`4.086.916 of Freeman. U.S. Pat. N o. 4,406.290 of Walbeoff
`
`2
`Wilson and U.S. Pat. No. 5.335.644 of Nagashima also
`describe wrist watch elements in hospital settings. U.S. Pat.
`No. 4.918.425 of Greenberg describes a location system
`with speech recognition enhancers for remotely activated
`individual locator systems. U.S. Pat. No. 4.908.629 of
`Apsell and U.S. Pat. No. 4,764,757 of DeMarco also
`describe individual locator systems with remote activators.
`Moreover, accelerometers are used in package shipping,
`so that if a package with sensitive equipment is dropped or
`damaged. the accelerometer will send a one time ?xed
`threshold radio signal when the package is damaged.
`However. accelerometers are not used continuously to take
`a speci?c sample of continuous data and are not used to then
`include the sample of data in a data packet for a short period
`of time, such as ?ve or ten seconds. and then transmit the
`coherent data for analysis for a predetermined period of
`time, such as every ?fteen minutes.
`Therefore, the prior art patents do not describe a novel
`method for transmitting data to be collected and analyzed at
`a later time. wherein further, the data collected is periodi
`cally updated and overridden. so that only the most recent
`data is processed.
`Furthermore. the prior art does not disclose a system
`which provides a “write-only ?le” which provides a time
`line of coherent data, as opposed to summary data, which
`coherent data covers, a long term period. which can be
`analyzed to locate a person even if the wrist watch or belt
`pod is detached, inactivated or damaged.
`In addition, the prior art does not infer modes of trans
`portation activities of a user, such as on foot or in a vehicle,
`so that the whereabouts of a missing person, such as a hiker
`can be rapidly analyzed and determined
`
`10
`
`20
`
`25
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`65
`
`OBJECT S OF THE INVENTION
`It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide
`an individual location system which can be used to locate a
`person even if the personal transmitter worn by the person
`is de-activated or removed from the user.
`Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus
`to be worn by an individual that communicates on a periodic
`basis with a base receiving station.
`Afrn'ther object is to permit the user to signal a variety of
`emergency situations.
`It is yet another object to permit a base receiving station
`to solicit input from the user or his apparatus.
`A further object is to monitor the user’s pulse rate to
`initiate an emergency signal when the pulse rate is out of
`bounds.
`Another object is to monitor and record missing pulses for
`transmission to a base receiving station.
`It is yet a further object to permit the recording and
`transmission of ambient sound segments in coherent data
`packets which can be analyzed to simulate the approximate
`location of an individual, even if the user-wom apparatus is
`damaged or removed.
`It is yet another object to record and transmit signals ?'om
`a triaxial accelerometer to transmit data to a central moni
`toring station for analysis at a later time.
`It is yet another object to simulate location coordinates of
`a missing person. even if the data transmitter apparatus is
`damaged or removed from the user.
`It is a further object to monitor and analyze sounds for
`detection of a key word for creation of a emergency signal.
`Another object is to record a time sequence of received
`signals at a base receiving station.
`
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`3
`It is yet another object to analyze accelerometer data of a
`remote user in a time sequence to determine the type of
`motion activity of the user.
`It is a further object to display time sequence information
`in a coherent fashion on a computer display at a base
`monitoring station for monitoring the location of individu
`als.
`It is another object to display time sequence information
`overlaid on a map at a base monitoring station.
`It is also an object of this invention to provide a person
`location system which can utilize the presently existing
`national cellular radio network. LORAN® transmitters. a
`Global Positioning System, and the Lo-Jack® system.
`Another object of the present invention is to provide a
`child location system. which after activation, automatically
`locates or tracks the position of the child. which system can
`utilize the presently existing location systems.
`A further object of the present invention is to provide a
`system for determining the location of an individual carrying
`an object. which system is believed to be practical and is
`able to be manufactured at a relative modest cost and which
`is essentially based on presently existing. or soon to be
`developed miniature electronic hardware.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`The foregoing and related objects are obtained in accor
`dance with the invention which. in a preferred, broad.
`aspect, provides a system for determining the location of an
`individual. comprising a remote position locating means, an
`object carried by the individual from which an alarm signal
`is generated. a remote receiver means and a remote actuation
`means. The remote position locating means transmits loca
`tion signals in response to an interrogation signal. The object
`is carried by the individual and from which an alarm signal.
`including said location signals. are generated. The object
`may comprise a housing means. an alarm generating means.
`a pressure sensitive means. a position generating means, a
`transmitter and a triggering receiver means.
`Preferably, the data is gathered in packets of data, so that
`the data can be collected and analyzed at a later time, to
`simulate the location of an individual. even if the position
`generating means and transmitter are inactivated. removed
`or damaged.
`The alarm generation means may be disposed within the
`housing means and may generate an alarm signal in response
`to a triggering signal. A pressure sensitive means may be
`disposed on or within the housing means to generate a
`triggering signal when actuated by pressure exerted against
`the pressure sensitive means by the individual. The position
`generating means is disposed within the housing means and
`is coupled to the alarm generating means. for transmitting
`the interrogation signal to the remote position locating
`means and for detecting the transmitted location signal from
`the remote position locating means.
`'
`The transmitter means may be coupled to the alarm
`generating means and may be disposed within the housing
`means. and may transmit the alarm signal. The remote
`receiver means detects the alarm signal. including the loca
`tion signal. The remote activation means transmits an acti
`vation signal. The triggering receiver means is disposed
`within the housing means and is coupled to the alarm
`generating means for detecting the activation signal and
`produces a triggering signal in response thereto.
`Preferably. the present invention includes an embodiment
`which also monitors vital signs of a user.
`
`30
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`4
`In the preferred embodiment, the interactive individual
`location and monitoring system includes a central monitor~
`ing system for maintaining health. location, and other data
`with respect to the individual user. such as a hiker. in?rmed
`person or a child.
`A wrist watch means is carried by the individual user in
`a manner for conveniently receiving medical and other
`information selected by. and inputted directly. from the
`individual user. The information is broadcast locally by
`radio in aregion proximate to the individual user. Preferably.
`a separate pod means is worn by the individual user. The pod
`means includes a transponder means for receiving the infor
`mation from the watch means and for transmitting the
`information to the central monitoring system. The pod
`means includes a means for tracking the location of the
`individual user and transmits the location to the central
`monitoring system. In case the watch or pod means is
`disabled or intentionally removed. the individual user’s
`earlier information is used to simulate the person’s present
`location. To accomplish this simulation feature, the pod
`means includes a triaxial accelerometer which gathers accel
`eration data for transmission of the data to the central
`monitoring station for analysis at a later time. The central
`monitoring system includes a means for broadcasting alerts
`and queries directed to the individual user. wherein the
`transponder pod means receives and rebroadcasts the alerts
`and queries locally. The watch means includes a means to
`receive the alerts and queries. and a vibratory annunciator
`for alerting the individual to receipt of a signal from the pod
`means.
`The Watch means of the interactive individual location
`and monitoring system has the appearance of a wristwatch
`worn by the individual user in a manner to permit convenient
`access to input and receive information. and includes pref
`erably only sut?cient battery power to communicate without
`a cord to the pod means.
`The pod means is secreted within the clothing of or packs
`carried by the individual user and carries suf?cient battery
`power to provide long distance radio communications with
`the central monitoring station and to obtain location infor
`mation from satellites, wherein the communications
`between said central monitoring system and the pod means
`are encrypted.
`The central monitoring system includes a means for
`tracking and displaying the movements of the individual
`user.
`The wrist watch includes a plurality of color coded
`buttons for initiating transmittal of signals representing
`different types of emergencies including “accident”.
`“medical”. “hold-up”, and “kidnaping”.
`Moreover. the pod means includes alarm button means for
`initiating an alarm signal to the central monitoring station.
`Preferably, the wrist watch includes a means for moni
`toring the pulse rate of the individual user and for initiating
`automatically the transmittal of a signal in the event a
`predetermined anomaly in the pulse rate indicating a medi
`cal emergency occurs.
`To simulate the location of the individual user. even if the
`wrist watch and/or the pod is disabled. the central monitor
`ing system further includes a write only ?le storage means
`storing periodic data packets from each client. The periodic
`data packets are stored in a storage means. and the periodic
`data packets are intermittently read only upon the occur
`rence of a predetermined selective event upon authorization
`from designated o?icials of the central monitoring system.
`The write only ?le storage means provides a time line of
`coherent data covering a long term period. wherein subse
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`In addition, the concept of the “write only ?le” distin
`guishes the present invention from the cited prior art. The
`intent here is to provide a time-line of coherent data (as
`opposed to summary data) covering a long term period (such
`as 24 hours or more).
`This data is of use for intense analysis regardless of the
`present functional condition of the remote user equipment,
`such as the wrist watch or belt pod units. The latter can be
`easily detached, destroyed, or removed from the individual
`(consider water damage in a drowning situation for
`example).
`The analysis of the triaxial accelerometer data via neural
`network and fuzzy logic to infer modes of transportation
`activity provides information which has not been available
`from previous systems.
`The presentation of the data starting from sensitivity to
`the privacy issue to the two modes of display also has not
`been demonstrated in the cited prior art. For example, the
`time line display is an audio-enhanced time-coherent
`detailed alphanumeric display. The multi-color graphical
`map display is a global view of subject movement over an
`extended period. By using the two modes of display
`together. the data from the w.o. ?le can support law enforce
`ment or rescue agencies in rapid analysis of long term data.
`Biological data, such as pulse rate and missing pulses is used
`in context in understanding the movements of a subject from
`one location to another using a variety of conveyances with
`live snapshots of ambient sounds.
`
`5
`quent periodic packets of data overlay the oldest periodic
`packets of data in said write only ?le storage means.
`The triaxial accelerometer provides data to a neural
`network and fuzzy logic processor to infer modes of trans
`portation activity.
`The central monitoring system has a display means dis
`playing the data, and the data display format includes
`alphanumeric characters and/or a graphical map format, and
`the data may be audio-enhanced. The graphical map data
`may be a multi-color graphical map display showing a
`global view of movement of the individual user over an
`extended period of time, so that the location of the user can
`be simulated, even if the transmitter is disabled or removed
`The present invention also includes a method of remotely
`and interactively communicating with and monitoring the
`location and condition of an individual user by establishing
`a central monitoring system for maintaining health, location.
`and other data with respect to the individual. transmitting the
`location and condition information from the individual to the
`central monitoring system by the steps of inputting infor
`mation to the watch means worn by the individual, broad
`casting locally by radio the information by the watch means
`to pod means situated among the possessions of the
`individual. and rebroadcasting the information by the pod
`means to the central monitoring systems. The central moni
`toring system broadcasts alerts and queries for receipt and
`rebroadcast by the pod means to the watch means, and the
`watch means alerts the individual to the receipt of the alerts
`and queries.
`Amicroprocessor supports a continuous polling sequence,
`and monitors all alarm conditions including code word
`decodes and the pulse rate anomalies, remote said queries
`and, accumulates the data including transducer data for
`transmission and sending the data as a single multi-data
`packet to the central monitoring station.
`While prior art relates to several of the elements of the
`present invention. the use of a triaxial accelerometer as a
`transducer in a personal alarm is novel. Also, the processing
`of the data at the central monitoring station has novel
`features which have not been taught by the prior art.
`Although US. Pat. No. 5,218,344 of Ricketts teaches the
`use of wrist mounted transponders for surveillance of indi
`viduals and for emergency alarm communications, US. Pat.
`No. 4,086,916 of Freeman, U.S. Pat. No. 4,406,290 of
`Walbeo?-Wilson and US. Pat. No. 5,335,664 of Nagashirna
`all teach the use of wristwatch elements as pulse rate
`monitors or as parts of cardiac monitoring systems, and,
`while the present invention also uses a wrist watch element.
`which has a pulse monitoring subsystem and at least one
`alarm button, it is the processing of the information which
`differs.
`The speech recognition means of Greenberg, U.S. Pat.
`No. 4,918,425 is related to that feature in the wrist watch
`portion of the present invention. However, in the present
`invention. the wrist watch unit has a microprocessor which
`supports a continuous polling sequence monitoring the
`alarm buttons, commands from the belt pod unit, code word
`decoding, and pulse rate out of bounds. Data for transmis
`sion to the pod unit is accumulated and sent as a single,
`multi-data transmit packet. Requests for activation of the
`vibratory annunciator in the wrist watch are also handled
`While DeMarco, U.S. Pat. No. 4,764,757. Apsell, U.S.
`Pat. No. 4,908,629 and Greenberg. US. Pat. No. 4,918,425
`teach the use of remote activation and satellite communica
`tions in tracking people carrying transponders, they are
`totally involved with “real-time” situation handling. The
`present invention also does this in response to a variety of
`alarm stimuli.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
`
`The invention is illustrated in the drawings in which like
`reference numerals designate the same or similar parts
`throughout the ?gures of which:
`FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D depict respectively, simpli?ed
`perspectives of a watch, front and back. a key fob and
`attached key and a pendant with a portion of its attached
`chain;
`FIGS. 2A and 2B are simpli?ed block diagrams of a
`cellular triangulation system for determining the location of
`an individual;
`FIGS. 3A and 3B are simpli?ed block diagrams of the
`geoposition cellular system for determining the location of
`an individual;
`FIGS. 4A and 4B are simpli?ed block diagrams of a
`mobile tracking system for determining the location of an
`individual;
`FIG. 5A depicts a simpli?ed perspective View of a key fob
`with its interior strain gage elements shown in solid lines;
`FIG. 5B depict a simpli?ed perspective view of a key fob
`with another embodiment of its interior strain gage elements
`shown in solid lines;
`FIG. 5C depict, a simpli?ed perspective view of a pendant
`with its strain gage elements shown in solid lines; and
`FIG. 5D is a schematic diagram of the pressure sensitive
`means circuit utilized in all three systems;
`FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a speech recognition system
`of the present invention;
`FIG. 7 is a system diagram of the components of another
`embodiment for a individual locator system of the present
`invention.
`FIG. 8A is a ?owchart of the wrist watch components of
`the embodiment as in FIG. 7;
`FIG. 8B is a ?owchart of the belt pod of the embodiment
`as in FIG. 7;
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`FIG. 8C is a flowchart of the central monitoring system of
`the embodiment as in FIG. 7;
`FIG. 9 is a sequential diagram of the “Write-Only” file
`overlay sequence of the embodiment as in FIG. 7;
`FIG. 10 is a front elevational view of a typical time line
`display of the embodiment as in FIG. 7. and.
`FIG. 11 is a front elevational view of a multi—color
`graphical map display of the embodiment as in FIG. 7.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`The preferred embodiment for an individual location
`system as depicted in FIGS. 7-11 includes a wrist watch
`device W. a belt pod device BP and a central monitoring
`system CMS. All three subsystems WW, BP and CMS
`communicate to each other by radio transponders. The
`protocols and radio frequencies RF are optimized for the
`particular functions.
`For example. the communications of the wrist watch WW
`and the belt pod BP device can be handled by a very low
`power RF link from VLF through microwave frequencies as
`the distance to be covered is just a few feet.
`The belt pod unit BP can be disguised as a “beeper”
`attached to a belt. or belt pod unit BP can just as easily be
`a unit carried in a purse or built into a large pendant.
`Each frequency band has pros and cons for this applica-
`tion. For example. VLF has a tendency to follow the surface
`of the body of the individual and can operate in an “induc-
`tion” mode using small coils to couple to the skin instead of
`an actual antenna. UHF or microwave frequencies require
`very small antenna elements but tend to be more expensive
`and directional.
`
`The remote RF link between the belt pod unit BP and the
`central monitoring system CMS can be a standard analog or
`digital cellular telephone link or a two-way messaging
`system such as a Personal Data Network (PDN). The locator
`system as described in FIGS. 7-11 uses a communications
`infrastructure that
`is already in place and very widely
`distributed. To prevent
`tampering. all communications
`between belt pod unit BP and central monitoring system
`CMS are encrypted.
`As shown in FIG. 7, central monitoring system CMS uses
`antenna ANT. receiver RC and transmitter XM to commu-
`nicate With belt pod BP via its transponder TP2. Transmitter
`XM is used to broadcast alerts and queries to the various
`client belt pod BP units. Additional elements of the central
`monitoring system to be discussed are the write only file
`WOF which is implemented as part of the central computer
`memory. the neutral network NN and the fuzzy logic pro-
`cessor FLP.
`Wrist watch unit WW includes a standard functional
`watch face WF to disguise the alarm unit A1. In addition.
`watch unit W has multiple buttons B1. B2. etc. which can
`be distinguished by color. These permit the user to call the
`central monitoring system CMS via the belt pod unit BP and
`indicate different types of emergencies such as “accident”.
`“medical”, “hold-up”. or “kidnaping” for example.
`In addition. the watch strap WS has a pulse monitor PM
`of a well known infrared type along with a missing pulse
`detector for monitoring irregular heartbeats. Wrist watch
`unit WW may include a silent vibra