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`NOVATEL EXHIBIT 1008
`
`

`
`US 7,583,197 B2
`Page 2
`
`EP
`EP
`EP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`JP
`W0
`W0
`W0
`W0
`W0
`W0
`W0
`
`0 524 652
`0 772 336
`1013 055
`07 037211
`07037211 A
`2000_135384
`2001_17766g
`2001_249860
`2002_07743g
`W0 97/23104
`W0 98/51059
`W0 99/13629
`W0 99/34339
`W0 00/56016
`W0 00/70839
`W0 01/03414
`
`1/1993
`5/1997
`9/1993
`3/1995
`3/1995
`5/2000
`6/2001
`9/2001
`3/2002
`6/1997
`11/1998
`3/1999
`7/1999
`9/2000
`11/2000
`1/2001
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`_
`_
`__
`Fujrfacon (_Zorp.,_Patent Abstract of JP_07_ 087211, T1t1e:_Incom1ng
`call swrtch-rng drsplay deV1ce for fac-srrr-u1e—uses combrnatron of
`colour or drfferent audro tones to rdentrfy rncomrng call and carry out
`Se_1e°“‘?“ °“e1ePh°“ea M“ 31a 1995
`H“‘*°1_“LFd~a Pa‘e“‘AbS‘“*°‘°“P 09 054959
`Examrnatron Report, EP 01 945 162, references made to documents
`cited in the European Search Report, May 21, 2003.
`
`US. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5,831,545 A * 11/1998 Murray et al.
`........... .. 340/7.27
`5,884,161 A *
`3/1999 Hegeman
`455/445
`
`5,903,634 A
`5/1999 Wakabayashi et al.
`379/354
`..... ..
`5,946,636 A
`8/1999 Uyeno et al.
`455/566
`
`5,960,366 A
`9/1999 Duwaer .... ..
`455/556
`10/1999 Hayes, Jr. et al.
`5,974,312 A
`455/419
`
`379/142.05
`5,995,603 A * 11/1999 Anderson .... ..
`. . . . . .. 455/420
`6,041,229 A
`3/2000 Turner . . . . . . . .
`6,072,396 A *
`6/2000 Gaukel
`........ ..
`340/573.4
`6,108,521 A *
`8/2000 Foladare et al.
`.. 340/825.49
`6,125,273 A
`9/2000 Yarnagishi
`. . . . .
`. . . . . .. 455/411
`6,157,318 A
`12/2000 Minata
`6,198,390 B1 *
`3/2001 Schlager et al.
`........... .. 340/540
`
`6,208,854 B1*
`3/2001 Roberts et al.
`..
`455/417
`6,289,084 B1 *
`9/2001 Bushnell .................. .. 379/67.1
`6,411,198 B1
`6/2002 Hirai et al.
`6,424,623 B1 *
`7/2002 Borgstahl et a1.
`6,573,825 B1
`6/2003 Okano
`6,577,881 B1
`6/2003 Eham
`6,606,508 B2 >x<
`8/2003 Becker et 31.
`............. N 455/567
`
`6,985,742 B1 *
`1/2006 Giniger et al.
`..
`. 455/456.1
`7,084,771 B2 *
`8/2006 Gonzalez ............... .. 340/573.1
`
`
`
`.
`
`......... .. 370/230
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`EP
`
`0 432 746
`
`6/1991
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Page 2 of 18
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`Page 2 of 18
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`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 1, 2009
`
`Sheet 1 of 3
`
`US 7,583,197 B2
`
`MEANS TO RESELECT
`
`LINKED TELEPHONE
`NUMBER OR IP
`
` 150
`
`ADDRESS
`
` PROGRAMMABLE
`
`INTERFACE
`
`
`
`
`MEANS
`
`140
`
`
`
` PERIODIC STATUS
`REPORT GENERATION
`
`
`
`ANTENNA
`20
`
`
`
`
`
`RINGING TONE
`GENERATOR]
`
`AUTO ANSWER
`MODULE
`50
`
`BLUE
`
`TOOTH
`
`MODULE
`
`40
`
`
`MEANS
`130
`
`
`
`BATTERY
`
`CHARGE
`MONITOR
` 35
`
`
`
`TE(3LI';':3*:J(l’1'T'E
`10
`
`BATTERY
`so
`
`
`
`30 UN D—BYTE
`CAPTURE
`MEANS +
`
`THRESHOLD
`DETECTOR
`1 O0
`
`
`
`SMS ALARM
`
`GENERATION MEANS
`70
`
`SENSOR MEANS
`80
`
`
`
`SMS PROCESSING
`MEANS
`
`
`60
`
`
` AUTHENTICATION
`
`
`
`MEANS
`90
`
`
`PERMITTED
`
`‘I10
`
`CALLERS LIST
`
`ALARM MESSAGE
`LIST
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`120
`
`FIGURE 1
`
`Page 3 of 18
`
`Page 3 of 18
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 1, 2009
`
`Sheet 2 of 3
`
`US 7,583,197 B2
`
`OUTGOING MESSAGE
`OR CALL
`
`ACTION PERFORMED BY
`
`PROGRAMJVIABLE COMMUNICATOR
`
`AUTHENTIC MESSAGE
`
`COMPRISING UNIQUE
`IDENTIFIER AND LINKING
`TELEPHONE NUMBER OR IF
`ADDRESS
`
`AUTHENTIC MESSAGE
`
`COMPRISING UNIQUE
`IDENTIFIER AND ONE OR
`MORE TELEPHONE
`
`NU1\/IBERS OR II’ ADDRESSES
`
`ADDRESS
`PERMITIED CALLERS LIST
`
`PROGRAMIVIABLE
`COMMUNICATOR
`PROCESSES MESSAGE AND
`
`STORES NEW LINKING
`TELEPHONE NUMBER OR IF
`
`PROGRAMIVIABLE
`COIVIMUNICATOR
`
`PROCESSES MESSAGE AND
`STORES NUMBERS IN THE
`
`
` INCOMING CALL
` PROGRAMJVIABLE
`COMMUNICATOR VERIFIES
`THAT CALLER IS ON
`PERMIT'IED CALLERS LIST
`AND CAUSES TI-IE RINGING
`TONE TO BE GENERAIED
`
`
`
`
` INCOMING CALL
` PROGRAMNIABLE
`COMMUNICATOR IS
`
`UNABLE TO VERIFY THAT
`
`THE CALLER IS ON THE
`PERMITTED CALLERS LIST
`
`AND THE CALL IS
`
`TERMINATED
`
`
`INCOMDIG CALL
`
`THE PROGRAMMABLE
`
`COMMUNICATOR VERIFIES
`THAT THE CALLER IS ON
`THE PER1V.[I'I'TED CALLERS
`
`LIST AND AUTO ANSWERS
`
`AUTO-ANSWERED CALL IS
`TERIVIINATED BY THE
`TERMINATION OF THE
`DICOMING CALL AND THE
`PROGRAMIVIABLE
`
`COMIVIUNICATOR REVERTS
`TO IDLE STATE
`
`
`
`INCOMING CALL IS
`' TERMINATED
`
`Page 4 of 18
`
`Page 4 of 18
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`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep. 1, 2009
`
`Sheet 3 of3
`
`US 7,583,197 B2
`
`OUTGOING MESSAGE
`OR CALL
`
`ACTION PERFORMED BY
`PROGRAMMABLE COMMUNICATOR
`
`
`
`AU'I‘HEN'I'ICATED
`
`MESSAGE COMPRISING
`
`PROGRAMMABLE
`COMMUNICATOR
`COLLECTS DATA FROM
`AN ASSOCIATED
`DEVICE AND
`TRANSMITS IT TO
`LD\IKED TELEPHONE OR
`IP ADDRESS
`
`
`
`
`UNIQUE IDENTIFIER
`RECEIVES REQUESTED
`DATA FROM DEVICE
`ASSOCIATED WITH
`PROGRAMMABLE
`COMMUNICATOR
`
`
`
`STATUS
`
`CHANGE IN STATUS OF
`THE PROGRAMIVIABLE
`COMMUNICATOR CAUSES
`MESSAGE TO BE SENT TO
`LINK TELEPHONE OR IP
`ADDRESS
`
`PROGRAMMABLE
`COMMUNICATOR
`
`COLLECTS INFORMATION
`ON CURRENT STATUS
`CONDITION AND SENDS IT
`PERIODICALLY TO LINKED
`TELEPHONE OR IP
`ADDRESS
`
`LINKED TELEPHONE
`OR 13? ADDRESS OF IP
`DEVICE OR INTERNET
`WEB PAGE RECEIVES
`INFORMATION ABOUT
`THE CHANGE IN
`STATUS
`
`LINKED TELEPHONE
`OR IP ADDRESS OF 11’
`DEVICE OR INTERNET
`WEB PAGE RECIEVES
`INFORMATION ABOUT
`THE CURRENT
`
`FIGURE 3
`
`Page 5 of 18
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`Page 5 of 18
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`

`
`US 7,583,197 B2
`
`1
`PROGRAMMABLE COMMUNICATOR
`
`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`This is a continuation application of U.S. patent applica-
`tion Ser. No. 10/296,571 that has an ofiicial filing date ofJan.
`21, 2003, and which is a National Phase filing of and claims
`priority to PCT/EP01/05738 filed on May 18, 2001, which
`further claims priority from Finland Application 20001239,
`filed May 23, 2000, all of which are hereby incorporated by
`reference herein in their entirety.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`The invention relates to a programmable wireless commu-
`nications apparatus. More particularly, it relates to a program-
`mable wireless communications apparatus, which can pro-
`vide an improved means of communication between children
`and their parents, between elderly persons and caring rela-
`tives, and between mentally less-able individuals and super-
`vising adults. In addition, the invention provides a solution for
`smart clothes applications, which may comprise a telecom-
`munications means within the lining of a jacket or other
`article of clothing, as well as a solution for user-program-
`mable data tags which convey information from remotely
`located devices such as vending machines. The invention
`relates to and significantly improves upon a previously filed
`patent application claiming Finnish priority of Sep. 9, 1997
`entitled a Portable Hotlink Communicator published as inter-
`national patent application PCT/GB98/02715.
`In this previously filed application, is taught the invention
`ofusing a mobile phone comprising a programmable identity
`module such as a SIM card, in the context of the GSM tele-
`communications standard, to program the number of any
`mobile or fixed telephone to which the Hotlink communica-
`tor, comprising a similar type ofprogrammable identity mod-
`ule, is to be linked. Existing and known methods of commu-
`nication
`between
`the mobile
`phone
`and Hotlink
`communicator for the purpose of programming comprise the
`obvious choice of data calls such as the Short Message Ser-
`vice in the GSM telecommunications standard. Alternatively
`a PDA type communicator might call up a web page to
`instruct a network element to program the programmable
`identity module ofthe Hotlink with the number ofany fixed or
`mobile telephone to which the Hotlink communicator is to be
`linked.
`
`This use of a separate mobile phone to program the number
`to which the Hotlink may call is particularly useful and con-
`venient should a parent wish to change the number if the
`parent must leave shortly and want that the Hotlink is con-
`nected immediately to the mobile phone or fixed line of
`another parent or supervising neighbour.
`The current invention builds upon the teaching of this
`earlier application and extends the concept significantly that
`it has more general and suitable application to both the child
`Hotlink communicator and also to the field of programmable
`wireless data communication tags for the purpose of provid-
`ing information about the status ofa vending machine or other
`piece of technical equipment such as a home appliance or a
`device to monitor whether a door is open or closed.
`In addition to this, the current invention relates directly to
`programmable wireless data communication tags, which
`comprise the means to be interfaced directly with other tech-
`nical equipment such that each tag can be programmed
`remotely by any means to be linked to any fixed or mobile
`
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`2
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`telephone to enable data to be sent to or from the device and
`to allow a person to make a voice call connection to the linked
`telephone.
`Today parents are concerned whether to provide a young
`child with a mobile phone or not. The concern relates to the
`cost ofthe mobile phone should it be lost or stolen and also to
`the cost ofthe use ofthe mobile phone. Clearly there is a need
`to provide a means to limit the cost of calling and also to
`provide a means to prevent the child dialing overseas numbers
`for extensive periods of time.
`In the context of mobile phone operators, there exists a
`need to provide a simple and effective communication device,
`which can provide the means for family tariffing such that
`subscriptions for children can be related to the subscriptions
`of their parents’ mobile phones. An improved child Hotlink
`communicator, which restricts the usage of the mobile phone
`and thereby does not generate high charges through uncon-
`trolled calling,
`is clearly a solution to the family tarifiing
`challenge.
`Parents are often concerned about the whereabouts of their
`
`children and new positioning technologies are being devel-
`oped for locating mobile phones. These solutions include
`self-positioning solutions and remote positioning solutions.
`One example of a self-positiomng solution includes the sat-
`ellite-based Global Positioning System technology in which
`the mobile phone comprising a GPS signal processing circuit
`is able to determine the coordinates of its own position by
`processing signals received from satellites and communicate
`these coordinates to a location centre associated with the
`
`network. One example of a remote positioning solution is the
`method taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,051 ,741 claiming priority of
`Mar. 27, 1990 in which the mobile phone is paged and caused
`to transmit a response which is processed by communication
`stations such as time-of-arrival measurement units associated
`with the network of master stations or base stations.
`
`This remote positioning method has the advantage that the
`position of the mobile phone can be determined by making
`use of existing signaling between the mobile phone and the
`network without requiring any changes to the mobile phone,
`which would increase its cost. The generic network-based,
`remote-positioning architecture method of U.S. Pat. No.
`5,051,741 may make use of time of arrival methods or phase
`difference calculations to increase the resolution ofthe area or
`
`sector within which the mobile phone is located.
`While the location of the mobile phone itself is a good
`indication of the present location of the person carrying the
`mobile phone, an improvement would be a means to lock the
`mobile phone to the child, such that use of the mobile phone
`positioning technologies would then determine the position
`of the child.
`
`In addition to these concerns about the failures of existing
`mobile communications technology to provide an improved
`and more secure method of instant communication between a
`
`parent and a young child, and the means to determine the
`position of the child, there is additional concern that the
`battery of the communicator may drain its power without the
`parent knowing, or may be removed, which would prevent the
`communicator from receiving calls or dialing to the pro-
`grammed fixed or mobile number to which the communicator
`is linked.
`
`In addition to these specific communication problem
`needs, there is a growing yet unsubstantiated concern about
`the potentially harmful effect of electromagnetic radiation
`from mobile phones upon the developing brains of young
`children. Within this context, there is an opportunity to design
`a communication device for children, which positions the
`radiating electromagnetic field of a communication device
`
`Page 6 of 18
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`

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`US 7,583,197 B2
`
`3
`away from the close proximity of the brain. In this regard,
`parents who maintain the belief that mobile telephones
`present a health risk due to the radiating antenna may rest
`secure in the knowledge that this risk can be significantly
`reduced.
`
`In a separate context, there exists a growing need for a
`mobile telephone solution, which is cost effective to manu-
`facture, but which is versatile such that it can form the basis
`for a smart clothes tag or communications application plat-
`form. In this context the requirement is for an embedded
`mobile phone platform comprising no keypad or display,
`which may be sewn into the lining of a jacket, or other article
`of clothing, having only the call button protruding and a
`simple pin connection to recharge the battery. The problem
`with prior art solutions is that unless the smart clothes tag can
`be user-programrnable to call any fixed or mobile number by
`making use of an acceptable method such as via an SMS data
`call or via a BlueTooth radio transmission from a mobile
`
`10
`
`15
`
`phone or intelligent PDA, the solution is impractical to imple-
`ment.
`
`20
`
`In security applications where emergency service person-
`nel carry hand-held primary communications devices such as
`conventional mobile phones, a back-up communications
`device such as a smart clothes embedded tag can be of great
`value in the instance that the primary communications device
`is lost or broken.
`
`In sports areas such as on lakes where there may be people
`using canoes, a smart clothes communications tag embedded
`in a life vest may serve to alert a central control point that a
`person is in difficulty and also to alert other persons in the area
`to go to their rescue.
`In an additional application area, skiers in difficulty would
`benefit from a smart clothes user-programmable communi-
`cations tag attached to their clothing, which is pre-pro-
`grammed to be linked with a fixed or mobile telephone and
`need only have its protruding button pressed to make com-
`munication with a central alarm point.
`In an additional application area there exists the need for a
`user-programmable remote wireless communications data
`tag, which can be used to relay information about the status of
`a remote piece of technical equipment such as a vending
`machine. Home networks could be simplified by making use
`of the existing mobile network infrastructure to relay data
`about the status of a home appliance or to indicate whether a
`door is open or closed. Packet switched technologies such as
`GPRS may be used as the radio access technology to com-
`municate the status of the technical equipment.
`In an additional application area there exists the need for a
`versatile communications platform, which can be combined
`with remote health monitoring technology to assist doctors
`with remote diagnosis of patients.
`In an additional application there is the need for a versatile
`communications which is able to work effectively when the
`network is temporarily overloaded such that it has the means
`to store a sound message as a sound byte or convert it using
`voice recognition software such that it can be forwarded as
`soon as the network capacity becomes less loaded.
`Further to these limitations of existing technologies, and so
`far as is known, no portable communication apparatus is
`presently available which serves to offer an improved pro-
`grammable communicator which is directed towards the spe-
`cific needs of this problem area as outlined.
`
`OBJECTIONS OF THE INVENTION
`
`Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to
`provide an improved programmable communications appa-
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`ratus, which can be remotely programmed by any mobile
`phone or IP device such that it can be linked to any particular
`fixed or mobile phone or IP device.
`It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
`programmable communications apparatus, which may be
`programmed at close range using infrared light or a Blue-
`Tooth radio connection, or via a terminal-to-terminal network
`based data call such as the GSM SMS short message service
`or via a GPRS packet data communication.
`It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
`programmable communications apparatus, which may be
`programmed by a mobile or fixed device which is able to call
`up an Internet web page and which comprises the means to
`instruct the network to reprogram the communications appa-
`ratus with the mobile or fixed number to which the program-
`mable communications device is to be linked.
`
`It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
`programmable communications apparatus, which may be
`programmed via the Internet such that the network commu-
`nicates with a device in the vicinity of the programmable
`communications apparatus which itself causes the said appa-
`ratus to be programmed using any means such as wireless
`communication, infrared light or a BlueTooth radio link.
`It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
`plurality of programmable communications apparatuses,
`which may be simultaneously programmed by a mobile or
`fixed device which is able to call up an Internet web page and
`select one or more apparatuses of the said plurality and cause
`each of the selected number of apparatuses to be linked to the
`identical mobile or fixed telephone.
`It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
`programmable communications apparatus, which comprises
`a processing means to process coded transmissions and per-
`mit only transmissions comprising a coded number, which
`determines the authenticity of the message, to be allowed to
`program the number to which the said apparatus be linked.
`It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
`programmable communications apparatus, which comprises
`a wrist strap, or an attachment such as in the case of the smart
`clothes application, and a first alarm means which can be
`programmed such that it can cause a message to be sent to the
`fixed or mobile number to which the said apparatus is linked
`in the case that the wrist strap be broken or undone or in the
`case that the said attachment be broken or displaced from an
`initial position of equilibrium.
`It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
`programmable communications apparatus, which may have a
`separate pressure sensitive means or displaceable means
`which becomes activated in the pressed position or displaced
`position respectively such that it is able to generate an alarm
`or data message when pressure is removed or when the dis-
`placement returns to the non-displaced position. Such a fea-
`ture serves, by way of example, to replace the need for the
`wrist strap feature of the previous object such that when the
`wrist worn communicator is removed from the wrist the pres-
`sure sensitive means or displaceable means can provide the
`required alarm message.
`It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
`programmable communications apparatus, which comprises
`a heat sensor, which can detect that the communicator is
`adjacent to a heat source such as the skin of a child and the
`means to generate an alarm message if the heat source is
`removed.
`
`It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
`programmable communications apparatus, which has the
`means to detect any other detectable physical characteristic of
`
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`
`US 7,583,197 B2
`
`5
`the human skin, which may be used to trigger an alarm if the
`means is moved away from the skin.
`It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
`programmable commumcations apparatus for a security
`application, which comprises an infrared heat detector and
`which is able to generate an alarm message if a change in the
`level of infrared radiation is detected. It is a further object of
`the present invention to provide a programmable communi-
`cations apparatus, which may form part of a home network of
`devices, which is used to monitor a domestic appliance such
`as a washing machine or a device to monitor whether a door
`or window is open or closed and to react to a change in status
`of said appliance or device by sending an alarm message or
`data message to a linked fixed or mobile telephone or internet
`IP address to indicate a current status of said appliance or
`device. In addition the said apparatus may be incorporated in
`a bicycle frame or attached to a bicycle for monitoring move-
`ment of the bicycle.
`It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
`programmable communications apparatus, which has a
`memory means to store sound as a sound byte for a certain
`period of time such as the voice of the child wearing the
`programmable communicator and the means to send this
`sound to the telephone number to which the said apparatus is
`linked.
`
`It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
`programmable communications apparatus, which has a
`means to store and transmit a sound byte in response to
`receiving a sound above a predetermined threshold such that
`a person who is in distress may shout out and the distress call
`is processed by the programmable communicator and for-
`warded to the fixed or mobile telephone or IP address to
`which the said communicator is linked.
`
`It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
`programmable communications apparatus, which is able to
`make a call to a linked fixed or mobile telephone or IP address
`and which if it detects that the telephone number is engaged or
`does not answer or that the IP address is invalid, the said
`apparatus has the means to select any other telephone number
`or IP address in the permitted callers list such that it can be
`connected to said other telephone or IP device.
`It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
`programmable communications apparatus, which is able to
`store a sound byte or store a data record and send the sound
`byte or data record to any other telephone number or IP
`address in the permitted callers list after a certain interval of
`time in the instance that the primary number or IP address is
`engaged or connection is not able to be made at that time due
`to the network capacity not being sufiicient at that time. The
`feature may also include a continuous retry feature such that
`the attempt to send the sound byte or data record is continued
`until the sound byte or data record is successfully sent.
`It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
`programmable communications apparatus, which has the
`means to convert a voice message into text and send this as a
`data message to a fixed or mobile telephone or IP address to
`which the said apparatus is linked.
`It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
`programmable communications apparatus, which is able to
`receive data from a plurality of data monitoring devices,
`which may be connected by any wired or wireless means, and
`that each of said devices has an associated status condition,
`such that the programmable communications apparatus can
`transmit data from said devices on request or periodically to a
`fixed or mobile telephone or IP address to which the said
`apparatus is linked.
`
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`
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`
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`It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
`programmable communications apparatus, in which the said
`first alarm means may communicate directly with a central
`communications point in the network.
`It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
`programmable communications apparatus, in which the said
`first alarm means may communicate directly with a web page
`and write information to that page or cause an E-mail to be
`sent to a specific address.
`It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
`programmable communications apparatus, which comprises
`a second alarm means, which can be programmed to cause a
`message to be sent to the fixed or mobile number to which the
`said apparatus is linked in the case that the battery is low in
`power or in the case that the battery is removed or in the case
`that the communicator be switched off.
`
`It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
`programmable communications apparatus, which comprises
`a second alarm means, which can be programmed to send a
`message periodically comprising any status message such as
`the current power status of the battery.
`It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
`programmable communications apparatus, which comprises
`a battery charger adapter-pin such that the apparatus can
`make use of suitable battery chargers of other mobile phones.
`It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
`programmable communications apparatus, which comprises
`the means to be interrogated remotely by another fixed or
`mobile telephone or network connected device, such that
`different codes are used to obtain different data from the said
`
`apparatus. In the context ofremote health monitoring, by way
`of example, a doctor could send different codes from her
`mobile terminal and obtain different data on blood pressure
`and the heart rate of the person wearing the apparatus asso-
`ciated with a health monitoring system. The said apparatus
`may make use of physical monitoring means associated with
`said apparatus for providing information about the skin tem-
`perature and blood pressure and other characteristics of the
`human body.
`It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
`programmable communications apparatus, which has appli-
`cation to smart clothes such that it provides a secondary
`communications means for emergency service personnel.
`It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
`programmable communications apparatus, which is suitable
`for attachment to a life vest. A further object of this applica-
`tion includes a water-enabled communications apparatus,
`which may be used to communicate with a portable central
`communications unit.
`
`It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
`programmable communications apparatus, which comprises
`a GPS signal processing circuit and the means to respond to
`an authenticated request to determine its own position and
`send data relating to its position to the linked fixed or mobile
`telephone or to a location determination centre or to a speci-
`fied web page.
`It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
`programmable communications apparatus, which may be
`securely attached to a device such as a bicycle, which may be
`used for communication and for determining the position of
`the bicycle.
`It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
`programmable communications apparatus, which is suitable
`for young children such that it comprises an auto-answer
`facility to connect the caller immediately with an associated
`microphone and loudspeaker to avoid the need that the child
`must press a button to answer the call. This application also
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`US 7,583,197 B2
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`7
`includes the feature, which returns the programmable com-
`municator automatically to idle state as soon as the caller to
`the child terminates the call remotely. This avoids the need
`that the child must terminate the call. It also prevents the child
`from terminating the call by accident.
`It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
`programmable communications apparatus, which can be
`used with mobile location based services such that it is pos-
`sible for an authenticated person to access a web page, either
`on a hand-held terminal or fixed device, which shows the
`position of the programmable communications apparatus as
`an icon on a map after its position has been determined by its
`own GPS signal processing circuitry or remotely by the net-
`work.
`
`Other objects and advantages ofthis invention will become
`apparent from the description to follow when read in conjunc-
`tion with the accompanying drawings.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`Certain of the foregoing and related objects are readily-
`attained according to the present invention by the provision of
`a novel portable programmable communicator, which serves
`to address the diverse communication requirements of chil-
`dren and elderly persons and for the purposes of remote data
`monitoring applications such as for monitoring the status of
`remote technical devices.
`
`The programmable communicator preferably comprises a
`basic mobile telephone circuit having no keypad or display
`and a rechargeable battery and antenna and a basic two-way
`microphone device and remotely pre-programmable identity
`module linking it to a single mobile or fixed telephone. Where
`appropriate, in alternative embodiments, the programmable
`communicator comprises an alarm means to indicate certain
`conditions of the communicator such as the charge level of its
`battery or if the battery is removed. Similar alarm messages
`are generated according to the particular embodiment of the
`programmable communicator application which include the
`generation of messages when an associated wrist strap or
`attachment ofthe communicator in the case of a smart clothes
`
`application is undone or displaced or when the communicator
`is switched on or off or when the communicator is set to
`monitor the status condition of an associated device and the
`
`status changes beyond a preset threshold level. The invention
`also includes the generation of periodic messages to indicate
`that the communicator is working and that any associated
`status condition thresholds remain unchanged. This last set of
`messages, which includes periodic reassurances messages
`includes the facility that the user may set the duration of the
`period according to the application.
`The programmable communicator has direct and effective
`application to home networks for the purpose of transmitting
`information about the status condition ofdomestic appliances
`such as the pressure of water pipes and whether a door or
`window is opened or closed. The wireless programmable
`communicator can be attached to an associated monitoring
`device and programmed with the number of a mobile or fixed
`telephone to which it is to be linked or to an Internet web page
`which can be made accessible to authenticated users or to
`
`security monitoring personnel.
`Other objects and features of the present invention will
`become apparent from the following detailed description
`considered in connection with the accompanying drawings,
`which disclose one embodiment of the invention. It is to be
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`of the portable hot link communicating apparatus is given by
`way of example only and does not limit the scope of the
`invention.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`The foregoing features of the invention will be more
`readily understood by reference to the following detailed
`description, taken with reference to the accompanying draw-
`ings, in which:
`FIG. 1 illustrates the schematic ofthe programmable com-
`municator according to one embodiment of the invention.
`FIG. 2 illustrates a schema showing the actions performed
`by the programmable communicator in response to an incom-
`ing call or message according to the present invention.
`FIG. 3 illustrates a schema showing actions done by the
`programmable communicator and the outgoing calls or mes-
`sages, which are generated as a consequence of said actions.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENT
`
`Referring now in detail to the drawings and in particular
`FIG. 1 thereof, therein illustrated is a programmable commu-
`nicating apparatus according to one embodiment of the
`present invention.
`The following description makes reference to the detailed
`features as outlined in the objects of the invention.
`In FIG. 1 is shown a telephone circuit 10, which comprises
`an antenna 20 and a battery 30. To the telephone circuit, which
`may similarly comprise a communicating PDA device cir-
`cuit, is shown an optional BlueTooth module 40 for commu-
`nication with a nearby data communication or programming
`device having a similar BlueTooth radio module. The tele-
`phone circuit 10 has a ringing tone generator and an auto
`answer module 50 which may be used to cause the program-
`mable communicator to generate one of a number of ringing
`tones or to auto answer upon receipt of an authenticated
`permitted caller.
`For the purposes of programming the IP address or tele-
`phone number of the fixed or mobile telephone to which the
`communicator is linked is provided an SMS processing
`means 60. This communicates with an authentication means
`
`90, which in turn is able to store numbers into a permitted
`callers list 110. For the purposes of security, a sound byte
`capture means and threshold detector means 100 is provided
`to generate an al