AU2007221956A1 - Key-Ring Location System - Google Patents

Description

12,0ct. 2007 8:50 No. 1807 P. 3 P/00/009 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION KEY-RING LOCATION

SYSTEM

Invention Title: The invention is described in the following statement together with the best way of performing the invention known to us: Our Ref; 072037 COMS ID No: ARCS-164464 Received by IP Australia: Time 08:55 Date 2007-10-12 12 Oct. 2007 8:50 No. 1807 P. 4 2 0 KEY-RING LOCATION SYSTEM C The present invention relates to accessories for O mobile phones and, more particularly, to devices able to C respond to signals transmitted from such phones as well as landline phones.

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SBACKGROUND

SFor some people some of the time, the misplacement of Skeys or the forgetting of where keys were left since last use, is a frequent and irritating problem. As well keys are well known as having a propensity to fall out of pockets, disappear between cushions, be "hidden" by small children and otherwise become difficult to find when needed.

Key finders are known; key rings attachments containing a battery powered sound emitting device which responds to a battery powered sending device operating over a short distance. A problem with this arrangement is that the sender device itself is often misplaced, has an exhausted battery or is otherwise not immediately available when required.

It is an object of the present invention to address or at least ameliorate some of the above disadvantages, or to provide a useful alternative.

Notes i. The term "comprising" (and grammatical variations thereof) is used in this specification in the inclusive COMS ID No: ARCS-164464 Received by IP Australia: Time 08:55 Date 2007-10-12 12. Oct. 200] 8 5Q No. 1807 P. sense of -having" or "including", and not in the exclusive sense of "consisting only of".

Q) 2. The above discussion of the prior art in the Background of the invention, is not an admission that any informati-on discus5sed therein is citable prior art or VaO part of the of the common general knowledge of persons skilled inl the art in any country.

B3RIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION ci In one aspect of the invention, there is provided a keyio ring locating system; said system including a key-ring module adapted for attachment to a key-ring; said key-ring module provided with a receiver adapted to respond to a coded telephone call Signal transmitted via a distributed mobile phone network; a received said call signal initiating an alarm signal from a sound emitting device included in said module.

Preferably, said module comprises a housing provided with an aperture for attachment of said housing to a said keyring.

Preferably, said housing is provided with an on/off switch.

Preferably, said housing is provided with a battery low indicator.

COMB ID No: ARCS-164464 Received by IP Australia: Time 08:55 Date 2007-10-12 12. Oct. 2007 8 5 No. 130 P. 6 -4- 0 Preferably, said housing is provided with a grill for CA transmission of sound emanating from said sound emitting o device.

Preferably, said hous~ing contains a Subscriber Identity Module (SIN) card; said card retained in a SIM card holder ON mounted within said module.

Preferably, said SIN card contains a key identifying a o mobile phone service provider.

Preferably, said SIM card contains subscription information, including a phone number assigned to said card.

Preferably, said S'IM card stores network information; said network information jncluding a current Location Area Identity (LAI) of that section of a mobile phone network in which said module is currently located.

Preferably, said housing containls a processor chip.

Preferably, said housing contains a battery power source.

in a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for locating a key-ring provided with a key-ring module attached to said key-ring; said method includinlg the steps of: COMS ID No: ARCS-i 64464 Received by P1 Australia: Time (I-tm) 08:55 Date 2007-10-12 12. Ot. 2007 8:51 No. 1SU7 P. 7 0 providing said key-ring module with a receiver adapted to receive a coded telephone call signal, ci(b) providing said module with a sound emitting device responsive to a reception of said coded telephone call signal.

ci Preferably, said receiver includes a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card; said card containing a key identifying a omobile phone service provider.

Preferably, said SIM card contains subscription io information including a phone number assigned to said card.

Preferably, said method further includes the steps of: using a telephone handset to generate said coded telephofle signal, causing said coded telephone signal to be relayed to a distributed mobile telephone network.

BRIE9F DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: OOMS ID No: ARCS-164464 Received by IP Australia: Time (i-tm) 08:55 Date 2007-10-12 12. Oct. 2007 8 51 No. 1807 P. 8 -6- Figure 1 is a representation Of a key-ring location system according to a preferred embodiment of the Q invention, Figure 2 is a view of the components of a key-ring module of the system of Figure 1.

ci DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED

EMBODIMENTS

With reference to Figure 1, a key-ring locationi system ci 10 according to the present invention includes a receiver i0 module 12 adapted for attachment to a key-ring 13 and any one of a number of mobile phones 14 or landline phones 16.

Mobile phones 14 and landline phones 16 are conventional telephone devices able on the one hand to transmit coded call signals 18 over a distributed mobile phone network 20, or, on the other hand over a wired landlifle network 22, as well understood in the art.

Key-ring module 12 is a receiver adapted to receive coded call signals transmitted via the mobile phone network With reference to Figures I and 2, module 12 comprises a housing 24 provided with an aperture 26 for attachment to a key-ring, an on/off switch 28 and battery low indicator Light Emijtting Diode (LED) 30. Housing 24 is further provided with a sound transmitting grill 32. Within housing 24, module 12 is provided with a replaceable battery power source 34, and a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card 36 retained in a SIM card holder 38 mounted within the housing COMS ID No: AROS-184464 Received by 11P Australia: Time 08:55 Date 2007-10-12 12, Oct. 2007 8:51 No. 1807 P, 9 7 o 24. As well, housing 24 contains a processor chip 38 an (N antenna 40 and a sound emitting device 42- O In at least one preferred form of the module 12, the M .battery is a rechargeable battery. In this form the keyring module is provided with a separate charger module (not f o shown) for connecting module 12 to a mains power source.

SAs in a conventional mobile phone, the SIM card 36 for ci use in the key-ring module 12, contains the key identifying 8 a mobile phone service provider as well as subscription information, including a phone number assigned to the card 36. Also as for a conventional mobile phone, the SIM card for use in module 12, stores network information including the current Location Area Identity (LAI) of that section of the mobile phone network in which the module 12 is currently located.

Apart from these basic attributes of the SIM card 36, the only function of the card and processor chip 38 when the module is switched on, is to monitor incoming calls made to the subscriber number of the card and, if received, in response cause the sound emitting device 42 to sound a responding audible signal. This responding signal may be a simple loud buzzer or beeping alarm or any one of a selection of novelty sounds such as may be obtained for mobile phone ring tones for example.

In at least one preferred arrangement, the audible signal continues to sound for as long as the call signal COMS ID No: ARCS-164464 Received by IP Australia: Time 08:55 Date 2007-10-12 12. Oct. 2007 8:51 No, 1807 P. 8 o from an initiating mobile or landline phone is maintained.

Although so continuing in this arrangement, the sound may U be intermittent, burst of sound being interspersed with CM silent pauses until such time as the initiating phone is "hung up" ND In another preferred arrangement, the emitting device

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42 will sound, either continuously or intermittently for a preset period after first receipt of the initiating call by o the module 12.

The on/off switch 28 provided on the module 12 is used to activate and de-activate the stand-by mode of the module. This allows a user to de-activate the module, for example when the keys and key-ring to which a module 12 is attached, are in his or her immediate possession, or have been placed in a known location such as for example in the ignition lock of a vehicle. The on/off switch may also be used to de-activate the module when in a hospital area, medical clinic, theatre etc. Although in such situations the key-ring may not be misplaced, another user of the keys may not be aware of their location and send an activating signal. As well as preventing unwanted signals emitting from the module, switching it off prolongs the module's battery life.

In Use In use, if a user is unable to find a key-ring to which the module of the present invention is attached, he COMS ID No: ARCS-164464 Received by IP Australia: Time 08:55 Date 2007-10-12 12.0ct. 2007 8:51 No. 1807 P. 11 9 S' or she simply calls the module's phone number from a mobile C phone (or landline phone as appropriate). If the misplaced Skey-ring is anywhere in the vicinity, for example in a CM dwelling or even in attached outbuildings, the sounding of the module in response to the phone call will allow the \O key-ring to be readily located.

SThe above describes only some embodiments of the 8 present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, can be made thereto without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

COMS ID No: ARCS-164464 Received by IP Australia: Time 08:55 Date 2007-10-12

Claims (5)

12. Oct. 2007 8:52 No, 1807 P. 12 io t. CLAIMS 0 i_ 1. A key-ring locating system; said system including a O O key-ring module adapted for attachment to a key-ring; said key-ring module provided with a receiver adapted to respond to a coded telephone call signal transmitted via a distributed mobile phone network; a C- received said call signal initiating an alarm signal o from a sound emitting device included in said module. 2. The system of claim 1 wherein said module comprises a housing provided with an aperture for attachment of said housing to a said key-ring. 3. The system of claim 2 wherein said housing is provided with an on/off switch. 4. The system of claim 2 or 3 wherein said housing is provided with a battery low indicator. The system of any one of claims 2 to 4 where said housing is provided with a grill for transmission of sound emanating from said sound emitting device. 6. The system of any one of claims 2 to 5 wherein said housing contains a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card; said card retained in a SIM card holder mounted within said module. COMS ID No: ARCS-164464 Received by IP Australia: Time 08:55 Date 2007-10-12 12, Oct. 2007 8:52 No. 1807 P. 13 $1 7. The system of claim 6 wherein said SIM card contains a key identifying a mobile phone service provider. O 8. The system of claim 6 or 7 wherein said SIM card contains subscription information, including a phone number assigned to said card. VO a O 9. The system of any one of claims 6 to 8 wherein said C' SIM card stores network information; said network o information including a current Location Area Identity (LAI) of that section of a mobile phone network in which said module is currently located. The system of any one of claims 2 to 9 wherein said housing contains a processor chip. 11. The system of any one of claims 2 to 10 wherein said housing contains a battery power source. 12. A method for locating a key-ring provided with a key- ring module attached to said key-ring; said method including the steps of: providing said key-ring module with a receiver adapted to receive a coded telephone call signal, providing said module with a sound emitting device responsive to a reception of said coded telephone call signal. COMS ID No: ARCS-164464 Received by IP Australia: Time 08:55 Date 2007-10-12 12,0ct, 2007 8:52 No, 1807 P. 14 12 o

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said receiver includes C a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card; said card O containing a key identifying a mobile phone service Cq provider.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said SIM card contains V) subscription information, including a phone number C< assigned to said card. 0

15. The method of any one of claims 12 to 14 wherein said method further includes the steps of: using a telephone handset to generate said coded telephone signal, causing said coded telephone signal to be relayed to a distributed mobile telephone network.

16. A key-ring locating system as herein described and with reference to the accompanying drawings. COMS ID No: ARCS-164464 Received by IP Australia: Time 08:55 Date 2007-10-12