AU2018202608A1 - Locatable device and locating system and method - Google Patents

Abstract

A locatable device is disclosed comprising a housing adapted for appending to an item potentially to be located if misplaced, a transmitter located within the housing for broadcasting, according to a short range wireless protocol, an electromagnetic signal identifying the device. Aboard the housing is a source of utilisable energy for powering the transmitter and energising it with a sufficiently high discharge to achieve a broadcasting range of at least 200ft. The invention includes a method of locating a missing item through use of the device and a system of networked devices providing intermediate communications between the locatable device and a base station. SHEET 1 OF 1 Ia S Lii, lostr 1 i 26-- 28 26' Figure 2

Description

LOCATABLE DEVICE AND LOCATING SYSTEM AND METHOD Field of invention [01] This invention relates to a locatable device and a system and method of using it to locate an item, particularly an item that is missing or has been mislaid. It also relates to such a device having additional alerting functions, particularly for communication with emergency services.

Background to the invention [02] Locating devices are known for attachment to items, such as smaller personal items prone to going missing or being mislaid. Often such items have intrinsic or functional value, keys being an example of the latter.

[03] Known devices suffer from range limitations - usually not more than 100ft -as well as from unacceptably short battery life, requiring frequent battery changes. These deficiencies render them impractical and unreliable and often unable to achieve their purpose, unless in direct Bluetooth™ or similar style of communication with the base station - that it, the handset of the device operator. Example of known systems are those supplied under the brand names PebbleBee, Tile, and TrackR Bravo.

[04] To overcome communication difficulties associated with short range wireless transmitters communicating their position to a base station such as a smartphone, a system referred to as 'crowd GPS' has developed. It is based on the concept that if a mobile handset user has mislaid an item, for example a wallet, it is possible that someone may enter wireless broadcast range of the item and be able to identify it and the base station of its owner and forward its location to the base station. For this to happen, the other person's device needs to be using the appropriate tracking application software ('app'), to which they will have subscribed, registered or been licenced, with Bluetooth™ communication mode activated and crowd GPS enabled. This means that the popularity of the app in the owner's local area is an important factor in choosing the most appropriate locating system for the user's needs. If the app is not widely used in the user's vicinity, the app is less likely to be useful to the user concerned for finding a tagged article.

[05] In such a system, a user attaches a locatable device to an object he does not wish to lose (for example, a pet animal, or a bunch of keys). Should the item go missing, he activates his 'search party' option in the app for finding the missing item. The 'search party' comprises a group of 'friends' the user invites to become participants in the search for the missing item. Each 'friend' accepting the invitation downloads an app compatible with the user's app to their mobile telephone handset or similar. The app establishes lines of communication to the user's base station handset. The handsets of the participants in the search party are programmed to switch on their Bluetooth™ app so as to receive a short range wireless signal from the locatable device when in range. When a handset detects and recognizes a signal as being that of the device being sought, it will send notification to the user's base station handset, together with its GPS co-ordinates.

[06] A feature of both the Tile™ and TrackR Bravo™ systems is the facility allowed for the user to mark an item as lost, meaning that any other user who has the application installed on their phone will be able to have their phone on standby to receive the signal from the 'lost' device if in range and then anonymously send the location of the item to the owner's handset (for example, a stolen pushbike to which the locatable device has been attached).

[07] According to a review in the online website <http://www.compareitversus.com/tile-vs-trackr-bravo/> (viewed on 28 March 2017), "An added advantage of Trackr Bravo is the coin cell battery that is expected to last for one year after which it can be easily replaced without much ado. Comparatively, the Tile needs to be replaced every year as there is no such provision of the battery that can be replaced every now and then."

Objects of the invention [08] It is an object of this invention to address the shortcomings of the prior art and, in doing so, to provide a locatable device with superior range and operating life in comparison with prior devices.

[09] The preceding discussion of the background to the invention is intended to facilitate an understanding of the present invention. However, it should be appreciated that the discussion is not an acknowledgement or admission that any of the material referred to was part of the common general knowledge in Australia or elsewhere as at the priority date of the present application.

[010] Further, and unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words 'comprise', 'comprising', and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense - that is to say, in the sense of "including, but not being limited to" - as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense - that is, meaning "including this and nothing else".

Summary of invention [011] According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a locatable device comprising a housing adapted for appending to an item potentially to be located, a transmitter located within the housing and operatively configured to broadcast, according to a short range wireless protocol, an electromagnetic signal identifying the device; and a source of utilisable energy associated with the housing and operatively connected to the transmitter for energising it with a sufficiently high discharge to achieve a broadcasting range of at least 200ft.

[012] In a preferred form of the invention the energy source comprises a replaceable lithium manganese dioxide battery cell. Preferably, the cell is rated at a voltage in the range from 3V to 5V. Preferably, the cell is of flat, disclike proportions and has a thickness not exceeding 3.2mm. A suitable example is a cell that conforms to the IEC designation 'CR2032'.

[013] The signal emitted preferably conforms to the Bluetooth 4 protocol. Other low power near field communications protocols may alternatively be utilised. Through operation of application software on a receiving mobile telephone handset, the transmitter and thus the device are paired with the handset on an individualised basis.

[014] In a still further preferred form of the invention, the housing contains a wireless receiver configured to receive GPS co-ordinates. The device further contains a microprocessor programmable to receive the co-ordinates and include them in the broadcast signal.

[015] In preferred embodiments, the housing comprises first and second opposing walls between which the transmitter is mounted. The walls are preferably octagonally shaped. At least one wall comprises a concavity. The concavity is closeable by the other wall being brought into abutment with the first. The opposing walls may be connected by adhesion or by mechanical connector formations, or a combination thereof.

[016] According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided the system comprising a crowd GPS network comprising a base station, a locatable device securable to an item to be located and a plurality of programmable communications devices locatable to be communicably intermediate the locatable device and the base station, each of said communicably intermediate devices being programmed to communicate its GPS co-ordinates to the base station on receiving a wireless signal broadcast by and identifying the locatable device, the locatable device comprising a transmitter and an energy source operatively connected to the transmitter and capable of a sufficiently high discharge to cause the transmitter to achieve a broadcasting range exceeding 200ft.

[017] The network base receiving station is preferably configurable to receive a broadcast signal from the device when in range.

[018] In a preferred form of the invention, the communicably intermediate devices include crowd networked smartphone handsets operating application software (or an 'app') for enabling the handsets to receive the broadcast signal and send notification to the base station on receiving the signal.

[019] In a preferred embodiment, the base station comprises a mobile telephone handset operated by a user seeking to locate the device.

[020] Preferably, the energy source comprises a replaceable lithium manganese dioxide battery cell. Preferably, the cell is rated at a voltage in the range from 3V to 5V, further preferably 3.2V and has a flat, disc-like shape. In a preferred embodiment, the battery cell disc thickness does not exceed 3.2mm.

[021] According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a locating method for locating personal items, the method comprising the steps of: a. establishing a crowd GPS network which includes: i. a plurality of mobile communications devices programmed with communications software rendering the devices capable of receiving a short-range wireless signal from a transmitting device attached to an item to be located, ii. a locatable transmitting device securable to an item to be located and having communication means configured for communicating with the network; and iii. a base station configured for communication with said networked devices; b. providing the locatable device with a short-range wireless transmitter capable of broadcasting a receiveable signal over a range exceeding 200ft; c. securing the locatable device to an item to be located when missing; d. causing the locatable device to broadcast an identifying signal on a short range wireless frequency; and e. allowing a networked device within range to receive said signal and communicate location data pertaining to the receiving device to the base station.

[022] In a preferred form of the invention, the transmitter is configured to transmit according to the Bluetooth 4 protocol.

Brief description of drawings [023] In order that the invention may be readily understood, and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying figures. Thus:

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of a preferred embodiment of the system of this invention.

Figure 2 is an illustration of the locating device of the invention in a schematic cross section.

Detailed description of an embodiment of the invention [024] In a preferred embodiment, the locatable device comprises an external casing, preferably of octagonal shape. An octagonal shape is preferred to fewer sided shapes such as a square, rectangle or triangle because is is found less prone to catching on objects and on the wearer or user. It is preferred over a shape such as an oval or circle having a continuous curving periphery so as to distinguish it in use from objects such as dog tags. It is adapted to be attachable to an item for assisting in the relocation of the item, should it become lost, misplaced, or stolen, or its most recent location forgotten. The casing comprises two opposing walls, each being complementally shaped to fit together. Each has a concavity on one side, so that when the concave sides are brought into opposition, a cavity is defined between them, for receiving electronic transmitter circuitry.

[025] Installed within the casing is thus a printed circuit board having suitable circuitry defining a short range wireless transmitter that uses Bluetooth 4.0 technology, or an equivalent, to broadcast its presence to nearby receivers. To enable the device to be located beyond 200ft using Bluetooth, the device is configured for crowd GPS employment so that the short-range signal it broadcasts can be received by a suitably programmed nearby mobile handset within broadcast range, and that handset may then relay the signal content (or at least a part of it) and its location to a base station. Software operated in the system or by the base station is then able to pinpoint the last known location of the device associated with the missing item. Preferably, the base station is a mobile telephone handset operated by a user associated with the locatable device attached to the item being located. The user typically would be an owner of the item, or would have some form or proprietary interest in it.

[026] The circuitry required to achieve a Bluetooth 4.0 range of at least 200ft is characterised by the selection of a high discharge lithium ion battery cell having a rating of at least 3V. An example of such a cell is the coin-shaped cell manufactured according to the CR2072 standard. It has a thickness of no more than 3.2mm. It is found that this cell is able to deliver a discharge sufficient to enable the transmitter to broadcast at least 200ft. This distance is significant as it corresponds generally to the range of comfortable human sight in an open space of a disclike object as contemplated in this invention, and within which range the need for the device of the invention is less. By way of example, a person on the lookout for a lost pet and receiving a signal suggesting its relative proximity will be alerted to its presence, even if the person is not able to identify the specific pet being sought, perhaps because the pet is a dog playing within a distant group of other dogs. The increased distance also increases the probability of the tag on the item being sought being located.

[027] Each device is provided with an unique identity and is identified in the signal it broadcasts, when pairing is achieved with a mobile telephone handset utilising shortrange wireless communication according to the Bluetooth 4 protocol.

[028] Referring to Figure 1, an example of the use of the device of this preferred embodiment is described in a system, generally denoted by the number 10. In this system, the transmitting device of the invention is numbered 12 and is securely attached to a lost item (not shown). The device is conceptually illustrated in Figure 2. The device is associated with the user of smartphone handset 14 which runs software application 16 for locating device 12.

[029] The device 12 illustrated in Figure 2 comprises a housing made up of two opposed casing halves 22, 24. In this embodiment, each casing is shown to be identical, with a concavity 26, 26' defined within. Within this concavity, there are mounted a printed circuit (PC) board 28, to which are operatively attached a microprocessor chip 30, a transmitter 32, and an antenna loop 34, which is connected to the transmitter. By bringing together the opposing edges of the respective casings, the cavity is closed about the electronic components within. The opposing walls are secured by means of mating snap-closure formations formed on the edges. They may additionally be further secured by providing a settable adhesive to protect further against tampering, as well as the elements. Alternative or additional fastening means include screws. Alternative attachment and secural means and measures will be apparent to the reader, without these being beyond the scope of this disclosure.

[030] Powering the circuitry defined by the components defined above is a replaceable battery cell 36, access to which is provided by slideable panel 38.

[031] By means of software 16, the user of smartphone 14 sets up a network of mobile communications handsets 18 associated with selected 'friends' of the user of smartphone 14. The friends may be selected invitees of the user, or may be a more general network of users of the same locating software.

[032] The 'friend' handsets run a software app that renders the capable of detecting broadcast signals emitted by lost device 12. The broadcast signal provides an identification indicium unique to the device emitting it. The friend handset that receives the broadcast signal forwards the identity via the internet 20 to base station handset 14. It is within the scope of this invention for the base station to be any communications device configured to connect to 'friend' handsets via the internet. As such, the base station may be a desktop computer as well as a tablet, notebook or smartphone computer device.

[033] The signal that 'friend' handset 18 communicates to base station 14 includes GPS co-ordinates identifying the location of the transmission. This is not necessarily the actual location of the missing item, attached to device 12. However, the base station communicates to the user that the device is within range of notifying device 18. The software operated on device 18 provides the user of notifying device 18 the option of remaining anonymous.

[034] The application software 16 interfaces with Google Earth APIs, so that, in addition to providing maps, authenticates and simulates a real image of the whereabouts of the located device. For example, in the case of a stolen item such as a wallet, an image of the exact building, at which the device is located, is displayable on the handset screen. The base station handset (or other computer-enabled device) is then programmed to navigate the user to relevant maps and propose a route to the location of the building or other location.

[035] A further optional feature of the locatable device is an emergency button on the device. The button is labelled 42 in Figure 2 and is operatively connected to PC board 28. Should the button be continuously depressed for a given period of time, for example 2.5 seconds, an alarm signal will be broadcast by the transmitter. When the alarm signal is received by a compatible handset linked by the app to the device, the receiving handset will pinpoint the device location and notify preset helplines on the network, as well as cause the app to notify emergency services by way of a preset link, with the device location already having been pinpointed. The user will then explain verbally or by text messaging or equivalent means why help is needed.

[036] The locatable device is attachable to an item of value to be located in the event of loss by means that may include adhesion, containment within the item - for example within the lining of a bag or a compartment in a wallet- or appending by means of a secural element such as a clip, or chain or locking device such as a mini-padlock and the like.

[037] These embodiments merely illustrate particular examples of the method and apparatus of the present invention, which provides for the location of a locatable device attachable to an item of value, to protect against permanent loss thereof. With the insight gained from this disclosure, the person skilled in the art is well placed to discern further embodiments by means of which to put the claimed invention into practice.

Claims (20)

1. CLAIMS The claims defining the invention are:

   1. A locatable device comprising a housing adapted for appending to an item potentially to be located, a transmitter located within the housing and operatively configured to broadcast, according to a short range wireless protocol, an electromagnetic signal identifying the device; and a source of utilisable energy associated with the housing and operatively connected to the transmitter for energising it with a sufficiently high discharge to achieve a broadcasting range of at least 200ft.
2. 2. A locatable device according to claim 1, wherein the energy source comprises a replaceable lithium manganese dioxide battery cell.
3. 3. A locatable device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the signal emitted conforms to the Bluetooth 4 protocol.
4. 4. A locatable device according to claim 3 wherein through operation of application software on a receiving mobile telephone handset, the transmitter and device are paired with the handset.
5. 5. A locatable device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing contains a wireless receiver configured to receive GPS co-ordinates.
6. 6. A locatable device according to claim 5, further comprising a microprocessor programmable to receive the co-ordinates and include them in the broadcast signal.
7. 7. A locatable device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing comprises first and second opposing octagonally shaped walls between which the transmitter is mounted.
8. 8. A locatable device according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising manually actuable alarm signalling means operatively connected to the transmitterto broadcast an alarm signal.
9. 9. A locating system for personal items, the system comprising a crowd GPS network comprising a base station, a locatable device securable to an item to be located and a plurality of programmable communications devices locatable to be communicably intermediate the locatable device and the base station, each of said communicably intermediate devices being programmed to communicate its GPS co-ordinates to the base station on receiving a wireless signal identifying the locatable device, the locatable device comprising a transmitter and an energy source operatively connected to the transmitter and capable of a sufficiently high discharge to cause the transmitter to achieve a broadcasting range exceeding 200ft.
10. 10. A locating system according to claim 9, wherein the base station is configured to receive a broadcast signal from the device when in range.
11. 11. A locating system according to claim 9 or claim 10, wherein the base station comprises a mobile telephone handset operated by a user seeking to locate the device.
12. 12. A locating system according to claim 11, wherein the energy source comprises a replaceable lithium manganese dioxide battery cell.
13. 13. A locating system according to claim 12, wherein the cell has a voltage in the range from 3V to 5V.
14. 14. A locating system according to any one of claims 9 to 13 wherein the communicably intermediate devices include crowd networked smartphone handsets operating application software for enabling the handsets to receive the broadcast signal and send notification to the base station on receiving the signal.
15. 15. A locating system according to any one of claims 9 to 14 wherein the software includes executable instructions for retrieving an image of the whereabout of the located device, based on the location data and displaying it on a networked device.
16. 16. A locating method for locating personal items, the method comprising the steps of: a. establishing a crowd GPS network which includes: i. a plurality of mobile communications devices programmed with communications software rendering the devices capable of receiving a short-range wireless signal from a transmitting device attached to an item to be located, ii. a locatable transmitting device securable to an item to be located and having communication means configured for communicating with the network; and iii. a base station configured for communication with said networked devices; b. providing the locatable device with a short-range wireless transmitter capable of broadcasting a receiveabie signal over a range exceeding 200ft; c. securing the locatable device to an item to be located when missing; d. causing the locatable device to broadcast an identifying signal on a short range wireless frequency; e. allowing a networked device within range to receive said signal and communicate location data pertaining to the receiving device to the base station.
17. 17. A method according to claim 16 wherein the transmitter is configured to transmit according to the Bluetooth 4 protocol.
18. 18. A method according to claim 16 or claim 17 wherein the transmitter receives energy from an energy source which comprises a replaceable lithium manganese dioxide battery ceil providing sufficient discharge for enabling said transmitter to broadcast at least 200ft.
19. 19. A method according to any one of claims 16 to 18 wherein the software includes executable instructions for retrieving an image of the whereabout of the located device, based on the location data.
20. 20. The method of claim 19 including causing the image to be displayed on the base station device.