DE202020107501U1 - Device for monitoring the location of a subject or object - Google Patents

Abstract

Device (10) for monitoring the location of a subject or object with non-wired transmitting means, non-wired receiving means, storage means, processing means, display means (16) and a power supply, characterized in that there are further transmitting means outside the device (10) and the device is set up, to monitor at least one of the following parameters:
- Distance of the transmission means of the device (10) from the further transmission means and
- Duration of the contact between the transmission means of the device (10) and the further transmission means, the device (10) being designed to carry out a specific display by the display means (16) when a specific location monitoring event is detected.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for monitoring the location of a subject or object according to the preamble of claim 1.

In certain situations it is desirable if certain people or objects in a certain area are regulated with regard to their stay. For example, in times of the Covid-19 pandemic, it is desirable for people to keep a certain distance from one another in order to prevent the epidemic from spreading.

In most cases, this regulation has so far been carried out by strict official requirements that certain people must adhere to. However, these regulations are relatively static and inflexible and often consist of a ban on certain encounters or events. As a result, people are very much restricted in their freedom.

The object of the present invention is to make it possible to regulate the stay in such a way that the freedom of the people is not unduly restricted. In particular, the regulation should be able to be carried out relatively flexibly.

This object is achieved by the device according to the invention according to claim 1. Advantageous further developments are specified in the subclaims and in the following description together with the figures.

On the part of the invention it was recognized that this object can be achieved in a surprisingly simple and cost-effective manner if each person is assigned their own location monitoring device, which is located on or near the person, with certain location monitoring events in relation to a transmitter being monitored . As a result, the respective persons can move freely and the regulations only have to be implemented when a certain residence surveillance event occurs, for example by the fact that this person leaves a certain area or restricts contact with a certain other person.

• - Abstand der Sendemittel der Vorrichtung von den weiteren Sendemitteln und
• - zeitliche Dauer des Kontakts zwischen den Sendemitteln der Vorrichtung und den weiteren Sendemitteln,

wobei die Vorrichtung bei Feststellung eines bestimmten
Aufenthaltsüberwachungsereignisses eine bestimmte Anzeige durch die Anzeigemittel ausführt.A method according to the invention for monitoring the whereabouts of a subject or object with a device that has non-wired transmission means, non-wired reception means, storage means, processing means, display means and an energy supply would be characterized in that there are further transmission means outside the device and monitoring of at least one of the the following parameters take place:

• - Distance of the transmission means of the device from the further transmission means and
• - Duration of contact between the transmission means of the device and the other transmission means,

the device upon detection of a certain
Location monitoring event executes a specific display by the display means.

These further transmission means can belong to a further device, but do not have to. It can also be a transmission means for delimiting a specific spatial area, so that, for example, a type of fence is established.

In an advantageous development, provision would be made for the further transmission means to send information on a specific area, for example a room, building, courtyard, square or the like. For example, it can be the size of the area and the number of people allowed. A ventilation warning could then be calculated and issued from this. In addition, an alarm for the end of an event could also be issued. These alarms could be output in the device or also in a control center.

In an advantageous development, it would be provided that an identification of the device or the subject or object is stored in the storage means, which identification is preferably transmitted by the transmission means. Monitoring can then be carried out particularly easily.

• - Zutritt des Subjekts bzw. Objekts zu einem bestimmten Bereich,
• - Verlassen eines bestimmten Bereichs durch das Subjekt bzw. Objekt,
• - fehlende Rückführung der Vorrichtung zu einer bestimmten Stelle, insbesondere nach einer bestimmten Zeit oder zu einem bestimmten Zeitpunkt,
• - Unterschreiten eines bestimmten Abstands, und
• - Erreichen einer bestimmten Kontaktintensität.

In an advantageous development, it would be provided that the location monitoring event is selected from the group that includes the following location monitoring events:

• - Access of the subject or object to a specific area,
• - Leaving a certain area by the subject or object,
• - Failure to return the device to a specific point, in particular after a specific time or at a specific point in time,
• - falling below a certain distance, and
• - Achieving a certain contact intensity.

When monitored for the access of the subject or object to a certain area unauthorized entry into this area can be tracked.

If the subject or object is monitored for leaving a certain area, unauthorized exits from this area can be tracked.

If the lack of return of the device to a specific point, in particular after a specific time or at a specific point in time, is monitored, the lack of return of the device can be tracked.

If monitoring is carried out to ensure that a certain distance is not reached, certain minimum distance requirements can be followed. The distance can advantageously be determined in that the device continuously determines the received signal strength of a signal transmitted by the further transmitting means and calculates the distance therefrom in the usual way.

If the attainment of a certain contact intensity is monitored, an exposure dose can be tracked, which is considered to be essential in particular in the case of bacterial and virus transmission.

In an advantageous development, it would be provided that the contact intensity is determined in that the distance between the transmission means and the further transmission means is less than or equal to a specific distance for a specific time. This makes it particularly easy to determine the exposure dose.

In an advantageous development, it would be provided that the further transmission means are not wired and belong to a further device for monitoring the location of a subject or object, which additionally has further non-wired reception means, further storage means, further processing means, further display means and a further energy supply. A self-monitoring system can then be formed in a particularly simple manner from numerous such devices, the system being very inexpensive. The further device is preferably constructed identically, so that a monitoring system can be constructed very easily.

In an advantageous development, it would be provided that when the specific contact intensity is reached between the device and the further device, an identical display and / or simultaneous display is carried out by the display means and the further display means. In this way, the devices or persons involved can be clearly informed of the exceeding of a contact intensity without complex messages having to be made.

In an advantageous development, provision would be made for the display to take place acoustically, haptically and / or visually. This allows a message to be sent very discreetly. For example, the display can be made by lighting up LEDs, with certain identical colors being assigned to certain contact pairs. However, it could also be indicated by a vibration or the like (haptic) or by a tone or a tone sequence (acoustic) or a combination of different display options.

In an advantageous development, it would be provided that an identification of a specific further device is stored in the storage means in order not to trigger a location monitoring event with respect to this specific further device. This allows you to define a certain group of people who can communicate freely with one another. For example, you can create a family group for which no contact restrictions apply.

• - Abstand der Sendemittel der Vorrichtung von den weiteren Sendemitteln und
• - zeitliche Dauer des Kontakts zwischen den Sendemitteln der Vorrichtung und den weiteren Sendemitteln,

wobei die Vorrichtung ausgebildet ist, bei Feststellung eines bestimmten Aufenthaltsüberwachungsereignisses eine bestimmte Anzeige durch die Anzeigemittel auszuführen.Independent protection is claimed for the device according to the invention for monitoring the location of a subject or object with non-wired transmitting means, non-wired receiving means, storage means, processing means, display means and an energy supply, which is characterized in that there are further transmitting means outside the device and the device is set up, to monitor at least one of the following parameters:

• - Distance of the transmission means of the device from the further transmission means and
• - Duration of contact between the transmission means of the device and the other transmission means,

wherein the device is designed to carry out a specific display by the display means upon detection of a specific location monitoring event.

In an advantageous development it is provided that the device is designed to carry out the method according to the invention.

• - Temperatursensor,
• - Helligkeitssensor und
• - Bewegungssensor.

In an advantageous development it is provided that the device furthermore has at least one of the following sensors:

• - temperature sensor,
• - Brightness sensor and
• - motion sensor.

With the help of a temperature sensor, an increased temperature of a person could be determined. This could be displayed to the person to thereby encourage the person to remove himself from other people. In addition, unauthorized removal of the device by a person could also be determined with the aid of the temperature in that the temperature measured by the temperature sensor changes from approximately body temperature to a non-body temperature, for example room temperature.

A brightness sensor can be used to determine whether the device is being worn properly by a wearer. The brightness sensor is preferably arranged on the device in such a way that it is covered when it is worn properly and is therefore darkened, so that when the brightness is determined it is determined that it is not being worn properly.

Proper wearing could also be monitored with the aid of a movement sensor, it being assumed that a wearer always carries out certain movements, so that it can be assumed that there is no proper wearing if the movement sensor detects no movement for a certain period of time.

In an advantageous development it is provided that a closable holding means, preferably a closable loop. This allows the device to be attached to the subject or object itself very easily. Such a holding means does not have to be closed when it is not attached to the subject or object, but can, for example, be designed as a band with two loose ends, as is known from the event sector. For example, it can be a tape with ends that can be glued to one another or with ends that can be latched to one another, with a closure seal in each case. In the case of personal monitoring, the holding means can be arranged on the person himself, for example a wrist, or on an object, for example a bag or a shopping basket, which the person carries.

If the closed holding means is designed in such a way that it can only be opened again by destroying it, then removal or manipulation of the device can be effectively prevented.

In an advantageous development, it is provided that the holding means carries a marking, for example an imprint, because this allows the device to be easily adapted to different events or events. As an alternative or in addition, the holding means could thus also be used for advertising purposes.

In an advantageous development, it is provided that the holding means is designed as a textile band or as a plastic band, because the device can then be fastened very inexpensively and nevertheless securely.

In an advantageous development it is provided that the holding means is designed with an electrically conductive wire and / or with an electrically conductive seal (e.g. a sticker with an electrically conductive surface, in particular imprint), the device being designed to destroy the wire or the seal to be monitored with the evaluation equipment. As a result, the device can be monitored for unauthorized removal or other manipulation. The destruction of the wire or the seal can then be indicated by an alarm via the display means on the device itself and / or an alarm on an external device, for example a higher-level control and monitoring device for numerous devices according to the invention.

In an advantageous development it is provided that the device can be activated and / or deactivated remotely. The monitoring is then very safe because the possibilities of manipulating the device itself are severely restricted.

In an advantageous development it is provided that the device is set up to determine the time in which the distance between the devices and a further device is less than or equal to a certain predetermined distance, this time preferably being stored and added up in relation to the other device so that a type of total dose is determined in relation to a certain other device in the respective device, regardless of whether the short distance is continuous or at time intervals. In particular, the device is adapted to output a message after a certain time has been exceeded, as a result of which it is easy to monitor for a certain contact dose. This further device is preferably designed identically to the device according to the invention, because it allows a corresponding monitoring system to be set up easily and inexpensively.

Independent protection is also claimed for the system according to the invention comprising at least two devices according to the invention.

• 1 die erfindungsgemäße Vorrichtung im geschlossenen Zustand ihrer Schlaufe in einer Seitenansicht und
• 2 die Schlaufe der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung nach 1 Draufsicht von oben.

The features and further advantages of the present invention will become clear in the following on the basis of the description of a preferred exemplary embodiment in connection with the figures. Purely schematically show:

• 1 the device according to the invention in the closed state of its loop in a side view and
• 2 the loop of the device according to the invention 1 Top view from above.

The 1 and 2 show the device according to the invention 10 in two different views.

It can be seen that the device according to the invention 10 a sender / receiver unit 12th has and a loop 14th .

In the sender / receiver unit 12th are display means 16 (for example in the form of different colored LEDs) as well as non-wired transmitting means, non-wired receiving means, storage means, processing means and an energy supply, for example in the form of an inductively chargeable accumulator (not shown in each case) in a housing 18th arranged encapsulated. Just the display means 16 thus serve to communicate with a person, otherwise there is no possibility of interaction between person and device 10 so that there are no possibilities of manipulation in this regard.

The transmitting means and the receiving means work on a radio basis, for example by means of Bluetooth, WLAN or other suitable radio systems. An identification of the transceiver unit is in the storage means 12th stored permanently and indelibly. This identification is in the form of an ID number, for example. The processing means are designed as microchips and they effect the internal control of the transceiver unit 12th .

The case 18th still has a slot guide 20th for the loop 14th as it is known for watches, for example. Instead of such a continuous slot guide 20th but could also consist of two oppositely arranged webs (not shown).

The loop 14th himself has a tape 22nd on that at one end 24 numerous, in a regular row in the middle of the tape 22nd arranged breakthroughs 25th owns.

At the opposite end 26th owns the tape 22nd a centrally located mandrel 28 that on his the tape 22nd opposite side a thickening 30th having. Continue to exist at the end 26th of the tape 22nd a lateral approach 32 that with the end 26th about a fold 34 connected is. In the approach 32 there is an opening 36 which is provided with inwardly facing barbs (not shown).

The device 10 can now be attached to a person or an object (not shown) as follows: First, the sender / receiver unit 12th thereby on the tape 14th arranged that the tape 14th into the slot guide 20th is introduced.

Then the tape 14th for example applied to a wrist (not shown) of the person and the ends 24 , 26th bent around the wrist. There is a breakthrough 25th not too tight but also not too far wearing the strap 24 on the wrist allows on the thorn 28 plugged in and then the approach 32 around the fold 34 bent around so that the opening 36 himself over the thorn 28 is located. Eventually the opening becomes 36 with the barbs over the thickening 30th pressed so that the opening 36 with the thorn 28 locked.

Through the barbs is a removal of the opening 36 from the thorn 28 now no longer possible or only by destroying the barbs or the band 14th in the realm of the end 26th possible. The device 10 and thus the sender / receiver unit 12th are thus firmly and not non-destructively attached to the person, but the device is still comfortable to wear.

• Im Rahmen des Treffens mehrerer Personen, beispielsweise des Treffens mehrere Teilnehmer an einer Konferenz oder an einer anderen Veranstaltung, wird an jeden Teilnehmer an einer Ausgabestelle eine solche Vorrichtung 10 übergeben und am Handgelenk der jeweiligen Person befestigt. Diese Vorrichtungen 10 sind identisch ausgebildet, weil sich dadurch ein entsprechendes Überwachungssystem leicht und kostengünstig aufbauen lässt.

The device 10 can now be used as follows:

• As part of the meeting of several people, for example the meeting of several participants in a conference or at another event, such a device is provided to each participant at an issuing point 10 handed over and attached to the wrist of the respective person. These devices 10 are designed identically because this allows a corresponding monitoring system to be set up easily and inexpensively.

Immediately before or immediately afterwards, all devices are 10 activated remotely by an existing external control and monitoring device (not shown). The devices show this 10 each have a deep sleep function in which they are constantly in a standby mode, but which uses almost no energy. Remote activation makes the devices 10 transferred to their watch mode, in which you can process data.

The devices 10 now permanently send out their own ID number that of other devices 10 can be received. The respective devices monitor this 10 continuously check the distance by checking the received signal strength from the other device 10 the transmitted ID number to determine the distance.

When the distance between two devices 10 is less than or equal to a certain predetermined distance, for example 1.5 m, then the respective device determines 10 the time in which this distance is less than or equal to the specified distance. This time is in relation to the respective ID number of the other device 10 stored and totaled, so that a kind of total dose in relation to a certain other device 10 in the respective device 10 is determined, regardless of whether the short distance exists continuously or at time intervals.

If a certain contact intensity has been reached, i.e. the time in which the distance was too small, is exceeded, then the respective device gives 10 a message about your ad 16 because at this time the predetermined dose in the form of an accumulated exposure time has been exceeded.

This time and also the specific predetermined distance can be adjusted with regard to specific respective requirements and can be, for example, 15 minutes and 1.5 m with regard to COVID-19. If there are new scientific findings on this, these values can also be changed with regard to COVID-19.

At the same time, the respective device transmits 10 Exceeding the contact intensity with another device 10 had detected a signal in which the ID number of the respective and the other device 10 is included so that the other device 10 receives an impulse, also a message on the display 16 to spend. The signal preferably has information on the type of display, so that the displays of both devices 10 not only at the same time, but also identically, so that the respective people can recognize which other person they have to move away from in order to reduce the contact intensity again.

The respective display can be made in advance for each sender / receiver unit 12th can be set differently, so that when a large number of transceiver units are used 12th the respective contact pairs can be distinguished.

This means that such a meeting can be carried out by several people, in particular a conference with several participants, even in times of Covid-19, because all participants are monitored to ensure that they maintain a sufficient distance from the other participants.

If there are one or more additional transmitters, which are arranged, for example, in the outside area of a building, in particular in front of an access door of the building, it could then be monitored whether a person is using the device 10 wants to leave the building illegally. In this context, it could also be monitored whether a person is using the device 10 returns to the issuing office.

If one or more additional transmitters exist, which are arranged, for example, in the interior of a building, in particular behind an access door in a room of the building, it could then be monitored whether a person is using the device 10 wants to enter the building or the room in an inadmissible manner.

In both of these cases, a warning message could immediately appear on the display 16 the respective device 10 are issued. Alternatively or additionally, a corresponding warning message could also be output to an external control and monitoring device.

If further transmission means (not shown) exist through which information about a specific area, for example a room, is transmitted, then the individual devices 10 depending on the total number of people, issue alarms about necessary ventilation or the cancellation of an event. However, these alarms could also be output in a control center (not shown).

At the end of the event, the participants give the respective devices 10 by making them back the ligaments 14th to destroy. The corresponding transceiver units can then 12th of the respective bands 14th peeled off and stored for the next use. The sender / receiver units are used to save electricity 12th put back into deep sleep mode. If necessary, the accumulators can be recharged inductively.

By doing that the housing 18th have no actuating elements and the devices 10 are firmly arranged on the respective people, are the devices 10 very tamper-proof and manipulations can be easily traced. In addition, the tapes could 14th also have electronic security means, for example in the form of a wire, from the housing 18th is suitably contacted, so that the respective transceiver units 12th a destruction of the tape 14th determine and, if necessary, transmit to the external control and monitoring device.

If several people can be in contact with each other, who belong to a family or a household or the like. Community, could in the context of the output of the devices 10 in the respective device 10 a list of the other device 10 or their ID numbers are stored, with regard to which there should be no monitoring of the contact intensity.

It has become clear from the above representation that the present invention provides a monitoring system for a subject or object with which a residence restriction desired by regulating the stay of persons does not unduly restrict the freedom of the respective persons. The regulation can be carried out in a particularly flexible manner and designed appropriately for the respective occasion and with a view to the people involved.

Unless stated otherwise, all of the features of the present invention can be freely combined with one another. Unless otherwise stated, the features described in the description of the figures can also be freely combined with the other features as features of the invention. A restriction of individual features of the exemplary embodiment to the combination with other features of the exemplary embodiment is expressly not intended. In addition, physical features of the device can also be used, reformulated, as method features, and method features, reformulated, as physical features of the device. Such a reformulation is therefore automatically disclosed.

List of reference symbols

10

Device according to the invention for monitoring the location of a subject or object

12th

Sender / receiver unit 12

14th

Loop, holding means

16

Display means, different colored LED

18th

casing

20th

Slot guide for the loop 14

22nd

tape

24

one end of the tape 22nd

25th

Breakthroughs

26th

other, opposite end of the band 22

28

mandrel

30th

Thickening of the mandrel 28

32

lateral approach of the band 22

34

Fold between the beginning and the end of 26

36

Opening with barbs pointing inwards

Claims (12)

Device (10) for monitoring the location of a subject or object with non-wired transmitting means, non-wired receiving means, storage means, processing means, display means (16) and a power supply, characterized in that there are further transmitting means outside the device (10) and the device is set up, to monitor at least one of the following parameters: distance of the transmission means of the device (10) from the further transmission means and time duration of the contact between the transmission means of the device (10) and the further transmission means, the device (10) being designed to execute a specific display by the display means (16) when a specific location monitoring event is detected. Device (10) according to Claim 1 , characterized in that an identification of the device (10) or of the subject or object is stored in the storage means, which identification is preferably transmitted by the transmission means. Device (10) according to Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the location monitoring event is selected from the group which includes the following location monitoring events: - access of the subject or object to a certain area, - leaving a certain area by the subject or object, - missing return of the device (10) at a certain point, in particular after a certain time or at a certain point in time, - falling below a certain distance, and - reaching a certain contact intensity. Device (10) according to Claim 3 , characterized in that the device (10) is designed to determine the contact intensity in that the distance between the transmitting means and the further transmitting means is less than or equal to a specific distance for a specific time. Device (10) according to one of the Claims 2 to 4th , characterized in that the further transmission means are not wired and belong to a further device for monitoring the location of a subject or object, which additionally has further non-wired reception means, further storage means, further processing means, further display means (16) and a further power supply, wherein the device (10) is preferably designed to carry out an identical display and / or simultaneous display by the display means (16) and the further display means (16) when the specific contact intensity is reached between the device (10) and the further device (10). Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the display is acoustic, haptic and / or visual (16). Device (10) according to one of the Claims 2 to 6th , characterized in that an identification of a specific further device (10) is stored in the storage means in order not to trigger a location monitoring event in relation to this specific further device (10). Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (10) furthermore has at least one of the following sensors: temperature sensor, brightness sensor and motion sensor. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (10) has a closable holding means (14), preferably a closable loop (14), which in particular can only be opened again by being destroyed, and / or that the holding means (14) is designed as a textile band or as a plastic band and / or that the holding means is designed with an electrically conductive wire and / or with an electrically conductive seal, the device being designed to destroy the wire or the seal with the evaluation means to monitor. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (10) can be activated and / or deactivated remotely. Device (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device (10) is set up to determine the time in which the distance between the device (10) and a further device (10) is less than or equal to a certain predetermined distance This time is preferably stored and added up in relation to the other device (10), the device (10) being particularly adapted to output a message after a certain time has been exceeded. System for monitoring the location of a subject or object with a device (10), characterized in that the system has at least two devices (10) according to one of the preceding claims.

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