Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G08—SIGNALLING
  • G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
  • G08B21/00—Alarms responsive to a single specified undesired or abnormal condition and not otherwise provided for
  • G08B21/02—Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
  • G08B21/0202—Child monitoring systems using a transmitter-receiver system carried by the parent and the child
  • G08B21/0269—System arrangements wherein the object is to detect the exact location of child or item using a navigation satellite system, e.g. GPS
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G08—SIGNALLING
  • G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
  • G08B25/00—Alarm systems in which the location of the alarm condition is signalled to a central station, e.g. fire or police telegraphic systems
  • G08B25/007—Details of data content structure of message packets; data protocols
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G08—SIGNALLING
  • G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
  • G08B25/00—Alarm systems in which the location of the alarm condition is signalled to a central station, e.g. fire or police telegraphic systems
  • G08B25/01—Alarm systems in which the location of the alarm condition is signalled to a central station, e.g. fire or police telegraphic systems characterised by the transmission medium
  • G08B25/016—Personal emergency signalling and security systems
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G08—SIGNALLING
  • G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
  • G08B25/00—Alarm systems in which the location of the alarm condition is signalled to a central station, e.g. fire or police telegraphic systems
  • G08B25/01—Alarm systems in which the location of the alarm condition is signalled to a central station, e.g. fire or police telegraphic systems characterised by the transmission medium
  • G08B25/10—Alarm systems in which the location of the alarm condition is signalled to a central station, e.g. fire or police telegraphic systems characterised by the transmission medium using wireless transmission systems

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a secure monitoring terminal.
• the field of the invention is in particular that of the surveillance of persons. We naturally think of a hiker or mountaineer who is in distress, whether lost or injured, for example. We also think of a child moving away from his parents.
• a first known surveillance system makes use of a telecommunications infrastructure comprising an interconnected radiocommunication network and wired network.
• the entity to be monitored, a child for example, has a location terminal consisting of a mobile phone coupled to a "GPS" receiver.
• GPS Global Positioning System
• GPS refers to a constellation of satellites that broadcasts signals allowing the receiver to obtain its spatial coordinates.
• the supervising entity one of the parents, for example, has a monitoring terminal that takes the form of a telephone or a personal computer connected to the Internet. To obtain the position of his child, this parent accesses a server through his monitoring terminal. The server comes into contact with the child's location terminal, which terminal returns its position via the GPS receiver. The server retransmits this information to the monitoring terminal via the two networks.
• a second known surveillance system implements two point-to-point radio terminals each coupled to a "GPS" receiver.
• the entity to be monitored has a location terminal which transmits a location message in which its position appears, when it has pressed a key of this terminal.
• the supervising entity has a monitoring terminal provided to receive this location message in order to acquire the position of the location terminal.
• this system allows communication via channels reserved for amateur radio or "CB"("CB” for the abbreviation of "Citizen Band”).
• CB amateur radio
• CB CB
• FSS Freamily Radio Services
• the absolute position of the entity to be monitored is of course an important piece of information for the supervising entity but it is not sufficient to decide on an optimized search strategy during a distress situation. Indeed, should the supervising entity immediately alert an organization specializing in the relief of people in difficulty or is it desirable for it to immediately begin the search for the entity to be monitored? The slightest loss of time can be catastrophic in some cases.
• the present invention is intended in particular to help the supervising entity to adopt the best search strategy when the entity to be monitored is in distress.
• a monitoring terminal comprises: - means for acquiring position information, - determining means for producing location information in response to a reception signal from a positioning system ; this terminal also comprises means for calculating the distance between this position and this location.
• the distance separating the position of the location terminal from the location of the monitoring terminal is a fundamental datum. If this distance is relatively small, it is likely more effective that the entity that monitors is quickly looking for the entity to monitor if it has enough to rescue it. If, on the other hand, this distance is important, it is probably better to call on a rescue organization.
• this terminal produces a first warning signal if this distance exceeds a first predetermined threshold, this distance being a first measurement.
• the terminal produces a second warning signal if the speed of movement of the position exceeds a second predetermined threshold, this speed being a second measurement.
• the terminal produces a third warning signal if the position displacement speed relative to the location exceeds a third predetermined threshold, this speed being a third measurement.
• the terminal comprises means for displaying at least one of these measurements.
• the terminal comprising a compass, it comprises a servo module of these display means on the compass.
• the terminal comprises means for indicating the direction of the position.
• the terminal comprising:
• control means for connecting the acquisition means and the receiving means in response to an activation signal; it also comprises a coordination member for automatically producing this signal. activation.
• this activation signal coincides with a predetermined time interval of a repetitive frame synchronized to a clock signal.
• the terminal includes means for positioning this predetermined time interval in the frame.
• this predetermined time interval is an allocated time slot.
• these two subframes are nested.
• the frame which has a duration of 30 seconds has 30 allocated time slots of 500 ms and 30 priority time slots of 500 ms.
• the terminal includes means for identifying a free allocated time slot.
• the reception signal comprising synchronization information
• the terminal comprises means for producing the activation signal in response to this synchronization information.
• the terminal receiving in addition a piece of identification information associated with the position information, the receiving means operating in an uninterrupted manner, it comprises a memory in which is stored an identification value, the signal of activation being produced by the coordinating organ in case of identity between this identification information and this identification value.
• the terminal receiving moreover an alarm word associated with the position information, it comprises means for also producing the activation signal in response to this alarm word.
• the terminal comprises means for producing an alert signal in response to this alarm word.
• - Figure 1 a diagram of a location terminal
• - Figure 2 a diagram of a monitoring terminal.
• the frequency spectrum is a precious commodity, so that it is subject to strict regulation.
• this spectrum is distributed among many applications such as radio, television, amateur radio, point-to-point communications between two terminals (walkie-talkies for example), wireless telephony, mobile telephony, links satellite communication systems, radio guidance and remote controls of various devices, not to mention military applications. All these applications are subject to administrative authorization.
• the "FRS" system includes 14 channels in the 460 MHz UHF band. This type of direct communication at short distance makes it possible to overcome the heavy networks of the GSM type.
• At least one narrow-band channel is free-use subject to certain conditions such as:
• the invention applies directly to all known surveillance systems, it has an additional advantage by proposing to perform a time multiplexing of this channel used at a rate of 1200 bits / second.
• a frame is defined in which the messages transiting between terminals are inserted.
• a frame is subdivided into a plurality of time slots each corresponding to a subchannel.
• Each subchannel is able to support unidirectional communication between two terminals.
• these terminals In order to be able to identify the sub-channel allocated to them, these terminals must have a common time reference or, in other words, they must synchronize on the frame.
• Another technique consists in synchronizing the two terminals independently on a time signal which constitutes a common reference.
• a time signal which constitutes a common reference.
• the frame comprises several subframes, two in the present case.
• the first sub-frame is composed of a set of allocated time slots and the second sub-frame of a set of priority time slots.
• the frame has a duration of 30 seconds and has 60 timeslot of 500 milliseconds.
• the two subframes each have 30 time slots.
• the first sub-frame gathers the time slots that occupy an odd rank in the frame and the second sub-frame gathers those that occupy an even rank in that frame. It thus appears that the two subframes are nested, the justification of this arrangement being explained later.
• a location terminal TL is provided to obtain its geographical position in one way or another, that is to say its spatial coordinates or at least planar.
• the terminal therefore comprises locating means in the form of an AGL “GPS” antenna coupled to a “GPS” MGL receiver.
• These locating means AGL, MGL are connected to a control member such as an MCL microcontroller with its SWL application software.
• Means acquisition, a RAM that can be reduced to a first register R1L in this case, are filled by the microcontroller MCL which provides them with a location message.
• This message essentially comprises position information relating to the position of the terminal TL representing its coordinates in any referential, for example its latitude, longitude and possibly its altitude.
• This first register R1L is used to transmit the location message. Details on this transmission operation are given later.
• the location message also includes identification information relating to the identification of the location terminal TL which is stored for example in a read-only memory of the "ROM" type (for the English expression "Read OnIy Memory”), a second R2L register in this case.
• ROM read-only memory
• the maximum capacity of the first register R1L will be equal to the product of these two values, ie 600 bits.
• this salvo comprises:
• the synchronization word may be required when the two terminals that exchange this burst are not synchronized frequency or temporally on an external common reference.
• the salvo body contains the useful information, that which is the object of the transmission, and it thus contains the message of localization.
• the localization terminal TL also comprises communication means. These are here means of emission granted on the channel of
• the transmitter is also connected to the MCL microcontroller.
• control means which means may be incorporated in the microcontroller MCL 1 for connecting the acquisition means R1L to the radio transmitter MRL in response to an activation signal produced by an organ coordination that could also be integrated into the microcontroller.
• this activation signal triggers the emission of the burst.
• CPL counter whose capacity is equal to the number of time slots of the frame, 60 in this case.
• This counter is incremented by a clock signal from a time base BTL which delivers a peak at each change of time interval, every 500 milliseconds in this case. It therefore indicates the sequence number in the frame of the current time interval.
• the time base BTL is here synchronized on the receiver "GPS" MGL.
• the TL location terminal also has a third register
• This register R3L for synchronizing the burst emission.
• This register R3L is advantageously a programmable and erasable memory type "EEPROM” (for the English expression "Electrically Erasable PROgrammable
• Memory It identifies the sequence number in the frame of the time slot allocated to the terminal.
• the activation signal is produced by the coordination member in case of identity between the current value of the counter CPL and the value recorded in the third register R3L.
• a logic gate LGL carrying out the AND logic function of these two values is used.
• the third register R3L is initialized with an initialization value permanently stored in the terminal TL. This value can even be marked on the box of this terminal so that it is easily known.
• the contents of this register R3L is possibly modified by means of a BRL adjustment button whose mode of action will be detailed later.
• the different elements of the location terminal TL are electrically powered by a battery BAL possibly connected to an internal charger CIL
• the transmission of the location message is periodically triggered in the same time interval of the successive frames automatically without any intervention.
• the TL location terminal is designed to handle emergency situations.
• a first alarm signal comes from a DIL immersion detector which produces it for the MCL microcontroller. This detector is activated when the TL terminal is immersed, following a fall in a swimming pool or the accidental crossing of the rail of a ship for example.
• a second alarm signal is issued from an emergency button BUL also connected to the microcontroller MCL.
• This button can be operated by the TL terminal holder in different circumstances:
• a third alarm signal comes from a CDL shock detector such as an accelerometer which also produces it for the MCL microcontroller. An abnormal situation is thus identified, whether the terminal has fallen alone or that it has been dragged by a fall from the one to which it is attached.
• the microcontroller MCL introduces into the location message an alarm word such as "SOS" and the identification of the terminal TL (stored in the second register).
• This alarm word may take the place of the position information in the location message or it may be reserved a location identified in this message. It is furthermore desirable to specify the nature of the situation which has caused the production of this alarm signal.
• the alarm word includes the respective information "WATER", "CRISE” or "SHOCK".
• the location terminal TL has a fourth register R4L initialized at a value that does not identify a priority time slot.
• This register is also advantageously also a programmable and erasable memory which, at the appearance of any alarm signal, is loaded by the sum modulo 60 of the double of the integer part of half of the current value of the counter CPL and an offset value of 2n where n is any positive integer. It is not modified until it is reset, this reset can be triggered in particular by the appearance of the activation signal or by a delay.
• the fourth register R4L thus identifies a priority time slot of the second sub-frame, the nth following the current time interval.
• the microcontroller MCL is also programmed to produce the activation signal in case of identity between the current value of the counter CPL and the value recorded in the fourth register R4L.
• the size of the second sub-frame can be reduced by stipulating, for example, that it comprises the time slots whose rank in the frame is a multiple of 4.
• a monitoring terminal TS also comprises communication means. These are reception means, associating an MRS radio receiver and an ARS receiving antenna tuned to the 869 MHz channel.
• the MRS receiver is also connected to a control organ such as an MCS microcontroller with its SWS application software.
• acquisition means which take the form here of a first memory M1S of reception which is a random access memory.
• control means which means may be incorporated in the microcontroller MCS, for connecting these acquisition means M1S to the radio receiver MRS in response to an activation signal.
• CPS counter whose capacity is equal to the number of time slots of the frame, 60 in this case.
• This counter is incremented by a clock signal from a time base BTS which delivers a peak at each change of time interval, every 500 milliseconds in the present case. It therefore indicates the sequence number in the frame of the current time interval.
• the monitoring terminal TS receives from the positioning system "GPS" a reception signal via determination means in the form of an AGS “GPS” antenna coupled to a GPS receiver MGS.
• AGS, MGS are connected to the microcontroller MCS.
• a second memory M2S live can be reduced to a register is filled by the microcontroller MCS which provides a status message.
• This message essentially comprises location information relating to the geographical location of the monitoring terminal TS representing its coordinates in any referential, for example its latitude, longitude and possibly its altitude.
• the time base BTS is here synchronized on the receiver "GPS" MGS. We can also provide a periodic reset of the CPS counter to prevent possible drift of the latter.
• the monitoring terminal TS also has a third memory M3S for synchronizing the reception of a salvo.
• This third memory M3S identifies the sequence number in the frame of the time slot allocated to a location terminal.
• the activation signal is produced by a coordination member in case of identity between the current value of the counter CPS and the value recorded in the third memory M3S.
• an LGS logic gate carrying out the AND logic function of these two values is used.
• the initialization of this memory is done with the initialization value of the third register R3L of the location terminal TL.
• this initialization value corresponds to a time interval of the frame which is already occupied.
• this terminal TL being provided with a light-emitting diode
• a first pressing on the adjustment button BRL initiates a temporary flashing of the diode and simultaneously triggers a delay. Pressing this button again before the timer has elapsed puts the terminal in parameter mode. In the event that the button is not pressed while this timer is running, the terminal automatically switches to "normal operation" mode.
• pressing this BRL button increments the contents of the third R3L register by two.
• a display device on the location terminal TL to display the contents of its third register R3L.
• the location terminal TL when the location terminal TL is put into service, it transmits at very low power, being arranged in the immediate vicinity of the monitoring terminal TS.
• the location terminal TL places an initialization word in the location message. It is then necessary to manipulate the BRL adjustment button until the monitoring terminal TS has recognized this initialization word.
• This second option makes it possible to deport the indication of the synchronization of the two terminals of the location terminal TL to the monitoring terminal TS. In this case, the display device of the location terminal TL is no longer necessary.
• the parameterization mode provides for any safe manipulation of the BRL adjustment button, such as two successive presses intervening in a short period of time or a single support of a relatively long duration.
• the different elements of the monitoring terminal TS are electrically powered by a battery BAS possibly connected to an internal charger CIS.
• the activation signal is also produced during all the priority time slots of the second sub-frame.
• the latter According to a second mode of synchronization of the monitoring terminal TS, the latter also listens to all the allocated time slots of the first sub-frame.
• the third memory M3S is loaded by an identification value which is not the time slot allocated to the localization terminal TL but the identification of this terminal TL.
• this terminal TL will have previously placed in the location message identification information that appears in its second register R2L.
• the activation signal is then produced by the coordination member in case of identity between the identification information and the identification value recorded in the third memory R3S.
• the invention thus leaves the choice between two modes of synchronization of the monitoring terminal TS. It would also apply, of course, with another mode of synchronization that is not described.
• the acquisition of the location message comprising the position of the location terminal is subject to binding conditions.
• this acquisition is triggered periodically in the same time interval of the first successive subframes and continuously during the second subframe, this automatically without any intervention.
• the present invention proposes to substantially improve both the known surveillance systems and the multiplex channel system to which the following references apply.
• control unit of the monitoring terminal (the microprocessor) MCS has a part of the position information of the location terminal, and secondly of the location information supplied to it. by its "GPS" MRS receiver.
• It includes means for calculating the distance between this position and this location.
• the monitoring terminal If this distance exceeds a first predetermined threshold, the monitoring terminal produces a first warning signal SUS in light, acoustic or vibration form.
• the monitoring terminal produces a second alert signal SVS similar to the first alert signal SUS.
• the speed of movement of the child makes it possible to know if he is walking calmly, whether he is running or even on board a motorized vehicle.
• the relative speed of displacement of the location terminal relative to the monitoring terminal is subject to control. In this case, if this relative speed exceeds a third predetermined threshold, the monitoring terminal produces a third alert signal (not shown).
• the three thresholds mentioned above can be introduced into the monitoring terminal by means of any man-machine interface such as a keyboard.
• the monitoring terminal comprises viewing means, for example an EVS display screen which is connected to the control member MCS. If the latter can access an SNS navigation system, it is then possible to move a base map on this EVS screen to display by a point or a cross the position of the location terminal and optionally by a vector speed.
• the monitoring terminal also comprises a CES compass and a servo module (not shown) EVS display means.
• the orientation of the card is independent of the position of the terminal.
• the indication of the direction in which the location terminal is located This indication appears for example at the periphery of the EVS screen or on another display means. It can also take the form of an arrow superimposed on the base map in the center of which is the monitoring terminal. In addition, the distance separating the two terminals is displayed. The same goes for the north.
• a new location message from it is available in the monitoring terminal TS as soon as it has been received. issued.
• This microcontroller MCS listens to all the time slots of the second sub-frame.
• This microcontroller MCS comprises means for recognizing the identification of the location terminal TL in the location message and, after that, extracting the alarm word to communicate its meaning in any visual and / or sound way and or vibratory.
• the monitoring terminal is able to track several location terminals. The means to be implemented to do this are within the reach of those skilled in the art since it is practically a duplication. They will not be more detailed. It will simply be specified that this terminal has identifications of all the location terminals that it supports. The information relating to these different terminals can be displayed either successively or concomitantly, provided that each terminal is identified by a distinctive graphic sign or by a particular color.

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• Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Emergency Management (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Child & Adolescent Psychology (AREA)
• Radar, Positioning & Navigation (AREA)
• Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
• Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
• Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)
• Position Fixing By Use Of Radio Waves (AREA)

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• 2004
  • 2004-07-20 FR FR0407993A patent/FR2873519B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2005
  • 2005-07-20 WO PCT/FR2005/001876 patent/WO2006018510A2/fr active Application Filing
  • 2005-07-20 US US11/658,294 patent/US20080316040A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2005-07-20 CN CNA2005800309974A patent/CN101019159A/zh active Pending
  • 2005-07-20 EP EP05791025A patent/EP1776683A2/de not_active Withdrawn

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