ES2214132A1 - System for controlling distance of elements from reference element, e.g. for supervising individuals, has electronic devices with radio transceiver incorporated in garment or accessory and detects separation based on e.g. signal strength - Google Patents

Abstract

The system has small sized electronic devices (P1-P4) incorporated into a garment or accessory. Each electronic device provides a unique identification code, and includes a microcontroller, a radio frequency transceiver and an antenna. A base or reference terminal (1), especially a mobile or portable terminal, is connected with the microcontroller, the radio frequency transceiver and the antenna. A keyboard or other an input device is used to enter data in the portable terminal relating to the devices being monitored. Determination that an electronic device has moved outside the designated boundary is based on signal strength, but in other versions may involve measurement of propagation time or use of GPS receivers.

Description

System for controlling the distance of a set of elements to a reference element.

Object of the invention

The invention relates to a system for control of the distance of a set of elements to an element of reference, and specifically to a reference element mobile.

Field of the Invention

This system is applicable in any sector in that it is necessary to control a set of elements, whether people, animals or objects, in order to ensure that keep within a range of distances less than a certain limit specified with respect to a mobile reference element. Possible applications are the control of children in schools when making a Exit as extracurricular activity (education sector), control of people on an excursion (tourism sector), animal control in a farm or open space (sector agricultural-livestock).

Background of the invention

In recent years, the concept of "wearable" or "wearable" system (in English, wearable ) has been developed mainly in the United States, which consists of making electronic systems so small that they can be permanently carried, or can be considered as part of clothes The invention described here is based on this concept, and specifically makes an application of the concept to the problem of distance control between elements of a set.

Various devices and systems that allow a Distance measurement are:

- Measurement by ultrasound

- Laser measurement

- Measurement by radiofrequency

The first two systems require that there is no no solid object between the reference element and the element to control. In addition, they are highly directional, that is, they you need to direct the beam (ultrasound or laser) in the direction which links the location points between the element in question and The reference. These two characteristics make them unsuitable for the application you are looking for, in which the user does not intervene to direct the beam and know its distance.

Radio frequency signals do not have both drawbacks cited, because the emitted waves can be received from any direction, and can pass through solid objects, if Well with some attenuation. In turn, there are various systems and radiofrequency based methods. The systems related to the one described in the present invention are those of location of objects. There are systems that give the location of an object, based on a fixed transmitter / receiver infrastructure. A system of this style can solve the problem of distance relative from the location of the reference and each element. The GPS system is of the type described, and they exist in the market GPS receivers that could be incorporated into garments of clothes, although by themselves they would not perform the exposed function, since that there has to be a supervisory system that collects all the positions of the different elements and the reference, and perform the calculation of the distance of each element to said reference.

Other system existing and used by the State of Florida (USA) is the control of the position of an individual confined in a certain enclosure. The individual wears a device hung from the ankle that emits signals from radiofrequency If you move away from the enclosure beyond certain distance, the system detects the circumstance and gives a warning to the police. The system described in the present invention controls simultaneously to several elements, and what matters is not the position of each element but its distance to a certain reference, which is mobile.

Description of the invention

The system object of the invention comprises a reference terminal (BASE) and electronic devices of Small size and weight, incorporated into clothing items or accessories that allow the wearers of said garments or complements be part of the distance control system.

The system is based on a radio link between the reference terminal (BASE) and each of the devices electronic incorporated in the garment that carries each element to control (CLOTHING). Periodic communication is established by radius between the reference terminal and each of the electronics devices.

Each of the electronic devices incorporates at least one radio frequency transmitter and receiver. Each device has an identification code factory set unique, which distinguishes it from any other. The devices electronics incorporated into the garments communicate with the reference terminal automatically, without intervention of garment carrier. The reference terminal calculates the distance from the information in these messages.

The reference terminal consists of a device Handheld electronic that allows you to enter the information of the elements to control, that is, their number (how many elements are must control) and their identification. This initial introduction of Data can be manual or automatic. In manual introduction, the user carrying the reference terminal or BASE must enter the unique code of electronic devices (GARMENTS) that you want to control and, optionally, its description (for example, the name if the garment is worn by a person). In the introduction automatic, a protocol is established in which the terminal reference (BASE) receives by radio all the codes of the electronic devices (CLOTHES) nearby. Optionally, the reference terminal user (BASE) can associate a Description to each code. Once the elements have been introduced to control, the reference terminal will allow to specify the radius of the security perimeter, identify those devices electronics (GARMENTS) that exceed this radius and emit a signal alarm

In the case where one of the devices Electronic (GARMENTS) is located at a distance greater than the specified in the reference terminal (BASE), this will indicate the user this circumstance, identifying which of the circuits Electronic (GARMENTS) has been.

Description of the figures

To complement the description that is being performing and in order to facilitate the understanding of characteristics of the invention, is attached herein descriptive a set of drawings in which, with character Illustrative and not limiting, the following has been represented:

Figure 1 shows a schematic view of system object of the invention, consisting of a terminal of reference (BASE) and by various electronic devices (GARMENTS) located at different distances from the BASE. In this figure too the maximum distance entered in the terminal has been represented reference and defining the security perimeter within which electronic devices (GARMENTS) must remain control.

Figures 2 and 3 show the diagrams of blocks of two embodiments of the terminal of reference (BASE) and any one of the devices electronics incorporated in the garments.

Preferred Embodiment of the Invention

As seen in Figure 1, the system it comprises a reference terminal (BASE) (1) and some devices electronics (P1, P2, P3, P4) incorporated in the garments of the items to control (GARMENTS).

The reference terminal (1) communicates with the different electronic devices (P1, P2, P3, P4) so that when the garment carrying any of said devices electronic (P1, P2, P3, P4) exceeds the limit (2), identifies the electronic device or garment (P3) in question and issues a message about it.

The reference terminal or BASE (1) comprises a microcontroller (11), a radio frequency transceiver (12), a antenna (13) appropriate to the distance range with which it is due work and at the frequency of the radio signal, batteries of power supply (14) and a set of peripherals (15) that allow the user interaction; including said set of peripherals (15) a visual system (for example an LCD screen), a keyboard or another input device that allows you to enter data and a auditory alarm system.

Electronic devices (P1, P2, P3, P4) they also comprise a microcontroller (P11), a transceiver of radio frequency (P12), an antenna (P13) appropriate to the range of distance to work with and at the frequency of radio signal and power batteries (P14).

It is planned that communication by radio frequency between the terminal or BASE (1) and the devices electronic (P1, P2, P3, P4) is performed in any of the bands without a license that establishes the regulation of these communications (ISM bands). In the presence of possible interference with Other nearby systems users of the chosen band, is Convenient that the reference terminal communication protocol (1) - electronic devices (P1, P2, P3, P4) allow to choose between working at a fixed frequency or jumping between different channels within the frequency band selected This prevents the system from crashing due to to equipment interference that is communicated therein bands and the interference caused by this is minimized system to others who work in the same band.

A possible embodiment of the present invention It consists of integrating each electronic device (P1, P2, P3, P4) on a piece of clothing, for example, a vest, being shaped each electronic device on a small circuit board printed containing a transmitter chip (transmitter and receiver) (P12) in  the band around 433MHz. The antenna can be integrated (P13) as a conductor cable in the same structure of the garment. The electronic devices (P1, P2, P3, P4) incorporated in the garments communicates with the reference terminal or BASE (1), in where there is another transmitter (12) capable of measuring the power of the electromagnetic message wave. This measure is known with the Acronym RSSI (Receiver Signal Strength Indicator). Knowing the power with which the message was issued and by measuring the received power base, you can estimate the attenuation that the channel has performed on the signal electromagnetic Using an environment model, incorporated into the reference terminal or BASE (1), the distance can be estimated to which the emitting source is found, that is the device electronic (P1, P2, P3, P4) in question. This method has the advantage of taking advantage of the same message sent with the code of the electronic circuit or garment (P1, P2, P3, P4) to perform the estimate of its distance to the reference or base terminal (1). With this the electronic device (P1, P2, P3, P4) incorporated in garments are simplified and therefore can be low cost and size.

Another possible alternative of realization can be base on the GPS tracking system. If each device electronic or ON (P1, P2, P3, P4) and also the terminal reference or BASE (1) have a GPS receiver, each garment, so sequential, you can send your position to the BASE. This one, knowing your own position, calculate the distance of each GARMENT, and decide if It is out of bounds or not. This alternative increases considerably cost, size, and power requirements because the two types of element, PRENDA and BASE need a GPS receiver in addition to the message transmitter.

Another alternative to measure distance consists in measuring the propagation time of the signal. When the terminal reference (1) sends the information requesting the answer of the electronic device (P1, P2, P3 or P4) incorporated in a certain GARAGE, records the time it takes to get the answer. If the processing time of electronic devices is known (P1, P2, P3 or P4) incorporated into the garments, you can estimate the propagation time of the round trip signal, and therefore the distance multiplying by the speed of light.

Claims (3)

1. System for controlling the distance of a set of elements to a reference element; characterized in that it comprises: - electronic devices (P1, P2, P3, P4) Small in size, intended to be incorporated into a garment or portable complement for the forming elements of group a control; each electronic device having a code of unique identification and understanding each electronic device of: a microcontroller (P11), a radio frequency transceiver (P12), an antenna (P13) appropriate to the distance range with which must work and at the frequency of the radio signal and some power batteries (P14) and, - a reference or base terminal (1), mobile and portable, comprising at least: a microcontroller (11), a radio frequency transceiver (12), an antenna (13) suitable for distance range to work with and at the frequency of the radio signal, some power batteries (14) and a set  of peripherals (15) that allows interaction with the user; settling automatically between the reference terminal (1) and each of the devices electronic (P1, P2, P3, P4) a periodic communication, by radius, which allows to determine the distance between each  of electronic devices (P1, P2, P3, P4) and the terminal reference (1). 2. System according to claim 1, characterized in that the peripheral assembly (15) of the reference terminal (1) includes a visual system, a keyboard or other data input device that allows entering into the terminal (1): number of elements to be controlled, the unique identification codes corresponding to the electronic devices (P1, P2, P3, P4) associated with them, a description of each element to be controlled and the security perimeter radius (2) within which the elements to be controlled must remain. 3. System according to claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the peripheral assembly (15) of the reference terminal (1) includes an auditory alarm system that emits an acoustic signal when any of the electronic devices (P1, P2, P3 , P4) exceeds the security perimeter (2) entered in the reference terminal (1), said reference terminal (1) also indicating the identification code and / or the description associated with the element that has exceeded said security perimeter ( two).