GB2348080A

GB2348080A - Child position monitoring

Info

Publication number: GB2348080A
Application number: GB9901309A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dominic Conrad Lakin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-01-19
Filing date: 1999-01-19
Publication date: 2000-09-20
Also published as: GB9901309D0

Abstract

A system for monitoring the location of a child comprises: transponders 3 which may be incorporated into a watch, brooch, or a badge to be worn by children; a central monitoring station 1 and at least one base tracking station 2. Upon receipt of a request to locate a child, after verifying the request, the central station transmits the request to the base tracking stations, which in turn broadcast it to associated cells 4. The child's transponder has a unique code associated with it and is adapted to transmit a identification signal in response to the receipt of an appropriately coded interrogation signal. The transponders may be adapted to determine their own positions by means of GPS and transmit data signals derived therefrom, to the tracking stations. Alternatively position may be determined by known cellular locating methods. The transponders may also be located with a portable tracking device.

Description

CHILD POSITION MONITORING The present invention relates to a system for monitoring the whereabouts of a child.

Systems using radio-based techniques for determining the position and/or direction of movement of vehicles and for monitoring the position of certain offenders who are restricted to a form of house arrest are known, but no such system exists for monitoring the whereabouts of a child so as to reduce the chances of a child being lost either from home or in a large complex such as a theme park or large store, or to assist in the recovery of a child should it be abducted.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a system whereby the position of a child can be determined on demand.

According to the present invention, in one aspect, there is provided a system for monitoring the whereabouts of a child, comprising a transponder adapted to be worn by a child and a base tracking station, wherein the transponder has a unique interrogation code associated with it and is adapted to transmit an identification signal in response to the receipt of an appropriately coded interrogation signal transmitted by the base tracking station and the base tracking station is adapted to utilise the identification signal transmitted by the transponder to derive an indication of the position of the transponder.

According to the invention in another aspect there is provided a method of monitoring the whereabouts of a child, comprising the operations of attaching to the child a transponder unit adapted to transmit an identification signal in response to the receipt of an interrogation signal specifically coded and allocated to that transponder unit, recording at a central monitoring station, the attachment of the transponder unit to the child, verifying a request made to the central monitoring station for the location of the said child, transmitting the said interrogation signal, receiving the identification signal from the said transponder, locating the position of the transponder therefrom and passing this Mbrmation either to the requester or to another authorised person so that they can go to the child.

The transponder may be adapted to assess the position of the transponder by means of GPS (Global Position Satellite) signals and transmit appropriate position data signals to the base tracking station in addition to the identification signal, or the base tracking station may be adapted to determine the position of the transponder by cellular radio triangulation techniques.

Preferably the transponder is incorporated in a normal watch, or ornament, to be worn by a child, so that a third party is not immediately aware that a child is wearing the transponder unit.

The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a child position monitoring system embodying the invention and Figure 2 is a pictorial view of a transponder unit for use in carrying out the invention.

Referring to Figure 1, a child position monitoring system based upon cellular radio techniques consists of a central monitoring station 1, a base tracking station 2 and a plurality of transponders units 3 each worn by a child the whereabouts of which is to be monitored. Each transponder unit is adapted to respond to a specifically allocated, coded, interrogation signal transmitted by the base tracking station 1. The area surrounding the base tracking station 1 is divided into a plurality of cells 4 in the manner of a cellular radio system, indeed the position monitoring system of the present invention may be integrated with a cellular radio system.

Also in the manner of a cellular radio system, in practice there is a plurality of base tracking stations 2 and associated cells 4, arranged in an hierarchy.

Upon receipt of a request for the determination of the whereabouts of a child, after checking the bona fides of the requestor, the central monitoring station 1 transmits the appropriate transponder coded interrogating signal to the base tracking station 2, which in turn broadcast it to the group of cells 4 associated with it. The appropriate transponder unit 3 is activated (the transponder units 3 normally are in a passive state) and generates an identification signal.

The appropriate base tracking station, or stations 2, which receive the signal determine from which cell 4 the signal comes and the position within that cell 4, using techniques well known in the cellular radio art and not described further, and this information is relayed to the central monitoring station 1, enabling the appropriate action to be taken.

In a more sophisticated system, the transponders unit 3 are capable of determining their positions directly, using GPS (Global Position Satellite) signals 5, and transmit this information to the base tracking station, or stations 2, when responding to the interrogation signals.

A particular use for the present invention is to reduce the incidence of strayed children in hypermarkets, amusement parks or similar places. In this case, the monitoring station is located at the site security office and the site area is divided into enough cells (3 for example) to make the determination of the position of transponder unit by triangulation relatively simple. Each child, on entry is given a disposable wrist strap, similar to those used in hospitals, but which contains a transponder device. Should a child become separated from its companion, or companions, the security guards would be notified, who would transmit the appropriate identification signal to locate the child, so that it can be returned to its companion, or companions.

The invention may also be used on a personal basis. In this form of the invention, which is not illustrated, the central monitoring station is in the form of a portable transceiver unit with a directional antenna and the transponder signal is simply used as a beacon, enabling a parent to keep an approximate track of a child in a limited area. The approximate position of the child being given by the strength and bearing relative to the transceiver of the signal received from the transponder unit.

Referring to Figure 2, there is shown a schematic view of a transponder 21 for use in performing the present invention. The transponder 21 consists of a conventional looking watch case 22 with a digital time display 23. The remainder of the'dial'24 has a design formed upon it which hides a thin film antenna associated with a solid state transponder circuit, which is contained in the case 22. Neither of these components is visible in the drawing. The transponder, 21 is fitted with a wrist strap 25 by means of which it can be worn by a child, without it being apparent to a casual observer that the device is anything other than a conventional digital watch. Alternatively, the transponder circuit can be incorporated into a badge or broach.

The transponder unit may be adapted to provide an indication that it has been activated.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring the whereabouts of a child, comprising a transponder adapted to be worn by a child and a base tracking station, wherein the transponder has a unique interrogation code associated with it and is adapted to transmit an identification signal in response to the receipt of an appropriately coded interrogation signal transmitted by the base tracking station and the base tracking system is adapted to utilise the identification signal transmitted by the transponder to derive an indication of the position of the transponder.

2. A child position monitoring system according to claim 1 wherein an area covered by the system is divided into a plurality of cells each of which has a base station linked to a central base tracking station.

3. A child position monitoring system according to claim 2 wherein the central base tracking station is adapted to determine the position of the child by comparing signals transmitted to the central base tracking station by the base stations associated with a plurality of cells.

4. A child position monitoring system according to claim 1 wherein there is a plurality of transponder identification signal receiving stations disposed in an area covered by the system and the base tracking station is adapted to determine the position of a child within that area by comparing data signals received from the transponder identification signals received by those stations.

5. A child position monitoring station according to claim 1 wherein the transponder units are adapted to receive Global Position System signals and transmit position data signals derived therefrom to the base tracking station.

6. A child position monitoring system according to claim 1 wherein the base tracking station is a portable unit fitted with a directional antenna.

7. A child position monitoring system according to any preceding claim wherein the transponders are incorporated into watches, brooches or badges, to be worn by children to be protected by the child position monitoring system.

8. A child position monitoring system according to any preceding claim wherein the transponders are adapted to provide an indication of their activation.

9. A method of monitoring the whereabouts of a child, comprising the operations of attaching to the child a transponder unit adapted to transmit an identification signal in response to the receipt of an interrogation signal specifically coded and allocated to that transponder unit, recording at a central monitoring station, the attachment of the transponder unit to the child, verifying a request made to the central monitoring station for the location of the said child, transmitting the said interrogation signal, receiving the identification signal from the said transponder, locating the position of the transponder therefrom and passing this information either to the requestor or to another authorised person so that they can go to the child.

10. A method of monitoring the position of a child according to claim 9 wherein the position of an activated transponder is determined by comparing identification signals received by a plurality of receiving stations and transmitted to the central monitoring station.

11. A method of monitoring the position of a child wherein the position of an activated transponder is determined by the means of position data derived from Global Position Satellite signals received by that transponder and transmitted to the central monitoring station.

12. A child monitoring system substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

13. A method of monitoring the position of a child substantially as hereinbefore described and with reference to the accompanying drawings.