GB2392537A

GB2392537A - Distance monitoring alarm

Info

Publication number: GB2392537A
Application number: GB0219884A
Authority: GB
Inventors: William Barrington Lawes
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-08-27
Filing date: 2002-08-27
Publication date: 2004-03-03
Anticipated expiration: 2022-08-27
Also published as: GB2392537B; GB0219884D0

Abstract

A distance monitoring system to monitor the location of a child 1 uses a transmitter 2 to transmit signals 3 with a finite range d. A receiver 4 to detect the transmissions is carried by the child's guardian 5. The transmitter may be worn as a watch pendant, bracelet or necklace. The transmitter may be unidirectional or may transmit over a spherical region. The transmitter may be ultrasonic. The receiver may have an audio alarm which may vary depending on the distance of the transmitter. The receiver may monitor signals from several transmitters. The range of the transmitter may be adjustable.

Description

Monitoring System The invention relates to a monitoring system,

particularly to a system for monitoring the whereabouts of a body which can move or be moved.

It is often the case that the position or location of say a child needs to be monitored, for example in a crowded area such as a shopping mall, beach, amusement park and the like, although the requirement for such monitoring is equally applicable in an isolated area such as on a moor, mountain or the like.

There are systems available which can be used for such monitoring, but they generally use satellites such as geostationary satellites, bar codes or computer chips implanted in a carrier. These systems require a person carrying out a monitoring exercise to subscribe to a service providing information from the satellite or computer receiving a signal from the chip. This is expensive both in terms of the subscription, generally a monthly one, and in terms of telephone costs to access the information.

Also, the systems are cumbersome to use.

It is an object of the invention to seek to mitigate these disadvantages.

According to the invention there is provided a system for monitoring the whereabouts of a carrier, comprising a device adapted for emitting a dedicated signal from the carrier over a limited defined range, and a remote receiver for receiving that signal, whereby to indicate the presence or otherwise of the carrier within that range.

Using the invention it is possible to provide a dedicated unidirectional system which by monitoring say a child's location can provide both an a. À.

indication of a child's distance from a receiver when in range, and a warning when the signal fails, indicating the child's straying outside the range. The device may be an item of apparel, or an item of wear, such as an item of fashion wear comprising a watch, pendant, bracelet or necklace. This provides a relatively simple system, and an inducement for the child to use it.

The device may emit the dedicated signal uni-directionally, or omni-

directionally, for example over 360 , or spherically.

The limited defined range may be from O - 100 metres, preferably about 60 metros. This provides for control of a child's movement.

The device may emit the signal digitally, for example the signal may be ultrasonic. The receiver may indicate the presence of the carrier by sense, such as a pulse, visual, audio or audio-visual means in response to the signal.

The means may be audio means of a frequency in the aural range of a human. This provides for relatively simple operation, particularly when the audio means may comprise a series of time spaced bleeps.

The bleeps may be variable in frequency and/or pitch depending on the proximity of the device within the defined range. Thus the closer the bleeps are spaced in time, or the higher the pitch, the closer the child is to the receiver.

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The receiver may be adapted to receive a plurality of separate dedicated signals from a respective one of a plurality of discrete devices, suitably from 1 to 4 discrete devices, each with its own dedicated frequency each of which may be different from another. Thus a receiver can be used to monitor the location of several children simultaneously.

Suitably each device may have a dedicated respective limited defined range, which may be such that the respective limited defined range of each device may be different from another device of the plurality of devices. This allows different children to range further than other(s), for example an older child may be able to have a longer range than another.

The range may be adjustable.

According to another aspect, the invention provides a system as hereinbefore defined, including the device being worn by a child and the receiver being monitored by a parent or other adult.

A system for monitoring the whereabouts of a carrier is hereinafter described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, which shows schematically one system according to the invention. According to the invention there is provided a system for monitoring the whereabouts of a carrier 1 such as a child, comprising a device 2 adapted for emitting a dedicated signal 3 from the carrier 1 over a limited defined range 'd' and a remote receiver for receiving that signal, whereby to indicate the presence or otherwise of the carrier 1 within that range 'd'.

In the embodiment the carrier is a child and the receiver 4 is carried by an adult 5 such as a parent. The device 2 is a digital device which can as . ..

shown be a watch or bracelet which emits an ultrasonic signal of a particular frequency dedicated to the receiver 4 over the limited defined range 'd', say about 60 metros. The receiver 4 receives the signal 3 and responds to it by emitting an indication such as sense (pulse), light, sound or audio-visual.

The parent 5 can feel, see or hear or hear and see this indication and can monitor the location of the child 1 within the defined limited range 'd'.

When the receiver 4 is active and emitting an indication the parent 5 knows that the child 1 is within the range 'd'. When there is no signal, the system acts as a warning that the child 1 has strayed outside the defined range 'd' and therefore that a search may be warranted.

It will be understood that modifications are possible. For example, the receiver 4 may receive a plurality of separate signals from each of a plurality of discrete devices, thereby allowing say four children in a family to be monitored simultaneously, each device emitting its own dedicated frequency as a means of identifying each individual child. The range may be adjustable by adjusting the power of the emitter device.

The system may be used to monitor the location of animals such as cats or dogs, or movable objects such as briefcases.

In all embodiments, the invention provides a system which is totally dedicated to monitoring a particular carrier using a one-way signal emanating from the carrier.

2.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring the whereabouts of a carrier, comprising a device adapted for emitting a dedicated signal from the carrier over a limited defined range, and a remote receiver for receiving that signal, whereby to indicate the presence or otherwise of the carrier within that range.

2. A system according to Claim 1, the device being removably

carried by the carrier.

3. A system according to Claim 2, the device comprising an item of wear.

4. A system according to Claim 3, the item of wear comprising a watch, pendant bracelet or necklace.

5. A system according to any preceding claim, the device emitting the dedicated signal uni-directionally.

6. A device according to any of Claims 1 to 4, the device emitting the dedicated signal over 360 .

7. A system according to any of Claims 1 to 4, the device emitting the signal over a spherical region.

8. A system according to any of Claims 4 to 7, the limited defined range being from O - 100 metros.

9. A system according to Claim 8, the range being about 60 metros.

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10. A system according to any preceding claim, the device emitting the signal digitally.

1 1. A system according to claim 10, the signal being ultra-sonic.

12. A system according to any preceding claim, the receiver indicating the presence of the carrier by sense, visual, audio or audio-visual means in response to the signal.

13. A system according to Claim 12, the means being audio means of a frequency in the aural range of a human.

14. A system according to claim 13, the audio means comprising a series of time spaced bleeps.

15. A system according to Claim 14, the bleeps being variable in frequency and/or pitch depending on the proximity of the device within the defined range.

16. A system according to any preceding claim, the receiver being adapted to receive a plurality of separate dedicated signals from a respective one of a plurality of discrete devices.

17. A system according to Claim 16, there being from 1 to 4 discrete devices, eah with its own dedicated frequency, each of which is different from another.

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18. A system according to Claim 17, each device having a dedicated respective limited defined range.

l9. A system according to Claim 18, the respective limited defined range of each device being different from another device of the plurality of devices.

20. A system according to any preceding claim the limited defined range being adjustable.

21. A system for monitoring the whereabouts of a carrier, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

22. A system according to any preceding claim, including the device being worn by a child and the receiver being monitored by a parent or other adult.

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