GB2394147A

GB2394147A - Recovery of lost object using cellular system

Info

Publication number: GB2394147A
Application number: GB0223717A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ami Rosenfeld
Original assignee: HYPER ROSENFELD Ltd
Current assignee: HYPER ROSENFELD Ltd
Priority date: 2002-10-11
Filing date: 2002-10-11
Publication date: 2004-04-14
Also published as: GB0223717D0

Abstract

A device for locating a lost object, comprising cellular receiver and holding means for securing the receiver to the recoverable object. The holding means may comprise a key holder. The cellular receiver may have an indicator for calling people's attention to the device responsive to a signal received from the cellular network such as an audible or visual alert. A method for locating an object in a cellular network, comprising: A. receiving from a customer a dialing number corresponding to an objects-locating service in the network; B. receiving from the customer information uniquely identifying in the cellular network a cellular device to be located; C. transmitting radio signals with a digital coding, devised so as to activate the cellular location device as desired; D. charging the customer for the objects-locating service, without waiting for a response from the cellular device. The device may be able to receive and reproduce songs or music, and the user may select the which alert means to use. The receiver may include a command encoder to recognise and respond to specific location related commands. The alert may be activated for a specific time or manual stopping means may be included.

Description

2394 1 47

Cellular device and method The invention relates to a device for locating things using the infrastructure of an existing cellular network.

There is a need to locate lost objects, for example a key holder, a bag, or even a dog or a baby.

The cellular system, with its wide area coverage, may be advantageously used to search for a lost object and facilitate its location.

To this purpose, a cellular phone may be attached to an object, to allow its location in the future, if and when the object eventually gets lost.

At present, cellular phones do not include means for attaching things thereto. Moreover, there are various problems with such an approach, including for example:

1. A cellular phone may be bulky, thus uncomfortable to carry on a small device such as a key holder. The relatively large weight and/or volume of the phone may not be an appropriate addition to a small, lightweight item.

2. The cost of a cellular phone should be considered as well - this is a complex transceiver with a large battery, keyboard, etc. 3. The battery has to be recharged at frequent times, for example more than once per week. This may place an undesired burden on the user.

4. The above problems are further aggravated if the user possesses several separate objects to be located - in that case, several cellular phones are required, clearly not a sensible solution.

5. The cellular phone, in itself, is devised to be used as a telephone, not a locating device, this consideration defining its structure and operation.

6. The cellular network apparently does not use methods for locating objects as a service in itself to users in the system. The problem may be aggravated if the service is to be in widespread use, with many concurrent requests for locating lost objects.

Further present problems will become apparent upon reading the present invention disclosure.

Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide a cellular device with integral means for attaching objects to it.

Toward this object, the device includes means for receiving signals from the cellular network and for being addressed by it. Moreover, its mechanical structure is such as to include holding means, for example a hey holder.

Thus, the object is made recoverable by means of attaching the cellular locating device to it.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device adapted for operation within a cellular network, the device including means dedicated to locating lost objects in the area covered by the network. The cellular device does not provide the functions of a cellular phone. Rather, it is devised specifically to be activated through the cellular network and to function in such a way as to facilitate its location, together with the lost object that is attached to it.

The new cellular device is better adapted to locate lost things. Toward this object, a new device having a lower cost, smaller size and being easier to use, has been devised. The new device includes just part of the components of a cellular phone; it may include optional additions, specially devised to facilitate the objects location task.

Yet another object of the present invention is to adapt the cellular network to the task of locating objects. The object may be accomplished with new methods, to be installed and activated in the cellular network, for supporting objects location on a large scale.

For example, the network can activate the cellular device in "open loop", that is without receiving a signal from the device; the user is charged for a "call", although no conventional "call" has taken place, since there was no addressee to "lift the receiver" and thus to indicate the beginning of a phone communication transaction. This new method is important if users are to be provided with the new service, since it provides the incentive, or the economic basis, for the cellular network activity.

Furthermore, the operation of the cellular device is such as to attract the attention of passersby, using audio/visual means activated in a predefined fashion. The caller (the owner of the lost object) may be given the means for choosing the parameters of the operation of the cellular device, which parameters are transferred to the device through the cellular network.

In the cellular device, these parameters are received and acted upon, to provide the desired object location service.

The above detailed remote activation and parameters transmission through the cellular network may be used to provide additional benefits, for example -

sending a greeting with a song to another party. The song is transmitted in a digital compressed form, wherein the receiver includes means for audio decompression, to reconstruct a high-fidelity music piece.

The above and other objects, as well as the nature and benefits of the present invention, will become more apparent from the following detailed description, by way of example, of several embodiments of the invention,

taken in conjunction with drawings, wherein: FIG. 1 shows a cellular device with an integral key holder FIG. 2 shows a cellular device with a integral holding means FIG. 3 details a cellular receiver for the device operating in a cellular network FIG. details indicator means for the locating device

FIG. 5 details a method of operation for a cellular network with a locating device FIG. 6 shows an indicator means with multimedia presentation means FIG. 7 details another method of operation for a cellular network with a locating device with multimedia presentation FIG. 8 shows the structure of the cellular device with integral holding means. FIG. 1 illustrates a cellular device 2 with an integral key holder 12.

Thus, the cellular locating means 2 is mechanically secured to the key holder 12. When the key holder 12 becomes lost, the owner can activate the locating means 2 through the cellular network, to facilitate its location and recovery.

The cellular locating means 2 may comprise a cellular receiver 22 to receive signals transmitted from the cellular network, indicator means 23 to attract the attention of the owner or passersby or others, to facilitate its location, and stopping means 24 to deactivate the device once it is located, so as not to create a disturbance. A power source 21 may be used to supply electrical energy to the device, using for example a primary battery, a secondary battery, a solar cell, etc. FIG. 2 illustrates a cellular device 2 with other holding means 11. The holding means 11 may be adapted to be attached to various objects, rather than a key holder. The user attaches the device 2 to an object he/she desires to be capable of recovering, when lost.

The cellular locating means 2 may include a cellular receiver 22 connected to indicator 23 to activate it when it is required to located the device.

Stop means 24 are used to deactivate the device when it is found. The power source 21 provides electrical energy to the circuits.

FIG. 3 further details one embodiment of the structure and operation of the cellular receiver 22. The receiver may include an antenna 221 to receive radio waves from a cellular base station, connected to an RF unit 222.

The received signals are then transferred to cellular control means 223, used to recognize signals in the cellular network, for example to detect when the device is being addressed by the cellular network.

Preferably, each such device has an unique number or identification, like a cellular phone. Thus, each locating device can be individually activated through the cellular network, using the cellular control means 223.

The receiver further includes a command decoder 224, to recognize and respond to specific location-related commands.

l For example, the owner may require that a beeper be activated for 5 minutes in the device. A digital message corresponding to that request is transferred through the cellular network to the location device 2, where it is decoded in means 224, to activate an audio output means for the time period as desired. There is no need to "lift the receiver" to "answer the call" as in a conventional phone, since the device operates unattended. There is no need for the cellular network to establish a communication link throughout the time period the locating device is to be activated. Just a short digital message, less than one second, need to be transmitted, to activate the location device for 5 minutes, 10 minutes or more. Thus, the location service and its messages need not waste precious communication links for prolonged time periods.

Thus, the new structure of the location device, together with the new method of operation of the cellular network, act together to provide the benefit of locating lost objects, in an effective and efficient way.

The new structure disposes with the cellular transmitter, to achieve a cost reduction as well as a reduction in weight and size. If no transmission is required, a smaller battery may be used, since the receiver requires significantly less electrical energy than the transmitter.

Furthermore, the device does not need a keyboard (it is not used to dial to others) and no expensive display (there is no need for dialing information to be displayed, caller identification, etc.) FIG. 4 further details one embodiment of the structure and operation of the indicator means 23 used to attract people's attention to the device.

Means 23 receives a Trig input from the receiver 22. The Trig signal activates an indicator control and delay unit 231, which includes means for activating the indication means for a predefined time period. Furthermore, Mux means 232 select the indicator means to be activated, which may include for example display means 233, buzzer means 234 and/or vibrator means 235. A stop input 24 deactivates the device when it is found.

A max is an electronic multiplexer, or selector device.

Mux means 232 may be activated either locally or by remote control. Local activation may include a switch or selector, used by the owner to select the desired indication, when he/she have the device in their possession.

Remote control means may be used by the owner to control the Mux 232 through the cellular network, using digital signals.

The user may control the operation of the device by entering predefined numbers on a phone connected to the network.

( Method of device activation by the owner To request the service of device location: a. the owner dials a predefined number in the cellular network, corresponding to the objects location service.

b. the owner dials an additional number, identifying the lost object. Where the customer owns several protected objects, each may have a different numbers, to allow selective activation of only the lost object.

c. the owner then dials additional numbers, with the subsequent numbers defining the parameters of the indication as detailed above. For example, the customer may choose to activate an audio signal for 3 minutes.

d. the owner may define the area of search for the lost object. This may be necessary since the device does not transmit, therefore the cellular network does not know its physical location. For example, the owner may choose to activate the base station for the cell where the owner is now located.

If the object is not found, the owner may require the activation of adjacent cells, or a whole geographic region. The cellular network may initiate a progressive search, starting from a given location and activate cells at increasing larger distances, until the lost object is found.

e. end of method.

Method of device activation in the cellular network The above detailed method also define a method of operation of the cellular network, to interpret correctly the user's request using computers, for an automatic response: a. The system automatically recognizes a request to locate a cellular device. / b. It receives the parameters of the lost device (its address on the cellular network, corresponding to its number there) and the optional parameters of indication.

c. The cellular network then acts to send radio signals with digital coding, devised so as to activate the location device as desired.

d. The user is charged for the location service according to a predefined tariff, even though the location device needs not transmit an acknowledgment signal (the receiver is not raised off the hook).

FIG. 5 shows a method used in the cellular network for providing the service of objects location to customers, comprising: a. receiving request to locate item 31 b. decoding command, setting destination 32 c. issuing modified call over the cellular network 33 d. ending modified call 34 e. charging customer 35 f. end 36 FIG. 6 details a modified embodiment of the indicator means 23, including means for conveying a musical message to a recipient. The indicator means 23 may include a speech and/or music decoder 236, a display 233, a loudspeaker 237 as well as an audio outlet 238. The stop means 24 may be used to deactivate the device, either in its location mode or as a conveyor of a musical message.

FIG. 7 shows a method used in the cellular network for providing the service of sending a message with a song, such as musical greetings, comprising: a. receiving request to deliver song and message 41 b. decoding command 42 c. issuing modified call over the cellular network and sending a song and an optional message 43 d. ending modified call 44 e. charging customer for the service 45 f. end 46 FIG. 8 details one embodiment of the physical structure of the locating device, which has a generally cylindrical shape. Preferably a device of about 1 cm (centimeter) diameter and 5 cm length is used. Smaller implementations may be used as well, as the technology advance and cost considerations may permit.

In the embodiment as illustrated, the cellular locating means 2 includes a stop push button 24 and display means 233. A key holder 13 (or other holding means) is an integral part of the locating device.

Claims

1. A device for locating a recoverable object, comprising cellular receiver means and holding means for securing the receiver means to the recoverable object.

2. The locating device according to claim 1, wherein the holding means comprise a key holder means.

3. The locating device according to claim 1, wherein the cellular receiver means comprise a receiver means for receiving signals transmitted in a cellular network, and indicator means for calling people's attention to the device responsive to a signal received from the cellular network.

4. The locating device according to claim 3, further including manual stopping means for deactivating the indicator means when the stopping means are activated.

5. The locating device according to claim 3, wherein the receiver means further include cellular control means for holding an unique identification for the device, and means for issuing an output signal when the received signal includes that unique device identification.

6. The locating device according to claim 3, wherein the receiver means further include command decoder means for recognising and responding to specific location-related commands.

7. The locating device according to claim 6, wherein the command decoder means further include means for activating the indicator means for a specific time period responsive to a received command.

8. The locating device according to claim 6, wherein the command decoder means further include means for activating a specific type of indicator means responsive to a received command.

9. The locating device according to claim 3, wherein the indicator means comprise audio output means.

10. The locating device according to claim 3, wherein the indicator means comprise visual display means.

11. The locating device according to claim 3, wherein the indicator means comprise both audio output and visual display means.

12. The locating device according to claim 3, further including max means for selecting the type of the indicator means to be activated.

13. The locating device according to claim 3, further including means for receiving and reproducing a song or another musical piece.

14. A method for locating an object in a cellular network, comprising: A. receiving from a customer a dialing number corresponding to an objectslocating service in the network; B. receiving from the customer information uniquely identifying in the cellular network a cellular device to be located; C. transmitting radio signals with a digital coding, devised so as to activate the cellular location device as desired; D. charging the customer for the objects-locating service, without waiting for a response from the cellular device.

15. The locating method according to claim 14, wherein the method is performed automatically using a computer.

16. The locating method according to claim 14, further receiving from the customer specific location-related commands and transmitting these commands to the cellular device.

17. The locating method according to claim 14, further receiving from the customer parameters relating to the operation of the indicator means and transmitting these parameters to the cellular device.

18. The locating method according to claim 17, wherein the parameters relating to the operation of the indicator means include an indication of a specific type of indicator means to be activated.

19. The locating method according to claim 14, further receiving from the customer instructions regarding a song or another musical piece to be performed in the cellular device.

20. The locating method according to claim 20, further receiving from the customer instructions regarding a message to be displayed on the cellular device.