GB2511276A - A device for providing an indication of a time of a day - Google Patents

Abstract

A device and method for providing an indication of a time of a day is disclosed. The device 10 comprises a housing 11 having display 13 for displaying an image representative of the time of a day, a memory 14 for storing a plurality of images (figure 2) and a processor 15 for coordinating the display of a particular image representative of a particular time of a day. Images may be transferred to the device via wireless means or via an external port 16. The device may be programmable to display preferred images at a particular time of the day. At the pre-selected time, the device may also be arranged to activate an audible alarm or cause the device to vibrate. The device may comprise a removable fascia 20 and strap 12 enabling the device to be worn around a persons wrist. A device for storing emergency contact details is also disclosed.

Description

A DEVi FOR PROVIDING AN INDICATION OF A TIME OF A DAY The present invention relates to a device for providing an indication of a time ole day.

S Chddren do not typically learn to read the time from a watch or clock until they are approximately eight years old, However, children will often display an interest In watches and clocks from a much younger age, but until a child can read a watch or a clock to deduce the time,. then these devices serve no functional purpose.

Parents and guardians of young chikiren Often battle to receive a chfld's cooperation in order to.

meet a particular time, such as school time and bedtlre,, The is compounded by the inability of a child to appreciate the time of a day and the requirement to perform a particular task or catty out a particular activity at the appropriate time.

According to a first aspect of the present Invention there is provided a device for providing an indication of a time of a day, the device comprising a housing having display for displaying ap image representative of the time of a day, a memory for storing a plurality of images representative of different times of a day and a processor for coordinating the display of a particular Image from the plurality ofimages.. representative of a particular time of a day.

Advantageously, the device Is arranged to provide a clear indication oP a time of a day to a child for example, to assist the child to undrstand their routine for a particular day and also for parents and guardians In gaining the cooperation of their children.

The device preferably further comprises means fortransferrlng images to and from the memory. The means for transferring Images may comprise a wireless communications unit disposed within the device for communicating with a source of i:mages, such as a remote computing device, and/or a port for providing a physitai communications link with a source of images. In an embodiment, the port comprhes a universal serial bus (USa) port, however, it is to beappreclated that other types of port may also be used. it is envisaged that the memoiy may also be used to store one or more emergency contact telephone numbers, so that in the event of an emergency, the telephone number may be used to contact a guardian of the useç of the device, for example.

Preferably, the processor is programmable to display preferred images at a particular time of a day The device preferably further comprises a plurality of actuators for controlling, different modes of device operation.

s me device may further comprise alerting means for alerting a user to the image being displayed, so that the user becomes' aware of the time of a day. In an embo4ljnent, the alerting rnean may comprise a vibration unit disposed withhi the device fur causing the device to vibrate. in a further embodiment, the alerting means may comprise or further comprIse a transduter for generating an audible alarm. xo

Preferably, the device further comprises a strap for securing the device to a wearer's wrist.

In a further embodiment, the device may further comprises a detachably coupled fade. The fade may be detachably coupled to the housing via a snap fit, or via a one or more offasteners.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of providing an indication of a time of a day, the method comprising the steps of: * goring a plurality of images representative of a time of a day in a repository; -monitoring the time of a day and displaying an image from the repository which Ls representative of a particularUme of the day via a display unit The method further comprises relating Images from the repository to separate times of the day, such that a preferred' image becomes displayed at a preferred time, It is envisaged, that a processor for example may be programmed to display specific images at preferred times throughout a day and/or during specific days of the week'.

the method may Further comprise transfe:rlng images from a source of hnages,, to the repository, and also alerting a user to the displaying of a particUlar image.

According to a third aspect of the present Invention, there is provided a device for storing emergency contact details, the dSce comprising a repository for storing details of at least one emergency contact, a display unit for displaying the details of the at least one emergency contact and at least one actuatgr for causing the details of the at least one emergency contact to be displayed on the display'unit, Preferably, the device further comprises a' processor which is prorammabIe to cause details of a particularemergency contact to be displaytl upon actuating the at least one actuator.

S In an embodiment, the, device comprises at least two actuators which are arranged to cause details of a different emergency contact to be displayed upon actuation% The emergency contact details may comprise a flame and telephone number, such as the name and contact telephone number ala parent or guardian of a child. in this manner, if a child was to become separated, from a parent or guardian in a Crowded environment, for example, then it would be possible tot readily contact the parent by Interrogating the device using the at least otie actuator to reveal the telephone number, The device is preferably portable and preferably Iuflher wmprles a strap for coupling the device to a wearer, such asaround a wearer's wrist.

IS An embodiment of the present Invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 Is a plan view of a device according to an embodiment of the present invention figures 2a4 are exemplary images representative of a' time' of a day, which are to' be displayS by the device illustrated in figure 1; FIgure. 3 i a flowchart illustrating the steps associated with a method according to an embodiment of the present invention for providing an indication of a time of day Figure 4 Isa plan view of a device according to an embodiment of the present invention, Refetringto figure 1 of the drawings, there is illustrated a devIce 10 for providing an indication of a time of day, accordlns to an embodiment of the present Invention. The device 10 comprises a housing 11 which Is arranged to be secured to a wearer's wrist via a strap 12. The housIng 11 comprises a display unit 1S,'stith as a liquid'qystei display, which is arranged, to display an Image, a repository 14 for storing a plurality of Images and a processor 1'S for coordinating the display of images on the display unit in dependence of the time of a day The device further comprises a communications port 16 such as a universal serial bus (USS) port for communicatively coupling the device 10 with an external source of Images, such as a computer (not hown), using a communications cable (not shown).. In an alternative embodiment however, the device may comprise a wireless communications unit (not shown) for providing a wireless S comimunicatlons. link with an external computer, lot example. The repository 14 is arranged to receive a plurality of Images representative of various times throughout a particular day, such: as those illustrated In figure 2 of the drawings. For example, figure Za may be arranged 1t indicate a time to rise from bed, figure 2b. may arranged to indicate breakfast time and figure 2c may be arranged to indicate a time to leave for school. Similarly, figures 2d-f'may be used to indicate home II) time, lunch time and bath time respectively, whereas figures 2g and lb may be used to indicate story time and ledtime.

Th processor 15 s programmabie via a plurality of actuators 17a-d disposed aroufld the periphery of the housing U to display preferred images at times to be determined by a parent or guardian. In 33 this respect, different images may be used to represent different times of a day and maybe specific, for particular days of the week. For example, on a Saturday,. the image representative of the time ta leave fo school may be replaced with an image mpreentative of the time for playing football, and this Image may be progranimed to display at a different time.

in addition, the reposItory 14 may be used to Store one or more emergency contact numbers, sudi, that upon pressing a particular actuator 17a, the emergency number may be displayed on the dispIay SlmilarI the repository 14 may be used to store one or more comforting images, such as knages of parents, guardians and grandparents, so that in the event that the wearer is teeling low..

upon pressing a desighated actuatac thecomforting images may be displayed.

Referring to figure 3 of the drawings, there is Illustrated a method 100 of providing an Indication of a time of day. lh use, a parent or guardian may upload a plurality of images to the device repository using the commuEiicatJ8n port at method step 110 and the processor 15 may be programmed at step 120 to display the separate images at the specified time. When an image becomes displayed on 30. the llspIay unit t31 the device 10 is further arranged to alert the wearer to the displayed image at step 130, suth that upon viewing the Image, the wearer can become aware of the tlmeartd thus the specific activity which ts required at that time. This Is' found to facilitate a cooperation between the wearer4 such as a child and a parent, and provides the.wearer with an appreciation of a daily routine.

The wearer may. be alerted to. the displayed image by a vibration unit 18 which is arranged to vibrate the devige and/or a transducer 19 which is arranged to generate an audible aIarm The, type of alert used to. alert the wearer is determined by the processor 15 which may be programmed to' only generate a vibration alert during school hours to avoid a potendaj class disruption for example, and S an audibli alert at other times.

In an embodiment, the device further comprises a detachably couplable facia 20, such as a novelty face ala monkey (as illustrated in figure' 1 of the drawings), to appeal to chlldrer,. It isenvisagec$ that a plurality of detachable fascia's may be provided each being çouplable via a snap fit connection (not shown) at one or more fasteners (not shown).

in a further embodiment of the present jnventln, as illustrated in figure 4 of the drawings, there Is illustrated a device 30, which may be portable, for storing emergency contact details, such as the name and contact telephone number of a parent or guardian of a child. The device 30 comprIses a housing 31 whIch is arranged to be secured to a wearer's wrist via a strap 32. The housing 31 cGmptlses a display unIt 33, such as a Uqurd crystal display, which i arranged to display details of one Ma possible plurality of emergency contacts.

In the illustrated embodiment, the devIce 30 further comprises two actuators Z44a, Mb, such, as buttons, which when pressed are arranged to cause the details of a particular emergency contact to be displayed. However, the skilled reader will recogntse that the device may comprise only one or more than two actuators 34.

The details of the or each emergency contact are stored In a reposItory 35 and a processor 36 Is 2$ arranged to be programmed to display the details of a preferred emergency contact upon actuation of a particular actuator 34. In this manner,,the device 30 may be. programmed with the telephone numbers of the parents of a child, with each actuator 34a, 34b being arranged to display the telephone number of a particular parent, namely the mother or father, wAen actuated. it is envisaged that such: devices 30 may be particularly useful for parents when taking their children to populated areas, such as amusement parks an4'fairgrounds, where there is a risk that the child may, become separated from the parents. in the event that the child becomes separated, thea It Is' possible for a member of staff or a policeman, for example', to readily con,taçt the parents by interrogatingthe device 30.

From the foregoing therefore, it Is evident that the device according to the above described embodiment provides a simple yet effective meant of informing young children of a time of a day.