LU93011B1 - Locator - Google Patents
Locator Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- LU93011B1 LU93011B1 LU93011A LU93011A LU93011B1 LU 93011 B1 LU93011 B1 LU 93011B1 LU 93011 A LU93011 A LU 93011A LU 93011 A LU93011 A LU 93011A LU 93011 B1 LU93011 B1 LU 93011B1
- Authority
- LU
- Luxembourg
- Prior art keywords
- tag
- computing device
- location
- locator
- label
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
- H04W4/00—Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
- H04W4/80—Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04L—TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION
- H04L67/00—Network arrangements or protocols for supporting network services or applications
- H04L67/50—Network services
- H04L67/52—Network services specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
- H04W4/00—Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
- H04W4/02—Services making use of location information
- H04W4/021—Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
- H04W4/022—Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences with dynamic range variability
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
- Signal Processing (AREA)
- Telephone Function (AREA)
Abstract
A locator for locating a lost item, the locator comprising: a tag associated with the item, the tag being capable of wireless communication; first and second computing devices, both being capable of wireless communication with one another and with the tag; wherein the first and second computing devices respond to a location of the other of the computing devices and to a location of the tag. Fig. 1 93011
Description
LOCATOR
TECHNICAL FIELD
Embodiments of the invention relate to equipment for locating articles; in particular, articles which are lost.
BACKGROUND
There are a number of known systems for locating items which involve powered tags which are attached to an item and associated software for a smart phone. One such system is sold under the trade name Trackr®. The tags use Bluetooth® wireless communication with the smartphone which determines the location of the tag by monitoring the strength of the Bluetooth® signal.
However, such systems suffer from the disadvantage that the tags rely on an independent power source. Once the power source is depleted, the tags lose their operability.
Furthermore, such systems suffer the disadvantage that they are unable to track the location of a lost phone.
Lastly, such systems are configured to only operate when the item is lost.
SUMMARY A first embodiment of the invention extends to a locator for locating a lost item, the locator comprising: a tag associated with the item, the tag being capable of wireless communication; first and second computing devices, both being capable of wireless communication with one another and with the tag; wherein the first and second computing devices respond to a location of the other of the computing devices and to a location of the tag.
By using a first computing device, such as a smart phone and a second computing device, such as a wearable device, the system is able to continuously monitor the user’s proximity to both the tag and the first computing device (such as the phone).
Furthermore, if the second computing device is a wearable device, the computing power available in such a device is limited, but it has the advantage that a user need not continuously remember to keep it on their person. For example, a bracelet can be worn continuously, even when charging. The computing power needed to calculate the distance to the tag, and therefore the location of the tag may be provided by the smart phone.
The tag may be attached to the item.
The smart phone may be adapted to register the location of the item by determining a distance between the smart phone and the item based on a signal strength of wireless communication from the tag.
The second computing device may be adapted for wireless communication and both the first computing device and the second computing device may be adapted to determine the location of the other of the computing devices based on wireless communication from the other of the computing device. The first computing device is able to determine a distance to the second computing device and the second computing device is able to determine a distance to the first computing device.
The second computing device may be a wearable device such as a bracelet.
The second computing device may be adapted to vibrate when in proximity to the tag and/or the first computing device.
The tag may be an RFID tag and wherein both the first and the second computing devices are adapted to calculate a distance to the item based on a strength of a signal received from the tag.
Either or both the first and the second computing devices may be adapted to calculate a location of the tag based on a strength of a signal received by the first computing device and a strength of a signal received by the second computing device, wherein said location may then be determined using a triangulation technique.
The tag may not include a power source. This is the case where the tag includes an RFID tag. The advantage of this is that the tag will work almost indefinitely and does not require recharging.
The tag may include a GPS sensor and the smart phone may then be adapted to register the location of the item with location information determined by the GPS sensor. A further embodiment of the invention extends to a method for locating a lost item, the method comprising: providing a tag associated with the item, the tag being capable of wireless communication; providing first and second computing devices, both being capable of wireless communication with one another and with the tag; using the first and second computing devices to respond to a location of the other of the computing devices and to a location of the tag.
The method may further comprise attaching the tag to the item.
The first computing device may be a smart phone.
The method may further comprise using the smart phone to register the location of the item by determining a distance between the smart phone and the item from a signal strength of wireless communication from the tag. 16. The method according to any of claims 12 to 15 wherein the second computing device is adapted for wireless communication and the method comprises using the first computing device and the second computing device to determine the location of the other of the computing devices based on wireless communication from the other of the computing devices.
The second computing device may be a wearable device such as a bracelet.
The method may further comprise vibrating the second computing device when in proximity to the tag and/or the first computing device.
The tag may be an RFID tag and both the first and the second computing devices may calculate a distance to the item based on a strength of a signal received from the tag.
The method may comprise using either or both the first and the second computing devices to calculate a location of the tag based on a strength of a signal received by the first computing device and a strength of a signal received by the second computing device, wherein said location is determined using a triangulation technique.
The tag may not include a power source.
The tag may include a GPS sensor and wherein the smart phone is adapted to register the location of the item with location information determined by the GPS sensor.
DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING FIGURES
Embodiments of the invention are described with reference to the accompanying schematic diagrams where:
Figure 1 illustrates a system according to an embodiment of the invention.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
Figure 1 illustrates a system according to an embodiment of the invention. The system includes a smart phone 10; a bracelet 12; an RFID tag 14 and an item which is often lost, in this case a key 16. As illustrated, the tag 14 is attached to the key.
The smart phone 10 is of the type known in the art. In this embodiment the smart phone 10 includes software to carry out the functionality described below.
The bracelet 12 includes a power source having a rechargeable battery, a radio transmitter and receiver and a vibrator.
The RFID tag 14 is a passive RFID tag of the type known in the art. The RFID tag 14 does not include a power source. When exposed to radio transmissions with predetermined characteristics, the tag 14 will transmit identifying information.
Both the phone 10 and the bracelet 12 are configured to transmit radio information which will cause the tag to transmit this identifying information. Furthermore, the software on the phone is able to determine a distance between the phone and the tag, and the bracelet and the tag based on the strength of the signal received from the tag.
In this embodiment, the bracelet 12 does include significant computing power, but is able to communicate with the phone 10 using Bluetooth® transmissions.
Since the phone 10 is also receiving radio transmissions from the bracelet 12, it is able to determine the distance between the phone and the bracelet. Therefore, the phone is able to use triangulation techniques, in a known manner to calculate location information to the tag 14.
Since the tag 14 is attached to the item 16, when the user loses the item 16 (here a key), he can activate the software on the phone to locate the key 16 in the manner described.
Furthermore, since the bracelet 12 is in continuous communication with the phone 10, in a further embodiment, the bracelet is configured to vibrate when the distance between the phone 10 and the bracelet 12 exceeds a predetermined amount. Thereby, the system is able to remind a user that he is leaving his phone behind. This avoids the user losing the phone and the inconvenience of having to find it again.
In a similar manner, the phone can be used to locate the bracelet, or determine when the phone moves away from the bracelet.
In a further embodiment, the tag includes a GPS sensor, and the information provided by this sensor is used to locate the tag. Similarly, the bracelet and the phone may comprise GPS sensors and the resulting information used in similar ways.
Claims (22)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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LU93011A LU93011B1 (en) | 2016-04-01 | 2016-04-01 | Locator |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
LU93011A LU93011B1 (en) | 2016-04-01 | 2016-04-01 | Locator |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
LU93011B1 true LU93011B1 (en) | 2017-11-08 |
Family
ID=65241617
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
LU93011A LU93011B1 (en) | 2016-04-01 | 2016-04-01 | Locator |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
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LU (1) | LU93011B1 (en) |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20110234399A1 (en) * | 2010-03-25 | 2011-09-29 | Nokia Corporation | Method and apparatus for providing a remote lost-and-found service |
US20130005354A1 (en) * | 2011-06-30 | 2013-01-03 | Suman Sheilendra | Recognition System |
US20150126233A1 (en) * | 2013-11-04 | 2015-05-07 | Patrick E. Burns | Method and apparatus for locating a low-power wireless device using a smartphone |
US20160006577A1 (en) * | 2009-10-08 | 2016-01-07 | Bringrr Systems, Llc | Method and device to set household parameters based on the movement of items |
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2016
- 2016-04-01 LU LU93011A patent/LU93011B1/en active IP Right Grant
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20160006577A1 (en) * | 2009-10-08 | 2016-01-07 | Bringrr Systems, Llc | Method and device to set household parameters based on the movement of items |
US20110234399A1 (en) * | 2010-03-25 | 2011-09-29 | Nokia Corporation | Method and apparatus for providing a remote lost-and-found service |
US20130005354A1 (en) * | 2011-06-30 | 2013-01-03 | Suman Sheilendra | Recognition System |
US20150126233A1 (en) * | 2013-11-04 | 2015-05-07 | Patrick E. Burns | Method and apparatus for locating a low-power wireless device using a smartphone |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
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FG | Patent granted |
Effective date: 20171108 |