WO2019111124A1

WO2019111124A1 - Monitoring system for persons, animals and movable objects

Info

Publication number: WO2019111124A1
Application number: PCT/IB2018/059548
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alessandro ZITARELLI
Original assignee: Upgrading Srl
Priority date: 2017-12-05
Filing date: 2018-12-01
Publication date: 2019-06-13
Also published as: EP3721421A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a monitoring system for persons, animals and movable objects comprising at least one presenter device (10) and at least one receiver device (5) that "directly" communicate with each other, where the receiver is capable of "directly" receiving information from the presenter relative to the presence and the identity of the presenter; the presenter device (10) being suitable for being transported by a monitored person, animal or thing; characterized in that the system is programmed to have at least one first "NORMAL" mode and a second "ALARM" mode where in the NORMAL mode, the receiver device (5) is programmed to compare its distance (X) from the presenter device (10) with a predetermined maximum distance (XMAX); when the distance sensed is greater than the maximum distance, the system is programmed to start the "ALARM" mode in which the receiver generates an alarm signal.

Description

MONITORING SYSTEM FOR PERSONS, ANIMALS AND

MOVABLE OBJECTS

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a monitoring system for persons, animals and movable objects.

The present invention was studied with particular reference to monitoring children, however it may be successfully used in monitoring animals or movable objects, such as for example automobiles.

Monitoring children fundamentally consists in entrusting a child to the care of a person responsible for his/her safety.

International Application WO2016185294 is known from the viewpoint of patents, which however does not deal with this specific object, rather of informing a person responsible for the care when there is a risk of a new-born suffocating in a crib. For that purpose, the international application illustrates an algorithm that establishes "the position of the child with respect to the comforter" when the child is in the crib, in particular by analysing his/her breathing by means of sensors placed in the comforter. The sensors communicate with a remote receiver device that processes the possible alarm status .

The position of the child with respect to the comforter however is not capable of warning if the child is in the condition to escape from the monitoring of persons charged therewith when the child is awake, that is when he/ she may move on the ground.

To resolve this problem, there is a need to sense where the child is.

For that purpose, company FINDSTER has recently put on the market a system for sensing the position of the child such whereby the comforter contains a GPS sensor that establishes the position thereof on the ground and communicates it to the smartphone of the person responsible for the child. The person identifies a desired area in Google maps and an alarm is activated if the child leaves said area.

This system appears quite complicated and not very reliable because each time the person and the child move, there is a need to cancel the preselected zone of the map and select a new zone. Moreover, the operation requires the connection to Internet, which is not always possible. Finally, the triangulation with the GPS satellites is required, and the signal might not always be ensured.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a monitoring system for children that wholly or partly resolves the problems of the known technique.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a practical and reliable system.

It is another further object of the present invention to provide a system that is easy and affordable to make .

According to a first general aspect thereof, the present invention relates to a monitoring system for persons, animals and movable objects comprising at least one presenter device and at least one receiver device that "directly" communicate with each other, where the receiver is capable of "directly" receiving information from the presenter relative to the presence and the identity of the presenter; the presenter device being suitable for being transported by a monitored person, animal or thing, and the receiver device preferably being suitable for being transported by a monitoring person;

characterized in that the system is programmed to have at least one NORMAL mode and one ALARM mode where in the NORMAL mode, the receiver device is programmed to compare its distance from the presenter device with a predetermined maximum distance; when the distance sensed is greater than the maximum distance, the system is programmed to start the alarm mode in which the receiver generates an alarm signal.

Alarm signal means any signal useful for attracting the attention of a monitoring person, therefore any signal perceptible with human senses, for example sight, hearing or touch. Therefore, since the preferred example of first receiver device is a smartphone, the preferred signals include messages that appear on the smartphone and/or sounds emitted by the smartphone and/or vibrations emitted by the smartphone.

Advantageously, the system can also be used in mobility because it is based on the communication of association between presenter and receiver, thus it does not necessarily require a geolocalization on a map by means of the use of GPS systems and Internet, and the continuous resetting of a desired area of the map.

According to certain preferred embodiments of the invention, the receiver device calculates its distance from the presenter device based on the power of the signal exchanged therebetween.

In general, the system is particularly simple and affordable to make when the presenter device is a beacon, preferably housed in one between: a comforter, a bracelet, a necklace, an item of clothing; and the receiver device is a smartphone or the like, preferably communicating with the beacon by means of Bluetooth technology and programmed with an application that manages the various modes.

In the NORMAL mode, the smartphone preferably is programmed to prevent the turning off of the communication function by means of Bluetooth.

According to certain preferred embodiments, the smartphone is programmed to stop any calls underway in the ALARM mode .

In general, it is preferable for the system to be programmed also to have a STARTING mode in which the receiver device senses and identifies the presenter device and associates it with a maximum distance from the receiver device that can be set by the monitored person, in addition to at least one phone number to which said alarm signal is sent in the alarm mode.

According to certain particularly favoured embodiments, the system is programmed to manually set a "SAFE monitored" mode that can be activated for example, when the monitored child, animal or object is voluntarily left with others and therefore knowingly leaves said maximum distance; the system is programmed not to emit any alarm signal in such mode and when, following the activation of the "SAFE monitored" mode, the presenter device returns within said maximum distance, the "NORMAL" mode automatically is started again.

In this case, preferably in the "SAFE monitored" mode, the system is programmed not to search for the presence of the presenter device for a predetermined time from the starting of such mode; such time having lapsed, the NORMAL mode automatically starts again when the presenter device returns within said predetermined maximum distance (XMAX) .

According to certain preferred embodiments of the invention, in the "ALARM" mode the receiver device indicates the direction which the presenter device is with respect to the receiver device; preferably, the presenter device is provided with a direction sensor capable of sensing its direction with respect to the south/north direction, and it is capable of transmitting the direction datum sensed by the receiver transmitter device; also the receiver device is provided with a direction sensor capable of sensing its direction with respect to the south/north direction; moreover, the sensor device is capable of comparing its direction and the one of the presenter device, and of establishing the direction to be followed to reach the latter; the transmitter device is then capable of displaying such direction to be followed, the sensors preferably comprising respective magnetometers, thereby it is not necessary to use the GPS network.

According to certain preferable general features of the invention, the monitoring system comprises at least one second receiver device capable of being placed in a remote and physically separate and independent position from the presenter device and from the first receiver device, and capable of sensing the presence of the presenter device within a predetermined distance; when said presence is sensed, the system is capable of activating an "ALARM" mode in which it generates an alarm signal and/or, in the case in which it is associated with a domotics system, it intervenes on the operation of the latter .

The system advantageously may be operatively connected or can be connected to a domotics system to interact therewith and to control safety operations in ALARM mode .

According to certain preferred embodiments, the first and second receiver devices are operatively connected to communicate with each other so that the alarm mode activated by the second device generates an alarm signal generated by the first receiver device. The first receiver device preferably is a smartphone, while the second receiver device is a device that can be applied to devices or elements of the household environment, such as hotplates, household appliances, doors, windows, etc.

Advantageously, when a first monitored zone defined by the first predetermined distance (XMAS) from the first receiver device (5) and a second monitored zone defined by said predetermined distance (YMAX) from the second receiver device (5) overlap, they define a SAFE zone given by the difference between the first monitored zone and the second monitored zone. Given that the presenter and the first receiver are movable, the safe zone varies over time and, according to the sizes of the monitored zones, it is not excluded for the safe zone to be null.

The system preferably activates the alarm mode triggered by the second receiver device both when the system is in the NORMAL mode and when it is in the ALARM mode triggered by the first receiver device.

According to certain preferred embodiments, the second receiver device is in the form of a device that is freely applicable to other objects.

This allows monitoring the nearing of the child to dangerous places or objects such as stairs, hotplates, heaters, windows, doors, etc. Where domotics systems are present, they may be integrated in the system of the invention to perform safety functions such as for example, turning off the hotplate, closing the window and/or the door. It is also possible to make the system of the invention in the form of a kit comprising the presenter device, the receiver device and the at least one second receiver device communicating with each other, where the second receiver device is in the form of a device that is freely applicable to other objects, for example by magnetic application. Thereby, by applying the second receiver where desired, it is possible to monitor any potentially dangerous area.

According to a second general aspect thereof, the invention relates to a process that comprises the step of providing a system of the type indicated above and of causing it to operate according to the modes described above.

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become clearer from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments thereof, with reference to the appended drawings and provided by way of indicative and non-limiting example. In such drawings :

- figure 1 shows a monitoring system according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

- figure 2 shows an operating algorithm of the system in normal mode;

- figure 3 shows an operating algorithm of the system in "child safe" mode;

- figure 4 shows an operating algorithm of the system in the presence of a second sensor device that can be associated with dangerous points, preferably placed inside the monitored zone.

Figure 1 schematically shows a monitoring system according to the present invention, indicated as a whole with reference number 1.

The system 1 is described below in reference to the monitoring of children, however the application thereof to monitoring other subjects such as animals or movable objects, is not excluded.

The system 1 comprises a receiver device 5, for example a smartphone 5, or similar device, and a presenter device comprising for example, a beacon 10 or the like.

The presenter in general has the task of transmitting at least one piece of information on its presence and on its identity, to the receiver. The receiver senses this information and based on it, is capable of calculating its distance from the presenter. The transmitter part preferably sends only information.

In greater detail, the beacon is housed in a support 15 suitable for making it transportable by a child, such as for example, a comforter. Other supports such as bracelets, necklaces, shoes, other items of clothing, etc., are not excluded.

The smartphone 5 is programmed with an application (also called APP) for directly communicating with the beacon by means of a direct channel 20, for example a Bluetooth channel. The application is capable of calculating the distance of the beacon 10 from the smartphone 5 preferably only through such communication 20, for example by analysing the power of the signal. In such manner, the system 1 does not necessarily require other communications in order to operate, such as the ones with the GPS satellites or the points of the Internet networks .

The application is a program that allows at least four modes, a STARTING mode, a NORMAL mode, an ALARM mode and a "SAFE monitored" mode.

With reference to figure 2, the operating algorithm of the STARTING mode and of the NORMAL mode is shown .

In the STARTING mode of the application, the smartphone is "associated" with at least one beacon 10 sensed to start monitoring it; in this step, it preferably is possible to assign the monitored beacon with a name chosen by the monitoring user.

The application allows associating the beacon 10 with a maximum tolerated distance XMAX from the smartphone. The distance XMAX preferably can be set manually by the monitoring user. Therefore, the distance XMAX defines the area A monitored by the smartphone 5. The application also allows associating the beacon with a telephone number to which a possible alarm signal can be sent, for example an SMS, a call or a sound.

After these steps, the NORMAL mode starts in which the application queries the beacon 10 on its presence at regular intervals, thus determining its distance X from the smartphone 5.

In the Normal step, the application preferably prevents the shutting down of the Bluetooth function of the smartphone required for sensing the beacon 10.

The algorithm of the NORMAL step provides the following :

If X<XMAX, then the application is silent because it recognizes the presence of the beacon within the pre set radius XMAX.

If X>XMAX, or if X cannot be sensed (case corresponding to Xerr) , then the application recognizes that the beacon has left the monitored area A and therefore it activates the ALARM mode in which the alarm signal is transmitted.

In the ALARM mode, in the case there is a call underway, preferably it is closed by the application.

The alarm mode may be manually stopped to return to the NORMAL mode or may be automatically stopped if the beacon returns within the allowed set distance XMAX.

Figure 3 illustrates the algorithm of the "SAFE monitored" mode. It can be manually set by the monitoring user through the application, for example when the child is knowingly left with others, such as at nursery school, with the babysitter, grandparents, etc.

The application does not enter the ALARM mode in this mode. For example, the application may be set not to search for the presence of the beacon 10 for a predetermined time after the manual setting of the mode, for example for 30 minutes.

When the application senses the presence of the beacon 10 again, the NORMAL mode is activated again because the application will understand that the child is under the responsibility of the monitoring user again. For example, the application starts searching for the beacon again to return to the NORMAL mode after said predetermined time T has lapsed. This avoids the normal mode from being activated when the monitoring user is still knowingly moving away from the child left in safe hands .

In the "ALARM" mode, it is preferable for the system to have the possibility of indicating the direction in which the beacon is with respect to the smartphone. This may be done by taking advantage for example, of a magnetometer associated with the beacon and a magnetometer associated with the smartphone. They belong to the category of position sensors that do not require using the GPS network and they may be replaced by any other sensor of this category.

When the alarm is triggered, the presenter device 10 comprising the beacon and the relative magnetometer is capable of sensing the direction of the beacon with respect to the north-south direction of the terrestrial magnetic poles.

This information is transmitted to the APP that compares it with the direction of the smartphone obtained by means of the relative magnetometer. The direction to be followed to reach the beacon is derived by the APP from the comparison and the APP shows a relative indication, such as for example an arrow, on the smartphone screen.

With reference to figure 4, it is possible to integrate the system with other devices for sensing the beacon that are physically independent, separate and remote with respect to the smartphone and the beacon. For example, it is possible to provide a second receiver device 80 that senses the presence of the beacon within a second predetermined distance Y. The second predetermined distance Y defines a second monitored area B, preferably at least partially within the area A. The distance Y preferably can be set by the user.

The sensing is indicated in the drawing by the communication channel 79, for example a second Bluetooth channel .

When the beacon nears the second receiver device and the distance Y thereof is less than said predetermined distance YMAX, a communication is activated between the first receiver device 5 and the second receiver device 80 - indicated in the drawing by the communication channel 81 - for example of Wi-Fi type, for example Bluetooth.

In this case, a second "ALARM" mode may be activated that comprises for example, the emission of an alarm signalled by the smartphone. If the second receiver device is associated with domotics household devices 82, it is also possible in this "ALARM" step, for the system to control the modification of the operation of the domotics device 82 which the child is nearing, for example the turning off of a hotplate 82 or the closing of a window. The turning off or closing may be controlled by the APP, or more advantageously directly by the second receiver device 80, which in turn may be provided with specific software for interfacing with the domotics system 82. In this case, it is preferable for the software for recognizing the presence of the beacon 10 within the predetermined distance Y from the second receiver device 80 to be present in such second device. Thereby, the action activated on the functions of the household domotics 82 may also be performed when the smartphone 5 is not operational, thus increasing the safety of the system.

Therefore, the system in general allows monitoring the nearing of the child to dangerous points also within the zone A considered safe, that is when the child is less than the distance XMAX from the smartphone. If the second receiver device 80 is associated with a point 82 considered to be dangerous, an alarm is triggered when the child gets too close to such point, even if the child is still in the monitored area A.

The system substantially is thus capable of defining a safe zone corresponding to the zone A minus the zone B.

It is particularly advantageous to make the device in the form of a kit that provides one or more second sensor devices communicating with the APP of the first device and suitable for being applied to points as desired. For example, they may be in the form of applied objects, for example magnetic applied objects.

Naturally, the embodiments and variants hereto described and shown are by mere way of example and those skilled in the art may make several modifications and variants in order to meet specific and contingent needs, including for example the combination of said embodiments and variants, all moreover contained within the scope of protection of the present invention defined by the following claims .

Claims

1. A monitoring system for persons, animals and movable objects comprising at least one presenter device (10) and at least one receiver device (5) that "directly" communicate with each other, where the receiver is capable of "directly" receiving information from the presenter relative to the presence and the identity of the presenter; the presenter device (10) being suitable for being transported by a monitored person, animal or thing;

characterized in that the system is programmed to have at least one first "NORMAL" mode and a second "ALARM" mode where in the NORMAL mode, the receiver device (5) is programmed to compare its distance (X) from the presenter device (10) with a first predetermined maximum distance (XMAX) ; when the distance sensed is greater than the maximum distance, the system is programmed to start the "ALARM" mode in which the receiver generates an alarm signal.

2) A monitoring system according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises at least one second receiver device (80) capable of being placed in a remote and physically separate and independent position from the presenter device (10) and from the first receiver device (5), and capable of sensing the presence of the presenter device within a second predetermined distance (YMAX) ; when said presence is sensed, the system is capable of activating an "ALARM" mode in which it generates an alarm signal and/or intervenes on the operation of a domotics system (82) .

3. A monitoring system according to claim 2, characterized in that it is operatively connected or can be connected to a domotics system to interact therewith and to control safety operations in ALARM mode.

4. A monitoring system according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that said first and second receiver devices are operatively connected to communicate with each other so that the alarm mode activated by the second device generates an alarm signal generated by the first receiver device.

5. A monitoring system according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that when a first monitored zone defined by the first predetermined distance (XMAS) from the first receiver device (5) and a second monitored zone defined by said predetermined distance (YMAX) from the second receiver device (5) overlap, they define a SAFE zone given by the difference between the first monitored zone and the second monitored zone (it is not excluded for the safe zone to be null) .

6. A monitoring system according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that the system activates the alarm mode triggered by the second receiver device both when the system is in the NORMAL mode and when it is in the ALARM mode triggered by the first receiver device.

7. A monitoring system according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the second receiver device is in the form of device that can be freely applied to other objects.

8. A monitoring system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the system is programmed to manually set a "SAFE monitored" mode that can be activated for example, when the monitored child, animal or object is voluntarily left with others and therefore knowingly leaves said maximum distance (XMAX) ; the system in such mode being programmed not to emit any alarm signal, and when, following the activation of the "SAFE monitored" mode, the presenter device returns within said maximum distance (XMAX) , the "NORMAL" mode automatically is started again.

9. A monitoring system according to the preceding claim, characterized in that in the "SAFE monitored" mode, the system is programmed not to search for the presence of the presenter device (10) for a predetermined time from the starting of such mode; such time having lapsed, the NORMAL mode automatically is started again when the presenter device returns within said predetermined maximum distance (XMAX) .

10. A monitoring system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the receiver device (5) calculates its distance (X) from the presenter device based on the power of the signal (20) exchanged between each other.

11. A monitoring system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the presenter device (10) comprises a beacon, and preferably a housing thereof, selected between: a comforter, a bracelet, a necklace, an item of clothing; the receiver device (5) is a smartphone or the like, preferably communicating with the beacon by means of Bluetooth technology.

12. A monitoring system according to claim 11, characterized in that in the NORMAL mode, the smartphone (5) is programmed to prevent the turning off of the Bluetooth communication function (20) .

13. A monitoring system according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that in the ALARM mode, the smartphone (5) is programmed to stop any calls underway.

14. A monitoring system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the system is programmed also to have a STARTING mode in which the receiver device (5) senses and identifies the presenter device (10) and associates it with the maximum distance

(XMAX) from the receiver device that can be set by the monitored person, in addition to at least one phone number to which said alarm signal is sent in the alarm mode .

15. A monitoring system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the "ALARM" mode, the receiver device (5) indicates the direction in which the presenter device (10) is with respect to the receiver device; preferably the presenter device is provided with a direction sensor capable of sensing its direction with respect to the south/north direction, and it is capable of transmitting the direction datum sensed to the receiver transmitter device; also the receiver device is provided with a direction sensor capable of sensing its direction with respect to the south/north direction; moreover, the sensor device is capable of comparing its direction and the one of the presenter device and of establishing the direction to be followed to reach the latter; the transmitter device is then capable of displaying such direction to be followed, the sensors preferably comprising respective magnetometers.