BELT CLIP ASSEMBLY AND SYSTEM FOR TRACKING OF PORTABLE RADIOS

A radio tracking system that includes a first portable radio with a first belt clip and a second portable radio with a second belt clip. The first belt clip includes a first tracking chip and a first tracking battery associated therewith. The second belt clip includes a second tracking chip and a second tracking battery associated therewith. The first and second radios are trackable within a first network and the first and second tracking chips are trackable within a second network. The first network is different than the second network.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a system for the tracking of portable radios.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Portable radios, such as Motorola® radios, are lost regularly by users. Currently, these lost radios can only be tracked when they are powered on. Therefore, if the battery dies or otherwise fails or the radio is turned off, the radio cannot be tracked and may be difficult to find.

SUMMARY OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a belt clip assembly that includes a belt clip configured to be used with a portable radio. The belt clip includes a tracking chip and a battery associated therewith. The tracking chip and battery may be embedded in the belt clip. The tracking chip and battery may be attached, connected or secured to the belt clip. The tracking chip and battery may be associated with a tracking module that is attached, connected or secured to a main body portion of the belt clip. The tracking module may be removable from the main body portion.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a radio tracking assembly that includes a portable radio having a belt clip. The belt clip includes a tracking chip and a battery associated therewith. The tracking chip and battery may be attached, connected or secured to the belt clip.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a radio tracking system that includes a first portable radio that includes a first belt clip, and a second portable radio that includes a second belt clip. The first belt clip includes a first tracking chip and a first tracking battery associated therewith. The second belt clip includes a second tracking chip and a second tracking battery associated therewith. The first and second radios are trackable within a first network, the first and second tracking chips are trackable within a second network, and the first network is different than the second network. The first tracking chip and first batter battery are attached, connected or secured to the first belt clip, and the second tracking chip and second batter battery are attached, connected or secured to the second belt clip.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention there is provided a method that includes securing a belt clip assembly to a portable radio to provide a radio tracking assembly. The belt clip assembly includes a belt clip, a tracking chip and a tracking battery. The tracking chip is powered by the tracking battery. The radio includes a radio battery and the tracking chip is part of a network. The method includes placing the radio tracking assembly in a first location, powering down the radio battery or allowing the radio battery to die, and determining that the radio tracking assembly is at the first location via the network. The method may include removing the OEM belt clip from the portable radio prior to the step of securing the belt clip assembly to the portable radio.

The present invention is directed to a radio tracking system that includes one or more tracking chips and batteries embedded into the belt clip on a portable radio. In a preferred embodiment, the tracking chip remains powered whether the radio itself is powered on or off, and whether the radio battery is working or not. It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the chip should not interfere with the radio operation. Preferably, the system does not require the use of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth beacons or GPS. However, this is not a limitation and in another embodiment, the system can include the use of Wi-Fi, Bluetooth beacons or GPS.

The system also includes a method of locating a misplaced or lost radio or radio tracking assembly. The method may include securing a belt clip assembly to a portable radio to provide a radio tracking assembly. The belt clip assembly includes a tracking chip and a first battery associated therewith. The radio includes a second battery. The tracking chip is part of a network (e.g., a mesh network). The method also includes placing the radio tracking assembly in a first location. This can include losing the radio tracking assembly by dropping it, putting it down and forgetting it, having the radio tracking assembly stolen, etc. The method also includes powering down the second battery. This can include shutting the radio off or the second battery dying. However, at this point in time, the tracking chip is still powered by the first battery. The method also includes determining that the radio tracking assembly is at the first location via the network. In short, this includes locating the radio tracking assembly using the system, as opposed to finding the radio via physically searching for it. The method may also include the step of removing the OEM (original equipment manufacturer) or other prior belt clip (i.e., any belt clip that does not include a battery and tracking chip therein) from the portable radio prior to the step of securing the belt clip assembly to the portable radio.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The following description and drawings are illustrative and are not to be construed as limiting. Numerous specific details are described to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosure. However, in certain instances, well-known or conventional details are not described in order to avoid obscuring the description. References to one or an embodiment in the present disclosure can be, but not necessarily are references to the same embodiment; and, such references mean at least one of the embodiments. If a component is not shown in a drawing then this provides support for a negative limitation in the claims stating that that component is “not” present. However, the above statement is not limiting and in another embodiment, the missing component can be included in a claimed embodiment.

Reference in this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “a preferred embodiment” or any other phrase mentioning the word “embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the-disclosure and also means that any particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with one embodiment can be included in any embodiment or can be omitted or excluded from any embodiment. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments mutually exclusive of other embodiments. Moreover, various features are described which may be exhibited by some embodiments and not by others and may be omitted from any embodiment. Furthermore, any particular feature, structure, or characteristic described herein may be optional. Similarly, various requirements are described which may be requirements for some embodiments but not other embodiments. Where appropriate any of the features discussed herein in relation to one aspect or embodiment of the invention may be applied to another aspect or embodiment of the invention. Similarly, where appropriate any of the features discussed herein in relation to one aspect or embodiment of the invention may be optional with respect to and/or omitted from that aspect or embodiment of the invention or any other aspect or embodiment of the invention discussed or disclosed herein.

It will be appreciated that terms such as “front,” “back,” “top,” “bottom,” “side,” “short,” “long,” “up,” “down,” “aft,” “forward,” “inboard,” “outboard” and “below” used herein are merely for ease of description and refer to the orientation of the components as shown in the figures. It should be understood that any orientation of the components described herein is within the scope of the present invention.

FIGS.1-5are directed to a system for the tracking of portable radios. For example, the system can be used to track one or more of the Motorola® radio100shown inFIG.1. In a preferred embodiment, each radio100within the system includes a belt clip assembly10secured thereto. As shown inFIGS.2and3, the belt clip assembly10may include a tracking chip12and a battery14associated with a belt clip16. The battery14is included to power the tracking chip12(and may be referred to herein as a tracking battery23). In an exemplary embodiment, the tracking system may use a Wirepas mesh node for IoT (Internet of things) and indoor (or outdoor) tracking. For example, the tracking chip12may be a Fujitsu® FWM8BLZ14T IoT Tag that is embedded in or otherwise secured or attached to the belt clip16, as is shown inFIGS.2and3. The belt clip16may take any form. For example, the belt clip16may be formed similarly to a PMLN4652 2.5″ spring loaded belt clip from a Motorola® portable radio, as shown inFIGS.2and3. Any type of belt clip is within the scope of the present invention.

The belt clip16can include a main body portion20and an extension portion22, as shown inFIG.3. The tracking battery14and tracking chip12can be disposed in or connected to the main body portion20and/or the extension portion22(the extension portion may be considered a tracking module, as discussed herein). The tracking chip12(e.g., a Fujitsu® Wirepas mesh module) and/or battery14may be molded into the plastic of the belt clip16(within the main body portion20and/or the extension portion22). In another embodiment, the battery14and/or tracking chip12may be secured to one or more of the inner or outer face of the belt clip16.

A radio100that includes the belt clip assembly10may be referred to herein as a radio tracking assembly18. In use, the standard belt clip on the radio may be replaced with the inventive belt clip assembly10or the radio may be sold originally with the belt clip assembly10. Preferably, all electronics and power necessary for tracking (in the case of the radio being turned off or radio battery dying) are contained in the belt clip16. In use, the battery14(and, therefore, the tracking chip that is powered by the battery) may have a battery life of 1 to 2 years. In use, the tracking chip12remains live or powered whether the radio itself is powered on or off, and whether the radio battery23is working or not.

The tracking system includes a plurality of radios100that each include a belt clip assembly10(a belt clip16with both a tracking chip12and battery14therein). The radios are wirelessly connected within the mesh network so that the radios can be tracked via the tracking chip or member within each belt clip assembly10. It will be appreciated that the tracking system is independent of the radio network. The use of a mesh network is not a limitation on the present invention. Any type of network is within the scope of the present invention. For example, the network can include a central hub or router.

In another embodiment, as shown inFIG.4, one or more of the battery14and chip12may be removable from the belt clip16. See the battery opening or recess14aand chip opening or recess12ainFIG.4. A button, latch or other mechanism may be included to allow removal of the battery14and/or tracking chip or member12. It will be appreciated that the battery14and tracking chip12may be one piece or unitary and may or may not be removable. In another embodiment, the battery14and tracking chip12may be associated with or part of a unit or tracking module24that can be secured to, embedded in, inserted into or otherwise attached to the belt clip16. For example, seeFIG.5, which shows adhesive26to which the tracking module24can be secured. Any form of attachment is within the scope of the present invention. For example, hook and loop material, adhesive, glue, magnets, snap(s), latch(es) or any other attachment or securing mechanism, material or the like is within the scope of the present invention. The tracking module24may be permanently or temporarily attached or secured to the belt clip16. The module tracking or any part thereof (e.g., the battery14, tracking chip12, etc.) may be sold as a kit together with attachment material (e.g., double sided tape, hook and loop material, etc.). For example, a radio user may purchase the kit, add one side of hook and loop material to the belt clip16or radio100and then secure the tracking module24, which includes the other side of hook and loop material, to the belt clip16or radio100.

FIG.6is a diagram showing an exemplary radio network and tracking network, includes first and second radio tracking assemblies18and shows the wireless connection between the radios100and the radio network and the wireless connection between the tracking chips in the belt clip assemblies10and the mesh router. A mesh network is only exemplary. The mesh network includes a mesh router30, includes the internet and shows a computer32on which someone can check the locations of the first and second radio tracking assemblies18, and, in particular, the tracking chips12in the belt clip assemblies10. It will be appreciated thatFIG.6is only exemplary and shows two separate networks so that if the batteries in the radios die, the radios can be located or tracked using the tracking chips and the network associated therewith.

The above-detailed description of embodiments of the disclosure is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the teachings to the precise form disclosed above. While specific embodiments of and examples for the disclosure are described above for illustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scope of the disclosure, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize. Further, any specific numbers noted herein are only examples: alternative implementations may employ differing values, measurements or ranges.

Although the operations of any method(s) disclosed or described herein either explicitly or implicitly are shown and described in a particular order, the order of the operations of each method may be altered so that certain operations may be performed in an inverse order or so that certain operations may be performed, at least in part, concurrently with other operations. In another embodiment, instructions or sub-operations of distinct operations may be implemented in an intermittent and/or alternating manner.

The teachings of the disclosure provided herein can be applied to other systems, not necessarily the system described above. The elements and acts of the various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. Any measurements or dimensions described or used herein are merely exemplary and not a limitation on the present invention. Other measurements or dimensions are within the scope of the invention.