Abstract:
An interactive personal security system utilizing a portable object having embedded therein all or a combination of a microphone, still and video cameras, distance sensor, a timer, speakers, a motion sensor, a tracking transponder, a receiver, and a transmitter operably connected to a power source and a conventional microprocessor including input devices, random access memory, read only memory and a database. Sounds and images are transmitted to remote monitoring stations by radio waves or microwaves for radio or television broadcasting or recording on a tape recorder or VCR. Alarms are transmitted to telephones and beepers. Face and voice recognition software identifies the people speaking, playing or attempting to kidnap the child. Sensors identify the presence of persons or animals or a child wandering out of a restricted area. Speakers allow guardians to communicate two-ways with the child, thereby responding to the immediate needs of the child. Tracking transponder allows for a pinpoint location of the portable object.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application claims benefit of U.S. Provisional Application 60/441,680, filed on Jan. 22, 2003, which is incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    This invention relates to an interactive personal security system and in particular to a child&#39;s portable companion to aid in the prevention of child abduction and abuse.  
           [0003]    Children are abducted daily in our society by strangers, family and friends. Police response frequently occurs hours after such abduction. In many cases the children are harmed and in some cases they are killed. There are child-tracking devices commercially available which are capable of monitoring the location of the missing child but there are no known commercially available devices that monitor the children&#39;s&#39; activities and surroundings that may indicate danger is imminent. These commercially available devices cannot monitor the movements of a person with the intent to abduct or harm a child as the person approaches the child. Further, these devices cannot warn the child to run away and seek safety.  
           [0004]    It is an object of this invention to provide a compact, economical children&#39;s play toy with security features that protect children within or outside of the home.  
           [0005]    It is a further object of this invention to provide a device that records images and sounds of the child and the child&#39;s surroundings.  
           [0006]    It is a further object of this invention to provide a tracking device to locate a missing child.  
           [0007]    It is another object of this invention to provide a device to identify and locate the people their children meet and or associate with.  
           [0008]    It is another object of this invention to provide an educational device to teach a child what to do in difficult situations.  
           [0009]    It is a further object of this invention to provide a device with child identification cards and guardian information.  
           [0010]    Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and accompanying drawings.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0011]    The objects set forth above as well as further and other objects and advantages of the present invention are achieved by the embodiments of the invention described herein below.  
           [0012]    The preferred embodiment introduces a plurality of electronic devices attached to and/or embedded within a conventional child&#39;s toy or the like. The toy may be in the form of an animal, a person, or an inanimate object such as a vehicle. For example, a stuffed bear or any stuffed toy of any kind or size can be used. In certain cases the figure includes of a head having eyes, ears, and mouth.  
           [0013]    In this invention, one or more monitoring components monitor the environment exterior to the toy (or other object) and are operably connected with the toy (or other object). The one or more monitoring components provide output with respect to the environment exterior to the toy (or other object). One or more processing components are operably connected to the one or more monitoring components. The one or more processing components are capable of processing the output from the one or more monitoring components in order to provide a signal in response thereto. One or more signal generating components are operably connected to the one or more processing components. The one or more signal generating components are capable of receiving processed output from the one or more processing components and generating a warning indicative of the environment exterior to the object.  
           [0014]    The present invention can utilize a microphone, still and video cameras, sensors, a timer, speakers, a motion detector, a distance sensor, a tracking transponder, a receiver, and a transmitter operably connected to a power source and a conventional microprocessor including input devices, random access memory, read only memory and a database.  
           [0015]    The present invention can record and photograph the events occurring around the child. Parents can monitor a child as he/she plays or sleeps. Microprocessors that record and photograph who the child is with and where they are playing. Face recognition software identifies the people speaking, playing or attempting to kidnap the child. The sounds and images are transmitted to remote monitoring stations by radio or microwave (satellite) for radio or television broadcasting or recording on a tape recorder or VCR. Guardians can take immediate action to warn the child of potential danger or to contact law enforcement agencies to intervene.  
           [0016]    The present invention provides guardians with the capability to broadcast instructions to child from the monitoring station. The guardians can transmit an audio signal from the remote station to the receiver embedded in the toy. The receiver conveys the audio message to the embedded speaker such that the guardian can instruction the child to come home for dinner or to run away from the stranger.  
           [0017]    The present invention can include prerecorded audio answers to child&#39;s frequently asked questions asked. The audio response can be that of the mother or the father. The present invention includes voice recognition software to respond only to a specific child&#39;s voice. The microprocessor stores in a database a list of preprogrammed questions and responses. The guardian can modify the list at any time. Voice recognition software can activate all the electronic devices when the child screams in fear transmitting emergency distress signals to all monitors.  
           [0018]    Police or other monitoring stations can also receive transmitted messages. The transmission can be in the form of an alarm or a beeper message providing the location of the child.  
           [0019]    The present invention with distance sensors can be programmed to notify parents if the child is out of the house.  
           [0020]    Additionally, the present invention has a containment pouch, fanny pack or likes to hold a certificate with the child&#39;s name, picture, description, fingerprints and I.D. number. The certificate includes the address and telephone number of each parent. The certification can include a picture of the mother and/or father, a right thumbprint, physical descriptions, social security numbers, legal names and mother&#39;s maiden name, if married. The certification can also include a family picture. The pictures can be updated every year. The duplicate information can on file at the police station and/or private monitoring company.  
           [0021]    For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other and further objects thereof, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and detailed description and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0022]    [0022]FIG. 1 is a pictorial representation of the an embodiment of the system of this invention;  
         [0023]    [0023]FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of the electronic components of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1;  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of the electronic components of an embodiment of a detachable object of this invention;  
         [0025]    [0025]FIG. 4 is a schematic representation of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 1 transmitting a signal to a network of monitoring stations;  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 5 is a pictorial representation of instructional flash cards of the present invention; and  
         [0027]    FIGS.  6 - 8  are pictorial representations of identification cards of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0028]    [0028]FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment  1  of the warning system of the present invention. As therein shown, conventional components such as, but not limited to, microphones  11 ,  19 , a camera  12 , an infrared still camera  13 , a distance sensor  14 , a voice recognition microprocessor  15 , a face recognition microprocessor  16 , a timer  17 , a video camera  18 , a speaker  20 , a motion detector  21 , a tracking transponder  22 , a receiver  23 , a detachable watch  24 , a panic button  25 , and a containment pouch  26  are incorporated, for example, into a soft or stuffed toy  10 .  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 2 illustrates the above mentioned electronic components in schematic/block form along with data processing devices including a database  27 , random access memory  28 , read only memory  29 , input port  32  operably connected to a programmable logic controller  30  (also referred to as a control processor). Additionally, a transmitter  31  is operably connected to the programmable logic controller  30  to generate alarms, messages, and information to the monitoring stations. All electrical components are powered by a power source  33 , such as a battery. The input port  32  is compatible with conventional data transfer devices such as a personal data assistant and other personal computers to download data and programs. The timer  17  is capable of activating the above-mentioned electronic devices automatically to record sounds and/or images or to give instructions (to be discussed in detail below).  
         [0030]    Detachable watch  24  is a separate system capable of performing most of the same functions as the stuffed toy but with the added feature of being capable of attachment directly to the child. FIG. 3 illustrates an example of the electronic components of the detachable watch  14 , such as a microphone  111 , a camera  112 , a speaker  120 , a tracking transducer  122 , a receiver  123 , a panic button  125 , a database  127 , a random access memory  128 , a read only memory  129 , a programmable logic controller  130 , a transmitter  131 , an input port  123 , and a power source  133 . It should be understood that the detached watch  24  is only an embodiment of a removable article that can be worn by the child as well as be attached to the stuffed toy  10 . Other articles, such as a bracelet or pin, are also possible embodiments of the removable article (object).  
         [0031]    The attachment location of each of the components listed above onto or into the stuffed toy  10  is arbitrary. For illustration purposes, certain components are located in positions commensurate with their function. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the ears  34 , for example, contain commercially available microphone  11  that provides audio feedback of what the child is saying and what is being said to the child. The transmitter  31 , FIG. 2, generates a signal of the audio feedback to the monitoring station  35  for evaluation and, if desired, recording, as illustrated in FIG. 4. The transmitter  31  can be a radio transmitter, microwave transmitter, infrared transmitter, or any known or unknown communication medium. The system monitor has the capability to talk to the child through a speaker  20  the when child asks a question, such as “Should I talk to a stranger?” The monitor&#39;s response is transmitted from the monitoring station  35 , FIG. 4, to receiver  23 , FIG. 1, and converted to a signal by the programmable logic controller  30  and converted into an audible message by the speaker  20  for the child to hear. The speaker  20  can be positioned behind the mouth  36 , such that, the stuff toy can answer or give instruction when the child asks a question. Additionally, a signal can be generated for receipt by law enforcement authorities  37 , cellular communications  38 , and satellite communications  39 . The cellular and satellite communications can relay the signal to mobile telephones and beeper.  
         [0032]    Alternatively, a preprogrammed response can be stored in the database  27  to response to the child&#39;s question based on key phrases or terms. The programmable logic controller  30  searches the database  27  to match a preprogrammed response with a key phrase or term to give the child an answer to what to do in that particular situation. Several questions and answers can be programmed into the programmable logic controller  30 . The preprogrammed responses will assist the child in making the right decision in a bad situation. In operation, the child will asked a question in the vicinity of the microphone  11  positioned in, for example, one of the ears  34  of the stuffed toy  10 . The audio response will be projected from the speaker  20  positioned, for example, in the mouth  36  of the stuff toy  10 . The programmable logic controller  20  can execute a voice stress measurement algorithm to determine whether the child is under distress and block or delay the audio message until the child is no longer under stress.  
         [0033]    The present invention can include one or more cameras  12 ,  13 ,  18  to aid the system monitor in observing the surrounding of the child and, in particular, the person, persons or animals in the immediate vicinity. The cameras, for example, can be located in one or more eye sockets  38  of the stuffed toy  10 . The system monitor can remotely operate the cameras  12 ,  13 ,  18  can be controlled by the timer  17  for taking single or multiple frames. The camera  12  captures still images during the normal daylight hours. The infrared camera  13  is utilized when the natural lumination is inadequate for clear, identifiable images. A video camera  18  is utilized when the precise movement of a subject is required or when the time delay between the still shot frames are not sufficient.  
         [0034]    The present invention can include a distance sensor  14  located, for example, inside the chest  39  and or an item of apparel of the toy. A set distance guardian can be programmed such that the child is only allowed to move within a confined area. An audio alarm is sounded through a speaker  20  and a signal can be transmitted to the system monitor. The signal can be transmitted to a beeper or a computer system or a telephone alerting the guardian or system monitor that the child has voluntarily or involuntarily left the designated area.  
         [0035]    The present invention can include a voice recognition microprocessor  15  to identify the voice of a person or persons in the vicinity of the child. The voice recognition microprocessor  15  is capable of generating a voice pattern and comparing the voice pattern to stored voice patterns. The collection of stored voice patterns can be updated periodically by downloads by interfacing with the databases of law enforcement agencies or special interest organizations, which collect data on child molesters and other violent crime perpetrators. Data can be downloaded remotely through the receiver  23  (wireless) or locally through the input port  32  (wired) in response to a command from the programmable logic controller  30 . Further, the voice recognition microprocessor  15  can generate a signal to the programmable logic controller  30  to block or delay the audio response to a question asked by a person other than the child.  
         [0036]    The present invention can also include a face recognition microprocessor  16  to identify the face of a person or persons in the vicinity of the child. The face recognition microprocessor  16  is capable of generating a digital image of the face and compares the image to stored digital facial images. The collection of stored digital facial images can be updated periodically by downloads by interfacing with to the databases of law enforcement agencies or special interest organizations, which collect data on child molesters and other violent crime perpetrators. Data can be downloaded remotely through the receiver  23  (wireless) or locally through the input port  32  (wired) in response to a command from the programmable logic controller  30 .  
         [0037]    A motion detector  21  can be positioned, for example, at the lower head area to activate the recording of sounds and/or images when there is movement within a predetermined area of the stuffed toy  10 . The motion detector  21  can be placed, for example, in the bedroom of the child during nap times and/or bedtime. During its active mode, a signal transmits sounds and/or images to the monitoring station, telephone, and/or beeper when there is a disturbance in the air current or when there is an increase in room temperature indicating the presence of a person or animal. The motion detector  21  can be programmed for a predetermined radius and sensitivity. However, the motion detector  21  can be deactivated when the stuffed toy  10  is to be place in a known active area to avoid false alarms.  
         [0038]    The present invention can also include a tracking transponder  22  imbedded, for example, in the chest  39  of the stuffed toy  10 . The tracking transponder  22  is capable of generating a signal either at a predetermined interval continuously or when activated remotely by the guardian. In the case of abduction, the location of the child can be tracked for prompt recovery of the child before child is harmed further. In one embodiment, but not limited to, the tracking transponder is a GPS system.  
         [0039]    The panic button  25  is a conventional switch operably connected to the programmable logic controller  30 , which causes the programmable logic controller  30  to generate a series of commands in response to a signal of the panic button  25 . The programmable logic controller  30  is capable of generating an audible signal of sufficient volume to the speaker  20  to create alert passersby and to scare away the attacker. the Additionally, the programmable logic controller  30  is capable of generating a signal to the transmitter  31  that broadcasts one or more signals to telephones, beeper, or computer monitoring systems (FIG. 4).  
         [0040]    A further embodiment of the present invention is responsive to a certain word, phrase, name, or telephone number spoken by the child. The programmable logic controller  30  includes voice recognition software responsive to the voice pattern of the child. Similar to the panic button  25 , the programmable logic controller  30 , operably connected to the microphone  11 , is capable of generating a signal via the transmitter  31  to a monitoring station, a telephone, and/or a beeper to alert guardians of a potential problem.  
         [0041]    A further embodiment of the present invention includes a containment pouch  26  containing information about the child, guardians, and instructional information for the child. The pouch  26  can include an information bearing component such as, but not limited to, information flash cards, pamphlets with safety tips, identification cards, hidden mini waterproof certificate identification, and medical and dental information of the guardians as well as the child. Examples of the information are illustrated in FIGS.  5 - 8  and can be in Braille as well as printed in any language. The cards, for example 12 in. by 10 in. or 2 in. by 3 in., include the child&#39;s name, picture, fingerprints, palm prints, footprints, description and date of birth, identification number, and DNA signature. The same information is included for the guardians. Additionally, a tracking transponder can be embedded into one or more of the identification cards to locate the child. A further security feature is to print certain information that can only be seen under infrared light.  
         [0042]    It should be understood that any combination of the above-mentioned embodiments is within the scope of the present invention and placed in any object and the audio communication can be in any language. For example, the tracking transponder and panic button features can be placed into a piece of jewelry, such as a bracelet or necklace. A manual or voice activated panic button can sound an alarm and activate the tracking device. Voice activation can be customized to respond to a certain word or phrase related to certain crimes, such as rape, assault, robbery, murder, and kidnapping.  
         [0043]    It should be noted that the programmable logic controller  30  could, in some embodiments, also be a processor and could be combined with other microprocessors in different embodiments. It should also be noted that input port  32  can include, but is not limited to, conventional interface connections, supporting electronics and software for interfaces such as, but not limited to, USB, RS-232, for example. It should further be noted that database  27  could be, in some embodiments, a remote database accessed by a wireless link such as that implemented by transmitter  31  or could be a combination of a local database and a remote database.  
         [0044]    Although the invention has been described with respect to various embodiments, it should be realized this invention is also capable of a wide variety of further and other embodiments within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.