Abstract:
A monitoring system has a monitoring unit and a monitored unit. The monitored unit automatically emits RF signals detectable by the monitoring unit. The monitoring unit includes analysis circuitry for providing at least directional information indicative of the location of the monitored unit with respect to the monitoring unit.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The invention pertains to monitoring devices. More particularly, the invention pertains to devices usable to monitor the location of individuals such as children or those in need of assistance.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    A variety of products have been developed to enable parents to keep track of the location of one or more children when out of the house or car, such as in stores, malls, sports areas or the like. One type of product is a leash which connects a parent to a child. The leash makes is possible for the parent to keep a child relatively close for safety and supervision. Such products tend to be suitable only for relatively young children.  
           [0003]    Another type of product is a pair of walkie-talkies. A parent has one unit, the child has a second unit. The parent can be in audio contact with the child and vice versa. While these types of products enable the child to roam freely of the parent, they only provide location information that the child can convey. Such types of products do not provide child independent information as to the location of the child relative to the parent. If a child becomes separated or lost, it may not be able to inform the parent as to where it is.  
           [0004]    There continues to be a need for monitoring devices which provide more freedom to a child than a leash but at the same time can provide location information easily and automatically as does a leash. Preferably such products would be light weight and unobtrusive in use as well as relatively inexpensive. It would also be desirable if they could enable a parent to give verbal directions to the child as needed.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0005]    An electronic monitoring system includes a primary unit which is in wireless communication with a secondary unit. The primary unit is worn or carried by a supervising person. The secondary unit is worn or carried by the person whose condition or location is being monitored.  
           [0006]    The primary unit can be configured like a wristwatch to be worn by the supervising person. Preferably it would have a display which could present location and distance information concerning a person wearing or carrying a secondary unit. In one embodiment, one of several secondary units, being simultaneously tracked, could be selected for display.  
           [0007]    By automatically providing location and direction information, the supervising person can move toward and find someone who has wondered off or become lost. Since the secondary units communicate automatically wirelessly with the primary unit, the person being supervised does not need to be able to supply such information.  
           [0008]    Preferably, the primary unit will also incorporate a wireless audio link, receivable by the secondary units. This embodiment provides direct audio communication between the supervising person and the persons carrying the secondary units.  
           [0009]    In one embodiment, the secondary units can be configured like wristwatches or, ankle bracelets. Each secondary unit can include a microphone/speaker combination and a transceiver for wireless, bidirectional, audio communication with a supervising person.  
           [0010]    A child&#39;s unit can also carry a panic or emergency button thereby enabling the child to signal the primary unit, without audio, that help is needed. The supervising person can then initiate audio communication, and, using the automatically generated distance and direction information to locate the child.  
           [0011]    Preferably, the primary unit will include a transceiver with an output coupled to signal analysis circuitry to establish distance and location information relative to one or more secondary units. A switch can be provided for selection of a secondary unit.  
           [0012]    Another embodiment can be directed to the needs of adults or older children whose location, due to a physiological condition, needs to be monitored. Such units could be alternately combined with a decorated wrist band or necklace so as to be user acceptable.  
           [0013]    Numerous other advantages and features of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the embodiments thereof, from the claims and from the accompanying drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 is an over-all diagram of a system in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2 is a block diagram of one unit of the system of FIG. 1; and  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3 is a block diagram of another unit of the system of FIG. 1. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0017]    While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there are shown in the drawing and will be described herein in detail specific embodiments thereof with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 1 illustrates a system  10  which has a primary, or supervisory, unit  12  and one or more secondary units  14   a, b . . . n . The primary unit is self-contained and has a housing  12 - 1  with an attached wrist strap  12 - 2 . The exact form of attachment is not a limitation of the invention.  
         [0019]    The housing  12 - 1  contains electronics and a power supply discussed subsequently. It carries a secondary unit selector  12 - 3  and a display  12 - 4  upon which can be presented a name  12   a  associated with a selected secondary unit, such as  14   a , indicated as “TARA”. Distance  12   b  and direction information  12   c  are also presented on display  12 - 4 .  
         [0020]    A microphone  12 - 5  and speaker  12 - 6  are available for audio communication with the selected secondary unit  14   i . A button  12 - 7  is available for transmitting pre-stored audio messages to unit  14   i . An LED  12 - 8  can be used to indicate status information such as “out of range”, or, “communication ok”.  
         [0021]    The secondary units  14   a . . . n  are substantially identical so a discussion of a representative unit  14   a  will also describe each of the other units  14   b, c . . . n . The unit  14   a  is self-contained in a housing  14 - 1 . A wrist or ankle strap  14 - 2  can be used to attach the unit  14   a  to a person whose location is being monitored. Other forms of attachment come within the scope of the invention.  
         [0022]    The housing  14 - 1  carries a “panic” or “assistance needed” button or lever  14 - 3 . The element  14 - 3  can be used to initiate non-verbal communication with primary unit  12 . Housing  14 - 1  also carries a microphone  14 - 4  and a speaker  14 - 5  for carrying out audio communication with the primary unit.  
         [0023]    In operation, a supervising person, such as a parent, wears primary unit  12 . A child or other person being monitored wears unit  14   a . Assuming that the supervising person has selected unit  14   a , via switch  12 - 3 , an appropriate designator such as  12   a , distance parameter  12   b  and direction indicator  12   c  will be displayed.  
         [0024]    A pre-stored message can be transmitted to unit  14   a  via message button  12 - 7 . In addition, the supervising person can initiate audio communication with the supervised person wearing unit  14   a.    
         [0025]    The supervised person wearing unit  14   a  can respond verbally to received pre-stored messages or real-time audio from unit  12  using the local microphone  14 - 4  and speaker  14 - 5 . Additionally, the panic switch  14 - 3  enables the supervised person, to easily alert the supervising person to the existence of an emergency.  
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 2 is an exemplary block diagram of primary unit  12 . Control circuitry, such as a programmed processor  20   a  is coupled to and drives display  12 - 4  and LED  12 - 8 . More than one LED could be provided. The type of display is not a limitation of the invention.  
         [0027]    The processor  20   a  is in bidirectional communication with transceiver  20   b  and voice storage/synthesizing circuitry  20   c . Circuitry  20   c  includes a plurality of pre-stored messages that can be transmitted to unit  14   a  in analog or digital form.  
         [0028]    The supervising person can communicate via microphone  12 - 5  to unit  14   a  in real-time to make inquiries or to provide directions to the supervised person wearing unit  14   a . Other circuit elements of unit  12  will be understood by those of skill in the art and no further discussion of them is necessary.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a secondary unit, such as unit  14   a . Other secondary units  14   b . . . n  are substantially identical. Control circuitry, such as processor  30   a , is in bidirectional communication with transceiver  30   b . The transceiver  30   b  implements bidirectional RF communication, via antenna  30   c , with unit  12 . Using the local microphone  14 - 4  and speaker  14 - 5 , a person wearing unit  14   a  can verbally communicate with unit  12 .  
         [0030]    In addition, transceiver  30   b  automatically provides signals to unit  12 , intermittently or continuously, so that unit  12  can generate updated distance and location information for display  12 - 4 . Alternately, the unit  12  can issue RF commands to the units  14   a, b . . . n  to cause them to transmit updated location and/or distance information without intervention by the person being monitored.  
         [0031]    Unit  14   a  can be provided with a second, non-emergency communication button or switch  30   d . Switch  30   d  is useful where a plurality of units  14   b, c, d  are active and the supervising person, via unit  12  needs to prioritize communications from the units  12 .  
         [0032]    It will be understood that secondary units  14   a, b . . . n  could be worn by children being supervised. Alternately, the secondary units could be worn by adults in need of supervision.  
         [0033]    From the foregoing, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific apparatus illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred. It is, of course, intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.