Abstract:
An ID card and/or cell phone holder provides position identification, 2-way communication, and panic control features for emergency communication. Contemplated holders include those configured as a wallet, arm band, belt clip, or money clip, and can additionally or alternatively be adapted for use with a key ring, lanyard, or other carrying adapter. Position identification circuitry, the communication circuitry, and the panic control interface can be physically distributed between or among at least first and second cards or other components.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The field of the invention is emergency alert systems and methods. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    This background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art. 
         [0003]    All publications herein are incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application were specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. Where a definition or use of a term in an incorporated reference is inconsistent or contrary to the definition of that term provided herein, the definition of that term provided herein applies and the definition of that term in the reference does not apply. 
         [0004]    There are many situations in which a person may desire assistance from a distal source, but has very little time to do so. For example, a person may be in a potentially dangerous situation where the person would like to contact the police or other security personnel. Sometimes removing a cell phone from one&#39;s pocket or purse to dial 911 might be impractical, or even impossible. Or perhaps a person might have a medical emergency and be unable to dial emergency personnel, again because the phone might not be reachable, or possibly because the person has insufficient time, or is incapacitated for some reason. 
         [0005]    Many devices have been created in order to quickly contact emergency personnel. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,650,770 to Schlager et al, teaches a personal alarm system where a monitoring base station tracks remote sensing units similar to old Life Alert® monitoring systems. The base station can be configured to sense when the panic button is pressed, and could then summon help. Such a device, however, requires the user to remain in range of the monitoring system and wear a device, which is often unsightly, bulky, and has no utility beyond summoning help if the user is in a fight or flight situation. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,042,338 to Weber, teaches an emergency hailing device that periodically asks an at-risk user if the user is OK. If the at-risk user fails to respond to the automatic interrogation signal, the device automatically summons an emergency service or care provider. Weber, however, also requires a user to remain in range of a nearby receiver to process the signal and determine an alarm action. The device also has no utility beyond regularly checking on a user and summoning help if the user is in a dangerous situation. 
         [0007]    Other co-owned patents, including for example U.S. Pat. No. 7,142,096 to Eisenman, U.S. Pat. No. 7,315,242 to Eisenman and U.S. Pat. No. 8,742,924 to Eisenman disclose a key FOB that unlocks a car and also has GPS and alarm capability to communicate with distal devices that are further than a localized base station. Subsequent applications within the family claim key-related devices having GPS and alarm capability include key chains, key bags, and also cover devices that gain access to spaces other than motor vehicles, including pending applications having serial numbers U.S. Ser. No. 12/173630, U.S. Ser. No. 12/773161, and U.S. Ser. No. 14/294955. There are some situations, however, where a user might not have a key FOB for a car vehicle, such as when the user lives and works on a campus or the user lives within a city with adequate public transportation infrastructure. 
         [0008]    US 2009/0159703 to Mullen teaches a credit card that tracks the location of a user, and can transmit an alarm to authorities when an emergency button on the card is depressed and the card is used (e.g. at an ATM or at a store). Mullen, however, requires the user to be at a swiping location in order to sound an alarm, which is not always the case when a card holder needs to summon help. 
         [0009]    The Personal Management ID Card GPS Tracker sold by YuLongDa (www.yulong.datechnology.com/#!7mm-personal-gps-card-tracker/ctt5), retrieved Nov. 19, 2014, provides an identification card having a GPS function that allows for remote location tracking, as well as a SOS alarm feature that sends an SMS message to a designated cell phone number when a button is pressed or an ID card moves outside of a designated geofence area. However, the YuLongDa ID card fails to provide anything more than a single pre-set SOS message. Emergency nuances cannot be communicated, and so a receiver of an emergency alert has no idea whether the person in the emergency needs police, medical attention, or is merely lost. 
         [0010]    Thus, there is still a need for casings or other holders that provide position identification, 2-way communication, and panic control features for emergency communication. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    After more than 13 years dealing with this concept, I have only recently appreciated that there is a need to provide extremely simplified access to emergency communication from an identification card holder. This may arise, for example, where a student at a university gym is not carrying any keys, but instead has only a student identification card and the card holder. Similarly, a woman working getting food at a snack shop may be carrying only an office identification card, a card holder, and some cash, having left her cell phone and keys in her purse in a nearby office. Additionally, a jogger could be injured on a run, and may have only brought an identification card and card holder to avoid being weighed down by extra possessions. In yet another example, two roommates out on the town might get separated, leaving one with only an identification card and card holder because the other is holding the keys for the night. 
         [0012]    I now realize that identification card holders could be advantageous to fulfill this need because identification cards and card holders are regularly used in the course of daily life in the form of drivers&#39; licenses, medical insurance cards, employee identification cards, and so forth. Additionally, people generally always carry some form of identification whether for purposes of merely verifying their identity, making a credit card purchase, obtaining medical treatment under an insurance policy, gaining entry into a private or employees-only area, etc. 
         [0013]    Even for persons carrying a cell phone in their clothing, purse, backpack, etc, retrieving the phone, entering a pass code or otherwise unlocking the phone, and then dialing 911, would very likely be inconvenient at best, and completely unworkable from a time standpoint at best. Moreover, these operations might not be feasible under duress. Additionally, cell phones do not typically send location information directly to emergency personnel. In most cases cell phone location is triangulated using cell towers. Ideally, such simplified access to emergency communication would instead immediately transmit the position information to the contacted emergency personnel. 
         [0014]    The inventive subject matter is directed to an identification card holder with position identification, 2-way communication, and a panic control feature. 
         [0015]    Any one or more of (a) the position identification, (b) the 2-way communication or (c) the panic control feature can be disposed as part of the identification card holder. 
         [0016]    In another contemplated embodiment, the position identification can utilize any suitable location tracking technology, including for example, GPS, RFID, NFC, Bluetooth, etc. 
         [0017]    2-way communication can be enabled in any suitable manner. This would typically be accomplished using at least a microphone and speaker for voice communication, but could, for example, be additionally enabled using a display screen, and alarm sound enabled by a signal transducer that could issue a sound much louder than would be practical with a speaker. 
         [0018]    In other aspects of the inventive subject matter, the panic control feature can be triggered in any suitable manner. For example, a device could use a physical feature (e.g., buttons, bump, touch screen), a sound receiving feature, (e.g., voice recognition, alarm noise recognition), tactile feature (e.g., three quick squeezes on the body of the card), or any combination of those. 
         [0019]    All practical manner of wearable or carryable card holders are contemplated, including dedicated and non-dedicated card holders. Dedicated card holders, for example, include a plastic covering snugly fitting about an ID card, which might be hung from the neck using a lanyard, or clipped onto a pocket or lapel. Also contemplated are card holders attached to the end of a retractable leash, which might be clipped at the other end to a belt. Contemplated non-dedicated card holders includes a wallet, a money clip, a cell phone cover having a space for an ID card, a business card holder, a headband or arm band, or even a pants or jacket pocket. 
         [0020]    Some contemplated embodiments include a key ring, key bag or other key holder that includes or attaches one or more of the position identification, 2-way communication or panic control feature. For example, a key ring could couple an identification card and a separate card or other device that holds the 2-way communication capability. 
         [0021]    Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  is a front view of an identification card that contains position identification, 2-way communication, and panic control features. 
           [0023]      FIG. 2  is a front view of a clear plastic card holder, attached to a lanyard, with an identification card inside, where the card holder houses position identification, 2-way communication, and panic control features. 
           [0024]      FIG. 3  is a front view of a wallet with an identification card inside, where the wallet houses position identification, 2-way communication, and panic control features. 
           [0025]      FIG. 4  is a front view of key ring holding an identification card, where the identification card houses position identification, 2-way communication, and panic control features. 
           [0026]      FIG. 5  is a front view of key ring holding an identification card housing at least one of position identification, 2-way communication, and panic control features, and another card housing at least a different one of position identification, 2-way communication, and panic control features. 
           [0027]      FIG. 6  is a rear view of cell phone case for holding identification cards, where the cell phone case houses position identification, 2-way communication, and panic control features. 
           [0028]      FIG. 7  is a front view of an extendable leash for holding an identification card, where the leash is attached at the belt loop, and contains position identification, 2-way communication, and panic control features. 
           [0029]      FIG. 8  is a front view of an arm band that holds an identification card, where the arm band houses position identification, 2-way communication, and panic control features. 
           [0030]      FIG. 9  is a front view of a money clip that holds money and an identification card, where the money clip houses position identification, 2-way communication, and panic control features. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0031]    As used herein, the term “identification card apparatus” means any contemplated identification card holder and any other device(s) mechanically coupled to the identification card holder. 
         [0032]      FIG. 1  generally depicts identification card  100  having features  101 ,  102 , and  103 . Identification card  100  should be interpreted generically as any sort of ID card having a maximum thickness  104  of 7 mm. Contemplated identification cards (ID cards) include, for example, a drivers&#39; license, a school ID card, a social security or other government ID card, a card that permits entry into a space, a passport, a credit card. Contemplated ID cards can be readable in one or more ways, for example, mechanically, electronically, or biologically (e.g., by ordinary vision). 
         [0033]    ID cards in this application are limited to 7 mm maximum thickness as a way of distinguishing cell phones and other devices that are not primarily used as identification, and to more clearly establish that an ID card is indeed a card. ID cards are preferably no more than 6 mm in maximum thickness, more preferably no more than 5 mm in maximum thickness, more preferably no more than 4 mm in maximum thickness, more preferably no more than 3 mm in maximum thickness, and most preferably no more than 2 mm in maximum thickness. 
         [0034]    Features  101 ,  102 , and  103  can be any one of position identification, 2-way communication, and panic control features. 
         [0035]    The position identification feature can utilize any suitable location tracking technology, including for example, global positioning system (GPS), cell tower triangulation, radio-frequency identification (RFID), wireless local area network (WLAN), near field communication (NFC), Bluetooth, Imp™ chip (http://electricimp.com/product/), iBeacon used by Aislelabs (http://www.aislelabs.com/), enhanced 911 (http://www.fcc.gov/encyclopedia/enhanced-9-1-1-wireless-services), etc. GPS would work well in situations where the ID card only needs to be tracked on a large scale, for example, generally tracking a travelling employee&#39;s location within a city or even across the country or world. However, GPS is limited in smaller areas or indoors because it may not be visible to the number of satellites required to acquire the device&#39;s location. Additionally, it may not be as precise in smaller areas. Thus, RFID, WLAN, NFC, Bluetooth, Imp™ chip, iBeacon, or any other suitable location tracking technology for small areas, would be preferable for locations like a hospital, office building, school campus, mall, amusement park, etc. It is also contemplated that the position identification feature would use a combination of the above discussed features. 
         [0036]    The 2-way communication feature can utilize any suitable form of communication technology, including for example, a microphone and speaker for voice communication, a flat speaker, a two-in-one microphone and speaker, a display screen for text communication, a touch screen or keyboard for typing, a speaker to enable sound alerts, a motor to enable vibrating alerts, a light (LED or other suitable light sources) to enable a flashing light alert with a single color or multiple colors for different messages, etc. It is contemplated that the 2-way communication feature would utilize one of these communication technologies or a combination of them. A microphone and speaker combination would allow the user to communicate important information regarding their location, medical needs, whether the attacker has a weapon, and any other necessary information. A display screen for text communication combined with either a keyboard or speech recognition technology (e.g. Dragon, http://www.dragonmobileapps.com/) would also allow for such communication. Using a sound, vibration, or light alert would allow the user to know that help was coming. These types of alerts could be varied such that different sequences or colors gave different messages to the card holder. 
         [0037]    The panic control feature is contemplated to be a physical feature (e.g., buttons, bump, touch screen), a sound receiving feature, (e.g., voice recognition, alarm noise recognition), tactile feature (e.g., three quick squeezes on the body of the card), a light sensor, or any combination of those. The physical or tactile features may be beneficial where the ID card holder would just want to reach into their pocket or otherwise handle the ID card inconspicuously to activate the panic control feature without alerting, and thus aggravating, their attacker. The sound receiving feature could also be set to a keyword or a certain tone of the holder&#39;s voice in order to recognize whether the holder wanted to activate the panic control feature. The sound receiving feature could also be set to recognize alarm sounds, such as a fire alarm, fire truck siren, police siren, or any other alarm sound. The panic control feature could also be used in combination with the position identification feature in such a way that the panic control feature was activated where the card or holder left a certain predetermined geographical area, such as a building or school, a city, a home, etc. 
         [0038]    The ID card apparatus also is contemplated to have a power supply for features  101 ,  102 , and  103 . The position identification feature, two-way communication feature, and panic control feature would be operatively coupled to the power supply. This power supply could be any suitable power supply, including for example, coin-shaped battery cells (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_battery_sizes), a 9 mm solar sensor (http://ur.umich.edu/0910/Feb08_10/742-smallest-commercial-class-solar-powered-sensor-developed), a nano-battery (http://www.gizmocrazed.com/2011/08/worlds-smallest-battery-is-6-times-thinner-than-a-bacterium/), or any other small suitable power source. The power source may also be charged by inductive charging such that the ID card or holder would charge when placed on an inductive charger. The power source could also use the RFID chip to absorb energy from an electromagnetic radiation power base station (http://www.technologyreview.com/news/406878/charging-batteries-without-wires/). The power source could also be traditionally charged by plugging the ID card or holder into a power source such as a wall charger, a computer, a cigarette lighter in a car, etc. 
         [0039]      FIG. 2  generally depicts a clear plastic ID card holder  200  holding an ID card  201 . The clear plastic ID card holder  200  has features  101 ,  102 , and  103 . The clear plastic ID card holder  200  is contemplated to be a stand-alone holder, attached to a lanyard necklace or bracelet, attached to a keychain, or attached to any other suitable carrying mechanism. The clear holder could also be made from any suitable material for holding ID cards. It is also contemplated that the panic control feature could be integrated into the lanyard so that if it is ripped off or breaks, the feature is activated. The two-way communication feature could also be a speaker and microphone on the lanyard necklace such that the quality of the voice communication is higher because the microphone is closer to the mouth. 
         [0040]      FIG. 3  generally depicts a wallet  300  with card slots  301  for other types of cards  302 , a money compartment  303 , and an ID card display slot  304  for holding an ID card  201 . The wallet  300  has features  101 ,  102 , and  103  located on the inside fold with the card slots  301 , however, it is also contemplated that they could be located on any other suitable part of the wallet  300 , including for example, each feature could be located in a different part of the wallet (the panic control feature as a button would be useful if located on the outside of the wallet). 
         [0041]      FIG. 4  generally depicts identification card  100  on a key ring. Identification card  100  is contemplated to have features  101 ,  102 , and  103  on it. (Why do we have this embodiment? It seems like it is just the same as  FIG. 1 , but it has a key ring on it. Should we put some of the features on the key ring?) 
         [0042]      FIG. 5  generally depicts multiple cards on a key ring. ID card  500  and other card  501  have features  101 ,  102 , and  103  located on them. It is contemplated that ID card  500  could have one or more of features  101 ,  102 , and  103  located on it while other card  501  has the feature(s) not on ID card  500 . 
         [0043]      FIG. 6  generally depicts a cell phone case  600  with card slots  601  for an ID card  201  and other cards  603 . The cell phone case  600  is contemplated to have features  101 ,  102 , and  103  on it in any suitable location. The cell phone case  600  could also have a clear display for ID card  201  instead of card slots  601 . 
         [0044]      FIG. 7  generally depicts a retractable badge reel  700  holding an identification card  100 . The retractable badge reel  700  is contemplated to have features  101 ,  102 , and  103  on it. The retractable badge reel  700  is also contemplated to attach to belt loop  701  or any other suitable carrying place, including for example, a purse, an attachable clamp, a lanyard necklace, etc. 
         [0045]      FIG. 8  generally depicts an arm band ID card holder  800  having  70  features  101 ,  102 , and  103  on it. Arm band ID card holder  800  has an ID card holder portion  801  and an arm band portion  802 . Features  101 ,  102 , and  103  are contemplated to be on the holder portion  801 , the arm band portion  802 , or a combination of both. It is also contemplated that the arm band ID card holder  800  could also be located on other body parts such as an ankle, a thigh, a wrist, a torso, etc. 
         [0046]      FIG. 9  generally depicts a money clip  900  holding money and ID card  201 . Money clip  900  is contemplated to have features  101 ,  102 , and  103  on it. It is contemplated that the money clip  900  is made of any suitable material, including for example, plastic, gold, silver, other metals, or any combination of those. 
         [0047]    It is also contemplated that features  101 ,  102 , and  103  could be modular on each of the above described embodiments such that they could be exchangeable and movable within each holder or ID card. 
         [0048]    Unless the context dictates the contrary, all ranges set forth herein should be interpreted as being inclusive of their endpoints and open-ended ranges should be interpreted to include only commercially practical values. Similarly, all lists of values should be considered as inclusive of intermediate values unless the context indicates the contrary. 
         [0049]    As used in the description herein and throughout the claims that follow, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Also, as used in the description herein, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. 
         [0050]    The recitation of ranges of values herein is merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to each separate value falling within the range. Unless otherwise indicated herein, each individual value is incorporated into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods described herein can be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g. “such as”) provided with respect to certain embodiments herein is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element essential to the practice of the invention. 
         [0051]    Groupings of alternative elements or embodiments of the invention disclosed herein are not to be construed as limitations. Each group member can be referred to and claimed individually or in any combination with other members of the group or other elements found herein. One or more members of a group can be included in, or deleted from, a group for reasons of convenience and/or patentability. When any such inclusion or deletion occurs, the specification is herein deemed to contain the group as modified thus fulfilling the written description of all Markush groups used in the appended claims. 
         [0052]    It should be noted that any language directed to a computer or processor should be read to include any suitable combination of computing devices, including servers, interfaces, systems, databases, agents, peers, engines, controllers, or other types of computing devices operating individually or collectively. One should appreciate the computing devices comprise a processor configured to execute software instructions stored on a tangible, non-transitory computer readable storage medium (e.g., hard drive, solid state drive, RAM, flash, ROM, etc.). The software instructions preferably configure the computing device to provide the roles, responsibilities, or other functionality as discussed below with respect to the disclosed apparatus. In especially preferred embodiments, the various servers, systems, databases, or interfaces exchange data using standardized protocols or algorithms, possibly based on HTTP, HTTPS, AES, public-private key exchanges, web service APIs, known financial transaction protocols, or other electronic information exchanging methods. Data exchanges preferably are conducted over a packet-switched network, the Internet, LAN, WAN, VPN, or other type of packet switched network. 
         [0053]    It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those already described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims. Moreover, in interpreting both the specification and the claims, all terms should be interpreted in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the terms “comprises” and “comprising” should be interpreted as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other elements, components, or steps that are not expressly referenced. Where the specification claims refers to at least one of something selected from the group consisting of A, B, C . . . and N, the text should be interpreted as requiring only one element from the group, not A plus N, or B plus N, etc.