Patent ID: 8169328

Claim:
A proximity monitoring and locating system comprising: a wearable unit including: a transmitter configured to send a signal, a receiver, and a transponder outputting a transponder signal when activated; a proximity detector including: a receiver for receiving the wearable unit transmitter signal, a processing subsystem configured to signal an alert if the wearable unit transmitter signal strength is below a pre-established minimum, and a tracking subsystem configured to assist in locating the wearable unit based on the signal strength of the wearable unit transmitter signal; a control subsystem responsive to an indication that the alert has been signaled, the control subsystem including: an RF transmitter configured to transmit a transponder activation signal, an RF antenna network for relaying the transponder activation signal to the receiver of the wearable unit to activate the transponder thereof; and a tracking unit including a receiver configured to receive the transponder signal of the wearable unit to locate the wearable unit.