GB2248330A - Child/article monitoring system - Google Patents

Child/article monitoring system Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2248330A
GB2248330A GB9020225A GB9020225A GB2248330A GB 2248330 A GB2248330 A GB 2248330A GB 9020225 A GB9020225 A GB 9020225A GB 9020225 A GB9020225 A GB 9020225A GB 2248330 A GB2248330 A GB 2248330A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
mobile unit
signal
base unit
unit
signals
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB9020225A
Other versions
GB9020225D0 (en
Inventor
David William Seeman
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to GB9020225A priority Critical patent/GB2248330A/en
Publication of GB9020225D0 publication Critical patent/GB9020225D0/en
Publication of GB2248330A publication Critical patent/GB2248330A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
    • G08B21/00—Alarms responsive to a single specified undesired or abnormal condition and not otherwise provided for
    • G08B21/02—Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
    • G08B21/0202—Child monitoring systems using a transmitter-receiver system carried by the parent and the child
    • G08B21/023—Power management, e.g. system sleep and wake up provisions
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
    • G08B21/00—Alarms responsive to a single specified undesired or abnormal condition and not otherwise provided for
    • G08B21/02—Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
    • G08B21/0202—Child monitoring systems using a transmitter-receiver system carried by the parent and the child
    • G08B21/0288—Attachment of child unit to child/article

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Child & Adolescent Psychology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Emergency Management (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Emergency Alarm Devices (AREA)

Abstract

The monitoring system comprises a mobile unit which can be worn as watch strap or necklace by a child, the unit being in communication with a base unit in a defined area, the base unit being arranged to sound an alarm if the mobile unit leaves the defined area. <IMAGE>

Description

MONITORING SYSTEMS This invention relates to monitoring systems.
Keeping children under constant supervision is an onerous, if not impossible, task. Jobs about the house, and attention to personal matters, for example, interrupt supervision. As children grow older they must, in any case, be given a degree of freedom.
In these circumstances, a fear which haunts many parents is that while unsupervised a child will wander off into danger or be abducted. This risk is particularly acute at leisure times, e.g.
when children are near woods, canals, etc.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention there is provided a monitoring system comprising a base unit and a mobile unit which may be worn or carried, the base unit being arranged to detect whether the mobile unit leaves a predetermined area and to signal an alarm condition if the mobile unit leaves that area.
In use a child wears the mobile unit on a wrist strap or a necklace or carries it in a pocket. If the child leaves the predetermined area the parent or supervisor is alerted by the alarm signal which may be obtrusive.
Preferably, the mobile unit is a transmitter and the base unit is a receiver arranged to receive signals transmitted by the mobile unit and to signal an alarm condition if the mobile unit leaves the predetermined area.
The transmissions may utilise any suitable medium for example radio signals, infra red signals or ultrasonic or sub sonic signals.
In a most preferred form the mobile unit is in the form of and also functions as a wrist watch which a child will willingly wear and a potential abductor will not notice.
In one form the base unit senses the magnitude or amplitude of the signal received from the mobile unit and signals an alarm condition if the magnitude or amplitude is less than a predetermined threshold which may preferably be set by a control or key pad on the base unit.
The alarm condition may be signalled audibly and/or visually, e.g. by a siren and/or by a flashing light.
In order to conserve the power supply of the mobile unit, the signal is preferably transmitted periodically, in which case the receiver signals an alarm condition when one or more of the periodic signals has a magnitude or amplitude less than the threshold. Especially in this case the signal may be pulse modulation encoded so that the receiver will not respond to unintended signals. One base unit may be arranged to respond to a plurality of different pulse coded signals, so as to monitor more than one child. If two mobile units transmitted the same signal, the base unit would not necessarily signal the absence of one of them from the predetermined area.
In another embodiment, the area may be surrounded by a very short range receiving loop, the base unit being arranged to signal an alarm condition if a signal is received from the mobile unit. In a yet other arrangement, the area may be surrounded by a transmitting loop and the mobile unit includes a tuned circuit designed to load the transmitting loop sufficiently to be detectable at the base unit. Detection of a load on the loop causes the base unit to signal an alarm condition.
In other arrangements the mobile unit may respond to periodic transmissions from the base unit, to transmit a reply, i.e. to transpond. The delay between the transmission by the base unit and the receipt of the reply, is representative of the distance between the two units. If the delay is greater than a predetermined time, the base unit signals an alarm condition.
The system may be arranged to operate in a circle about 8 to 30 metres in radius from the base unit.
As described the system is applicable to a child, but it can also be used for animals, e.g household pets or valuable livestock.
In addition it could be applied to inanimate objects as in the case of a car or bicycle which is parked outside a house; the system can be used to signal to the driver when in the house with the base unit that his vehicle has been moved beyond a predetermined limit.

Claims (11)

1. A monitoring system comprising a base unit and a mobile unit which may be worn or carried, the base unit being arranged to detect whether the mobile unit leaves a predetermined area and to signal an alarm condition if the mobile unit leaves that area.
2 A system according to Claim 1, wherein the mobile unit is mounted on a wrist strap or a necklace.
3. A system according to Claim l or 2, wherein the mobile unit is a transmitter and the base unit is a receiver arranged to receive signals transmitted by the mobile unit and to signal an alarm condition if the mobile unit leaves the predetermined area.
4. A system according to any preceding Claim, wherein the transmission means comprises radio signals, infra red signals or ultrasonic or sub sonic signals.
5. A system according to any preceding Claim, wherein the base unit is arranged to sense the magnitude or amplitude of the signal received from the mobile unit and signal an alarm condition if the magnitude or amplitude is less than a predetermined threshold, which may be set by a control or key pad on the base unit.
6. A system according to Claim 5, wherein the mobile unit is arranged to transmit a signal periodically, and the receiver to signal an alarm condition when one or more of the periodic signals has a magnitude or amplitude less than the threshold.
7. A system according to Claim 5 or 6, wherein the signal is pulse modulation encoded so that the receiver will not respond to unintended signals.
8. A system according to any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the area is surrounded by a very short range receiving loop, the base unit being arranged to signal an alarm condition if a signal is received from the mobile unit.
9. A system according to any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the area is surrounded by a transmitting loop and the mobile unit includes a tuned circuit designed to load the transmitting loop sufficiently to be detectable at the base unit.
10. A system according to any of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the mobile unit is arranged to respond to periodic transmissions from the base unit.
11. A monitoring system substantially as described.
GB9020225A 1990-09-14 1990-09-14 Child/article monitoring system Withdrawn GB2248330A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9020225A GB2248330A (en) 1990-09-14 1990-09-14 Child/article monitoring system

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9020225A GB2248330A (en) 1990-09-14 1990-09-14 Child/article monitoring system

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9020225D0 GB9020225D0 (en) 1990-10-24
GB2248330A true GB2248330A (en) 1992-04-01

Family

ID=10682293

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB9020225A Withdrawn GB2248330A (en) 1990-09-14 1990-09-14 Child/article monitoring system

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2248330A (en)

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2275804A (en) * 1993-03-06 1994-09-07 Manjit Singh Bains Child alarm/monitor
GB2276025A (en) * 1993-03-13 1994-09-14 Adam Peter Barwell Radio tag alarm system
GB2279170A (en) * 1993-05-04 1994-12-21 Trevor Newton Electronic tagging system
GB2285220A (en) * 1993-12-28 1995-07-05 Gabriele Tombesi Ultrasonic anti-allergen apparatus
GB2315898A (en) * 1996-07-31 1998-02-11 Rusty Maguire Vicinity monitoring system
EP0989532A1 (en) * 1998-09-23 2000-03-29 Custom Engineering S.r.l. Electronic alarm for looking after a child
EP0993068A1 (en) * 1998-10-08 2000-04-12 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Mobile wireless device
FR2813422A1 (en) * 2000-08-29 2002-03-01 Monique Mouroux Alarm system for children has bracelet transmitter to mobile phone with vibration signal
US6512457B2 (en) 1999-11-15 2003-01-28 Hector Irizarry Monitoring device adapted for use with an electronic article surveillance system
GB2383666A (en) * 2001-12-28 2003-07-02 Alan Dodds Proximity alarm and positioning system
GB2392537A (en) * 2002-08-27 2004-03-03 William Barrington Lawes Distance monitoring alarm

Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1417086A (en) * 1973-05-22 1975-12-10 Richard M Peck Methods and apparatus for controlling animals
GB1520196A (en) * 1976-05-27 1978-08-02 Holzer W Alarm and theft prevention apparatus
US4136338A (en) * 1977-03-08 1979-01-23 James D. Pauls & Associates, Ltd. Perimeter alarm apparatus
GB2071956A (en) * 1980-01-08 1981-09-23 Optomech Electronic Co Electronic alarm device
GB2112600A (en) * 1981-09-02 1983-07-20 Kunwar Chander Jeet Singh Out of proximity alarm system
EP0093463A1 (en) * 1982-04-29 1983-11-09 Michael Givaty System, method and apparatus for protecting objects, individuals and entities
US4593273A (en) * 1984-03-16 1986-06-03 Narcisse Bernadine O Out-of-range personnel monitor and alarm
GB2182183A (en) * 1985-10-26 1987-05-07 Robert Peter Andow Child vicinity radio alarm system
GB2218245A (en) * 1988-05-03 1989-11-08 Shorrock Ltd Radio tag alarm system

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB1417086A (en) * 1973-05-22 1975-12-10 Richard M Peck Methods and apparatus for controlling animals
GB1520196A (en) * 1976-05-27 1978-08-02 Holzer W Alarm and theft prevention apparatus
US4136338A (en) * 1977-03-08 1979-01-23 James D. Pauls & Associates, Ltd. Perimeter alarm apparatus
GB2071956A (en) * 1980-01-08 1981-09-23 Optomech Electronic Co Electronic alarm device
GB2112600A (en) * 1981-09-02 1983-07-20 Kunwar Chander Jeet Singh Out of proximity alarm system
EP0093463A1 (en) * 1982-04-29 1983-11-09 Michael Givaty System, method and apparatus for protecting objects, individuals and entities
US4593273A (en) * 1984-03-16 1986-06-03 Narcisse Bernadine O Out-of-range personnel monitor and alarm
GB2182183A (en) * 1985-10-26 1987-05-07 Robert Peter Andow Child vicinity radio alarm system
GB2218245A (en) * 1988-05-03 1989-11-08 Shorrock Ltd Radio tag alarm system

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2275804A (en) * 1993-03-06 1994-09-07 Manjit Singh Bains Child alarm/monitor
GB2276025A (en) * 1993-03-13 1994-09-14 Adam Peter Barwell Radio tag alarm system
GB2279170A (en) * 1993-05-04 1994-12-21 Trevor Newton Electronic tagging system
GB2285220A (en) * 1993-12-28 1995-07-05 Gabriele Tombesi Ultrasonic anti-allergen apparatus
GB2315898A (en) * 1996-07-31 1998-02-11 Rusty Maguire Vicinity monitoring system
EP0989532A1 (en) * 1998-09-23 2000-03-29 Custom Engineering S.r.l. Electronic alarm for looking after a child
EP0993068A1 (en) * 1998-10-08 2000-04-12 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Mobile wireless device
US6611504B1 (en) 1998-10-08 2003-08-26 Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Mobile wireless device
US6512457B2 (en) 1999-11-15 2003-01-28 Hector Irizarry Monitoring device adapted for use with an electronic article surveillance system
FR2813422A1 (en) * 2000-08-29 2002-03-01 Monique Mouroux Alarm system for children has bracelet transmitter to mobile phone with vibration signal
GB2383666A (en) * 2001-12-28 2003-07-02 Alan Dodds Proximity alarm and positioning system
GB2392537A (en) * 2002-08-27 2004-03-03 William Barrington Lawes Distance monitoring alarm
GB2392537B (en) * 2002-08-27 2007-03-28 William Barrington Lawes Monitoring system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9020225D0 (en) 1990-10-24

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Legal Events

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WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)