GB2502994A

GB2502994A - Checkpoint monitoring unit

Info

Publication number: GB2502994A
Application number: GB201210408A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Nigel Reginald Marsay; William Anthony Gray
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2012-06-12
Filing date: 2012-06-12
Publication date: 2013-12-18
Also published as: GB201210408D0

Abstract

The present invention relates to a checkpoint monitoring system that periodically monitors attendance of personnel at specified locations. The system comprises a checkpoint monitoring unit that transmits an alert signal through a mobile phone network to a mobile phone if it has been determined that a user has not reset the monitoring unit at a specified location within a predetermined time period. To prevent the alert signal being sent, a user must attend the checkpoint and reset the monitoring unit. The monitoring unit may comprise a user settable countdown timer, wherein the alert is sent once the timer reaches zero. A counter may be provided to display the number of times a monitoring unit has not been reset within the predetermined time period. Furthermore, a warning message may be sent to the mobile device prior to the end of the predetermined time period.

Description

I

Checkpoint Monitoring unit This Invention relates to a checkpoint monitoring unit, where personnel who are on duty are required to be at key locations at certain times, for example a night watchman on a building site who needs to check that equipment is still operational, and that the area is safe and secure. And if for example it is required that a night nurse, is to check patients on a ward every hour, this checkpoint monitoring unit, would help with tightening up the punctuality.

This is how this system could work in a practical environment, if a night watchman has to check certain areas of a building site say every 1 hour, The checkpoint monitoring unit could be set by a moderator by switching on the unit, which would be placed at that given location, with the master key lock (swi) and setting the counter to the appropriate count down time, as indicated in figure 1, or indeed if the countdown time was pre programmed within the micro-controller (IC!), just turning on the master key lock (swl) .vould activate the countdown procedure.

The micro-controller acknowledges, that the count has reached zero, and subsequently puts the micro-controller in to a mode we shall call the threshold zone, this threshold zone, is pre programmed in the micro-controllers firmware, which may be a 15 minutes time delay, within this time delay alerts may be triggered to remind the workers that the threshold time has arrived, so thcy can deactivate the circuit by pressing the reset button (sw2) these alerts could be light emitting diodes, flashing, or buzzers sounding on the checkpoint monitoring unit itself, or a gsm signal sent to a workers mobile phone in the form of an snis text message, as a reminder.

This 15 minute window reminds workers that the threshold time has arrived, so they can go to the checkpoint monitoring unit and press the reset switch (sw2) and hence has been at the checkpoint within the set time limits. No gsm signal is sent to the missed checkpoint receiver which is external to the checkpoint monitoring unit, and no tog on the checkpoint monitoring unit is recorded either. The countdown then starts again and repeats the sequence.

If a checkpoint has been missed after the 15 minutes threshold zone, because workers haven't pressed the reset switch (sw2) in time, this would be because they are not at the checkpoint, so an sms text message or phone call is sent automatically, through the transmission device instal led in the checkpoint monitoring unit, which could be a gsm dialler modern, this then is logged in real time to an external device which could simply be a mobile phone. Also a log is recorded on the checkpoint monitoring unit in the form of an up counter (counter 2) which indicates also that a checkpoint has been missed.

The program will then start over again and countdown. -A battery backup system is employed in case the main power is interrupted.

Claims

Claims 1. A bheckpoint monitoring unit, to send a transmission signal automatically to a chosen receiver device, only if it has not been reset by human intervention.
2. A Checkpoint monitoring unit, according to claim 1 to send a radio transmission signal automatically to a chosen receiver device or through a hardwire cable.
3. A Checkpoint monitoring unit according to claim 1, could have an end user settable countdown timer or an internally programmed countdown timer.
4. A checkpoint monitoring unit according to claim 1, could use a micro-controller to acknowledge, that the countdown timer has reached zero.
5. A checkpoint monitoring unit according to claim 4, could use, leds, sounders,switches, counters, gsm communication devices and other devices as forms of reminders.
6. A checkpoint monitoring unit according to claim 1, could use a mobile device as a receiver such as a mobile phone to log the event in real time.
7. A checkpoint monitoring unit according to claim 5, could also use an onboard counter in the form of a seven segment display.
8. A checkpoint monitoring unit according to claim 5 could use a push switch, or another sensory device or even biometric methods to reset the unit.AMENDMENTS TO THE CLAIMS HAVE BEEN FILED AS FOLLOWSClaims 1. A Checkpoint moniloring unit, to send a transmission signal through the mobile phone network or via the marine radio network automatically after a given length of time, this event can only be stopped by human intervention whereby resetting the checkpoint monitoring unit A mobile device would be a receiver such as a Mobile phone to log the event in real time, this could Receive gps coordinates if required 2. A Checkpoint monitoring unit would have an end user settable countdown timer or an internally programmed countdown timer 3. A checkpoint monitoring unit would use a micro-controller to acknowledge, that the countdown timer has reached zero, and subsequently send the mobile alert, only if the checkpoint monitoring unit has not been reset * ..4. A checkpoint monitoring unit would also use an onboard counter in the form of a seven segment display to also log the missed event 5. A checkpoint monitoring unit would use a push switch or biometric methods to reset the unit 6. A checkpoint monitoring unit Would use pre warning measures that the threshold time is arriving, before the main transmission signal issent