| Apparatus and method for determining the attitude of a remotely monitored device -> Monitor Keywords |
|
|
 
Apparatus and method for determining the attitude of a remotely monitored deviceRelated Patent Categories: Telecommunications, Wireless Distribution System, Receiver For Satellite BroadcastApparatus and method for determining the attitude of a remotely monitored device description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070042707, Apparatus and method for determining the attitude of a remotely monitored device. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for remote tracking and monitoring of persons and more particularly to attitude determination of a remotely monitored device which is periodically or permanently attached to the body of a monitored person. [0003] 2. Discussion of the Related Art [0004] Currently, remote tracking and monitoring of persons are achieved via the utilization of radio and cellular technologies. Typically, a body-worn electronic tag and an optional tracking, processing and reporting device that communicates with the electronic tag, are attached to the monitored person's body, where the tag or the associated tracking device is periodically or continuously broadcasts a radio signal to a local or remote monitoring station via a cellular site. The signal includes tracking information in encoded format where the information could contain one or more types of tracking data, such as location data, and/or device attitude data where the device is periodically or permanently attached to the body of the monitored person. Location data indicates the geographical location of the monitored device while attitude data indicates the position of the monitored device relative to a frame of reference, such as the vertical-horizontal axis. In accordance with the specific application, the apparatus could be adapted to handle different types of relevant tracking information. Thus, for example, a legally movement-restricted or location-restricted person, such as a convicted criminal offender under house arrest, could be monitored by the collection of both location data and attitude data in order to make sure that location-restriction or movement-restriction order is properly maintained [0005] Location data could be determined either in accordance with the identification of the signaling path, through cellular or Global Positioning System satellites (GPS)-assisted triangulation techniques, or other location-finding techniques while device attitude data could be collected by specialized electromechanical devices such as inertial measurement devices, or tip-over switches. [0006] Device attitude represents the position or the arrangement of either a non-attached or a body-attached device when situated in space relative to the vertical-horizontal axis frame. In remote personal tracking and monitoring systems a device attitude detector and indicator is an electromechanical apparatus that detects the attitude of a non-attached or body-attached device relative to a frame of reference, such as the vertical-horizontal axis, and informs the monitoring station of the detected attitude. The device attitude detector apparatus is typically used for detecting and indicating whether the non-attached monitored device or the body-attached device and therefore the body of the monitored person to which the device is attached is in a standing position (vertical) or in a lying down position (horizontal). The known instruments used for attitude detection are multi-axis motion sensors, such as traditional gyroscopes (gyros), inertial measurement units (IMUs) or solid-state miniature tri-axial gyroscopes. In some remote personal tracking and monitoring systems 3 degrees of freedom motion sensors are used to assist in determining if the unit is in motion. Determining whether the unit is in motion is important from a number of reasons. One of the reasons is to determine the location of the tracked individual through receiving GPS data associated with the individual location. Another reason is to conserve battery power by changing the GPS mode to a battery conserving mode if the individual is not in motion. There are number disadvantages in the above now used devices. One disadvantage lies in the sensitivity of such sensors, whereby each movement would trigger the device to determine that the individual being tracked is moving, while in fact, such individual has not moved at all. Another disadvantage lies in the fact that now used sensors, which do not comprise inertial detectors, are not likely to detect very slow movement. Thus, an offender may move around very slowly without activating the GPS and thus will be able to change his position without detection. As a result using these devices in human personal monitoring where the requirements for attitude information are considerably simpler is not cost effective and is too cumbersome. There is therefore a need in the art to provide a simple and cost effective mechanism which will be effective in determining when an individual being monitored using a GPS tracking and monitoring unit has moved from one location to another, while activating the unit's GPS only when necessary. SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION [0007] One aspect of the present invention regards an apparatus for the determination of the attitude of a device permanently or periodically attached to the body of a remotely monitored person relative to the vertical or horizontal axis frame. The apparatus comprises: a first tip-over switch to measure the number of degrees of inclination of the device non- attached or attached to the body of the monitored person relative to the vertical or the horizontal axis and to generate and output a value according to a pre-defined first number of degrees of inclination, a second tip-over switch to measure the degrees of inclination of the device non-attached or attached to the body of the monitored person relative to the vertical or the horizontal axis and to generate and output a value according to a pre-defined second number of degrees of inclination and a device attitude calculator module to receive the value generated by the first tip-over switch, to receive the value generated by the second tip-over switch, to collect the values received from the second tip-over switch, to manipulate a tip-over transitions counter, to manipulate a tip-over counter, and to perform a device attitude change calculation in order to determine the orientation of the device non-attached or attached to the body of the monitored person. [0008] A second aspect of the present invention regards a method for the determination of the attitude of a remotely monitored device non-attached or attached to the body of a monitored person relative to the vertical or horizontal axis frame. The method comprises: obtaining a pre-defined number of state readouts of a first tip-over switch to determine the number of tip-over state changes as measured by the first tip-over switch during a pre-defined period, obtaining a tip-over state reading of a second tip-over switch to determine the tip-over state of the second tip-over switch during a pre-defined period, manipulating a tip-over counter during a pre-defined period based on the collected number of tip-over state changes of the first tip-over switch, the tip-over state of the second tip-over switch and the pre-loaded parameter values, and performing device attitude change calculation during the pre-defined period based on the value of the tip-over counter, the tip-over state of the first tip-over switch, the number of tip-over state changes of the second tip-over switch during the pre-defined period and the value of the pre-loaded tip-over parameters. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0009] The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which: [0010] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of a system environment in which the proposed apparatus and method could operate, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; [0011] FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of the tracking and reporting device, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; [0012] FIG. 3A is side view of the first tip-over switch, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; [0013] FIG. 3B is a side view of the second tip-over switch, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; [0014] FIG. 4 is a simplified flowchart illustrating the method for processing the tip-over data in association with the tip-over counter, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; [0015] FIG. 5 is illustrates the tip-over counter scale and the device attitude change calculations, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; [0016] FIG. 6 is a simplified flow chart of illustrating an exemplary method for the application of the proposed apparatus, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT [0017] The present invention provides a tracking and monitoring apparatus and method to be operated mainly in law enforcement and offender tracking and monitoring, which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art. The present system can be used in the context of tracking of individuals in other settings. [0018] The invention provides for a "Virtual Docking Station" mechanism, that enables full control over offenders or tracked individuals in situations where GPS reception is not available or where GPS usage and energy consumption should be limited through providing a combination of two tip-over switches and a controller. In remote personal tracking and monitoring systems a "Virtual Docking Station" is an electromechanical apparatus that detects the attitude of the unit of a monitored person relative to a frame of reference, such as the vertical-horizontal axis, and informs the monitoring station of the detected attitude. The invention is typically used for detecting and indicating if the unit is horizontal or vertical such that it enables an offender the ability to put the unit to rest (rest mode) without the assistance of an actual docking station. In addition, where the GPS unit and the tip over switches are placed in a single piece unit the apparatus of the present invention is capable of detecting and indicating whether the monitored person is standing (vertical position) or lying down (horizontal position). The apparatus and method of the present invention comprises at least two tip-over switches (inclinometers). Tip-over switches detect inclination or bend from the vertical position or measure angular tilt with respect to the horizontal plane. Tip-over switches could be oriented vertically or horizontally and are provided with diverse tilt angle ranges. A tip-over switch supplies angular-specific data regarding the inclination of the monitored body from the vertical plane in order to enable some pre-defined response. Similarly, when used in conjunction with a security personnel monitoring application, the tip-over switch provides indication regarding the orientation of the monitored unit only, such that the unit at some point in time is in vertical or in horizontal position. The use of the at least two tip-over switches in combination with a controller enables the determination whether the unit worn or carried by a monitored individual is in motion or not. The determination as to the movement is deduced from the input received from the two tip-over switches, each having a different inclination determining capabilities. Thus, without using a motion sensor, such as a 3 degree motion detector and without the use of an inertial detector the apparatus and method of the present invention provide the position of the monitored individual and whether such individual has changed his position. [0019] Referring to FIG. 1 that illustrates an exemplary system environment 10 in which the proposed apparatus and method could operate, in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The system environment 10 constitutes a remote monitoring system preferably for law enforcement and specifically configured for remotely tracking and monitoring a plurality of persons, such as movement-restricted and location-restricted criminal offenders, persons charged and released on bail, other offenders or suspected offenders placed on a monitoring watch, and the like. The system environment 10 includes a monitored person 12, a cellular base station or cellular repeater 26, a central monitoring device 28 and several Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites 12, 14, 16, and 17. An electronic tag is configured as a tamper-proof, optionally non-removable, body-worn portable tracking device 20. The electronic tag 20 is attached permanently to the body of the monitored person 18. A body-worn removable portable tracking and reporting device 21 is periodically attached to the body of the monitored person 18. The tracking and reporting device 21 includes a Global Positioning System (GPS) signal handler unit 22 for communication with the Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites 12, 14, 16, and 17 and for the processing of the Global Positioning System (GPS) signals and a cellular signal handler 24 for the handling of a wireless cellular signal including monitoring information and for subsequent wireless cellular communication of the wireless cellular signal to the central monitoring device 28 via the cellular base station/repeater 26. The connection between the central monitoring device 28 and the cellular base station/repeater 26 can be performed wirelessly 27 via the air medium or via a land line 29. The non-removable, body-worn portable tracking device (electronic tag) 20 is in short-range wireless communication with the tracking and reporting device 21. The function of the electronic tag 20 is to communicate with the tracking and reporting device 21 by sending wireless signal indicating the status of the tag 20, such as reporting on attempts for the removal of the tag 20 from the body of the monitored person 18 or reporting potential tampering efforts with the tag 20. The GPS signal handler and processor 22 of the tracking and reporting device 21 is responsible for determining the geographical location of the monitored person 18 via the Global Positioning System (GPS) that includes the GPS satellites 12, 14, 16, and 17. The cellular signal handler 24 encodes monitoring data or alert data received from the electronic tag 20 and the GPS signal handler 22 into a cellular signal which is subsequently communicated to the central monitoring device 28. The electronic tag 22 and the cellular signal handler could be installed in two separate devices or could be installed in a single device. Note should be taken that in a realistic environment a plurality of monitored persons associated with a plurality of electronic tags and tracking and reporting devices could be tracked by one or more central monitoring devices via one or more cellular base station. [0020] Still referring to FIG. 1 in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the monitoring information encoded into the cellular signals includes tracking and status data provided by the electronic tag 20, location data provided by the GPS signal handler 22 and device attitude data provided by a device attitude monitor (not shown) incorporated into the tracking and reporting device 21. A more detailed description of tracking and reporting device 21 will be provided herein under in association with the following drawings. Continue reading about Apparatus and method for determining the attitude of a remotely monitored device... Full patent description for Apparatus and method for determining the attitude of a remotely monitored device Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Apparatus and method for determining the attitude of a remotely monitored device patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Apparatus and method for determining the attitude of a remotely monitored device or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: System and methods of radio interference based localization in sensor networks Next Patent Application: Audio device having integrated satellite receiver and fm transmitter functionalities Industry Class: Telecommunications ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Apparatus and method for determining the attitude of a remotely monitored device patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.5577 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Daimler Chrysler , DirecTV , Exxonmobil Chemical Company , Goodyear , Intel , Kyocera Wireless , 174 |
 * Protect your Inventions * US Patent Office filing 
PATENT INFO |
|
