BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Herein, for clarity, the Electronic Proximity Alarm Device is referred to as ‘EPAD’; a court ordered Electronic Proximity Alarm Device is referred to as a ‘Unit’ and a non-court ordered Electronic Proximity Alarm Device is referred to as a ‘Model’.
The Electronic Proximity Alarm Device (EPAD) will be better understood from the following descriptions thereof in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:
FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of the EPAD Unit being worn by a man in relation to a corresponding EPAD Model atop a barn-shaped building, another corresponding EPAD Model atop another building and a satellite as further related to radio transmissions to and from the related objects;
FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing of a Unit being worn by a man and an EPAD Model being worn by a woman as related to radio transmissions to and from the two Devices as well as to a third party Fixed-in-Place EPAD Model attached to the ceiling of an interior space.
FIG. 3 is a schematic drawing of an EPAD Unit being worn by a man as related to radio transmissions to and from radio transmission relay towers and as to transmissions to and from said relay towers and a third party EPAD Model atop a building;
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
As shown in FIG. 1, the EPAD Unit (20) circumscribing the wrist of a man continuously or intermittently transmits and receives radio signals (22) as does a corresponding Fixed-in Place EPAD Model (24) in order to determine whether the distance between the two devices are within a given minimum allowable distance.
Additionally and redundantly, both devices continuously or intermittently transmit and receive radio signals (26) to and from a Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite (30) in order to determine the same information.
In the event that the EPAD Unit (20) is within the given minimum allowable distance of the Fixed-in-Place EPAD Model (24), both devices will automatically trigger alarms and messages signifying a proximity breach to both devices via transmissions (22) and transmissions (26) to third party corresponding devices (28).
As shown in FIG. 2, the EPAD Unit (32) circumscribing the upper arm of a man continuously or intermittently transmits and receives radio signals (34) as does a corresponding EPAD Model (36) circumscribing the wrist of a women in order to determine whether the distance between the two devices are within a given minimum allowable distance.
In the event that the EPAD Unit (32) is within the given minimum allowable distance of the EPAD Model (36), both devices will automatically trigger alarms and messages signifying a proximity breach to both devices via transmissions (38) and to and from a third party corresponding EPAD Model (40).
As shown in FIG. 3, the Fixed-in-Place EPAD Model (42) atop a building continuously or intermittently transmits and receives radio signals (44) to and from a Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite (46) for the purpose of determining the location of an EPAD Unit circumscribing a man's wrist (56).
Additionally and redundantly, the same Fixed-in-Place Model (42) continuously or intermittently transmits and receives radio signals (48) to and from radio relay towers (50) that in turn continuously or intermittently transmit and receive transmissions (54) to and from the EPAD Unit circumscribing the man's wrist (56).
The schematic drawings are for illustrative purposes only and do not in any way limit the utilization, variations of use or means, methods and systems that are available within the full and broadest scope of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Comprising Electronic and Mechanical Components
The current invention is comprised of a housing that covers and protects one or more electronic and mechanical components that have been known, patented and published prior to Sep. 16, 1985 and that are assembled and connected with electrical wiring circuitry to allow them to function synergistically within the housing while utilizing means, methods, systems and programs that have also been known, patented and published prior to Sep. 16, 1985; said components, means, methods, systems and programs being comprised of, but not limited to one or more of each of the following:
- 1. Afore-mentioned housing;
- 2. Alphanumeric Pressure Sensitive Keyboard;
- 3. Alphanumeric Pager:
- 4. Atomic Clock;
- 5. Computer Hardware and Software;
- 6. Digital camera with or without video capability;
- 7. Electric circuitry;
- 8. Electrical Power, body-movement Energy Device;
- 9. Electrical Power, rechargeable Voltaic Cell;
- 10. Electronic Audio Alarm Device;
- 11. Electronic Calculator;
- 12. Electronic Mail;
- 13. Electronic Programmable on or off switches;
- 14. Electronic Proximity Device;
- 15. Engraving;
- 16. Global Positioning System;
- 17. Inquiry Button, Pressure Sensitive;
- 18. Internet access;
- 19. Liquid Crystal Display;
- 20. Microprocessor
- 21. Pager with Escalating Audio Signal Level;
- 22. Panic Button, Pressure Sensitive;
- 23. Radio devices including, but not limited to transmitters, receivers, antennas microphones and speakers utilizing radio frequencies;
- 24. Solid State Talking Device;
- 25. Touchscreen;
- 26. Vibration Pager, Mechanical Vibration Generator, Vibration System and Method;
- 27. Wireless Alarm System; and
- 28. Wireless Messages and Signals;
Electronic Proximity Alarm Device or ‘EPAD’
Herein, a single court ordered Electronic Proximity Alarm Device is referred to as ‘Unit’ and a privately owned Electronic Proximity Alarm Device is referred to as ‘Model’.
Static Physical Properties
All mechanical components of the invention has been known, manufactured, advertised, published, merchandised or patented in one form or another prior to Sep. 16, 1985, thereby conclusively proving their uniqueness at the time they were patented as well as their manufacturability and all such components comprised in the current art may be purchased on the open market in one form or another and may be modified or ordered from manufacturers currently manufacturing such components.
Non-Mechanical Properties
Each non-mechanical component of the invention has been known, manufactured, advertised, published, merchandised or patented in one form or another prior to Sep. 16, 1985, thereby conclusively proving their uniqueness at the time they were patented as well as their production capability and all such components comprised in the current art may be purchased on the open market in one form or another and may be modified or ordered from producers of such components.
Adaptation and Utilization
The Electronic Proximity Alarm Device invention has been conceived as a means, method and system that is adaptable to unlimited utilization for the purpose of shielding and protecting persons at risk of being victims of habitual criminals and for the purpose of improving law enforcement operations and effectiveness in that regard.
Assembly and Production
Each Unit and Model of the invention is comprised of mechanical and non-mechanical components that must be assembled by one skilled in the art of such assembly, all other aspects of the invention having been produced by those persons skilled in the art of making and using said components prior to Sep. 16, 1985 and there are hundreds of thousands, if not millions of persons in the world that are qualified to physically assemble the mechanical components comprising the invention and the same is true as to persons who are sufficiently skilled in computer programming to produce operationally efficient programs required to render the invention useful for the purposes intended.
Diversity and Explanatory Relationships
Each Unit and Model of the Electronic Proximity Alarm Device is designed, constructed and programmed to meet general, common and specific needs and circumstances as exampled by, but not limited to the following:
- 1. There are at least three types of Electronic Proximity Alarm Devices including, but not limited to Mobile, Transportable and Fixed-in-Place types;
- 2. Mobile Units and Mobile Models are to be worn, Transportable Models are to be carried and Fixed-in-Place Models are to be mounted on fixed objects;
- 3. Models vary as to housings, components, types, sizes, numbers, functions, circuitry, programs and appearance;
- 4. Court-ordered Units are equipped with mechanical locks that are operated electronically by persons authorized to do so, but they are simplistic and do not include cell phones, cameras, liquid crystal displays, touchscreen displays, keyboards, pagers and inquiry or panic buttons, whereas Models may or may not have a lock, but if they have one, it may be operated by the owner, guardians or parents;
- 5. Personal Models may contain virtually all available components and may be quite attractive, whereas transportable and fixed-in-place Models may be less attractive.
- 6. The audio feature may be electronically turned on or off at the discretion of the law enforcement officials wearing or carrying a mobile or transportable Model;
- 7. Fixed-in-place Models do not have vibrator alarm capability and may or may not have audio alarm capability, but if they do, the volume may be set higher or lower to meet the requirements of the users;
- 8. Strength of transmission signals may be set by the courts or other legal edicts or by persons authorized to so;
- 9. Generally, court ordered mobile Units and their corresponding Models should be programmed to have the same transmission strength and range of coverage, however, the court may order stronger strength for one over the other under mitigating circumstances;
- 10. Court ordered Units may be specifically paired with one or more specific personal or transportable corresponding Models or they may be paired with non-specific fixed-in-place corresponding Models that are programmed to activate when a Unit is within minimum allowable proximity of another Device;
- 11. One or more transmission means, utilizing one or more radio frequencies each, may be utilized to transmit signals and messages continuously or intermittently as required by the various programs being served within the housing of the Electronic Proximity Alarm Device;
- 12. One or more transmission methods operating independently or simultaneously may be utilized in determining distances between corresponding EPAD Units and Models including, but not limited to radio transmissions based on signal strength, relay stations, triangulation and global positioning systems;
- 13. EPAD Units and Models will operate properly indoors and outdoors;
- 14. Law enforcement agencies should install fixed-in-place monitoring Models with strong signals and strong GPS capabilities;
- 15. Global Positioning System technology may be utilized to determine the square footage or square mileage within three or more GPS coordinates for the purpose of defining an area wherein specific Units are not allowed.
- 16. Transmitting and receiving radio devices of all Units and Models include, but are not limited to those that are capable of transmitting and relaying short and long-range radio signals to and from corresponding Units and Models as well as to and from telephonic and satellite relay devices.
Preferred Embodiment
The current invention is:
- 1. A System, whereby various proven components are assembled to act synergistically for the purpose of shielding and protecting potential victims and accomplishing other daunting law enforcement goals that would otherwise continue to be unattainable;
- 2. A Method, whereby opportunities of committing criminal acts are reduced by maintaining separation between habitual criminals and potential victims;
- 3. A Means, whereby law enforcement agencies and personnel may utilize the Electronic Proximity Alarm Device to improve their operations and effectiveness in combating criminal conduct; and
- 4. Beneficial and useful, whereby habitual criminals may be deterred from repeating criminal acts, thereby improving security and protection for the populous, animals and property and reducing injuries, deaths, personal and business financial losses and costs of enforcement, incarceration and maintenance of prisons.
Additionally, the preferred embodiment is comprised of three or more secondary embodiments, whereby the secondary embodiments are assembled to form a synergistic system further comprised of numerous Units and Models and unlimited variations as to sizes, shapes, finishes and materials of manufacture, whereas:
- 1. Three such Secondary Embodiments are;
- a. Mobil Units or Models worn by persons by circumscribing a body part;
- b. Transportable Models carried in a pocket, valise, handbag or other means of conveyance;
- c. Fixed-in-place Models mounted on a fixed object, outdoors as on a fence, post, wall, roof or soffit or indoors, as in a school, school bus, train, sub-way, car, video arcade, department store, all night diners and food stores and hotels.
Special Note: EPAD Units may only be implemented by court order or other legal edicts; current laws are anticipated to require modifications and new laws may be required to be enacted to allow use of the Electronic Proximity Alarm Device in specific circumstances; however, personal use for protective purpose is allowable.
More embodiments are probable as time presents additional possibilities.
Utility and Operation
Descriptive Scenario
Example #1 of the usefulness and operational effectiveness of the Electronic Proximity Alarm Device.
- 1. A small city has 5 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, 1 high school and a high number of pedophiles as well as drug pushers, abductors, molesters and other assorted offenders on parole or probation who are known to be abusive to children, so the city council passes three ordinances; one ordinance for the purpose of installing fixed-in-place Electronic Proximity Alarm Devices along the perimeters of each school; a second ordinance for the purpose of requiring all known pedophiles and abusers living within city boundaries to wear mobile Electronic Proximity Alarm Devices and a third ordinance for the purpose of placing transportable Electronic Proximity Alarm Devices in each city police car plus a third-party device in offices of each school and the police station;
- 2. Only one Electronic Proximity Alarm Device located along the perimeter of a school property is necessary to activate the alarm system in the event of a proximity event, however transportable Models and fixed-in-place Models located in police cars and in school and police offices will simultaneously be notified of the time, place and direction of a proximity event thereby enabling immediate response and thus providing improved protection and security that would not otherwise be available;
- 3. Additionally, school teachers could wear mobile or transportable Models when chaperoning children on functions away from school grounds;
- 4. The effective range of fixed-in-place, mobile and transportable Models are set as determined by city council ordinances or by orders of the court;
- 5. Alternatively, police officers could wear mobile Models in lieu of transportable Models located in police cars; and
- 6. Furthermore, offenders must wear locked court ordered Units, whereas police officers and others may choose to wear Models that are not lockable.
Descriptive Scenario
Example #2 of the usefulness and operational effectiveness of the Electronic Proximity Alarm Device.
- 1. A women's estranged husband is under a court order or other legal edict to stay a given distance away from his wife and he is required to wear a mobile Electronic Proximity Alarm Device at all times as ordered by the court;
- 2. The wife also wears a corresponding mobile Model as do each of their three children;
- 3. The Models worn by the wife and children will each respond to the husband's Unit, but they will not activate an alarm in response to each other's Models;
- 4. When the husband comes within a given distance of his wife or any of the children, as set by order of the court, the vibrator located within each Model as well as the husband's Unit will activate to alert the husband, the wife and any of the children, thereby alerting them that the proximity range has been breached, thus giving both husband, wife or any of the children the opportunity to increase the distance between them, thereby avoiding a proximity event;
- 5. In the event that the distance decreases to within a secondary range set by the court, the vibrations will cease, the audio alarms will activate and the volume will increase proportionally as the distance is reduced;
- 6. The affected Model(s) and the husband's Unit will signal a proximity breach to the closest law enforcement agency and law enforcement officers and they will receive significant information such as who are involved, the time of day, the exact location, distance and direction to where the breach is taking place and the nature of the potential offence will be transmitted simultaneously so that the officers may immediately answer the call;
- 7. The court may also order the placement of a fixed-in-place Electronic Proximity Alarm Device at the residence of the wife for the purpose of restricting the husband from entering the property and the fixed-in-place Model will only interact with the husband's Model and will only notify law enforcement agencies and officers or other third-party correspondents if so ordered by the court.
Descriptive Scenario
Example #3 of the usefulness and operational effectiveness of the Electronic Proximity Alarm Device.
- 1. A convicted rapist has served his time and is paroled under court order or other legal edicts to wear the Electronic Proximity Alarm Device for the rest of his life;
- 2. Shortly after being released, he strikes again;
- 3. The victim is not shielded by the Electronic Proximity Alarm Device, therefore no help is summoned and she is raped and murdered;
- 4. Months later the body is discovered and detectives have no clues from the scene where the body was found;
- 5. The detectives turn to the Electronic Proximity Alarm Device data bank that tracks every movement of every Electronic Proximity Alarm Device being worn by a person under court order or other legal edicts and search the global positioning system coordinates to determine if an Electronic Proximity Alarm Device was at the scene where the body was discovered and they get a hit; and
- 6. The data bank provides the date and time that the device was at the scene together with other pertinent information as well as the present location of that particular Unit virtually anywhere in the world.
Special Notes:
Any person that is under court order or other legal edicts to wear the Electronic Proximity Alarm Device will know that if the device is compromised, authorities will automatically be notified and the police will be on their way and if it was intentionally tampered with, he or she will soon be back in jail, therefore such persons will be unlikely to incapacitate their device.
Law enforcement personnel may set their Electronic Proximity Alarm Devices to respond to one or more types of infractions associated with court ordered devices, thereby providing themselves with the capability of canvassing areas where habitual violators would be most likely to commit a criminal act.
Descriptive Scenario
Example #4 of the usefulness and operational effectiveness of the Electronic Proximity Alarm Device.
- 1. Seven gang members are convicted of severely beating a member of another gang and they are faced with jail time;
- 2. The judge is aware that the offense is the first infraction of the law for six of the seven gang members and the seventh member is a habitual offender, so he sends the seventh member to jail and offers the other offenders an opportunity to avoid jail in response to a plea agreement requested by their attorney on contingent that they each wear the Electronic Proximity Alarm Device and all six accept the offer;
- 3. The judge issues an order that their Units be set to restrict each gang member from coming within 500 feet from each other, but there is a problem; two gang members live in the same building and two other gang members live across and down the street from one another;
- 4. The judge orders the devices of the gang members that live in the same building to be modified to allow a buffer zone of 250 feet from the center of the building wherein the Units will not activate, thus allowing just these two gang members to cross paths only within the buffer zone;
- 5. The judge also orders a similar modification to the Units worn by the gang members that live across the street from one another, whereby a buffer zone of one-third of the distance between the homes is allowed and this modification has the effect that each of the gang members must leave their home and go in opposite directions, otherwise a proximity alarm will be activated; and
- 6. The judge pats himself on the back and makes a notation in his log that his decisions will save tens of thousands of dollars that would otherwise be spent on incarceration of the offenders.
Special Note:
When gang members can't hang together and their every movement may be tracked if so ordered by the court the gangs should significantly dissipate.
Descriptive Scenario
Example #5 of the usefulness and operational effectiveness of the Electronic Proximity Alarm Device.
- 1. A single mother has three children, two girls ages 11 and 12, and a boy age 14; she has a demanding, but lucrative job, however, she is overwhelmed with concerns about the security of her children, so she acquires four mobile Electronic Proximity Alarm Devices for herself and the children;
- 2. Each of the children's Models are set to activate in the event of a proximity event involving a habitual abductor, pedophile, rapist, drug dealer or child abuser and the mother's model is set only to activate in the event that a proximity event occurs that involves a habitual stalker, rapist, robber or an automobile high-jacker;
- 3. She also acquires a fixed-in-place Electronic Proximity Alarm Device that is tied into her home security system so that in the event of a break-in instead of going through a middleman, law enforcement agencies and officers will automatically be notified.
- 4. Now, the mother can sleep better because she knows that her children are safer than ever before and she can keep track of each child's whereabouts by utilizing the inquiry button located in or on her Electronic Proximity Alarm Device.
Descriptive Scenario
Example #6 of the usefulness and operational effectiveness of the Electronic Proximity Alarm Device.
- 1. A prostitute is plying her trade on a popular corner in a sordid part of town;
- 2. She is wearing a white mini-skirt, white armless shirt, short white boots, a little white cap and a white armband;
- 3. The white armband is an Electronic Proximity Alarm Device that she bought herself;
- 4. A car pulls up close to the curb and after a moment or two, she gets in the car and gives the driver instructions to turn right at the next corner, but he doesn't turn.
- 5. Without losing her cool, she presses the panic button on her EPAD Model and very shortly three police cars show up and the police officers make multiple arrests, two for engaging in prostitution and one for attempted kidnapping; and
- 6. The kidnapping charge leads to a serial rapist/murder investigation.
Descriptive Scenario
Example #7 of the usefulness and operational effectiveness of the Electronic Proximity Alarm Device.
- 1. A habitual drug pusher is released on parole on the contingency that he must wear an Electronic Proximity Alarm Device.
- 2. He's no fool, he takes the deal; he knows that his EPAD Unit is designed to activate when it comes within a minimum distance of a corresponding Electronic Proximity Alarm Device worn by another paroled drug dealer; he knows because the cops told him so; no big deal, he'll just do business with drug dealers that aren't wearing the device;
- 3. What he doesn't know is that the Electronic Proximity Alarm Devices worn by law enforcement personnel may not sound a audible alarm if programmed not to and will not cause his Unit to activate, therefore he will not be informed of their presence;
- 4. He also may not know that his travels may be tracked and recorded and that detectives may, with court order, observe his activities in real time while photographing and audio recording him and his new found friends;
- 5. A number of his former ‘friends’, users all, may also be wearing court ordered Units, thereby limiting his sales.
Special Notes:
- 1. Electronic Proximity Alarm Devices worn by Law enforcement detectives may be programmed by the wearer to set the minimum distance range to allow pinpoint accuracy as to the distance and direction of a specific Unit they are tracking. Only authorized programmers may set other Electronic Proximity Alarm Devices.
- 2. Every Electronic Proximity Alarm Device may be set by programmers to meet requirements specified by court order or to meet requirements requested by individuals who acquire the device for security purposes, so long as such requests are not inappropriate and they comply with the law.
- 3. Court orders are required to access information from Electronic Proximity Alarm Device data banks.
Descriptive Scenario
Example #8 of the usefulness and operational effectiveness of the Electronic Proximity Alarm Device.
- 1. The general manager of a huge mall in a bustling metropolitan area was being hammered by her tenants because of an over-abundance of pickpockets and shoplifters that were causing them great losses by theft and by costs incurred to provide sufficient security personnel;
- 2. She, in turn, had been hammering the mayor, the Chief of Police, the city council and a bunch of other poor souls including her husband!
- 3. Then, a traveling salesman tells her about another mall that doesn't seem to have such problems because of a newfangled device they call EPAD or Electronic Proximity Alarm Device.
- 4. A short time latter, Fixed-in Place EPAD Models were installed along the perimeter of the mall building and the range of coverage extended to within the property lines;
- 5. The lady didn't hold back, the Models were programmed to cover habitual pickpockets, shoplifters, pedophiles, drug dealers, drug users and robbers that were court ordered to wear such EPAD Units, each being specific as to the infraction perpetrated by each offender.
- 6. The Chief of Police notified the court, the court notified the city council and the city council passed ordinances to allow the courts to require Electronic Proximity Alarm Devices as a part of their sentences; and
- 7. Over a relatively short time, crimes in the mall were reduced to a trickle and everyone lived happily ever after.
Special Note:
The above stories are just examples of what we may expect to become true stories in the foreseeable future, but the strength of the invention lies in the fact that all of the components comprising the current art have been patented in the past in one way or another, thereby proving their value and offering a new beginning by being assembled together at a time when they are needed most.
CONCLUSIONS, RAMIFICATIONS AND SCOPE
Conclusions
One must conclude from the information provided above that we are in dyer need to provide means, methods and systems whereby law enforcement agencies such as local police departments, county sheriff deputies, highway patrol officers, the FBI, CIA, ATF and HSA may improve their operations and efficiency in order to shield and protect innocent people from criminal acts perpetrated by habitual criminals on parole or probation;
One must conclude that the judges of criminal courts must be equipped with means, methods and systems whereby they may tailor their sentences in such manner that they will provide opportunities for decreasing future criminal acts, controlling the activities of habitual criminals, shielding and protecting potential victims, assisting law enforcement agencies and personnel in the prosecution of their duties and reducing the financial costs and losses incurred by the private and public sectors due to rampant criminal acts in virtually every community in this great nation; and
One must conclude that the innocent, honest and productive people in this country have the right to be shielded and protected from the actions of habitual criminals.
Ramifications
Whereas the current art, Electronic Proximity Alarm Device, provides the means, methods and systems required to assist the courts and law enforcement agencies in shielding and protecting the populous from future habitual criminal acts; and
Whereas a judge must issue a court order to allow a habitual criminal to wear a EPAD Unit and the habitual criminal has the option of wearing said Unit or being incarcerated for the full term of his or her sentence; and
Whereas the general populous may wear EPAD Models of their own volition and for their own security and well-being, one must agree that the result will be for the overall good and welfare of all the people.
Scope
The Electronic Proximity Alarm Device is essentially a control device whereby habitual criminals are provided with an EPAD Unit for the purpose of maintaining court ordered or other legal edicts regarding given minimum allowable proximity between habitual criminals and potential victims;
The Electronic Proximity Alarm Device utilizes one or more radio transmission and receiving devices in conjunction with one or more radio frequencies to determine whether the given minimum allowable proximity set by the court or other legal edicts have been breached, thus causing a proximity event and triggering one or more alarms to be transmitted to law enforcement agencies and law enforcement officers, thereby allowing immediate response to a possible criminal act; and
The Electronic Proximity Alarm Device provides and promotes the means, methods and systems whereby the people may actively participate with community leaders, the courts, law enforcement agencies and their personnel to reduce crime as well as costs associated with crime.
Special Note:
The Electronic Proximity Alarm Device is comprised of housings that may be produced in one or more shapes, sizes, materials and finishes and is further comprised of numerous components that have been known, produced, manufactured, advertised, published or patented in one form or another prior to Sep. 16, 1985 and has been described herein in a number of different ways for the purpose of clearly conveying the true worth, essence and breadth of the invention.
Furthermore, there are an unlimited number of Units and Models as well as unlimited numbers of combinations of components, systems and programs comprising the invention, therefore no statements herein shall be construed to limit the scope of the invention in any way what-so-ever.
Patent Application
20070279219
