This invention relates to a method and a device for an alarm system and may be used for warning about changes in locations of monitored objects relative to a user monitoring them.
Methods of monitoring and warning about changes in status of a protected object are known, according to which local stations generate protected object interrogation signals and a central station collects data on protected objects (U.S. Pat. No. 4,742,335), (RU, A, 2183352).
These technical solutions are used for a variety of applications: in fire alarm systems, antitheft alarm systems, alarm systems, burglar alarm systems, monitoring systems, etc.
A limitation of these systems is their complexity, and they cannot be used in practice for protecting personal belongings carried by a person.
This application is a continuation-in-part of the earlier RF application No. 2003105521 “Alarm System device” (RU, A, 2234135). This known device implements a method enabling to protect personal belongings carried by a user against theft, for example, to protect an ID card, a purse, a note-book, an organizer, a cellular phone, etc.
A known method of monitoring and warning about changes in location of a protected object includes, at least, mounting a first transmitter on a first protected object and a second transmitter on a second protected object, generating an alarm signal by a user's receiver when the first or, respectively, the second protected object moves away from the user's received to a distance set by the user (RU, A, 2234135).
A system of monitoring and warning about changes in location of protected objects is also known, which comprises, at least, a first transmitter installed on a first protected object, a second transmitter installed on a second protected object, a user's receiver made capable of generating an alarm signal when one of the transmitters moves away from it (RU, A, 2234135).
This system provides for generating a sound or vibration signal by a user's receiver in his pocket when, for example, an ID card, on which a miniature radio transmitter is installed, moves away from the user's receiver to a preset distance (e.g., to 1 meter). This system, when implemented, enables to timely warn its user about possible loss (or theft) of protected objects—valuable personal belongings, including those having rather small dimensions. It is expedient that the user's receiver in this system should be miniature in order not to be too heavy for the user. In essence, a receiver in the technical solution performs the function of the central station warning the user and registering movement of his personal belonging away.
The limitation of the known method and the known device is their insufficiently high overall reliability in protecting personal belongings, because the very user's receiver—the central node of the system—may be lost or stolen. Also, it would be desirable that higher reliability would not result in sharp increase in dimensions and weight of the system.
The objective, forming the basis of this invention, is to create a method of monitoring and warning about changes in locations of protected objects, which would exclude any possibility of losing a receiver, and develop a system for monitoring and warning about changes in locations of protected objects, which, at insignificant increases in dimensions and weight of the whole system, ensures the possibility of observing locations of two and more protected objects of its user, including a receiver, and, thus, improve its reliability and expand its functional capabilities.
In order to attain this objective and achieve the above technical effect it is proposed to introduce, according to this invention, into the known method of monitoring and warning about changes in locations of protected objects, including, at least, installing a first transmitter on a first protected object and a second transmitter on a second protected object, generating an alarm signal by a user's receiver when one of the transmitters moves away from it, a receiver-transmitter, to install the user's receiver on a first protected object, wherein the receiver-transmitter generates an alarm signal when the first protected object with the receiver moves away from it, and the user's receiver generates an alarm signal upon receipt of a signal from the receiver of the receiver-transmitter when the latter moves away from it.
Additional embodiments of the method are possible, wherein it is appropriate that:
In order to solve the stated task and achieve the stated technical effect it is proposed to introduce, according to this invention, into the known system for monitoring and warning about changes in locations of protected objects, which comprises, at least, a first transmitter installed on a first protected object, a second transmitter installed on a second protected object, a user's receiver made capable of generating an alarm signal when one of the transmitters moves away from it, a receiver-transmitter wherein the said second transmitter is used as the transmitter of the receiver-transmitter, the user's receiver is installed on a first protected object and the receiver-transmitter is installed on a second protected object, the receiver transmitter being made capable of generating an alarm signal when the first protected object moves away from it, and the user's receiver is made capable of generating an alarm signal when the second protected object moves away from it.
Additional embodiments of the system are possible, wherein it is appropriate that:
The stated advantages as well as the specific features of this invention will be further explained in the description of preferred embodiments with reference to the appended drawings.
FIG. 2—same as
Since the claimed method is realized at the functioning system, its characteristics and possible advantages are given in the description of the system operation.
A system for monitoring and warning about changes in locations of protected objects (
The second variant of the system (
In order to reduce dimensions and weight of the system (since a user carries personal belongings, i.e., protected objects A and B, with him) it is appropriate that the user's receiver 3 and the first transmitter 1 are made in a single case, and the receiver 5 of the receiver-transmitter 4 and the transmitter 6 of the receiver-transmitter (
Thus, the method of monitoring and warning about changes in locations of protected objects A and B includes, in general (
If the receiver-transmitter 4 is installed on a second protected object B (
The system may be expanded by additional receivers 10 to be installed on additional protected objects K . . . N (
Also, the functionality is expanded when the receiver 3 moves away from the receiver-transmitter 4 (
Indeed, in such a case an alarm signal will be simultaneously sound both in the user's receiver 3 and in the receiver 5 of the receiver-transmitter 4. So, in a case of losing one or another it would be easy to determine its location by an alarm signal and find it.
The receiver 5 of the receiver-transmitter 4 may be made identical to the user's receiver 3 as to its specifications. In such a case, when the receiver 3 moves away to a distance L (
Similarly to the closest analogous solution, the user's receiver 3 and/or the receiver-transmitter 4 is made so as to ensure generation of an alarm signal when a respective protected object A, B, . . . K . . . N moves away to a distance L pre-set by a user by pre-adjusting the power level of the first transmitter 1 and/or the transmitter 2 or 6 of the receiver-transmitter 4, respectively (as well as additional transmitters 10) or by pre-adjusting the threshold level for activating the user's receiver 3 and/or the receiver 5 of the receiver-transmitter 4.
Similarly to the closest analogous solution, a signal generated by each of the transmitters may be provided with a code, which enables, after processing a coded signal by the respective receiver, to determine what of protected objects A, B, . . . K . . . N is under the risk of loss. The protection of only two personal belongings—protected objects A and B (FIG. 1)—is possible, in such a case receivers-transmitters should be installed directly on them.
Improved reliability of protection should be suitable for owners of especially valuable things, e.g., official documents, ID cards, etc. as well as for a general users for protecting their personal belongings, e.g., cellular phones, ID cards, purses, valuables (ladies' decorations), etc. The claimed invention ensures a full protection system for one's own carried property both against accidental loss and against theft.
The claimed method and system for monitoring and warning about changes in locations of protected objects may be most successfully applied in radio alarm systems used for monitoring locations of personal belongings.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
2005134666 | Nov 2005 | RU | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
---|---|---|---|---|
PCT/RU06/00531 | 10/13/2006 | WO | 00 | 4/11/2008 |