WO2003081552A1

WO2003081552A1 - Paraphernalia monitor

Info

Publication number: WO2003081552A1
Application number: PCT/ZA2003/000024
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sankoela Mosiuwa Sam Mokoena
Original assignee: Sankoela Mosiuwa Sam Mokoena
Priority date: 2002-03-22
Filing date: 2003-02-20
Publication date: 2003-10-02
Also published as: AU2003215043A1

Abstract

A paraphernalia monitor is provided comprising a portable base station (1, 20) and a plurality of portable satellite stations (2, 19) each of which is capable of being in wireless communication with the portable base station in a manner enabling each satellite station to be individually identified by the base station. Each satellite station has means (4, 5, 6) for attaching it to an article of paraphernalia (7, 8, 9, 17) of a particular group thereof that is to be monitored. Alarm means (14) are provided in at least the base station, and optionally also in each satellite station. The wireless communication is of limited range so that detector means in the base station cause the alarm to be triggered in respect of any particular satellite station when the satellite station becomes located beyond said limited range. The portable base station may have means (3) whereby it can be supported either on the body of the person that is monitoring a group of items such as personal paraphernalia or it may be associated with a container (18) for transporting a particular selection of items (17) of paraphernalia. A container (18) and associated set of satellite stations (19) is also provided.

Description

PARAPHERNALIA MONITOR

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a paraphernalia monitor the purpose of which is to assist persons in ensuring that a particular group of items of paraphernalia, that may be items of personal paraphernalia or, alternatively, items of paraphernalia that belong together as a group for a particular intended purpose, are in a required physical proximity, and thus association with each other.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Persons invariably utilize a variety of different items of paraphernalia and often carry many different items around with them. On a personal level such items include mobile telephones, wallets and purses, bunches of keys for providing access to various premises, for example, a residence or place of business, briefcases, handbags and so-called personal organisers, as well as various other items. Also, the particular selection of items that may be required during any particular outing, or at any particular occasion, may vary.

On a vocational level, on the other hand, a specific group of items of paraphernalia may be necessary in order to enable a person to carry out a particular function or perform a particular task. For example, doctors and other medical practitioners invariably require a variety of different items of equipment to be carried around with them, typically in a dedicated portable case, whilst moving from one surgery to another, or whilst attending to patients away from their rooms or surgery, such as on house calls.

IP 1441PCT 2003-01-30 Many other persons engaged in a particular activity also require a specific group or set of items in order to carry out their responsibilities, and such persons include speakers, teachers, legal practitioners, technical personnel such as engineers and artisans, as well as numerous other persons requiring any particular set of items such as tools and other equipment, reference materials such as books, notes and the like.

It regularly happens that a person leaves one or other of these items in some or other place that they have been and had occasion to use them and put them down, or they may simply leave them behind by mistake at their home or office. The person may, as a result, find themselves in a disadvantaged and possibly embarrassing position, and they may not be able to carry out their obligations effectively. There is also the great inconvenience, in many cases, of having to return to a place where an item was left in order to collect it. There is, still further, a strong possibility that any item of value that is erroneously left unattended, particularly in a place that is accessible to the public, will be stolen. In the case of a medical practitioner, the absence of an item of equipment that has been inadvertently left behind could even be life- threatening for a patient under emergency conditions.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is, accordingly, an object of the invention to provide a paraphernalia monitor that will enable a person to more easily keep track of items of the type outlined above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with this invention there is provided a paraphernalia monitor comprising a portable base station and a plurality of portable satellite stations each of which is capable of being in wireless communication with the portable base station in a manner enabling each satellite station to be

IP 1441PCT 2003-01-30 individually identified by the base station, means for attaching each satellite station to an article of paraphernalia of a particular group thereof that is to be monitored; alarm means in at least the base station; and detector means in the base station for detecting the wireless communication with each satellite station, the paraphernalia monitor being characterized in that the wireless communication is of limited range and the detector means is adapted to cause the alarm to be triggered in respect of any particular satellite station when the satellite station becomes located beyond said limited range.

Further features of the invention provide for the portable base station to have means whereby it can be supported either on the body of the person that is monitoring a group of items such as personal paraphernalia, or on a container for transporting a particular selection of items of paraphernalia; for the portable base station to be adapted to receive signals from the satellite stations via a series of wireless channels each of which emanates from a particular satellite station; for each wireless channel to have means at the base station for identifying a particular item of paraphernalia associated with the relevant satellite station; for each channel to have an on-off switch for activating it selectively according to whether or not that particular item of paraphernalia is to be monitored on a particular occasion; for the base station to have indicator means, particularly an indicator light such as a light emitting diode (LED) for indicating whether or not a particular channel or associated satellite station is functional at any particular time; for the alarm means to include an audible alarm; and for the base station and each of the satellite stations to be battery powered in which case means of preferably embodied in the base station and each satellite station to trigger the alarm when the battery means are disconnected.

Still further features of the invention provide for the satellite stations to each have an on-off switch associated therewith; for each satellite station to have alarm means that are activated when said range is exceeded; and for the

IP 1441PCT 2003-01-30 means for attaching a satellite station to an item of paraphernalia to be selected from a strap, a clip, and an adhesive mounting pad.

The invention also provides a container that is adapted to contain a particular group of items of paraphernalia and wherein the container has associated therewith a base station of a monitor as defined above and a satellite station is provided for each item of a group of items of paraphernalia that is to be transported within the container.

In order that the above and other features of the invention may be more fully understood one embodiment thereof will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:-

Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of one embodiment of paraphernalia monitor according to the invention; and,

Figure 2 is a similar illustration of a dedicated container in the form of a briefcase, suitcase or the like that is adapted to transport a particular group of items of paraphernalia.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION WITH REFERENCE TO THE DRAWINGS

In one embodiment of the invention that is illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings a paraphernalia monitor that in this case is a personal paraphernalia monitor, includes a base station, generally indicated by numeral (1), and a series, typically from six to ten, satellite stations generally indicated by numerals (2a), (2b), and (2c) (only three being illustrated in the drawing).

IP 1441PCT 2003-01-30 The base station (1), in this case, is attached to a support in the form of means whereby it can be associated with the body of a person wishing to monitor a selection of items of paraphernalia and, in the illustrated embodiment of the invention, a belt (3) is employed for this purpose. However numerous other types of expedients can be employed such as a hook, cradle or sheath for supporting the base station from a belt, waistband, or other part of a person's body or wearing apparel.

The satellite stations (2) are also provided with attachment means, in this case, the means are more particularly adapted to attach the satellite station to an article of paraphernalia. Thus, in some instances, a strap (4) could be employed; in others a spring loaded clip (5); and, in other cases, an adhesive mounting pad (6). In any event each satellite station is made to a small size and configuration suitable for attachment to articles such as a cellular telephone (7); a wallet (8); or a bunch of keys (9), simply by way of example. Applicant envisages that a satellite station configured very much like a button will be particularly advantageous although the exact shape and configuration can be varied widely according to the method of attachment to an article of paraphernalia and the electronic circuitry embodied in the satellite station.

Each satellite station is adapted to emit a wireless transmission indicated by numeral (10) to the base station on a different wavelength, or alternatively, in a different format, or embodying a different code so that each satellite station can be individually identified by the base station. For ease of description each satellite station will be considered to communicate with the base station by way of a separate channel. Each satellite station has an on-off switch (8) and the base station has an on-off switch (12) for each channel.

Each satellite station and the base station also preferably have a pilot light (13) for indicating when the particular station is operational and each has a speaker (14) for serving as an audible alarm. Still further, each station has

IP 1441 PCT 2003-01-30 an indicator (15) for indicating the condition of the battery and each has a battery access closure (16) that preferably requires a specially shaped tool to open in order to access a battery. The purpose of the latter is to inhibit authorized tampering with the batteries of the various stations.

Of course, any other suitable source of energy may be provided as an alternative to batteries, or as a prime source of energy with a battery backup. Thus, in appropriate circumstances, solar energy could be employed, for example, generally with a battery backup.

As indicated above, the satellite stations are adapted to emit wireless radiation of a limited range that is selected to be practical in use. Typically, a few meters, for example from 1 m to 10 m and typically from 2 m to 8 m will be the required range.

In use, when a person utilizing a paraphernalia monitor as described above is out and about, the individual channels corresponding to selected items of paraphernalia that the person wishes to take along are activated by switching on these channels at both the base station and the satellite station. Each satellite station that is associated with an item of paraphernalia as indicated above, will emit radiation that is received by the base station.

In the event that, at any time, the base station becomes removed from any of the satellite stations, and that is to say distant from the item of paraphernalia, the wireless communication will be interrupted and a detector within the base station will detect this condition and emit an audible alarm by way of the speaker. In this particular embodiment of the invention, the affected satellite station is also adapted to emit an alarm in this event. The latter will help the item associated with the relevant satellite station being located.

Clearly, the above situation is occasioned when the relevant person leaves an article of paraphernalia behind that has a satellite station attached to it

IP 1441PCT 2003-01-30 whilst the base station remains supported by the person. The situation will immediately become apparent and before the person concerned has moved too far, the alarm will be sounded and the particular item will be immediately identified from the base station and can be retrieved.

Both the satellite and base stations can also be configured so that, in the event of tampering with the battery, an alarm is emitted and this can be achieved utilizing a discharge capacitor that is maintained in a charged state by the presence of the battery but that discharges to activate the alarm if the battery is removed or, indeed, if a cover to the battery compartment is removed. Still further, each of the stations could be provided with a connection, typically a flexible attachment member indicated by numeral (116) that, in the event that the station becomes separated from its associated support, namely the item of paraphernalia in the case of the satellite stations, or support in the case of the base station, activates the alarm.

There are numerous ways in which the invention can be put into practice and that indicated above is simply intended to illustrate the principles of the invention.

In particular, the invention can be applied, as illustrated in Figure 2, to the various items of paraphernalia indicated by numeral (17) that are to be transported from place to place in a dedicated container (18) such as a briefcase or suitcase. In such a case each of the items of paraphernalia has associated therewith a satellite station (19) and a base station (20) is associated with the container.

In this application the alarm would be adapted to go off if the container is moved beyond the predetermined distance away from any of the articles that it is to contain.

IP 1441PCT 2003-01-30 It will be understood that this variation of the invention can be employed usefully by numerous different professional and technical persons that need a particular group of items in order to perform their duties. Typically, for example, the essential items of equipment that a doctor or other medical practitioner may require could each have associated therewith a satellite station and the doctors bag would form the container and be fitted with a base station.

It to be understood that numerous other dedicated applications fall within the scope of the invention.

IP 1441PCT 2003-01-30

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A paraphernalia monitor comprising a portable base station (1 , 20) and a plurality of portable satellite stations (2, 19) each of which is capable of being in wireless communication with the portable base station in a manner enabling each satellite station to be individually identified by the base station, means (4, 5, 6) for attaching each satellite station to an article of paraphernalia (7, 8, 9, 17) of a particular group thereof that is to be monitored; alarm means (14) in at least the base station; and detector means in the base station for detecting the wireless communication with each satellite station, the paraphernalia monitor being characterized in that the wireless communication is of limited range and the detector means is adapted to cause the alarm to be triggered in respect of any particular satellite station when the satellite station becomes located beyond said limited range.

2. A paraphernalia monitor as claimed in claim 1 in which the portable base station has means (3) whereby it can be supported either on the body of the person that is monitoring a group of items such as personal paraphernalia, or on a container (18) for transporting a particular selection of items (17) of paraphernalia.

3. A paraphernalia monitor as claimed in either one of the claims 1 or 2 in which the portable base station is adapted to receive signals from the satellite stations via a series of wireless channels (10) each of which emanates from a particular satellite station.

4. A paraphernalia monitor as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which each wireless channel has means at the base station for identifying a particular item of paraphernalia associated with the relevant satellite station.

IP 1441PCT 2003-01-30

5. A paraphernalia monitor as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which each channel has an on-off switch (12) for activating it selectively according to whether or not that particular item of paraphernalia is to be monitored on a particular occasion.

6. A paraphernalia monitor as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the base station has indicator means for indicating whether or not a particular channel or associated satellite station is functional at any particular time.

7. A paraphernalia monitor as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the alarm means includes an audible alarm (14).

8. A paraphernalia monitor as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the base station and each of the satellite stations is battery powered.

9. A paraphernalia monitor as claimed in claim 8 in which means of provided for activating the alarm in the event of tampering with a battery of any of the satellite or base stations taking place.

10. A paraphernalia monitor as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which each satellite station has one or both of an on-off switch (11) associated therewith and alarm means (14) that are activated when said range is exceeded.

11. A paraphernalia monitor as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the means for attaching each satellite station to an item of paraphernalia is selected from a strap (4), a clip (5), and an adhesive mounting pad (6).

IP 1441PCT 2003-01-30

12. A paraphernalia monitor as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which any one or more of the stations is attached to its support by a connection (116) adapted to activate the alarm in the event of the station becoming separated from its support.

13. A container (18) that is adapted to contain a particular group of items of paraphernalia and wherein the container has associated therewith a paraphernalia monitor as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10 and wherein a base station (20) is associated with the container and a satellite station (19) is provided for each item of a group of items of paraphernalia (17) that is to be transported within the container.

IP 1441PCT 2003-01-30