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Description  |
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to monitoring devices and systems, and more
particularly to monitoring devices and systems for community custodial
monitoring and remote surveillance.
2. Description of the Related Art
The present invention relates to monitoring devices and in particular to
monitoring devices useful in the home attest field and related remote
monitoring applications. Most prior art home-community electronic arrest
systems have developed around the use of radio frequency transmission
signals. Such devices and systems are used to essentially track and verify
the location of a person to which the device is attached. The majority of
such devices and systems are interlinked with a central monitoring station
that either tracks the monitored person directly with radio signal
telemetry or, a remote communicator is placed in the monitored persons
home that is interfaced with the telephone system that signals the central
station when the person is at home. Usually a curfew period is set whereby
the monitored person is not permitted to leave the confines of his house,
and any attempt to do so sets off an alarm in the communicator and the
central station is notified via the telephone lines.
Typically such monitoring devices are provided as wrist or leg devices
which are placed on the monitored person by riveting or other mechanical
fastening means to insure permanent placement, and any attempt to remove
or tamper with the unit will set off a tamper frequency, that is, some
form of signal transmitted to a remote monitor. Additionally, such devices
typically have a strap that is made of a polymer plastic that contains
conductors which if cut or pulled apart set off a tamper frequency. Inside
the strap are conductors that create a circuit loop that if severed
trigger anti-tamper transmission frequencies thereby alerting the
authorities.
It is also common, in prior devices, to provide a case that contains the
radio transmission circuitry on the wrist or leg device which is activated
if the case is either opened or destroyed. When activated, a tamper or
alarm frequency is initiated, and if the transmission ceases all together,
the remote communicator sends a romper or an alarm status signal to the
central monitoring station via the telephone lines. Central monitoring
station staff personnel then notify the appropriate authorities of the
violation of the monitored person.
Another genre of prior home monitoring devices utilize radio transmitting
devices with remote communicators without transmitting a signal to a
distant location to monitor the location or condition of the device.
Rather such devices utilize a telephone call back system where a computer
dialing system calls the monitored persons home, the phone rings and the
person answers, hangs up, and inserts a wrist or leg device into the
communicator. The communicator then sends a verification signal back to
the central monitoring station. If there is no response when the central
station calls, the monitored person is in violation and such status is
recorded by the central station computer. Such wrist and leg devices
typically transmit a low level radio frequency that transmits in response
to the call back cue.
All such prior monitoring devices suffer significant problems which have
limited their applicability and usefulness. For example, all such prior
devices constantly transmit a radio signal which requires a constant
supply of power. All such prior art home attest devices and systems
therefore have used and required a battery power supply, and since
batteries only maintain a peak performance level for a short period of
time before the power curve drops and fluctuates, significant errors and
inefficiencies occur. Since such radio transmission devices require a
significant amount of power to perform efficiently and accurately, such
limitations greatly limit the usefulness of prior devices and systems.
Moreover, when battery power drops, false tamper or alarm signals are
sometimes activated. Additionally, if the monitored person walks near a
washing machine or any other device which generates a magnetic field, the
transmission signal of such devices gives off a tamper status frequency,
and in some cases ceases transmission all together.
Such prior devices and systems are further limited by the ease of creating
counterfeit signals, such as created using garage door transmitters, which
fool the remote communicator into verifying the monitored persons presence
at a particular location, when in fact, the person is elsewhere. Such
limitations, coupled with the false tamper signals previously discussed,
create a logistical and custodial nightmare in the management of such
devices and systems.
Accordingly, it is the primary object of this invention to provide an
improved monitoring device for use in home arrest, monitoring,
identification, and security applications which is extremely reliable,
efficient, tamper-proof, easy to monitor, and inexpensive to manufacture
and apply.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the
description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the
description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects
and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of
the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the
appended claims.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To achieve the foregoing objects, and in accordance with the purposes of
the invention as embodied and broadly described herein, a monitoring
device is provided, comprising: a monitoring member including means for
securing said monitoring member to an animate or inanimate object, the
monitoring member is communicatively linked with a remote communicator; a
barcode strip operably secured within the monitoring member; detection
means for detecting severance of the monitoring member from said animate
or inanimate object; and energizing means for activating said detection
means when the monitoring member is severed or removed from said animate
or inanimate object.
The detection memos preferably includes a photo-flash element operably
secured within said monitoring member so that when the means for securing
the monitoring member to an animate or inanimate object is severed or
removed from said animate or inanimate object the photo-flash element is
activated thereby altering photo-sensitive material which the barcode is
encoded on or which covers the barcode. The barcode strip may be provided
by conventional barcode means, by magnetic or other optical indicia, or by
a powered liquid crystal display produced by a programmed chip which
creates a plurality of barcode characters.
In accordance with the present invention there is also provided a
remote-readable monitoring device, comprising: a monitoring member
including attachment means for attaching said monitoring member to an
animate or inanimate object, the monitoring member being communicatively
coupled to a remote monitoring unit; detection means for detecting
severance of said attachment means including a plurality of charged and
uncharged conductors, said plurality of conductors being operably disposed
within said attachment means; and means for maintaining said plurality of
conductors at different potentials from one another so that a charged
conductor and an uncharged conductor are normally spaced from one another
in a sequential fashion so that when a charged conductor contacts an
uncharged conductor an electrical current flows activating said detection
means.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part
of the specification, illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention
and, together with a general description given above and the detailed
description given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the logic flow of the present
invention, according to the invention.
FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of the monitoring device, according to
the invention.
FIG. 3 shows the monitoring device adapted for wrist or leg attachment,
according to the invention.
FIG. 4 shows a top cut-away view of such monitoring device, according to
the invention.
FIG. 5 shows a top perspective view of such monitoring device, according to
the invention.
FIG. 6 shows a sectional view of the monitoring member, according to the
invention.
FIG. 7 shows a barcode strip, according to the invention.
FIG. 8 shows a block diagram illustrating the schematic of a LCD provided
barcode, according to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Reference now will be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments
of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a monitoring
device for monitoring, identification, and surveillance applications,
comprising: a monitoring member including means for securing said
monitoring member to an animate or inanimate object, the monitoring member
is communicatively linked with a remote communicator; a barcode strip
operably secured within the monitoring member; detection means for
detecting severance of the monitoring member from said animate or
inanimate object; and energizing means for charging a plurality of
conductors operably secured within the monitoring element.
In FIG. 1, a logic flow diagram of a preferred embodiment of the invention
is shown. Monitoring device 30 comprises monitoring element 31 including
means for securing the monitoring member 31 to an animate or inanimate
object, such as leg 43 shown in FIG. 3. Means for securing monitoring
member 10 preferably comprise an elongated strap 29 composed at least in
part of an electrical insulating material, such as rubber, thermoplastic,
or other polymeric electrically insulating material. Strap 29 preferably
includes a multiconductor ribbon cable covered by a plastic polymer.
Monitoring member 31 is communicatively linked with a remote communicator
37 operably interfaced with scanner 80 and barcode reader 36, preferably
with an infrared read pen for reading barcode 40. Remote communicator 37
contains the circuitry, well known in the art, necessary to transmit
verification data to a central monitoring station 38. For example, the
remote communicator 37 is programmed with a monitored persons vital
statistics, such as name, address, booking number, custody level, etc.
located in E-Prom program 39. Each such remote communicator is programmed
to accept only one barcode format and one assigned number which is located
in monitoring member 31 in identifiers 34 of encoded barcode strip 40.
Barcode reader 36 is preferably programmed to accept the barcode format
unique to identifiers 34 of barcode 40. Preferably no other barcode system
such as those used for merchandise price tags, card lock technology, or
the like, will be recognized by barcode reader 36 and remote communicator
37.
In FIG. 1 an electronic capture system (ECS) communicator 37 is shown
configured for transmitting status information through the cellular
telephone control channel network. In this preferred embodiment barcode
data is converted to 10 kbps modulated 48 bit word strings contained
within a normal reverse control channel (RECC) multiword string 85, that
is normally utilized by conventional phone systems such as the American
Mobile Phone System (AMPS) and Total Access Communications Systems (TACS)
cellular systems. In this way ECS communicator 37 is configured as a
portable wireless system that transmits its status information in the bet
structure of two additional 48 bit RECC words H186 and H2 87. This data is
captured and read at the central monitoring station 38 and processed. Once
processed, the ECS communicator can be instructed to perform various
monitoring functions such as surveillance, tracking, and alarm, by sending
command data to the communicator by way of a paging network, or a cellular
system forward control channel.
Barcode 40 may be provided by conventional barcode technology well known in
the art, including magnetic or other optical indicia, and is preferably
printed on a photo-sensitive material 35, such as thermo-sensitive paper,
film, infrared film, or the like, and encased in housing 41. It is also
preferable to locate a strip of infrared film over the barcode strip to
prevent viewing with the naked eye and to prevent duplication with a
photo-copier so that counterfeiting the barcode strip is impossible.
Alternatively, barcode 40 may be partially or completely covered with
photo-sensitive material 35, or enclosed within housing which is partially
or completely covered with photo-sensitive material 35. In an alternative
embodiment of the invention, barcode 40 may be provided by a powered
liquid crystal chip display 64 produced by programmed chip 63 which
creates a plurality of barcode characters, shown as a block diagram
schematic in FIG. 8, with circuits 61 and 62 communicatively coupled to
strap 29 with conductors 59 and 60. The liquid crystal displayed barcode
can be rendered unreadable simply by cutting or removing monitoring member
31 or cutting or removing strap 29 from monitoring device 30 thereby
destroying the circuitry created in strap 29 by a plurality of charged and
uncharged conductors shown in FIG. 4 and 5 as charged conductors 12, 16,
18, 20, and 22 and uncharged conductors 14, 15, 17, 19, and 21, and
destroying a ROM chip responsible for projecting the barcode image,
thereby assuring that the monitoring device is not reusable after such
tampering. Also shown in FIG. 8, is data for pen 71 and relay 72. Relay 72
is normally opened, but is activated and permanently closed upon cutting,
severance, or other tampering of strap 29 or monitoring member 31.
Detection means for detecting severance of the monitoring member 31 from
the animate or inanimate object comprise, in the preferred embodiment of
the invention, a photo-flash element 34, which may be a filament, a nicron
wire, heat sensitive wire, or any other photo-conductive material operably
secured within the monitoring member 31 so that when elongated strap 29 or
monitoring member 31 is severed or removed from the animate or inanimate
object photo-flash element 34 is activated emitting light and thereby
altering photo-sensitive material 35 and obscuring barcode 40. As seen in
FIGS. 3 and 4, monitoring device 30 contains photo-flash element 34 that
when energized or charged by energizing means, preferably battery 52,
creates heat and/or light sufficient to obscure barcode strip 40, and
thereby rendering it unreadable, by altering photo-sensitive material 35.
For example, if an attempt is made to remove monitoring member 31 from the
animate or inanimate object, such as leg 43 of a monitored person shown in
FIG. 3, a plurality of charged conductors 12, 16, 18, 20, 22 and uncharged
conductors 14, 15, 17, 19, and 21 are operably coupled creating a circuit
which energizes photo-flash element 34, best seen in FIG. 2. Conductors
12, 16, 18, 20, and 22 are preferably charged as a group so that the
charged conductors as a group are energized with positive voltage from
battery 52 supplied by primary conductors 9 and secondary-bridging
conductors 55. The circuit to photo-flash element 34 is completed if strap
29 or monitoring member 31 is cut, severed, or removed from leg 43, such
as with scissors 44 or other any other severing device because a charge is
then passed to uncharged conductors 14, 15, 17, 19, and 21. Now the
uncharged conductors become charged conductors, and the current is passed
to bridging- conductors 56 and routed to a lead conductor 13 which
activates photo-flash element 34 because the positive voltage meets a
negative current supplied by conductor 57 which is preferably directly
connected to a negative battery housing conductor 45, best seen in FIG. 4.
This creates an arc in photo-flash element 34 which supplies the heat and
light which alters photo-sensitive or heat-sensitive material 35 thereby
obscuring barcode 40. Alternatively, a small quantity of reactive
chemical, preferably a caustic chemical such as sulfuric acid, sodium
hydroxite, hydrochloric acid, or the like, may be proximately positioned
next to barcode 40, and such chemical released when strap 29 or monitoring
member 30 is cut or severed from the object to which it is attached.
Referring now to FIG. 3, strap 29 is preferably provided with attachment
means, preferably clamp 32, which may be steel or other durable resilient
material and covered with a plastic. It is also useful to apply a hot
gluing process, using adhesive 33, as shown in FIG. 3, so as to create a
continuous strap or band. This provides a very strong band which must be
cut or severed to be removed from an object, which of course is very
difficult because the strap or band is so strong. In the event that strap
29 is pulled enough to separate, the alternately charged conductors, 12,
14, 16, 18, 20 and 22 will come in contact with uncharged conductors 14,
15, 17, 19, and 21 creating the complete circuit necessary to activate
photo-flash element 34 thereby obscuring photo-sensitive material 35
making barcode 40 unreadable. When the monitored person, for example, is
required to verify his or her location to the central monitoring station a
violation will be noted because barcode 40 is no longer readable.
Referring now to FIG. 2, a schematic illustration of the circuitry of the
preferred embodiment of the invention is shown with photo-flash element
34, battery 52, and conductors 12, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, and 22
operably coupled together, and which are preferably positioned in strap
29.
In FIG. 5, monitoring device 30 is shown with housing 41, cover 27, and
strap 29. Scissors 44 are shown for illustrative purposes only in act of
cutting strap 29, which would activate detection means as previously
described. FIG. 7 shows a barcode printed on photo-sensitive material 35.
Note that photo-sensitive material 35 may be alternatively provided
partially or completely covering bar code 40.
As shown in FIG. 6, monitoring device 30 is shown with monitoring member
31, barcode 40, and photo-flash element 34 proximately located thereto.
Cover 27 and strap 29 are operably secured thereto. Battery 52 may be
provided as a very small battery as extremely low energy demands are made
on it. It is preferably maintained in the standby mode, and is only
activated if strap 29 or monitoring member 31 is cut or severed from the
object to which it is attached, and therefore has a very long life of at
least two to five years. Housing 41 is preferably provided in a small size
no bigger than a wristwatch so as to be convenient, unobtrusive, and
discreet. Housing 41 and band 26 are preferably sealed and waterproofed,
and provided as a unitary body, with plastic and a hot gluing with
adhesive applied thereto, as previously described, and are therefore
extremely durable and resistant to wear.
In accordance with the present invention there also is provided a
remote-readable monitoring device, comprising: a monitoring member
including attachment means for attaching said monitoring member to an
animate or inanimate object, the monitoring member being communicatively
coupled to a remote monitoring unit; detection means for detecting
severance of said attachment means including a plurality of charged and
uncharged conductors, said plurality of charged and uncharged conductors
being operably disposed within said attachment means; and, means for
maintaining said plurality of conductors at different potentials from one
another so that a charged conductor and an uncharged conductor are
normally spaced from one another in a sequential fashion so that when a
charged conductor contacts an uncharged conductor an electrical current
flows activating said detection means.
In this embodiment, the plurality of charged conductors are shown as 12,
16, 18, and 22; and the plurality of uncharged conductors are shown as 14,
15, 17, 19, and 21 operably positioned in strap 29 as previously
described. The plurality of conductors are preferably composed of a metal.
Battery 52 provides the means of maintaining the plurality of conductors
at different potentials from one another. The conductors are preferably
spaced within strap 29 in a sequential fashion so that when a charged
conductor contacts an uncharged conductor, for example, if strap 29 is
severed or cut from the object to which it is attached, an electric
current flows in band 29 activating detection means, which are preferably
photo-flash element 34 as previously described, and which when activated
alters photo-sensitive material 35 and thereby obscures barcode 40.
Barcode 40 may, in this embodiment, also be provided by powered liquid
crystal display 64 produced by programmed chip 63 which creates a
plurality of barcode characters. Chip 56 is communicatively coupled to
said plurality of charged and uncharged conductors. The plurality of
conductors are preferably separated from one another by an electrical
insulating material, such as rubber, thermoplastic, urethane, or other
polymeric material.
In operation and use, the monitoring device 30 is extremely efficient,
reliable, durable, and inexpensive to manufacture. It may be conveniently
provided in a small size so that it is unobtrusive, while providing
extremely accurate monitoring. It is also easily adaptable with prior
central monitoring systems.
For example, monitoring device 30 may be attached to the wrist or leg of a
person under house arrest. Such monitored persons are subject to
designated curfew times set by custodial staff. If the monitored person is
to check in at 6:00 P.M. when he or she arrives home, such person simply
walks up to the remote communicator 37 which may be located in his or her
home, reads the barcode with reader 36, and communicator 37 sends this
verification data over the telephone line to central monitoring station
38. Central monitoring station 38 records the persons booking number, the
barcode number, the time and the date of the check in. Signal means, such
as a light emitting diode may be provided on the remote communicator which
is wired to light up when all of the information is recorded by the
central monitoring station 38. The monitored person then knows that he or
she has checked in and such information recorded. Once the light emitting
diode is activated, the monitoring station sends a tone back to remote
communicator 37 and the telephone is released to normal operation and
usage.
Remote communicator 37 may be provided with a circuit which limits
telephone activity in the monitored person's home during a designated
check in time. That is, any telephone extensions that may be used by other
people or the monitored person in the residence will be cut off and the
remote communicator takes over during a designated time interval. When the
verification is completed, the telephone system is released back to normal
operation. The monitored person may also, of course, be subject to random
calling for verification at any time. Such methodology enforces a behavior
modification on the part of the monitored person by consistent and
reliable operation of monitoring device 30 and the verification
methodologies which may be employed using the remote communicator 37
communicatively linked to the central monitoring station 38. If monitoring
member 31 or strap 29 is severed or cut from the person or object to which
it has been attached verification is impossible because barcode 40 has
been obscured and made unreadable. In the home arrest application, such
lack of verification leads to immediate notification of the appropriate
custodial staff.
It is readily apparent that the monitoring device 30 may be used in a wide
variety of applications including monitoring of people, animals, and
inanimate objects; surveillance applications; and identification of
people, animals, inanimate objects, and the like. For example, monitoring
device 30 may be used as a security tag in either public or private
institutions. In such application monitoring device 30 could be used as
tag on the clothing of the person entering the secured facility. The
clothing could function as an insulator that separates a charged clamp
from an uncharged contact with photo-flash element 34 positioned within
the body of the tag. Monitoring device 30 may be used to track numerous
animate objects such as children, pets, animals, farm animals, wildlife
monitoring, hospital patients, and the like. Or monitoring device 30 may
be used to track merchandise in warehouses, baggage, mail, or the like.
Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled
in the art. The invention in its broader aspects is, therefore, not
limited to the specific details, representative apparatus and illustrative
examples shown and described. Accordingly, departures may be made from
such details without departing from the spirit or scope of the applicant's
general inventive concept.
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