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Patent No. 6317049  Apparatus and method for locating missing persons, animals, and objects (Toubia, et al., Nov 13, 2001)

Abstract

A micropower transponder operates in conjunction with a constellation of low-to-medium Earth-orbiting communication satellites. The transponder is attached to a person, animal, or object. The location of a missing person, animal, or lost object is ascertained by locating the transponder associated with that person, animal, or object. The transponder may be hidden in the individual's hair, timepiece, jewelry, or article of clothing; may be swallowed by the individual; may be implanted under the individual's skin; or incorporated into an inconspicuous hand-held device such as a cellular telephone, pager, or calculator. The transponder includes a receiver for receiving an interrogation radio signal and a transmitter for transmitting a response radio signal. The transponder transmits the response radio signal in response to the interrogation radio signal if the interrogation radio signal includes a code matching the access code stored in the transponder. The Doppler shift in frequency of the response radio signal is measured and the Doppler shift is used to determine the location of the transponder.

Notes:

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention solves these and other problems by providing a method of locating missing persons, animals, or lost objects without the geographic limitations of service areas of present systems. One embodiment includes a transponder for locating missing persons, animals, and lost objects using low-to-medium Earth-orbiting communications satellites. Persons, animals, or objects are equipped with a miniature, micropower transponder. Each transponder responds to a unique identifying access code. The transponder may be hidden in the individual's hair, timepiece, jewelry, or article of clothing; may be swallowed by the individual; may be implanted under the individual's skin; or incorporated into an inconspicuous hand-held device such as a cellular telephone, pager, or calculator. The transponder includes a receiver for receiving an interrogation radio signal and a transmitter for transmitting a response radio signal. The transponder transmits the response radio signal in response to the interrogation radio signal if the interrogation radio signal includes a code matching the access code stored in the transponder.

When a person, animal, or object is discovered to be missing, the access code corresponding to the transponder carried by the person (or attached to the object) is determined from a database. A transmitter located aboard an Earth-orbiting satellite, at a known location above the surface of the Earth, sends the interrogation radio signal including the access code. The Doppler shift in frequency of the response radio signal is measured. This Doppler measurement is combined with successive Doppler measurements to determine the location of the transponder on the surface of the Earth. The satellites in the Earth orbiting constellation then relay the location information to the monitoring station.

In one embodiment, the transponder includes small electromechanical sensors for gathering acceleration data, biometric data, and other types of data. Moreover, a transponder carried by an individual can receive information directly inputted by the individual. The monitoring station uses the satellite to broadcast alerts and interrogations directed to the transponder, and the transponder receives and replies the alerts and interrogations. In one embodiment, the transponder includes a vibratory enunciator to alert the individual of an inquiry signal from the monitoring station.
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Various modifications to the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing description and accompanying drawings. Accordingly, the present invention is to be limited only by the scope of the following claims.