Wireless piconet-based personal electronic property reminder

[0002] The present invention relates to a system and method for reminding users of forgotten portable electronic devices.

[0003] In recent years, use of portable electronic devices, such as, for example, cellular telephones, personal data assistants (PDAs), personal computers, pagers, and the like, have increased greatly. People rely on these devices at work, home, and when traveling. As a result, when a user forgets a portable electronic device, it often creates a problem and in many instances must backtrack to retrieve the forgotten device. Currently there is no way for a person to insure that he or she has not forgotten any of his or her essential devices when leaving a location other than by going over a checklist.

[0004] Thus, there exists a desire and need for a system and method for checking if a person has all of their portable electronic devices with them when leaving a location such as, for example, home, work, car, a hotel, etc. There is also a need for a system and method to ensure that a person does not have unneeded devices when leaving a location. In another aspect, the invention is a method and system which ensures that a person does not leave a location with unneeded or unnecessary personal electronic devices.

[0005] The present invention mitigates the problems associated with the prior art and provides, in one aspect, a unique method and system for providing an automatic reminder thereby insuring that a person does not forget any personal electronic devices when leaving a location.

[0006] In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, portable electronic devices such as, for example, cellular telephones, PDAs, laptops, pagers, MP3 players, watches, etc. are provided with transceivers. When the user performs a predefined action, such as, for example, starts his car, opens the front door of his house, or opens a garage door, etc. a controller at the location checks which devices should be present with the user at that time. A transceiver at the location communicates with each of the specified portable electronic devices which should be present using low power radio signals to verify that each portable electronic device is within a pre-determined short range of the location, e.g. is with the user or in the car. The location controller notifies the user of any of the specified portable electronic devices which are not within the pre-determined short range of the controller.

[0007] In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, portable electronic devices are provided with transceivers. At a specified time, a controller in the user's watch, beeper, or cellular telephone communicates via a transceiver with each of the specified portable electronic devices using low power radio signals to verify that each portable electronic device is within a pre-determined short range, e.g. is with the user or in the immediate vicinity. The controller within the watch, beeper, or cellular telephone then notifies the user if any of the specified portable electronic devices are not within a pre-determined short range.

[0008] In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, portable electronic devices are provided with transceivers. When a user performs a specified action, a controller at his location checks to maker sure that no unneeded or unnecessary devices are present e.g. within a predetermined distance of the controller. So that a user is not burdened with unnecessary unneeded devices.

[0009] The above and other features of the invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description of the invention which is provided in connection with the accompanying drawings.

[0010] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a reminder enabled device and a reminder device; and

[0011] FIG. 1ais a block diagram of a reminder device incorporating a clock;

[0012] FIG. 1bis a block diagram of a reminder enabled device incorporating a GPS receiver;

[0013] FIG. 2 is a flowchart of an exemplary method implemented in a reminder device for a wireless pico-net based personal property reminder;

[0014] FIG. 3 is a flowchart of an exemplary method implemented in a reminder enabled device for a wireless piconet-based personal property reminder;

[0015] FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an exemplary method implemented in a reminder device for a wireless pico-net based personal property reminder that verifies that some reminder enabled devices are present and that some reminder enabled devices are absent;

[0016] FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an exemplary method implemented in a reminder device for a wireless pico-net based personal property reminder that verifies that each reminder enabled device is within range by comparing the signal strength to a threshold signal strength;

[0017] FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an exemplary method implemented in a reminder device for a wireless pico-net based personal property reminder using GPS coordinates to verify that each reminder enabled device is within a threshold distance; and

[0018] FIG. 7 is a flowchart of an exemplary method implemented in a reminder device for a wireless pico-net based personal property reminder that synchronizes with an electronic calendar to verify that the reminder enabled devices necessary for each days schedule are present and that the reminder enabled devices that should be absent for the present days schedule are absent.

[0019] In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that structural changes may be made and equivalent structures substituted for those shown without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

[0020] FIG. 1 illustrates in block diagram form a reminder device 10 and a reminder enabled device 20 according to the present invention. In accordance with the present invention, the reminder device 10 verifies that all reminder enabled devices 20 are present when a reminder event occurs. A reminder event can be a preset time, opening a car door, starting a car, opening a garage door, opening the front door of a house, etc.

[0021] A reminder device 10, such as, for example, a car's computer, a watch, garage door opener, beeper, etc., is provided with a transceiver 12. The transceiver is connected to a controller, for example, a microprocessor 13 and is provided with an antenna 11 for broadcasting and receiving radio signals. The reminder device 10 is also provided with a user input device 15 for inputting which portable electronic devices 20 to verify the presence of and when to verify the presence of each portable electronic device 20 into an information storage device 17. The input device may be a keypad, keyboard, mouse, etc. The reminder device 10 may also have a display. 14 for displaying visually those devices that are not present, or a speaker 16 for providing an audio alert that one or more devices 20 are missing. A reminder device 10 enabled for a preset time to be used as a reminder event is illustrated in FIG. 1a. The only difference between reminder device 10 in FIG. 1 and FIG. 1ais the addition of clock 18. A reminder device enabled to determine if reminder enabled device 20 is within a threshold proximity by comparing the location of each device as determined by a global positioning satellite is illustrated in FIG. 1b. The only difference between reminder device 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 1bis the addition of a global positioning satellite receiver in FIG. 1b.

[0022] A reminder enabled device 20, such as, for example, a wireless telephone, PDA, a transferable tag that may be attached to any item, laptop computer, wristwatch or the like, is provided with a transceiver 22. The transceiver 22 is connected to a controller, e.g. microprocessor 23 in the device 20. The transceiver 22 is provided with an antenna 21 for broadcasting and receiving radio signals. The device 20 may be provided with a user input device 24 for inputting information to identify the device 20 for storage in memory 25. The input device may be a keypad, keyboard, mouse, etc. A reminder enabled device 20 incorporating a global positioning satellite receiver is illustrated in FIG. 1b. The only difference between reminder enabled device 20 illustrated in FIG. 1 and FIG. 1bis the addition of GPS receiver 26.

[0023] In accordance with one exemplary embodiment of the invention, portable electronic devices, such as, for example, a cellular telephone, a laptop, a PDA, and a transferable tag are all reminder enabled devices 20. The reminder device 10 can be provided at a specified location, for example, at a house, in an automobile or even on a user. The reminder 15 device 10 can be programmed with information concerning which portable electronic devices need to be checked for and when a check is to be made through the user input device 15. The user input device 15 can be a keyboard, keypad, mouse, etc. When the user selects a portable electronic device 20 to be reminded about, the days to check for the portable electronic device 20 and the time or event at which to check for the presence of the portable electronic device 20 can be entered through user input device 15. For example, it may not be necessary to check for a laptop computer on Saturdays or Sundays. Accordingly, the reminder device 10 can be programmed to check for a laptop computer only on Monday through Friday. The portable electronic device 20 identification information can be input into the portable electronic device 20 either through a signal from the reminder device 10 or from a user input device 24 connected to the portable electronic device 20. The user can also select to be reminded when certain devices that are present which should not be present. For example, if a user does not want to have a laptop on weekends, the user can set the reminder device to generate a reminder if the laptop is present on Saturday or Sunday. In addition, an electronic calendar can form part of, or can communicate with a reminder device 10 so that the reminder device can check for the devices that are necessary and should be present for the current day's schedule as well as for devices that are not needed and should not be present for the current day's schedule.

[0024] When an activation event occurs at a location containing a reminder device 10, for example, when a door of a car 10 is opened, a computer 13 in car 10 broadcasts a signal via transceiver 12 which contains identification information for the first portable electronic device 20 to be checked for. Each of the reminder enabled devices 20 that are within range receive the signal and compare the portable electronic device 20 identification information contained in the signal to the information in the information storage device 25. If the first portable electronic device 20 is within range of the transmission, the information in the signal will match the information in the information storage device of the first portable electronic device 20 and the first portable electronic device 20 will broadcast an acknowledgement signal.

[0025] Once the computer 13 of the car 10 receives the acknowledgement signal through transceiver 12, it repeats the process for each other portable electronic device 20 which should be present in the vicinity of the reminder device 10. If a portable electronic device 20 does not broadcast an acknowledgment signal, the computer 13 displays a message on the display 14 and/or provides an audible signal through speaker 16 informing the user that the portable electronic device 20 is absent. The acknowledgment signal can also contain information about the status of reminder enabled device 20. For example, the acknowledgment signal can contain battery power information for a laptop. The user alert device 14 can inform the user that the laptop is present, but the battery is low. The acknowledgment signal can also contain voicemail information for a cellular telephone. The user alert device 14 can inform the user that there are voicemails or missed calls. In addition, if a device 20 is not present, user alert device 14 can inform the user of the last time the device was present.

[0026] FIG. 2 illustrates in flowchart form the processing performed by a reminder device 10 under control of microprocessor 13. Once a reminder device 10 has identification information on each reminder enabled portable electronic device 20 input into the information storage device 17, the microprocessor 13 checks if an activation event has occurred at processing segment 30. An activation event can be starting a car, opening a car door, opening a garage door, opening the front door of a house, a pre-set time, or any other event. If the activation event occurred as detected at processing segment 30, then the microprocessor 13 sets a variable (“N”) to the number of devices that need to be checked at segment 31, sets another variable (“I”) to 1 at segment 32, and broadcasts the user information and information for device(I) at segment 33. The microprocessor 13 then checks if an acknowledgement signal is received within a pre-set period of time at processing segment 34 indicating that device(I) is nearby, e.g. within range. If the acknowledgment signal is not received, the microprocessor 13 alerts the user that device(I) is missing at segment 35. The microprocessor 13 can alert the user that a reminder enabled device 20 is missing by displaying a message on the display 14 and/or providing an audio signal through speaker 16, flashing lights, sounding a car alarm, beeping, etc., or any other suitable method. The user may then turn off the alarm, set it to check again at a later time, or remove a particular device from the checklist for the day.

[0027] If the acknowledgment signal is received as detected at processing segment 34, or after the user is alerted that a reminder enabled device 20 is missing at segment 35, the microprocessor 13 increments the variable I (the current device 20) at segment 36. The microprocessor 13 then checks if the variable I is greater than the variable N (the total number of devices 20) at processing segment 37. If I is greater than N, indicating that all reminder enabled devices have been checked for, then the microprocessor 13 returns to reminder device start. If I is not greater than N, then the microprocessor 13 returns to segment 33 to check for the next device 20 and continues the loop until all of the reminder enabled devices 20 identified in storage device 17 have been detected or the user has been alerted to any missing devices 20.

[0028] FIG. 3 illustrates in flowchart form the processing performed by a reminder enabled device 20. Once a reminder enabled device 20 has identification information input and stored in the information storage device 25, its microprocessor 23 checks if a signal is received from a reminder device 10 at processing segment 70. If a signal is received from a reminder device 10 as detected at processing segment 70, the microprocessor 23 checks if it is the current device by comparing the portable electronic device 20 identification information contained in the signal received with the user information and device information in the information storage device 24 at processing segment 40. If the information stored in the information storage device 25 does not match, as detected at processing segment 40, the microprocessor 23 returns to processing segment 70. If the information matches, the microprocessor 23 broadcasts an acknowledgement signal at segment 39 and then returns to processing segment 70 to await another signal.

[0029] FIG. 4 illustrates in flowchart form a modification of how a reminder device 10 can operate. The only difference between FIG. 4 and FIG. 2 is the addition of processing segments 38 and 39 and segment 40. In this modification, in addition to verifying that the reminder enabled devices 20 that should be present arc not absent, the reminder device 10 verifies that reminder enabled devices 20 that should be absent are not present.

[0030] In this modification, if an acknowledgement signal is not received as detected at processing segment 34, the microprocessor 13 checks if device(I) is needed at processing segment 38. If device(I) is needed as detected at processing segment 38, the microprocessor 13 activates the display 14 to inform the user that a necessary device is missing at segment 35 and proceeds to segment 36 to continue checking for reminder enabled devices. If device (I) is not needed as detected at processing segment 38, the microprocessor 13 proceeds to segment 37.

[0031] If an acknowledgment signal is received as detected at processing segment 34, the microprocessor 13 checks if device (I) is needed at processing segment 39. If device (I) is needed as detected at processing segment 39, the microprocessor 13 proceeds to segment 36. If device (I) is not needed as detected at processing segment 39, the microprocessor 13 activates the display 14 to inform the user that the device is present at segment 40 and proceeds to segment 36.

[0032] FIG. 5 illustrates in flowchart form another modification of how a reminder device 10 can operate. The only difference between FIG. 5 and FIG. 2 is the addition of processing segment 50. In this modification, in addition to determining that a reminder enabled device 20 is absent if it does not transmit an acknowledgment signal, the reminder device 10 also compares the signal strength of the acknowledgment signals received to a close proximity threshold signal strength to make sure the reminder enabled devices 20 that do respond are close enough.

[0033] In this modification, after an acknowledgment signal is received as detected at processing segment 34, the microprocessor 13 determines if the signal strength of the acknowledgment signal is greater than the proximity threshold signal strength at processing segment 50. If the signal strength is greater than the close proximity threshold as detected at processing segment 40, the microprocessor 13 proceeds to segment 36 to increment I. If the signal strength is not greater than the proximity threshold as detected at processing segment 40, the microprocessor 13 proceeds to segment 35 to alert the user that the device is not present.

[0034] The close proximity threshold can be set by the user based on what reminder device 10 is. For example, if reminder device 10 is a car, the close proximity threshold would be set to a distance that would include the trunk, but not any farther. If reminder device 10 is a processor in a building that is activated when a door is opened, the close proximity threshold would be set to a distance that would include a small area around the door so that the user would be alerted about any reminder enabled devices 20 in the building, but not near the user.

[0035] FIG. 6 illustrates in flowchart form another modification of how a reminder device 10 can operate. The only difference between FIG. 6 and FIG. 2 is the addition of processing segment 60. In this modification, instead of testing the strength of the response signal to determine if reminder enabled devices 20 are within range, as in FIG. 5, the reminder device 10 verifies proximity using a global positioning satellite.

[0036] In this modification, the acknowledgment signal received from each reminder enabled device 20 at processing segment 34 contains its GPS coordinates. The reminder device 10 then determines its own location and the location of each reminder enabled device 20. Once the acknowledgment signal is received from a reminder enabled device 20 as detected at processing segment 34, the reminder device 10 determines if the distance from the reminder device 10 to the reminder enabled device 20 is greater than the proximity threshold at processing segment 60. If the distance exceeds the threshold as detected at processing segment 60, the microprocessor 13 proceeds to segment 35 to alert the user that the device is missing. If the distance is within the threshold, the microprocessor proceeds to segment 36 to increment the device number and verify the presence of the next device.

[0037] FIG. 7 illustrates in flowchart for another modification of how a reminder device 10 can operate. The only difference between FIG. 6 and FIG. 4 is the addition of processing segment 71 and segments 70 and 72. In this modification, instead of having the user input which reminder enabled devices 20 should be present and which reminder enabled devices 20 should be absent for each day of the week, the reminder device 10 communicates with the user's electronic calendar to determine which reminder enabled devices 20 are necessary for each day's schedule and which reminder enabled devices 20 should be absent for each day's schedule.

[0038] In this modification, after the activation event occurs at processing segment 30, the reminder device 10 transmits a device list request to the user's electronic calendar at segment 70. The device list contains a list of which reminder enabled devices 20 should be present and which reminder enabled devices 20 should be absent. After the device list request is transmitted at segment 70, the microprocessor 71 checks if the device list is received at processing segment 71. If the device list is not received as detected at processing segment 71, the microprocessor 13 activates the display 14 to notify the user that the electronic calendar is missing at segment 72 and returns to segment 70. If the device list is received as detected at processing segment 71, the microprocessor proceeds to segment 31 to verify that the reminder enabled devices are present or absent as in FIG. 4.

[0039] In order to standardize the system for various products from different manufacturers, a protocol must be established. One such protocol is known as Bluetooth™. Bluetooth™ is a radio frequency standard that describes how portable electronic devices, such as, for example, wireless telephones, PDAs, and personal computers, can easily interconnect with each other and with home and business phones and computers using a short-range wireless connection. The Bluetooth™ specification ensures that diverse devices supporting the Bluetooth™ technology can communicate with each other worldwide. The Bluetooth™ protocol allows for the automatic connections between the devices without any user intervention. Thus, when Bluetooth™ equipped devices come within range of one another, such as, for example, when a reminder enabled device 20 is within range of a reminder device 10, the devices can communicate with each other via a radio frequency.

[0040] While the Bluetooth™ protocol can be used with the present invention, the communications do not have to be by the Bluetooth™ protocol.

[0041] It should be noted that while the invention has been described with reference to detecting portable electronic devices 20 that are left behind, it is also possible to attach or otherwise couple a reminder enabled device 20 to any object where it is desired to detect if that object has been left behind.

[0042] While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiments various additions, deletions, substitutions, or other modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be considered as limited by the foregoing description, but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.