# US 2014/0197948 A1 · Autonomous aggregated search platform and methods using the same

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- Number: US 2014/0197948 A1
- Document ID: US20140197948A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 13/997,198
- Filed: 2012-04-13
- Published: 2014-07-17
- Earliest claimed: 2012-04-13
- Assignees: Intel Corporation
- Inventors: Stanley Mo; Mubashir A. Mian; Rita H. Wouhaybi; Tobias M. Kohlenberg
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140197948A1

## CPC

- G08B 21/24: Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms
- G01S 13/74: Systems using reradiation of radio waves, e.g. secondary radar systems; Analogous systems
- H04W 4/021: Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
- H04W 4/027: {using movement velocity, acceleration information}
- H04W 64/00: Locating users or terminals {or network equipment} for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
- G08B: SIGNALLING SYSTEMS, e.g. PERSONAL CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
- G01S: RADIO DIRECTION-FINDING; RADIO NAVIGATION; DETERMINING DISTANCE OR VELOCITY BY USE OF RADIO WAVES; LOCATING OR PRESENCE-DETECTING BY USE OF THE REFLECTION OR RERADIATION OF RADIO WAVES; ANALOGOUS ARRANGEMENTS USING OTHER WAVES
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)

## Abstract

Systems and methods for searching for lost moving objects such as children are disclosed. In some embodiments, the systems and methods initiate an autonomous, expanding electronic search by emitting a search activation signal from a search initiation device. The search activation signal may include the target tag identifier of a target tag conveyed by the moving object. Search devices detecting the target tag may generate a hit signal, which may be used to determine the location of the target tag. In some instances, focused human searching for the moving object may be initiated based on this determined location, and/or on location information included in one or more hit signals.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

1-39. (canceled)

### Claim 40

A device for initiating an autonomous expanding electronic search for a tag associated with a moving object, comprising:
a first processor, a first communications interface configured to communicate using at least one predefined communications protocol, and a first memory having first search module instructions stored therein, wherein said first search module instructions when executed cause said first communications interface to transmit a first search activation signal, said first search activation signal configured to invite at least one other device to search for said tag.

### Claim 41 (depends on 40)

The device of claim 40, wherein said at least one other device is to search for said tag by analyzing tag signals for said target tag identifier.

### Claim 42 (depends on 40)

The device of claim 40, wherein said target tag is associated with a target tag identifier, and said first search activation signal includes said at least one target tag identifier.

### Claim 43 (depends on 40)

The device of claim 40, wherein said first search activation signal includes supplemental information about said moving object.

### Claim 44 (depends on 40)

The device of claim 40, wherein said first search module instructions when executed by said first processor cause, in response to receiving a hit signal indicating the detection of said tag, to determine the location of said tag from said hit signal.

### Claim 45 (depends on 40)

The device of claim 40, wherein said first search module instructions when executed by said first processor cause said first communications interface to, in response to receiving a hit signal indicating the detection of said tag, transmit a signal containing supplemental information about said moving object.

### Claim 46 (depends on 40)

The device of claim 40, wherein said first search module instructions when executed by said first processor cause said first communications interface to, in response to receiving a hit signal indicating the detection of said tag, transmit a human or animal search request.

### Claim 47 (depends on 40)

The device of claim 40, wherein said first search module instructions when executed by said first processor cause said first communications interface to, in response to an indication that a search is complete, transmit a search deactivation signal.

### Claim 48

A device for performing an autonomous electronic search for a tag associated with a moving object, comprising: a second processor, a second communications interface configured to communicate using at least one predefined communications protocol, and a second memory having second search module instructions stored therein, wherein said second search module instructions when executed by said second processor cause said device to search for said tag in response to receiving a first search activation signal.

### Claim 49 (depends on 48)

The device of claim 48, wherein said first search activation signal includes a tag identifier associated with said tag, and said second search module instructions when executed cause said device to search for said tag by analyzing at tag signals received with said second communications interface for said tag identifier.

### Claim 50 (depends on 48)

The device of claim 48, wherein if said device fails to detect said tag, said second search module instructions when executed by said second processor cause said device to transmit a second search activation signal, said second search activation signal configured to invite at least one other device to search for said tag.

### Claim 51 (depends on 48)

The device of claim 48, wherein if said device detects said tag, said second search module instructions when executed by said second processor cause said second communications interface to transmit a hit signal.

### Claim 52 (depends on 51)

The device of claim 51, wherein said hit signal includes information about the location of said device at a time said device detects said tag.

### Claim 53 (depends on 51)

The device of claim 51, wherein said hit signal is transmitted to a first device, a central service, or a combination thereof, and includes information sufficient to allow said first device, said central service, or a combination thereof to determine a location of the tag.

### Claim 54 (depends on 51)

The device of claim 51, wherein said second communications interface transmits said hit signal using at least one of close range communication and long range communication.

### Claim 55 (depends on 54)

The device of claim 54, wherein said second communications interface transmits said hit signal using close range communication.

### Claim 56 (depends on 51)

The device of claim 51, wherein said second search module instructions when executed by said second processor further cause said second communications interface to transmit a second search activation signal, said second search activation signal configured to invite at least one third device to search for said tag.

### Claim 57 (depends on 48)

The device of claim 48, wherein in response to receiving a hit signal indicating a detection of said tag from at least one detecting search device, said second search module instructions cause said second communications interface to transmit information contained in said hit signal using at least one of close range communication and long range communication.

### Claim 58 (depends on 57)

The device of claim 57, wherein if said device has a connection to a long range communications network, said second search module instructions cause said second communications interface to transmit said information contained in said hit signal using long range communication.

### Claim 59 (depends on 57)

The device of claim 57, wherein if said device does not have a connection to a long range communications network, said second search module instructions cause said second communications interface to transmit said information contained in said hit signal using close range communication.

### Claim 60 (depends on 57)

The device of claim 57, wherein said second communications interface transmits said information contained in said hit signal to another device, a central service, or a combination thereof.

### Claim 61

A central service for managing the performance of an electronic search for a tag associated with a moving object, comprising:
a central service processor and a central service memory having search service management module instructions stored therein, wherein said search service management module instructions when executed by said central service process cause said central service to, in response to receiving a hit signal indicating the detection of said tag, determine a location of said tag from said hit signal.

### Claim 62 (depends on 61)

The central service of claim 61, wherein said search service management module instructions when executed by said central service processor further cause, in response to receiving at least one search request for a target tag, said central service to initiate an autonomous, expanding search for said target tag by transmitting a first search activation signal.

### Claim 63 (depends on 61)

The central service of claim 61, wherein in response to receiving said hit signal, said search service management module instructions when executed by said central service processor further cause said central service to transmit a supplemental information signal, said supplemental information signal comprising information about said moving object.

### Claim 64 (depends on 63)

The central service of claim 63, wherein said search service management module instructions when executed by said central service processor cause said central service to direct said supplemental information signal to a detecting search device that generated said hit signal.

### Claim 65 (depends on 64)

The central service of claim 64, wherein said search service management module instructions when executed by said central service processor cause said central service to further direct said supplemental information signal to other devices in proximity to a determined location of said tag.

### Claim 66 (depends on 61)

The central service of claim 61, wherein in response to receiving said hit signal, said search service management module instructions when executed by said central service processor cause said central service to transmit a human or animal search request signal.

### Claim 67 (depends on 66)

The central service of claim 66, wherein said human or animal search request comprises a request to initiate a human or animal search in a determined location of said tag.

### Claim 68 (depends on 66)

The central service of claim 66, wherein said search service management module when executed by said central service processor causes said central service to direct said human or animal search request signal to a detecting search device that generated said hit signal.

### Claim 69

A system, comprising:
a search device comprising a processor, a communications interface, and a memory having search module instructions stored therein, said search module instructions when executed by a processor causes said search device to:
search for a target tag in response to receiving a search activation signal;
transmit at least one additional search activation signal, if said target tag is not detected; and
transmit at least one hit signal, if said target tag is detected.

### Claim 70 (depends on 69)

The system of claim 69, wherein said search device searches for said tag by analyzing signals received by said communications interface for a tag signal containing a unique target tag identifier.

### Claim 71 (depends on 69)

The system of claim 69, wherein said communications interface is configured to send, receive, or send and receive said at least one additional search activation signal using at least one of long range communication, short range communication, and a combination thereof.

### Claim 72

A method for searching for a moving object, comprising:
emitting a search activation signal from a search initiation device, wherein said search activation signal initiates an autonomous, expanding electronic search for a target tag associated with said moving object.

### Claim 73 (depends on 72)

The method of claim 72, wherein said search activation signal causes a plurality of search devices to participate in said autonomous, expanding electronic search.

### Claim 74 (depends on 72)

The method of claim 72, further comprising:
storing a database of registered search devices, said registered search devices being configured to participate in autonomous, expanding electronic searches; and
transmitting said search activation signal to one or more of said registered search devices.

### Claim 75 (depends on 74)

The method of claim 74, further comprising transmitting said search activation signal to one or more of said registered search devices, based on a last known location of said dynamic object.

### Claim 76 (depends on 72)

The method of claim 72, further comprising transmitting at least one additional search signal in response to a hit signal generated by said autonomous, expanding electronic search, wherein said at least one additional search signal initiates another autonomous, expanding electronic search based on location information contained in said hit signal.

### Claim 77 (depends on 72)

The method of claim 72, further comprising initiating a human or animal search for said dynamic object, based on location information contained in said hit signal.