Dynamic perimeter alert system
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsJhansi R. Kolla, Paul J. O'Donnell, Michael S. Thomason
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for making sure that two wireless devices (a perimeter-anchoring device and a constrained device) are not separated too far apart by having a dynamic perimeter that follows the perimeter-anchoring device as it moves. In some embodiments, the size and/or shape of the perimeter is controlled by machine logic based rules, based at least in part, upon a set of environmental factor(s). Some possible environmental factors include: line of sight, pollution, noise level, presence of stranger(s), streets, traffic, body(ies) of water, contamination, allergen, or blocking obstruction(s).
Claims18
A method comprising:
- providing a perimeter-anchoring device and a constrained device, with each of the perimeter-anchoring and constrained devices:
- being structured, sized and/or shaped to be portable, and
- including a location determination module structured and/or programmed to determine a current geographic location of the device;
- receiving, from the location determination module of the constrained device, the current geographic location of the constrained device;
- monitoring, by an environmental factor module, a first environmental factor, based at least in part upon the current geographic location of at least one of the following:
- the constrained device and the perimeter-anchoring device;
- receiving, from the location determination module of the perimeter-anchoring device, the current geographic location of the perimeter-anchoring device;
- determining, by a perimeter module on an on-going basis, a geographic area, based at least in part upon the first environmental factor, with:
- (i) the geographic area being bounded by a perimeter so that the area and perimeter will dynamically move with any movements of the current geographic location of the perimeter-anchoring device, and (ii) the perimeter-anchoring device being located outside the geographic area;
- determining, by a comparison module, whether the constrained device is located outside of the perimeter, based at least in part upon the current geographic location of the constrained device and the current geographic location of the perimeter-anchoring device;
- and
- on condition that the constrained device is located outside of the perimeter, performing, by an alerting module, a responsive action.
A computer program product for use with a perimeter-anchoring device and a constrained device, with each of the perimeter-anchoring and constrained devices being structured, sized and/or shaped to be portable, and including a location determination module structured and/or programmed to determine a current geographic location of the device, the computer program product comprising:
- a storage device;
- and
- machine readable instructions stored on and/or in the storage device;
- wherein the machine readable instructions include the following:
- a first receiving module programmed to receive, from the location determination module of the perimeter-anchoring device, the current geographic location of the perimeter-anchoring device,
- a second receiving module programmed to receive, from the location determination module of the constrained device, the current geographic location of the constrained device,
- an environmental factor module structured and/or programmed to determine a current environmental factor in the vicinity of the device, to monitor a first environmental factor, based at least in part upon the current environment in the vicinity of at least one of the following:
- the constrained device and the perimeter-anchoring device,
- a perimeter module programmed to, on an on-going basis, determine a geographic area, based at least in part upon the first environmental factor, with:
- (i) the geographic area being bounded by a perimeter so that the area and perimeter will dynamically move with any movements of the current geographic location of the perimeter-anchoring device, and (ii) the perimeter-anchoring device being located outside the geographic area,
- a comparison module programmed to determine whether the constrained device is located outside of the perimeter, based at least in part upon the current geographic location of the constrained device and the current geographic location of the perimeter-anchoring device, and
- an alerting module, programmed to, on condition that the constrained device is located outside of the perimeter, perform a responsive action.
A computer system for use with a perimeter-anchoring device and a constrained device, with each of the perimeter-anchoring and constrained devices being structured, sized and/or shaped to be portable, and including a location determination module structured and/or programmed to determine a current geographic location of the device, the computer system comprising:
- a processor(s) set;
- and
- a computer readable storage medium;
- wherein:
- the processor(s) set is structured, located, connected and/or programmed to execute instructions stored on the computer readable storage medium;
- and
- the instructions include:
- a first receiving module programmed to receive, from the location determination module of the perimeter-anchoring device, the current geographic location of the perimeter-anchoring device,
- a second receiving module programmed to receive, from the location determination module of the constrained device, the current geographic location of the constrained device,
- an environmental factor module structured and/or programmed to determine a current environmental factor in the vicinity of the device, to monitor a first environmental factor, based at least in part upon the current environment in the vicinity of at least one of the following:
- the constrained device and the perimeter-anchoring device,
- a perimeter module programmed to, on an on-going basis, determine a geographic area, based at least in part upon the first environmental factor, with:
- (i) the geographic area being bounded by a perimeter so that the area and perimeter will dynamically move with any movements of the current geographic location of the perimeter-anchoring device, and (ii) the perimeter-anchoring device being located outside the geographic area,
- a comparison module programmed to determine whether the constrained device is located outside of the perimeter, based at least in part upon the current geographic location of the constrained device and the current geographic location of the perimeter-anchoring device, and
- an alerting module, programmed to, on condition that the constrained device is located outside of the perimeter, perform a responsive action.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.