公开(公告)号：US07061385B2

公开(公告)日：2006-06-13

申请号：US10655788

申请日：2003-09-06

申请人： Gordon D. Fong ,  Tony Perez ,  C. Bart Sullivan

发明人： Gordon D. Fong ,  Tony Perez ,  C. Bart Sullivan

IPC分类号： G08B23/00

CPC分类号： G08B21/0236 ,  G08B21/0258 ,  G08B21/0263 ,  G08B21/0266 ,  G08B21/0269 ,  G08B21/0291

摘要： Method and apparatus to provide a wireless tether system is described. In one embodiment, one or more wireless tether apparatuses are in wireless communication with one or more base units. A wireless tether apparatus may be configured such that when separated from a base unit greater than a predetermined distance, such a wireless tether apparatus provides information to the user of the wireless tether apparatus to aid a user such as a human, animal, or machine in finding their way back to a desired location. A predetermined distance may be configured to change over time to accommodate different tether distance requirements at different times, e.g., closer to a home location at night and further away from the home location during the day. In one aspect, wireless tether apparatuses and base units communicate using a plurality of different communication modes such that when one mode fails other modes are utilized to reestablish a connection therebetween. In another aspect of the present invention, a plurality of wireless tether apparatuses are wirelessly tethered together such that individual proximities are maintained but still allow a plurality of wireless tether apparatus users to move about in an expanded range. In one aspect, a wireless tether system is employed such that one or more wireless tether apparatuses may be dynamically assigned to a plurality of base stations to allow changes to wireless tether apparatus locations and distances. In another aspect, when wireless tether apparatuses leave a predetermined tether distance, one or more alerts may be broadcast from the wireless tether apparatuses indicative thereof to other wireless signal receivers in proximity thereto not normally used as wireless tether signal receivers.

公开(公告)号：US07944359B2

公开(公告)日：2011-05-17

申请号：US12454107

申请日：2009-05-12

申请人： Gordon D. Fong ,  Tony Perez ,  C. Bart Sullivan

发明人： Gordon D. Fong ,  Tony Perez ,  C. Bart Sullivan

IPC分类号： G08B23/00

CPC分类号： G08B21/0266 ,  G08B21/02 ,  G08B21/22

摘要： Users are located to determine if the user is within, or has departed from, at least one bounded area established about a geographic location. The bounded area may be defined by setting one or more distance boundaries from the geographic location. A base station may monitor the location of a mobile device in proximity of the user. If the mobile device departs from a bounded area, a message containing information configured to be understandable and convey meaning to the user and/or a third-party is sent to the mobile device and/or the third-party. For example, the message may be configured to communicate to the user and/or third-party information pertaining to the departure from the bounded area, location information, navigation directions, instructions, etc. The message sent may include text and/or other symbols.

摘要翻译： 用户位于确定用户是否在或已经离开至少一个关于地理位置建立的有界区域。 可以通过从地理位置设置一个或多个距离边界来定义有界区域。 基站可以监视在用户附近的移动设备的位置。 如果移动设备离开有界区域，则将包含被配置为可理解并且向用户和/或第三方传达意义的信息的消息发送到移动设备和/或第三方。 例如，消息可以被配置为与用户通信和/或与有界区域的离开相关的第三方信息，位置信息，导航方向，指令等。所发送的消息可以包括文本和/或其他符号 。

公开(公告)号：US07312711B2

公开(公告)日：2007-12-25

申请号：US11336109

申请日：2006-01-20

申请人： Gordon D. Fong ,  Tony Perez ,  C. Bart Sullivan

发明人： Gordon D. Fong ,  Tony Perez ,  C. Bart Sullivan

IPC分类号： G08B23/00

CPC分类号： G08B21/0236 ,  G08B21/0258 ,  G08B21/0263 ,  G08B21/0266 ,  G08B21/0269 ,  G08B21/0291

摘要： Method and apparatus to provide a wireless tether system is described. In one embodiment, one or more wireless tether apparatuses are in wireless communication with one or more base units. A wireless tether apparatus may be configured such that when separated from a base unit greater than a predetermined distance, such a wireless tether apparatus provides information to the user of the wireless tether apparatus to aid a user such as a human, animal, or machine in finding their way back to a desired location. A predetermined distance may be configured to change over time to accommodate different tether distance requirements at different times, e.g., closer to a home location at night and further away from the home location during the day. In one aspect, wireless tether apparatuses and base units communicate using a plurality of different communication modes such that when one mode fails other modes are utilized to reestablish a connection therebetween. In another aspect of the present invention, a plurality of wireless tether apparatuses are wirelessly tethered together such that individual proximities are maintained but still allow a plurality of wireless tether apparatus users to move about in an expanded range. In one aspect, a wireless tether system is employed such that one or more wireless tether apparatuses may be dynamically assigned to a plurality of base stations to allow changes to wireless tether apparatus locations and distances. In another aspect, when wireless tether apparatuses leave a predetermined tether distance, one or more alerts may be broadcast from the wireless tether apparatuses indicative thereof to other wireless signal receivers in proximity thereto not normally used as wireless tether signal receivers.

摘要翻译： 描述了提供无线系链系统的方法和装置。 在一个实施例中，一个或多个无线系链装置与一个或多个基本单元无线通信。 无线系链装置可以被配置为使得当与基本单元分离大于预定距离时，这种无线系绳装置向无线系绳装置的用户提供信息以帮助诸如人，动物或机器的用户 找到他们的方式回到所需的位置。 预定距离可以被配置为随时间改变以在不同时间适应不同的系绳距离要求，例如在夜间更接近家庭位置并且在白天更远离家庭位置。 在一个方面，无线系链装置和基站单元使用多种不同的通信模式通信，使得当一种模式失败时，其他模式被用于重新建立它们之间的连接。 在本发明的另一方面，多个无线系绳装置被无线地连接在一起，使得保持各个接近度，但仍然允许多个无线系绳装置用户在扩大的范围内移动。 在一个方面，采用无线系绳系统，使得一个或多个无线系链装置可以动态分配给多个基站，以允许改变无线系链装置的位置和距离。 在另一方面，当无线系链装置离开预定的系绳距离时，可以从指示其的无线系链装置广播一个或多个警报，其中其他无线信号接收机通常不被用作无线系链信号接收机。

公开(公告)号：US20090303054A1

公开(公告)日：2009-12-10

申请号：US12454107

申请日：2009-05-12

申请人： Gordon D. Fong ,  Tony Perez ,  C. Bart Sullivan

发明人： Gordon D. Fong ,  Tony Perez ,  C. Bart Sullivan

IPC分类号： G08B23/00

CPC分类号： G08B21/0266 ,  G08B21/02 ,  G08B21/22

摘要： Method and apparatus to provide a wireless tether system is described. In one embodiment, one or more wireless tether apparatuses are in wireless communication with one or more base units. A wireless tether apparatus may be configured such that when separated from a base unit greater than a predetermined distance, such a wireless tether apparatus provides information to the user of the wireless tether apparatus to aid a user such as a human, animal, or machine in finding their way back to a desired location. A predetermined distance may be configured to change over time to accommodate different tether distance requirements at different times, e.g., closer to a home location at night and further away from the home location during the day. In one aspect, wireless tether apparatuses and base units communicate using a plurality of different communication modes such that when one mode fails other modes are utilized to reestablish a connection therebetween. In another aspect of the present invention, a plurality of wireless tether apparatuses are wirelessly tethered together such that individual proximities are maintained but still allow a plurality of wireless tether apparatus users to move about in an expanded range. In one aspect, a wireless tether system is employed such that one or more wireless tether apparatuses may be dynamically assigned to a plurality of base stations to allow changes to wireless tether apparatus locations and distances. In another aspect, when wireless tether apparatuses leave a predetermined tether distance, one or more alerts may be broadcast from the wireless tether apparatuses indicative thereof to other wireless signal receivers in proximity thereto not normally used as wireless tether signal receivers.

公开(公告)号：US07535369B2

公开(公告)日：2009-05-19

申请号：US11983948

申请日：2007-11-13

申请人： Gordon D. Fong ,  Tony Perez ,  C. Bart Sullivan

发明人： Gordon D. Fong ,  Tony Perez ,  C. Bart Sullivan

IPC分类号： G08B23/00

CPC分类号： G08B21/0266 ,  G08B21/02 ,  G08B21/22

摘要： Method and apparatus to provide a wireless tether system is described. In one embodiment, one or more wireless tether apparatuses are in wireless communication with one or more base units. A wireless tether apparatus may be configured such that when separated from a base unit greater than a predetermined distance, such a wireless tether apparatus provides information to the user of the wireless tether apparatus to aid a user such as a human, animal, or machine in finding their way back to a desired location. A predetermined distance may be configured to change over time to accommodate different tether distance requirements at different times, e.g., closer to a home location at night and further away from the home location during the day. In one aspect, wireless tether apparatuses and base units communicate using a plurality of different communication modes such that when one mode fails other modes are utilized to reestablish a connection therebetween. In another aspect of the present invention, a plurality of wireless tether apparatuses are wirelessly tethered together such that individual proximities are maintained but still allow a plurality of wireless tether apparatus users to move about in an expanded range. In one aspect, a wireless tether system is employed such that one or more wireless tether apparatuses may be dynamically assigned to a plurality of base stations to allow changes to wireless tether apparatus locations and distances. In another aspect, when wireless tether apparatuses leave a predetermined tether distance, one or more alerts may be broadcast from the wireless tether apparatuses indicative thereof to other wireless signal receivers in proximity thereto not normally used as wireless tether signal receivers.

摘要翻译： 描述了提供无线系链系统的方法和装置。 在一个实施例中，一个或多个无线系链装置与一个或多个基本单元无线通信。 无线系链装置可以被配置为使得当与基本单元分离大于预定距离时，这种无线系绳装置向无线系绳装置的用户提供信息以帮助诸如人，动物或机器的用户 找到他们的方式回到所需的位置。 预定距离可以被配置为随时间改变以在不同时间适应不同的系绳距离要求，例如在夜间更接近家庭位置并且在白天更远离家庭位置。 在一个方面，无线系链装置和基站单元使用多种不同的通信模式通信，使得当一种模式失败时，其他模式被用于重新建立它们之间的连接。 在本发明的另一方面，多个无线系绳装置被无线地连接在一起，使得保持各个接近度，但仍然允许多个无线系绳装置用户在扩大的范围内移动。 在一个方面，采用无线系绳系统，使得一个或多个无线系链装置可以动态分配给多个基站，以允许改变无线系链装置的位置和距离。 在另一方面，当无线系链装置离开预定的系绳距离时，可以从指示其的无线系链装置广播一个或多个警报，其中其他无线信号接收机通常不被用作无线系链信号接收机。

公开(公告)号：USRE44433E1

公开(公告)日：2013-08-13

申请号：US13100454

申请日：2011-05-04

申请人： Gordon D. Fong ,  Cuauhtemoc Perez ,  C. Bart Sullivan

发明人： Gordon D. Fong ,  Cuauhtemoc Perez ,  C. Bart Sullivan

IPC分类号： G08B23/00

CPC分类号： G08B21/0236 ,  G08B21/0258 ,  G08B21/0263 ,  G08B21/0266 ,  G08B21/0269 ,  G08B21/0291

摘要： Method and apparatus to provide a wireless tether system is described. In one embodiment, one or more wireless tether apparatuses are in wireless communication with one or more base units. A wireless tether apparatus may be configured such that when separated from a base unit greater than a predetermined distance, such a wireless tether apparatus provides information to the user of the wireless tether apparatus to aid a user such as a human, animal, or machine in finding their way back to a desired location. A predetermined distance may be configured to change over time to accommodate different tether distance requirements at different times, e.g., closer to a home location at night and further away from the home location during the day. In one aspect, wireless tether apparatuses and base units communicate using a plurality of different communication modes such that when one mode fails other modes are utilized to reestablish a connection therebetween. In another aspect of the present invention, a plurality of wireless tether apparatuses are wirelessly tethered together such that individual proximities are maintained but still allow a plurality of wireless tether apparatus users to move about in an expanded range. In one aspect, a wireless tether system is employed such that one or more wireless tether apparatuses may be dynamically assigned to a plurality of base stations to allow changes to wireless tether apparatus locations and distances. In another aspect, when wireless tether apparatuses leave a predetermined tether distance, one or more alerts may be broadcast from the wireless tether apparatuses indicative thereof to other wireless signal receivers in proximity thereto not normally used as wireless tether signal receivers Users are located to determine if the user is within, or has departed from at least one bounded area established about a geographic location. The bounded area may be defined by setting one or more distance boundaries from the geographic location. A base station may monitor the location of a wireless device in proximity of the user. If the wireless device departs from a bounded area, a message containing information configured to be understandable and convey meaning to the user and/or a third-party is sent to the wireless device and/or the third-party. For example, the message may be configured to communicate to the user and/or third-party information pertaining to the departure from the bounded area, location information, navigation directions, instructions, etc. The message sent may include text and/or other symbols.

公开(公告)号：US08368546B2

公开(公告)日：2013-02-05

申请号：US13083554

申请日：2011-04-09

申请人： Gordon D. Fong ,  Cuauhtemoc Perez ,  C. Bart Sullivan

发明人： Gordon D. Fong ,  Cuauhtemoc Perez ,  C. Bart Sullivan

IPC分类号： G08B23/00

CPC分类号： G08B21/0266 ,  G08B21/02 ,  G08B21/22

摘要： Users are located to determine if the user is within, or has departed from, at least one bounded area established about a geographic location. The bounded area may be defined by setting one or more distance boundaries from the geographic location. A base station may monitor the location of a wireless device in proximity of the user. If the wireless device departs from a bounded area, a message containing information configured to be understandable and convey meaning to the user and/or a third-party is sent to the wireless device and/or the third-party. For example, the message may be configured to communicate to the user and/or third-party information pertaining to the departure from the bounded area, location information, navigation directions, instructions, etc. The message sent may include text and/or other symbols.

摘要翻译： 用户位于确定用户是否在或已经离开至少一个关于地理位置建立的有界区域。 可以通过从地理位置设置一个或多个距离边界来定义有界区域。 基站可以监视在用户附近的无线设备的位置。 如果无线设备离开有界区域，则将包含被配置为可理解并且向用户和/或第三方传达意义的信息的消息发送到无线设备和/或第三方。 例如，消息可以被配置为与用户通信和/或与有界区域的离开相关的第三方信息，位置信息，导航方向，指令等。所发送的消息可以包括文本和/或其他符号 。

公开(公告)号：US08799821B1

公开(公告)日：2014-08-05

申请号：US12429055

申请日：2009-04-23

申请人： Tony De Rose ,  Kenrick Kin ,  Allison Styer ,  Kurt Fleischer ,  C. Bart Sullivan

发明人： Tony De Rose ,  Kenrick Kin ,  Allison Styer ,  Kurt Fleischer ,  C. Bart Sullivan

IPC分类号： G06F3/048 ,  G06F3/033

CPC分类号： G06F3/04815 ,  G06F3/0425 ,  G06F3/04842 ,  G06F3/04845 ,  G06F3/04847 ,  G06F3/04883 ,  G06F2203/04109 ,  G06F2203/04806 ,  G06F2203/04808

摘要： A method for initiating a user-selected operation on a computer system includes sensing a user contacting the user interface device at a first position with one finger of a user, determining whether the one finger is a first finger of the user or is a second finger of the user, wherein when the one finger is the first finger, the method includes determining a first operation to be performed in response to the first finger, and performing the first operation on the computer system, and wherein when the one finger is the second finger, the method includes determining a second operation to be performed in response to the second finger, and performing the second operation on the computer system.

摘要翻译： 一种用于在计算机系统上启动用户选择的操作的方法包括：用用户的一根手指感测在第一位置处接触到用户界面设备的用户，确定一个手指是用户的第一个手指还是第二个手指 其中当所述一个手指是所述第一手指时，所述方法包括确定响应于所述第一手指执行的第一操作，以及在所述计算机系统上执行所述第一操作，并且其中当所述一个手指是所述第二手指时 手指，该方法包括确定响应于第二手指执行的第二操作，并且在计算机系统上执行第二操作。

公开(公告)号：US07261606B2

公开(公告)日：2007-08-28

申请号：US11300523

申请日：2005-12-14

申请人： Eric Mickelson ,  C. Bart Sullivan

发明人： Eric Mickelson ,  C. Bart Sullivan

IPC分类号： B63B22/16

CPC分类号： B63B22/163 ,  A01K93/00 ,  A44B15/005 ,  A62B33/00 ,  B63B22/166 ,  B63C7/26

摘要： A method and apparatus is provided to support a plurality of objects such as keys with an inflatable apparatus when the inflatable apparatus is exposed to a body of water. In one embodiment, an inflatable apparatus provides an attachment member such as a key ring to attach objects such as keys to the inflatable apparatus. The inflatable apparatus is capable of inflating from a compact shape to an expanded shape upon contact with water. In the expanded shape, the inflatable apparatus provides sufficient buoyancy to support the objects coupled therewith and float the objects to the surface of the water for retrieval by a user. In situations where the weight of the object exceeds a buoyancy limit, the inflatable apparatus can extend a marker buoy to assist in the retrieval of the objects. In other embodiments, the inflatable apparatus includes a wireless transmit a wireless location signal.

摘要翻译： 提供了一种方法和装置，用于当充气装置暴露于水体时，用可充气装置支撑诸如钥匙的多个物体。 在一个实施例中，充气装置提供诸如钥匙环的附接构件，以将诸如钥匙的物体附接到可充气装置。 充气装置能够在与水接触时从紧凑形状膨胀到膨胀形状。 在膨胀的形状中，充气装置提供足够的浮力来支撑与其相连的物体，并将物体浮在水面上，以供用户取回。 在物体的重量超过浮力限制的情况下，充气装置可以延伸标记浮标以辅助物体的检索。 在其他实施例中，充气装置包括无线发送无线位置信号。

公开(公告)号：US20070135001A1

公开(公告)日：2007-06-14

申请号：US11300523

申请日：2005-12-14

申请人： Eric Mickelson ,  C. Bart Sullivan

发明人： Eric Mickelson ,  C. Bart Sullivan

IPC分类号： B63B22/16 ,  B63B22/22

CPC分类号： B63B22/163 ,  A01K93/00 ,  A44B15/005 ,  A62B33/00 ,  B63B22/166 ,  B63C7/26

摘要： A method and apparatus is provided to support a plurality of objects such as keys with an inflatable apparatus when the inflatable apparatus is exposed to a body of water. In one embodiment, an inflatable apparatus provides an attachment member such as a key ring to attach objects such as keys to the inflatable apparatus. The inflatable apparatus is capable of inflating from a compact shape to an expanded shape upon contact with water. In the expanded shape, the inflatable apparatus provides sufficient buoyancy to support the objects coupled therewith and float the objects to the surface of the water for retrieval by a user. In situations where the weight of the object exceeds a buoyancy limit, the inflatable apparatus can extend a marker buoy to assist in the retrieval of the objects. In other embodiments, the inflatable apparatus includes a wireless transmit a wireless location signal.

摘要翻译： 提供了一种方法和装置，用于当充气装置暴露于水体时，用可充气装置支撑诸如钥匙的多个物体。 在一个实施例中，充气装置提供诸如钥匙环的附接构件，以将诸如钥匙的物体附接到可充气装置。 充气装置能够在与水接触时从紧凑形状膨胀到膨胀形状。 在膨胀的形状中，充气装置提供足够的浮力来支撑与其相连的物体，并将物体浮在水面上，以供用户取回。 在物体的重量超过浮力限制的情况下，充气装置可以延伸标记浮标以辅助物体的检索。 在其他实施例中，充气装置包括无线发送无线位置信号。