System and apparatus for mitigating of bad posture and property loss through computer-assisted appliance

Abstract

A wireless, programmable system, including one or more sensors devices, a controller device, and a wireless communication link that operationally connects the sensor device to the controller device(s). The system may alert when a sensor device and controller device exceed a predetermined threshold of distance and/or time. Controller device(s) may also be, or in addition to, a handheld computer device, such as a smartphone. In some other embodiments, the system may be used to detect body positions and/or train a user to achieve desired postures.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A personal security system for automatically warning a user when an item passes a predetermined threshold, comprising:
 a first transceiver;   at least one second transceiver in communication with the first transceiver via a wireless communication link, wherein the wireless communication link has a predetermined operating distance;   a first memory operationally connected to the first transceiver and capable of storing a first predetermined signal;   a first processor operationally connected to the first memory;   at least one second memory operationally connected to the at least one second transceiver and capable of storing at least one second predetermined signal;   at least one second processor operationally connected to the at least one second memory;   wherein when the first transceiver and the at least one second transceiver are separated by a separation distance exceeding the predetermined operating distance, the first transceiver generates the first predetermined signal and the at least one second transceiver generates the at least one second predetermined signal; and   wherein, after being so separated, the first transceiver and the at least one second transceiver are brought back within the separation distance, the first transceiver again generates the first predetermined signal and the at least one second transceiver again generates the at least one second predetermined signal.   
     
     
         2 . The personal security system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first vibration device operationally connected to the first transceiver; and   a first sound device operationally connected to the first transceiver.   
     
     
         3 . The personal security system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one second vibration device operationally connected to the at least one second transceiver; and   at least one second sound device operationally connected to the at least one second transceiver.   
     
     
         4 . The personal security system of  claim 1 , wherein the first transceiver and the at least one second transceiver are independently programmable with optional settings. 
     
     
         5 . The personal security system of  claim 4 , wherein the first transceiver is configured to program optional settings for the first transceiver and the at least second transceiver. 
     
     
         6 . The personal security system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first user interface including a display screen operationally connected to the first transceiver.   
     
     
         7 . The personal security system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a hand-held computer device capable of functions selected from the group consisting of telephonic, messaging, email, and combinations thereof;   a memory operationally connected to the hand-held computer device and capable of storing a third predetermined signal;   a microprocessor operationally connected to the hand-held computer device's memory;   a user interface including a display screen operationally connected to the hand-held computer device;   a data processor operationally connected to the hand-held computer device;   a vibration device operationally connected to the hand-held computer device;   a sound device operationally connected to the hand-held computer device;   a communication link connecting the hand-held computer device with the first transceiver and having a predetermined operating distance;   wherein the hand-held computer device is configured to recognize digital signals, make preset responses to digital signals, and respond to digital signals to program optional settings and respond in a preset way;   wherein the hand-held computer is capable of displaying information in response to digital signals;   wherein the memory of the hand-held computer device is capable of storing a database containing contact information;   wherein the memory of the hand-held computer device is capable of storing optional settings;   wherein the memory of the hand-held computer device is capable of storing messages;   wherein the hand-held computer device is configured to automatically send at least one message to at least one recipient in response to digital signals from the first transceiver and the at least one second transceiver;   wherein upon separation of the first transceiver, the at least one second transceiver, and the hand-held computer device by a distance exceeding the predetermined operating distance, the first transceiver generates the first predetermined signal, the at least one second transceiver generates the at least one second predetermined signal, and the hand-held computer device generates the third predetermined signal;   wherein, after being so separated, the first transceiver, the at least one second transceiver, and the hand-held computer device are brought back within the predetermined operating distance, the first transceiver again generates the first predetermined signal, the at least one second transceiver again generates the at least one second predetermined signal, and the hand-held computer device again generates the third predetermined signal; and   wherein the hand-held computer is capable of automatically delivering the at least one message upon separation from a member selected from the group consisting of the first transceiver, the at least one second transceiver, and combinations thereof.   
     
     
         8 . The personal security system of  claim 7 , wherein the hand-held computer device is selected from the group consisting of the first transceiver and the at least one second transceiver. 
     
     
         9 . The personal security system of  claim 7 , further comprising:
 an actuator device operationally connected to the first transceiver;   wherein depressing the actuator a preset number of times triggers the hand-held computer device to send the messages;   wherein the hand-held computer device is configured to initiate an automated dialing sequence upon receiving digital signals from the first transceiver as a result of a user depressing the actuator device;   wherein the hand-held computer device is configured to establish telephonic dialing, redialing, and disconnection protocols;   wherein the hand-held computer device is configured to make an automatic connection to emergency services upon receiving a signal from the first transceiver after the user depresses the actuator device;   wherein the hand-held computer device is configured to deliver a preset message to operators after the connection to emergency services upon receiving a signal from the first transceiver after the user depresses the actuator device;   wherein the preset message delivered to the emergency services contains user information;   wherein the hand-held computer device is configured to display information upon receiving signals upon receiving a signal from the first transceiver after the user depresses the actuator device;   wherein the hand-held computer device is configured to control telephonic features of the hand-held computer device based upon the number of times the actuator device is pressed;   wherein the hand-held computer device is configured to emit an alarm sound based upon depressing the actuator device in a preset manner;   wherein the hand-held computer device is configured to cancel dialing sequences based upon the number of times the actuator device depressed; and   wherein the preset message delivered to emergency services contains global positioning system (GPS) coordinates.   
     
     
         10 . The personal security system of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a computer based in a fixed location, wherein the computer has telephone, messaging, and email capabilities;   a communication link having a predetermined operating distance capable of connecting the computer with first transceiver, the at least one second transceiver, and the hand-held computer device;   a memory operationally connected to the computer capable of storing predetermined signals;   a processor operationally connected to the memory and operationally connected to the computer;   a user interface including a display screen operationally connected to the computer;   a sound device operationally connected to the computer; and   wherein the computer and the hand-held computer device automatically negotiate priority to dial emergency services and send a preset message when the user depresses the actuator;   wherein the computer and the hand-held computer device are configured to perform the same functions;   wherein the hand-held computer device gains priority when the first transceiver is taken outside of the fixed location; and   wherein the hand-held computer device gains priority when the at least one second transceiver is taken outside of the fixed location.   
     
     
         11 . The personal security system of  claim 10 , wherein the first transceiver, the at least one second transceiver, the hand-held computer device, and the computer contain a complementary radio communication circuit for transmitting and receiving digital signals and communicating information. 
     
     
         12 . The personal security system of  claim 11 , wherein the complementary radio communication circuit comprises BLUETOOTH transceivers. 
     
     
         13 . The personal security system of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a menu system navigable by the user.   
     
     
         14 . A method for providing a personal security system, comprising:
 transmitting digital signals between a first transceiver and at least one second transceiver;   detecting a separation beyond a predetermined range of the first transceiver and the at least one second transceiver; and   activating at least a first alarm in a device selected from the group consisting of the first transceiver, the at least one second transceiver, and combinations thereof.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 detecting when the first transceiver and the at least one second transceiver are brought within the predetermined range; and   performing a function when the first transceiver and the at least one second transceiver are brought within the predetermined range selected from the group of silencing the at least one first alarm, activating the at least one first alarm, and combinations thereof.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 transmitting at least one signal from the first transceiver and the at least one second transceiver to a receiver selected from the group consisting of a hand-held computer device, a static computer, and combinations thereof;   programming settings in the first transceiver and the at least one second transceiver;   displaying information based on the at least one signal on a display screen selected from the group consisting of the hand-held computer device, the computer, and combinations thereof; and   activating predetermined responses based on the at least one signal on the receiver selected from the group consisting of the hand-held computer device, the computer, and combinations thereof.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 activating an alarm sound in the first transceiver based on depressing an actuator in the first transceiver;   detecting the depressing of the actuator a number of times; and   activating an automated response based on the number of times the actuator is depressed in a remotely located device selected from the group consisting of the hand-held computer device, the computer, and combinations thereof; and   wherein the automated response is selected from a group consisting of dialing a telephone number, sending a text message, sending an email, and/or combinations thereof.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 communicating data through a wireless communication system from the first transceiver and the at least one second transceiver to at least one computer device from a source selected from the group consisting of the first transceiver, the at least one second transceiver, and combinations thereof; and   displaying the communicated data on at least one display screen operationally connected to the at least one computer devices.   
     
     
         19 . A system for automatically generating an emergency call from a remotely located communications device, comprising:
 a communications device;   a first transceiver operationally connected to the communications device;   a memory operationally connected to the communications device and configured to store at least one message in the memory;   a first microprocessor operationally connected to the memory, to the first transceiver, and to the communications device;   at least one second transceiver configured to generate at least one signal to the first transceiver;   at least one actuator switch operationally connected to the at least one second transceiver for initiating the at least one signal;   wherein energizing the at least one actuator switch initiates the at least one signal from the at least one second transceiver to the first transceiver;   wherein receipt of the at least one signal by the first transceiver initiates transmission of the at least one message to a predetermined recipient over a communications network; and   wherein the at least one second transceiver is separate from the communications network.