Networkable digital life jackets and associated methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10948564-B2
Application number	US-201916504008-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 5, 2019
Priority date	Jul 5, 2019
Publication date	Mar 16, 2021
Grant date	Mar 16, 2021

Abstract

Networkable digital life jackets and associated methods are disclosed. An example life jacket includes a state manager and a swarm manager. The state manager is configured to selectively operate the life jacket in one of multiple operational states of the life jacket based on data obtained from one or more sensors of the life jacket. The swarm manager is configured to form a swarm network including the life jacket and one or more other life jackets.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A life jacket, comprising:
a state manager configured to selectively operate the life jacket in one of multiple operational states of the life jacket based on data obtained from one or more sensors of the life jacket; and
a swarm manager configured to:
form a swarm network including the life jacket and one or more other life jackets; and
identify a lead life jacket of the swarm network from among the life jacket and the one or more other life jackets of the swarm network, the lead life jacket to transmit swarm status data indicating a respective status for the life jacket and for each of the one or more other life jackets of the swarm network.

2. The life jacket of claim 1 , wherein the one or more sensors include at least one of a motion sensor, an accelerometer, a temperature sensor, a buckle sensor, a moisture sensor, or a physiologic sensor.

3. The life jacket of claim 1 , wherein the multiple operational states include a stowed state and at least one of a motion state, an installed state, or an immersed state.

4. A life jacket, comprising:
a state manager configured to selectively operate the life jacket in one of multiple operational states of the life jacket based on data obtained from one or more sensors of the life jacket, the multiple operational states including a stowed state and at least one of a motion state, an installed state, or an immersed state;
a movement evaluator configured to determine whether the life jacket has moved by more than a threshold amount, wherein the state manager is configured to operate the life jacket in the stowed state prior to the movement evaluator determining that the life jacket has moved by more than the threshold amount; and
a swarm manager configured to form a swarm network including the life jacket and one or more other life jackets.

5. The life jacket of claim 4 , wherein the state manager is configured to operate the life jacket in the motion state in response to the movement evaluator determining that the life jacket has moved by more than the threshold amount.

6. The life jacket of claim 4 , further comprising an installation evaluator configured to determine whether the life jacket has been installed on a user, wherein the state manager is configured to operate the life jacket in the installed state in response to the installation evaluator determining that the life jacket has been installed on the user.

7. The life jacket of claim 4 , further comprising an immersion evaluator configured to determine whether the life jacket has been immersed in water, wherein the state manager is configured to operate the life jacket in the immersed state in response to the immersion evaluator determining that the life jacket has been immersed in the water.

8. The life jacket of claim 3 , wherein the swarm manager is configured to form the swarm network while the life jacket is operating in the stowed state.

9. The life jacket of claim 1 , further comprising:
a status manager configured to generate status data for the life jacket; and
a transmitter configured to transmit the status data from the life jacket to another device located remotely from the life jacket.

10. The life jacket of claim 9 , wherein the status data includes at least one of a unique identifier, an assigned storage location, an expiration date, a location, jacket health data, movement data, installation data, immersion data, user health data, battery energy data, or operational state data of the life jacket.

11. The life jacket of claim 1 , wherein the lead life jacket is to transmit the swarm status data from the lead life jacket to a remotely located rescue vehicle.

12. A method, comprising:
selectively operating a life jacket, by executing a computer-readable instruction with one or more processors of the life jacket, in one of multiple operational states of the life jacket based on data obtained from one or more sensors of the life jacket;
forming a swarm network including the life jacket and one or more other life jackets; and
identifying, by executing a computer-readable instruction with the one or more processors, a lead life jacket of the swarm network from among the life jacket and the one or more other life jackets of the swarm network, the lead life jacket to transmit swarm status data indicating a respective status for the life jacket and for each of the one or more other life jackets of the swarm network.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the one or more sensors include at least one of a motion sensor, an accelerometer, a temperature sensor, a buckle sensor, a moisture sensor, or a physiologic sensor.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the multiple operational states include a stowed state and at least one of a motion state, an installed state, or an immersed state.

15. A method, comprising:
selectively operating a life jacket, by executing a computer-readable instruction with one or more processors of the life jacket, in one of multiple operational states of the life jacket based on data obtained from one or more sensors of the life jacket, the multiple operational states including a stowed state and at least one of a motion state, an installed state, or an immersed state;
determining, by executing a computer-readable instruction with the one or more processors, whether the life jacket has moved by more than a threshold amount;
operating the life jacket in the stowed state prior to determining that the life jacket has moved by more than the threshold amount; and
forming a swarm network including the life jacket and one or more other life jackets.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising operating the life jacket in the motion state in response to determining that the life jacket has moved by more than the threshold amount.

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
determining, by executing a computer-readable instruction with the one or more processors, whether the life jacket has been installed on a user; and
operating the life jacket in the installed state in response to determining that the life jacket has been installed on the user.

18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
determining, by executing a computer-readable instruction with the one or more processors, whether the life jacket has been immersed in water; and
operating the life jacket in the immersed state in response to determining that the life jacket has been immersed in the water.

19. The method of claim 14 , wherein forming the swarm network occurs while the life jacket is operating in the stowed state.

20. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:
generating, by executing a computer-readable instruction with the one or more processors, status data for the life jacket; and
transmitting, by executing a computer-readable instruction with the one or more processors, the status data from the life jacket to another device located remotely from the life jacket.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the status data includes at least one of a unique identifier, an assigned storage location, an expiration date, a location, jacket health data, movement data, installation data, immersion data, user health data, battery energy data, or operational state data of the life jacket.

22. The method of claim 12 , wherein the lead life jacket is to transmit the swarm status data from the lead life jacket to a remotely located rescue vehicle.

Assignees

• Boeing Co

Inventors

• Freeman Roland Nelson
• Guymon Karrie Ruth
• Rencher Robert John

Classifications

• G08B21/023

  Power management, e.g. system sleep and wake up provisions · CPC title

• G08B21/0227

  System arrangements with a plurality of child units · CPC title

• G08B21/0211

  Combination with medical sensor, e.g. for measuring heart rate, temperature · CPC title

• B63C9/11 Primary

  covering the torso, e.g. harnesses {(B63C9/081 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B63B34/00

  Vessels specially adapted for water sports or leisure; Body-supporting devices specially adapted for water sports or leisure (water sports boards B63B32/00; swimming frameworks A63B35/00; propulsion arrangements actuated by muscle power B63H16/00) · CPC title