Apparatus and method for providing a wireless, portable, and/or handheld, device with safety features

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12301973-B2
Application number	US-202217969756-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 20, 2022
Priority date	Sep 17, 2012
Publication date	May 13, 2025
Grant date	May 13, 2025

Abstract

An apparatus, including a controller, camera, display, speaker, global positioning system, and sensor or detector which senses or detects a dangerous, hazardous, or unsafe, condition at or in a vicinity of the apparatus. The sensor or detector senses or detects the dangerous, hazardous, or unsafe, condition, and the apparatus provides, via the speaker, an audible alarm, siren blare, or verbal message, containing information regarding the dangerous, hazardous, or unsafe, condition. The apparatus or the controller generates an alert message containing information regarding the dangerous, hazardous, or unsafe, condition. The apparatus transmits the alert message to a central processing computer, to a communication device of a parent, relative, or friend, or other authorized individual, or to a police or law enforcement communication device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus, comprising:
a controller, wherein the controller controls an operation of the apparatus;
a camera, wherein the camera obtains a view, a picture, or a video;
a display, wherein the display displays information, the view, the picture, or the video obtained by the camera;
a speaker;
a global positioning system, wherein the global positioning system determines a position or a location of the apparatus;
a collision avoidance sensor, wherein the collision avoidance sensor detects an object, a structure, or an individual; and
a sensor or a detector, wherein the sensor or the detector senses or detects a dangerous, a hazardous, or an unsafe, condition at or in a vicinity of the apparatus,
wherein the controller or the apparatus automatically detects a texting operational mode, an e-mail operational mode, a game or gaming operational mode, or a speakerphone operational mode, of operation of the apparatus, and further wherein, in response to detecting the texting operational mode, the e-mail operational mode, the game or gaming operational mode, or the speakerphone operational mode, of operation of the apparatus, the controller or the apparatus activates the camera and activates the collision avoidance sensor, and further wherein, in response to detecting the texting operational mode, the e-mail operational mode, the game or gaming operational mode, or the speakerphone operational mode, of operation of the apparatus, the controller or the apparatus activates at least a portion of the display to display a view in front of, or an anticipated travel path of movement of, the apparatus, and further wherein the display simultaneously displays the view in front of, or the anticipated travel path of movement of, the apparatus and information for providing a continuing use of the texting operational mode, the e-mail operational mode, the game or gaming operational mode, or the speakerphone operational mode, of operation of the apparatus, and further wherein the controller or the apparatus detects a completion of the texting operational mode, the e-mail operational mode, the game or gaming operational mode, or the speakerphone operational mode, of operation of the apparatus and automatically deactivates the camera and the collision avoidance sensor upon a detected completion of the texting operational mode, the e-mail operational mode, the game or gaming operational mode, or the speakerphone operational mode, of operation of the apparatus, and further wherein the display displays the view obtained by the camera from a first time when the camera is activated until a second time when the camera is deactivated upon the detected completion of the texting operational mode, the e-mail operational mode, the game or gaming operational mode, or the speakerphone operational mode, of operation of the apparatus,
wherein the apparatus stores information regarding a safe area of travel, and further wherein the global positioning system determines a position or location of the apparatus, wherein the controller or the apparatus monitors a location of the apparatus to determine if the apparatus is located at a location outside of the safe area of travel, and wherein, if the apparatus is determined to be outside of the safe area of travel, the controller or the apparatus generates a notification message, and further wherein the apparatus transmits the notification message to a communication device of an authorized individual or to a police or law enforcement communication device,
wherein, in response to the sensor or the detector sensing or detecting the dangerous, the hazardous, or the unsafe, condition at or in the vicinity of the apparatus, wherein the dangerous, the hazardous, or the unsafe, condition is a detection of smoke, fire, natural gas, propane, methane, chlorine, or carbon monoxide (CO), the apparatus provides, via the speaker, an audible alarm, a siren blare, or a verbal message, containing information regarding the dangerous, the hazardous, or the unsafe, condition, and further wherein the controller or the apparatus generates an alert message, wherein the alert message contains information regarding the dangerous, the hazardous, or the unsafe, condition, and further wherein the apparatus transmits the alert message to a central processing computer, to the communication device of the authorized individual or to the police or law enforcement communication device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sensor or the detector is a thermometer.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sensor or the detector is a sensor or detector for sensing heat.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sensor or the detector is a smoke detector.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sensor or the detector is a fire detector.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sensor or the detector is a natural gas detector.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sensor or the detector is a propane detector.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sensor or the detector is a methane detector.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second sensor or a second detector, wherein the second sensor or the second detector is a refrigerant detector.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sensor or the detector is a chlorine detector.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sensor or the detector is a carbon monoxide (CO) detector.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the controller or the apparatus activates the collision avoidance sensor to detect an object, structure, or individual in the direction of a movement of, or in the vicinity of, the apparatus.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is a cellular telephone or a smartphone.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is a tablet computer, a portable gaming device, a handheld gaming device, a handheld video game console, or a portable game console.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is a wearable device or is integrated with or within a wearable device.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the wearable device is a belt.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the wearable device is a body camera.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the wearable device is a watch or a wristwatch.

19. The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the wearable device is a collar for an animal.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the authorized individual is a parent, a relative, or a friend.

Assignees

• Joao Gregory Thomas
• Joao Raymond Anthony
• Joao Christopher Michael

Inventors

• Joao Gregory Thomas
• Joao Raymond Anthony
• Joao Christopher Michael

Classifications

• H04M1/72421

  with automatic activation of emergency service functions, e.g. upon sensing an alarm · CPC title

• G01S5/0027

  of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile · CPC title

• G01S19/17

  Emergency applications · CPC title

• G01C21/3679

  Retrieval, searching and output of POI information, e.g. hotels, restaurants, shops, filling stations, parking facilities (G01C21/3611 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H04N7/18

  Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast · CPC title