Mobile tether and alert system for groups

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016366557-A1
Application number	US-201514735289-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 10, 2015
Priority date	Jun 10, 2015
Publication date	Dec 15, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method may include receiving location communications from multiple wearable devices that indicate locations of the multiple wearable devices. The method may also include determining the locations of the multiple wearable devices based on the location communications. The method may also include receiving a request communication from a wearable device of the multiple wearable devices that indicates that a user of the wearable device requests assistance.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method, comprising:
receiving location communications from multiple wearable devices that indicate locations of the multiple wearable devices; determining the locations of the multiple wearable devices based on the location communications; and receiving a request communication from a wearable device of the multiple wearable devices that indicates that a user of the wearable device requests assistance.

2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining, based on the locations of the multiple wearable devices, whether any of the multiple wearable devices are outside of an approved area; and in response to determining that the wearable device is outside of the approved area, providing a warning instruction to the wearable device to cause the wearable device to generate haptic feedback.

3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein the haptic feedback includes a predetermined pattern of vibrations to indicate that the wearable device is outside of the approved area.

4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
determining an occurrence of an event; and in response to the occurrence of the event, providing a request instruction to cause the wearable device of the multiple wearable devices to generate haptic feedback.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the event includes an end of a group activity and the haptic feedback includes a predetermined pattern of vibrations to request that the wearable device be physically moved to join a group.

6 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising generating a user interface that includes graphics that display the locations of the multiple wearable devices based on the location communications.

7 . A system, comprising:
multiple wearable devices, each wearable device of the multiple wearable devices comprising:
a location sensor configured to determine a location of a corresponding wearable device of the multiple wearable devices;
a communication module communicatively coupled to the location sensor to receive location data from the location sensor describing the location of the corresponding wearable device, the communication module configured to generate a location communication including a description of the location of the corresponding wearable device;
a communication interface communicatively coupled to the communication module to receive the location communication, the communication interface configured to wirelessly transmit the location communication to a mobile device, the communication interface further configured to receive a feedback instruction from the mobile device; and
a motor communicatively coupled to the communication interface to receive the feedback instruction, the motor configured to generate haptic feedback in response to receipt of the feedback instruction that includes data to cause the motor to generate the haptic feedback.

8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein each wearable device of the multiple wearable devices further comprises:
a touch sensor communicatively coupled to the communication module and configured to detect a number of taps from a user of the corresponding wearable device, determine that the number of taps corresponds to an acknowledgement that the user received the haptic feedback and transmit tap data describing the acknowledgement to the communication module, wherein the communication module is configured to generate an acknowledgement communication in response to receiving the tap data from the touch sensor and the communication interface is configured to wirelessly transmit the acknowledgement communication to the mobile device.

9 . The system of claim 7 , wherein each wearable device of the multiple wearable devices further comprises:
a touch sensor communicatively coupled to the communication module and configured to detect a number of taps from a user of the corresponding wearable device, determine that the number of taps corresponds to a request for assistance from the user, and transmit tap data describing the request to the communication module, wherein the communication module is configured to generate a request communication in response to receiving the tap data from the touch sensor and the communication interface is configured to wirelessly transmit the acknowledgement communication to the mobile device.

10 . The system of claim 7 , further comprising a charging pad that wirelessly charges the corresponding wearable device.

11 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the location sensor uses a global positioning system (GPS) to determine the location of the corresponding wearable device.

12 . The system of claim 7 , wherein each wearable device of the multiple wearable devices further comprises a flexible material.

13 . The system of claim 7 , wherein each wearable device of the multiple wearable devices further comprises:
a light-emitting diode (LED) communicatively coupled to the communication interface to receive an emit instruction, the LED further configured to emit an optical signal that conveys information or a request to a user of the corresponding wearable device, wherein the communication interface receives the emit instruction from the mobile device.

14 . The system of claim 7 , wherein each wearable device of the multiple wearable devices further comprises:
a first light-emitting diode (LED) communicatively coupled to the communication interface to receive a first emit instruction, wherein the first LED is configured to emit, in response to the first emit instruction, a first optical signal to indicate that the corresponding wearable device is outside an approved area; and a second LED communicatively coupled to the communication interface to receive a second emit instruction, wherein the second LED is configured to emit, in response to the second emit instruction, a second optical signal to request that the corresponding wearable device be physically moved to join a group.

15 . The system of claim 7 , wherein each wearable device of the multiple wearable devices further comprises a display device communicatively coupled to the communication interface and configured to display an informative communication from the mobile device.

16 . The system of claim 15 , wherein the display device is communicatively coupled to a touch sensor and wherein the display further comprises a touchscreen configured to receive user input via the touch sensor.

17 . An apparatus, comprising:
a processor; and a non-transitory computer-readable medium communicatively coupled to the processor and having stored thereon computer instructions that cause the processor to execute:
receiving location communications from multiple wearable devices that include location data for the multiple wearable devices;
determining the locations of the multiple wearable devices based on the location data using wireless triangulation; and
generating a user interface that includes graphics that display the locations of the multiple wearable devices from which the location communications are received.

18 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the computer instructions further cause the processor to execute:
determining whether a wearable device of the multiple wearable devices is outside of an approved area based on the locations; and in response to determining that the wearable device of the multiple wearable devices is outside of the approved area, providing an instruction that causes the wearable device to generate haptic feedback.

19 . The apparatus of claim 17 , wherein the computer instru

Assignees

• Fujitsu Ltd

Inventors

• Gallegos Judy
• Depetro Matthew

Classifications

• H04W4/025 Primary

  using location based information parameters · CPC title

• H04W4/021

  Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences · CPC title

• H04W64/00

  Locating users or terminals {or network equipment} for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management · CPC title

• H04W68/00

  User notification, e.g. alerting and paging, for incoming communication, change of service or the like · CPC title