LOCATOR BEACON AND RADAR APPLICATION FOR MOBILE DEVICE
A locator device and system including (a) a beacon, configured to be located via a wireless means; and (b) an adhesive means, adapted to adhere the beacon to a substantially flat surface, wherein the beacon is configured to be tracked by a mobile device running a mobile application adapted to locate the beacon via the wireless means.
1 . A locator device comprising:
(a) a beacon, configured to be located via a wireless means; and
(b) an adhesive means, adapted to non-removeably adhere said beacon to a substantially flat surface,
wherein said beacon is configured to be tracked by a mobile device running a mobile application adapted to locate said beacon via said wireless means.
2 . The device of claim 1 , wherein said wireless means is Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) technology.
3 . The device of claim 2 , wherein said mobile application includes a Radar Screen feature, wherein when said beacon is wirelessly coupled to said mobile device, said mobile application displays a representation of said beacon on said mobile device relative to a distance of said beacon from said mobile device.
4 . The device of claim 3 , wherein said distance of said beacon from said mobile device is calculated upon receiving at least one Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) value from said beacon, wherein said at least one RSSI value is measured on said beacon.
5 . The device of claim 4 , wherein said distance is further calculated based on at least one said RSSI value measured on said mobile device.
6 . The device of claim 3 , wherein said distance of said beacon from said mobile device is calculated upon receiving between one and three Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) values, measured on said beacon, from said beacon and calculating an average distance based on said received RSSI values.
7 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising:
(c) a plurality of directional antennae operationally coupled to said beacon, wherein each said directional antenna transmits a unique identifier.
8 . The device of claim 7 , wherein each said directional antenna further transmits at least one Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) value.
9 . The device of claim 8 , wherein said mobile application calculates a direction in which said beacon is located relative to said mobile device based on relative strengths of said RSSI values received respectively from each of said directional antennae, wherein a highest said relative strength indicates said direction.
10 . The device of claim 7 , wherein said plurality of directional antennae includes four cardinally located said directional antennae.
11 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising:
(c) a key fob adapted for being adhered to said beacon via said adhering means, said key fob adapted for operationally coupling said beacon to objects having non-flat surfaces, via an eyelet in said key fob.
12 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising:
(c) an audio unit operationally coupled to said beacon, adapted to emit an audible sound upon receiving a corresponding instruction from said mobile device.
13 . The device of claim 12 , wherein said mobile application includes an audio alert feature, wherein when said beacon is wirelessly coupled to said mobile device, said mobile application is adapted to send an instruction to said beacon, instructing said audio unit to emit a said audible sound.
14 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising:
(c) an illumination unit operationally coupled to said beacon, adapted to emit a visual alert upon receiving a corresponding instruction from said mobile device.
15 . The device of claim 14 , wherein said mobile application includes a visual alert feature, wherein when said beacon is wirelessly coupled to said mobile device, said mobile application is adapted to send an instruction to said beacon, instructing said illumination unit, to emit a said visual alert.
16 . The device of claim 1 , wherein said mobile application includes a Find It feature wherein when said beacon is wirelessly coupled to said mobile device and located outside of a range detectable via said wireless means of said mobile device, said mobile application is adapted to issue an alert when said beacon comes back into said range of said mobile device.
17 . The device of claim 1 , wherein said mobile application includes a virtual leash feature wherein when said beacon is wirelessly coupled to said mobile device and moves farther away from said mobile device than a predefined distance selected on said mobile application, said mobile application is adapted to issue an alert.
18 . The device of claim 1 , wherein said mobile application includes a task launcher feature, wherein when said mobile device is within a predefined range, said beacon is configured to effect a functional change on said mobile device.
19 . The device of claim 18 , wherein said functional change is selected from the group including: activating an alert, changing an alert mode vis-à-vis receiving communications, changing a functional setting, and powering down said mobile device.
20 . The device of claim 1 , wherein said beacon has a diameter approximately equivalent to a diameter of an American Quarter Dollar coin and a thickness of ⅛ of an inch.
21 . The device of claim 3 , wherein said distance of said beacon from said mobile device is calculated upon receiving at least one Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) value for at least one of the thirty seven communication channels measured on the beacon from said beacon and calculating an average distance based on said received RSSI values.
22 . The device of claim 3 , wherein said distance of said beacon from said mobile device is calculated upon receiving at least one Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI) value for at least one of all 40 channels measured on the beacon from said beacon and calculating an average distance based on said received RSSI values.
23 . The device of claim 1 , wherein said wireless means is selected from the group consisting of: cellular voice technology, cellular data technology, Bluetooth technology, WiFi technology and satellite technology.
24 . The device of claim 3 , wherein said distance is calculated based on signal strength information.
25 . The device of claim 1 , wherein said mobile application calculates a direction in which said beacon is located relative to said mobile device based on signal strength information.
26 . The device of claim 25 , wherein said mobile application further calculates said direction based on relative phase information.
27 . The device of claim 1 , wherein said mobile application calculates a direction in which said beacon is located relative to said mobile device based on relative phase information.
30 . A monitoring system, comprising:
(a) at least one locator beacon of claim 1 ; and
(b) a mobile application for managing said at least one locator beacon.
31 . The monitoring system of claim 30 , wherein said mobile application is adapted to manage a plurality of said at least one locator beacon.