HK1075959B - Personal alarm system for obtaining assistance from remote recipients - Google Patents

Description

Personal alarm system for obtaining assistance from remote recipients

Technical Field

The present invention relates to alarm systems for individuals. In particular, the present invention provides a system for sending alerts to a remote location in response to preprogrammed parameters relating to satisfied or unsatisfied alert conditions, delivery addresses, delivery methods, and alert message content, the preprogramming being performed by a user at an interface of the system, which is preferably located at a hand-held remote unit having an interface module.

Background

In recent years, employers, employees, meetings, etc. have been increasingly concerned about the problem of violence to employees working in direct contact with the public. Employees who work alone in such positions are considered to be in high-risk occupations. Violence in the workplace has become a growing problem in both the private and public sectors.

In the 1998 7 month report on workplace violence issued by the International labor organization, Canada is fourth worldwide for workplace violence affecting women, and fifth worldwide for workplace violence affecting men. The american centers for disease control announced as early as 1998 that workplace violence has reached the prevalence reported in the Houston commercial Review (Houston Business Review) printing plate at 3 months and 15 days 2002. Workers involved in violent confrontations often suffer serious psychological and physical trauma. Some of these attacks result in hospitalization of the worker and in some cases death. Women are statistically at greater risk than their male colleagues. Women working alone often also become victims of sexual assault.

The systems disclosed in the prior art have provided various forms of personal alerts designed to avoid (forward off) and block attackers or potential attackers. Such systems have an audible alarm intended to draw attention to the victim or potential victim. However, such systems are unsuitable or unusable in a variety of different work environments, as they are audible and thus detectable by criminals. Furthermore, such systems are limited to benefiting workers and other users who need personal alerts that notify remote personnel.

Related prior art systems allow a user to contact a 911 emergency number by pressing a single button on a mobile phone (cell phone) or radio. These systems presuppose that the attacker will allow the threatened user to complete the call, and if the alarm is used directly in the attacker's field of view, these systems may aggravate the degree of violence or accelerate the current attack (wings-on attack).

Other prior art systems, such as the alarm system taught in U.S. patent 5,971,921, contact the monitoring center through a receiver/caller unit. However, such receiver/caller units are stationary units designed to be dedicated with telephone lines, which limit the application of the system to mobile individuals.

Still other prior art systems, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,712,619 and 5,939,237, teach personal alarms that are capable of communicating GPS information to law enforcement or other persons present along with the emergency signal present. None of these prior art systems control or utilize existing communication devices, such as mobile phones, and therefore introduce additional costs due to the need for mobile or wireless transmission devices.

Disclosure of Invention

There is an unmet need to provide a mobile personal alarm system that can be adapted for use in a variety of work environments and that contacts authorities or other resources, which may be remote, as silently as possible, either using one-way signals or using two-way communications.

Current personal alarm systems are conceived in response to the threat of workplace violence, which is not addressed in the prior art. The present system provides a "life line" (1ifeline) "which has the potential to significantly improve the personal safety of workers in a variety of different professions. Public nurses, housekeeping workers, real estate agents, and others who need to meet clients or strangers in their homes or other similar (isolated or remote) locations would benefit from the protection provided by the present system. In addition, anyone who needs a system to contact a monitoring center or authority in an emergency would also benefit from the present system.

In one embodiment of the present invention, a personal alarm system comprises: communication means for transmitting a signal to a recipient, such as a signal monitoring center or authority; and an interface module having a user programmable memory and a user interface for controlling the communication device. The system also includes an activation key for transmitting an activation signal to the interface module, which in turn causes the communication device to transmit a signal to a recipient.

In another embodiment of the present invention, a personal alarm system comprises: a mobile phone for transmitting a signal to at least one recipient; and an interface module operatively connected to the mobile phone for controlling the mobile phone. The interface module also includes a user programmable memory and a user interface for programming and storing contact and status information for the recipient. In addition, the system includes at least one activation key for transmitting an activation signal to the interface module, which in turn causes the communication device to transmit a signal to the recipient.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary monitoring system according to the present invention;

fig. 2 is a perspective and sectional view of an interface module according to the present invention; and

fig. 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a toggle key according to the present invention.

Detailed Description

Example embodiments of a personal alarm system 100 are described below with reference to the figures. System 100 includes a triggering key 10, an interface module 20, and a communication device 40, described in more detail below. Interface module 20 may be integral with communication device 40 or operatively connected to communication device 40. Furthermore, the activation key 10 may be integral with the interface module 20 or operatively connected to the interface module 20.

In a preferred embodiment, the user records the message or data in a system in a message or data mailbox or via a user interface 21 provided by the interface module 20, for example to identify the user's location and environment. For example, in the case of a social worker visiting a customer, such messages or data may include the customer's name, address, phone number and time, as well as any other pertinent information, such as the customer's history of substance abuse or mental disorder, and the user's medical history, any or all of which may be provided as a predetermined code or symbol. The user then programs the system via the interface module 20 with specific information, including: one or more rules that determine a delivery request of the system; a transfer address or intended destination; and transmitting content which is a distress call with address and other data intended to be received by, for example, a signal monitoring center, or "person distress" information with inferred location data for transmission to an appropriate rescue authority or other authority. Such information is stored in a user programmable memory 28 of the system, preferably as shown in fig. 2.

If the rules for requesting the transfer are fulfilled, for example if the user is involved in an expected environment such as a violent event (e.g. a client attack or threatening attack in the case of a social worker), the user can initiate a rescue by triggering a transfer request for data, with or without the knowledge of the client, by activating the trigger key 10.

Once activated, the trigger key 10 transmits or sends a trigger signal to the interface module 20, which interface module 20 causes the communication device 40 to send a predetermined signal to a preprogrammed recipient, whether a signal monitoring center or police, ambulance station, or other authority that may provide assistance. If the signal is sent to a monitoring center but not to an authority, the monitoring center may also be instructed (either pre-provisioned or as part of the transmitted data signal) to forward the message or data to the appropriate authority that can then take action to assist the user. The signal may include a message or data recorded by the user or may simply be a signal to a monitoring center or other person or institution to access a message data mailbox or data store to retrieve the message or data recorded by the user.

In a more specific embodiment, given by way of example to illustrate the overall operation of the present system, a user stores analog or digital messages or data in a predetermined message or data mailbox or store that is known and accessible to the system, or signal monitoring center or authority, in the event of an emergency. The interface module 20 may include: a microphone 26; a digital or tape voice recorder 23 and its associated circuitry (not shown) for recording messages or data sent to a monitoring center or authority in an emergency. The user programs the contact information of at least one monitoring center or authority using the characteristics of the user interface 21 of the interface module, more specifically the programming key 25.

If one of the rules for requesting delivery in the system is satisfied (i.e. an attack or emergency situation occurs), the user activates the trigger key 10 by opening the switch 13 or pushing the button 12 to request delivery of assistance. The trigger key 10 includes: a power source (not shown); a radio frequency transmitter (not shown); and an antenna 16 for radiating short range radio frequency signals to the interface module 20. Those skilled in the art will recognize other modes of transmitting a signal from the activation key 10 to indicate that the user wishes to request a transmission. The signal is received by a receiver (not shown) contained in the interface module 20.

Upon receiving the signal from trigger key 10, interface module 20 activates communication device 40, including detecting the on/off state of communication device 40; if communication device 40 is in the off state, it is turned on and communication device 40 is caused to transmit a signal to at least one intended recipient (or recipient address), such as a monitoring center or rescue authority.

The signal includes sufficient data so that the recipient of the signal (e.g., a monitoring center or rescue authority personnel) is aware that a condition exists that the user wishes the recipient to be alert, such as an emergency. The signal may contain information about the status, such as a user's pre-recorded voice message, and/or date, user location, GPS data or other data, or a preset signal or symbol that is meaningful to the recipient in the receiving environment of the transmitted data, or in other examples, the recipient (such as a monitoring center or rescue authority) may obtain useful information by accessing a pre-recorded message or data from a mailbox created by the user at a location other than the interface module 20 (e.g., a web page, telephone answering service, or other remote mailbox). Once the signal is sent to the recipient (e.g., a monitoring center or rescue authority), communication device 40 may be deactivated (i.e., placed in an active state to receive the incoming signal), or communication device 40 may send a signal to other recipients as determined by the predetermined programming of interface module 20.

Various embodiments of the communication means 40, the interface module 20 and the triggering key 10 are available, making the personal alarm system very flexible and easily adaptable to many work environments and other situations. Some other embodiments will be described below.

Communication device

The communication device 40 may be a car or mobile phone, a radio, a beacon device, a personal data assistant with cellular capabilities, an SMS (short message service) system, a Bluetooth (Bluetooth)^TM) Or other RF device or any other device capable of being controlled by the interface module 20 and transmitting a signal to a recipient, which may be a monitoring center, rescue authority, or other recipient.

In embodiments where the communication device 40 is a mobile phone or a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) with cellular or wireless capabilities, the interface module 20 may be connected to an interface connector of the mobile phone or PDA by radio frequency, infrared, wire or other means, and the connector is a logical connector, and not necessarily a physical connector (not shown), which enables the interface module 20 to control the internal functions of the mobile phone or PDA.

Alternatively, the mobile phone or PDA may include all or part of the functionality of the interface module 20, in which case the existing features and hardware of the mobile phone or PDA would perform some of all the necessary interface module 20 functionality. For example, rather than having a separate microphone, the interface module 20 may utilize the microphone of a mobile phone or PDA, and the dial of the mobile phone or PDA may be used for programming the keys 25.

The communication device 40 and the interface module 20 may be conveniently carried in a briefcase, purse, pocket, or left in a hall cabinet, in a worker's coat pocket or clipped to a belt, and in any event may be conveniently left directly in the customer's field of view.

Interface module

The interface module's user interface 21 may include various keys or buttons 25 for programming information into the interface module 20 that is then stored in the user programming memory 28 so that when a transmission to a recipient is requested, the interface module 20 will cause the communication device 40 to transmit the correct signal or content to the correct recipient or recipients. In one embodiment, interface module 20 includes a keyboard 22 for entering information under preprogrammed prompts. In another embodiment, the interface module 20 includes a voice programmable user interface. In yet another embodiment, the interface module 20 includes handwriting input and recognition.

The interface module 20 may include a digital or tape voice or sound recorder 23, the recorder 23 conveniently including a microphone 26 and having common user functions such as play, rewind, pause and wipe for storing messages or data. The recorder 23 may also include more robust programming features. For example, recorder 23 may be programmed to ensure that subsequently recorded messages or data delete previously recorded messages or data, thereby ensuring that the most current (and therefore correct) message or data is available or transmitted to a monitoring center or authority.

After causing the communication device 40 to transmit the recorded signal or message or data to a recipient (e.g., a monitoring center), the interface module 20 may be programmed to maintain communication between the recipient and the communication device 40, thereby allowing the monitoring center to communicate through the speaker 24 with a user or other party involved in the emergency situation, such as an attacker or a live rescuer or helper.

Interface module 20 and trigger key 10 may include a transceiver (not shown) for allowing a user to determine whether trigger key 10 is within range to activate interface module 20. In this embodiment, the triggering key 10 includes a test button 14. Upon activation of the test button 14, the triggering key 10 sends a coded signal to the transceiver housed in the interface module 20. If interface module 20 receives an encoded signal indicating that toggle key 10 is within the activation range, interface module 20 returns a signal to toggle key 10, which is received by a transceiver in toggle key 10. Receipt of the return signal by the toggle key 10 may then cause the toggle key 10 to vibrate or activate another indicator, such as a light 18 or sound.

As is well known to those skilled in the art, there are many available techniques for wirelessly transmitting a signal from the activation key 10 to the interface module 20. For example, but not limiting of, interface module 20 and trigger key 10 may include bluetooth, Radio Frequency (RF), infrared, or WiFi technology for wirelessly receiving and transmitting signals.

The interface module 20 may utilize the communication device 40 with a power source as its power source or may include a separate power source (not shown). In embodiments where the interface module 20 includes a power supply, the interface module 20 also includes an on/off device 29. In any of these embodiments, interface module 20 may also include a backup power source (not shown) for providing sufficient power to operate interface module 20 and for activating and controlling communication device 40, and interface module 20 may include a backup power source for the communication device in case the device runs out of battery power or is not powered.

In addition to or instead of being remotely controlled, the interface module 20 may include an activation button or switch 27, which when activated, activates the interface module 20 conveniently in the same way as the interface module 20 receives a signal from the toggle key 10. In yet another embodiment, a push-pull wire comprising an activation button (not shown) adapted to be worn under clothing may be attached to the activation button 27 for silently triggering the interface module 20 to silently contact a pre-programmed recipient through the communication device 40. This embodiment also allows the user to conceal the system in a briefcase or purse or other carrying article and to easily activate the system by pushing a push button on the pull cord, which button can be concealed by the briefcase handle or the purse strap.

In another embodiment, the system may utilize a Global Positioning System (GPS) to provide the exact location of the user as a newly added part of a preprogrammed message or data that is transmitted to the recipient. More specifically, the interface module 20 or the communication device 40 may include a GPS chip. When activated, the interface module 20 or communication module 40 can receive latitude and longitude coordinates from the GPS, which the communication device 40 then provides to a preprogrammed recipient (call monitoring center or rescue authority) along with a predetermined signal.

Triggering key

In another embodiment, the personal alarm system is automatically activated at pre-programmed intervals if the trigger key 10 is not activated. In this embodiment, the failure of the trigger key action within a preset time interval may satisfy the rules of the system for requesting a transfer, such that if the user fails to act by activating the trigger key 10 within a preprogrammed time interval, the interface module 20 is automatically triggered. This embodiment is convenient for individuals in situations where it is difficult to trigger an alarm in the event of an accident, such as workers in an unconscious state, or elderly who are unable to alarm in an emergency situation. In yet another embodiment, the toggle key 10 includes a programmable timer (not shown) and may also include a reminder indicator 15 or vibration mechanism (not shown) that can indicate to the user that the system requests a transmission if the toggle key 10 fails to be activated by pressing the button 12 or closing the switch 13. In this embodiment, the triggering key 10 is preferably designed to be easily carried or attached to a user.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that because interface module 20 and activation key 10 may be combined, and because interface module 20 and activation key 10 may communicate, many functions and embodiments that may be used for interface module 20 may be included in activation key 10. For example, the activation key 10 may include a voice recorder 23, a microphone 26, and a user programmable memory 28 for recording messages or data that are subsequently transmitted to the interface module 20 when the activation key 10 sends an activation signal to the interface module 20.

Triggering key 10 may encode a signal that is sent to interface module 20, which is then decoded by interface module 20 for ensuring secure transfer between triggering key 10 and interface module 20.

The triggering key 10 may include a switch (not shown) that is activated when the triggering key 10 reaches a predetermined angle. This causes the toggle key 10 to be automatically activated, for example, when the user reaches the prone or semi-prone position, to provide a "person distress" signaling event. In another embodiment, for example H₂S and H₂Sensors for substances such as O or other indicators of dangerous or unexpected environmental conditions may be onboard the system and provide an optional triggering mechanism according to a preselected program. When the switching circuit is closed, the triggering key 10 sends an activation signal to the interface module 20.

The trigger key 10 may be conveniently worn under clothing or on the wrist of a user, as shown in fig. 3, as part of a user's key fob, or may be disguised as a commonly worn accessory, such as jewelry, to conceal the trigger key 10 from potential attackers. For convenience, the triggering key 10 may include two or more triggering keys that may be easily used at different locations to allow a user to conveniently activate the interface module 20 in various environments, without being limited to a single triggering key.

Claims (42)

1. A personal alarm system for transmitting a signal from a user to a recipient, comprising:

communication means for transmitting the signal to the recipient;

an interface module in operable communication with the communication device for controlling the communication device and for providing data included in the signal, the interface module having a user programmable memory and a user interface for enabling a user to program user defined data into the interface module for storage in the user programmable memory, wherein the user defined data is data that enables a recipient to know that a state exists in which the user wishes the recipient to be alert; and

a trigger key in operable communication with the interface module for activating the interface module.

2. A personal alarm system as in claim 1 wherein the communication device is a mobile telephone for transmitting a signal to the recipient.

3. A personal alarm system as in claim 1 wherein the communication device is a radio for transmitting wireless signals to the recipient.

4. A personal alarm system as in claim 1 wherein the communication device is a beacon device for transmitting a beacon to the recipient.

5. A personal alarm system as in claim 1 wherein the communication device is a personal digital assistant having wireless transmission capability for transmitting radio frequency signals to the recipient.

6. A personal alarm system as in claim 1 wherein the communication device is a personal digital assistant having cellular transmission capability for transmitting cellular signals to the recipient.

7. A personal alarm system as in claim 1 wherein the communication device is a short message service device for transmitting signals to the recipient.

8. A personal alarm system as in claim 1 wherein the communication device includes an interface module for controlling the communication device, the interface module having a user interface with user programmable memory.

9. A personal alarm system as in claim 1 wherein the user defined data has user identification information and willingness information that the user wishes to get attention to at the user defined location.

10. A personal alarm system as in claim 1 wherein the user defined data has user identification information and information of the user's desire of the recipient to locate particular information or data.

11. A personal alarm system as in claim 10 wherein the signal includes the specific information or data.

12. A personal alarm system as in claim 1 wherein the interface module and the communication device include a radio signal transmitter and a radio signal receiver, respectively, for allowing the interface module to control the communication device.

13. A personal alarm system as in claim 1 wherein the interface module and the communication device include a cellular signal transmitter and a cellular signal receiver, respectively, for allowing the interface module to control the communication device.

14. A personal alarm system as in claim 1 wherein the communication means includes GPS capability for including location information in the signal transmitted to the recipient.

15. A personal alarm system as in claim 1 wherein the interface module and the communication device include a bluetooth transmitter and a bluetooth receiver, respectively, for allowing the interface module to control the communication device.

16. A personal alarm system as in claim 1 wherein the interface module and the communication device include an infrared transmitter and an infrared receiver, respectively, for allowing the interface module to control the communication device.

17. A personal alarm system as in claim 1 wherein the user interface is programmed to cause the communication device to transmit the signal to at least one other recipient.

18. A personal alarm system as in claim 1 wherein the interface module includes a trigger key for requesting a trigger key function in the interface module.

19. A personal alarm system as in claim 1 wherein the interface module controls the communication device in the following manner: the on/off state of the communication device is first determined, the communication device is turned on if necessary, and then the communication device is caused to transmit a signal to the recipient.

20. A personal alarm system as in claim 1 wherein the user interface includes at least one programming key for entering contact information for the recipient.

21. A personal alarm system as in claim 1 wherein the user interface includes at least one programming key for entering the recipient's contact information and another recipient's contact information.

22. A personal alarm system as in claim 20 wherein the programming key is used to program rules for determining when the interface module will control the communication device.

23. A personal alarm system as in claim 1 wherein the user interface includes a microphone and a voice recorder for storing voice messages transmitted by the communication device to the recipient, the messages being stored in the user programmable memory.

24. A personal alarm system as in claim 1 wherein a data store is included at a location accessible to the recipient for storing user data to be retrieved by the recipient upon receipt of a signal including address data or information directed to the location of the data store.

25. A personal alarm system as in claim 1 wherein the interface module includes a back-up power supply for providing sufficient power to the interface module and the communication module to transmit a signal to the recipient.

26. A personal alarm system as in claim 1 wherein the interface module includes GPS capability for transmitting location information to the communication device for transmission with the signal to the recipient.

27. A personal alarm system as in claim 1 wherein the triggering key and the interface module include a cellular signal transmitter and a cellular signal receiver, respectively, for allowing the triggering key to remotely activate the interface module.

28. A personal alarm system as in claim 1 wherein the triggering key and the interface module include a radio signal transmitter and a radio signal receiver, respectively, for allowing the triggering key to remotely activate the interface module.

29. A personal alarm system as in claim 1 wherein the triggering key and the interface module include a bluetooth transmitter and a bluetooth receiver, respectively, for allowing the triggering key to remotely activate the interface module.

30. A personal alarm system as in claim 1 wherein the triggering key and the interface module include an infrared transmitter and an infrared receiver, respectively, for allowing the triggering key to remotely activate the interface module.

31. A personal alarm system as in claim 1 wherein the interface module and the triggering key each include a transceiver and the triggering key includes a test button for allowing a user to send a test signal between the interface module and the triggering key to determine whether the interface module is within a valid range of the triggering key.

32. A personal alarm system as in claim 1 wherein the triggering key includes an encoder for securely encoding a triggering signal for transmission to the interface module; and the interface module includes a decoder for decoding the trigger signal.

33. A personal alarm system as in claim 1 wherein the trigger key includes a transmitter and a button for activating the transmitter to remotely activate the interface module.

34. A personal alarm system as in claim 1 wherein the trigger key includes a timer for automatically triggering transmission to the recipient if the user does not activate the trigger key.

35. A personal alarm system as in claim 34 wherein the trigger key includes a user interface for programming the timer for different time intervals.

36. A personal alarm system as in claim 1 wherein the triggering key includes a sensor for detecting a substance and a switch for automatically triggering the triggering key when the detector detects the substance.

37. A personal alarm system as in claim 36 wherein the detectable substance is a substance that is harmful to the user when present in the user's local environment.

38. A personal alarm system as in claim 1 wherein the triggering key comprises at least one other triggering key for remotely activating the interface module.

39. A personal alarm system as in claim 1 wherein the triggering key includes a posture sensor for automatically triggering the interface module when a user wearing the triggering key is prone or semi-prone.

40. A personal alarm system as in claim 1 wherein the triggering key is contained within a watch.

41. A personal alarm system as in claim 1 wherein the trigger key is contained within jewelry worn by the user.

42. A personal alarm system as in claim 1 wherein the triggering key comprises a plurality of triggering keys operable to communicate with the interface module to silently activate the interface module.