WO2004049279A1

WO2004049279A1 - An incident alert and monitoring system

Info

Publication number: WO2004049279A1
Application number: PCT/GB2003/005112
Authority: WO
Inventors: Charles William David Barker
Original assignee: Charles William David Barker
Priority date: 2002-11-25
Filing date: 2003-11-25
Publication date: 2004-06-10
Also published as: GB2396772A; GB0227438D0; GB2396772B; AU2003286265A1

Abstract

The present invention, with reference to Figure 1, provides an incident alert and monitoring system. The system comprises at least one communications device (34) for use by a subscriber (32), a communications network (10) and processing means (22) made available by a service provider (20) which is accessible by the at least one communications device (34) used by a subscriber (32) via the communications network (10). The processing means (10) has an alert status parameter which is initially preset to a first standby status. On recording of a first event, the processing means (22) upgrades the alert status parameter from the first standby status to a second primed status and creates an incident log. On recording of a second event, the processing means (22) upgrades the alert status parameter from the second primed status to a third alarm status, whereupon the incident report is communicated to an emergency service (40) for immediate attention.

Description

AN INCIDENT ALERT AND MONITORING SYSTEM

The present invention relates to an incident alert and monitoring system and, in particular, to an incident alert and monitoring system made available to subscribers by a service provider via a communications network. Subscribers access the system via the communications network using a communications device.

Panic alarms and emergency telephones are well known in the art. Such devices typically require a user to activate an alarm by pushing a button or pulling a cord to attract attention, or require a user to dial a predetermined emergency telephone number and request assistance. The 999' emergency telephone service in the United Kingdom is one such example which is long established and universally used. A user dials 999 on a telephone and is connected to an operator. The user alerts the operator to an emergency situation and the operator relays this information to a relevant emergency response team such as the police, ambulance or fire service for immediate attention.

It is also known for existing landline telephones and mobile telephones to incorporate additional apparatus or functionality in order to provide improved emergency or safety features, as will now be described.

US6044257 discloses an emergency use only panic button phone as a low cost comprehensive personal security device. The panic button phone has a large button located on a rigid housing that contains a cellular receiver and transmitter. Pressing the large button allows the user of the panic button phone to establish full duplex cellular voice communications with an emergency response centre and summon emergency response personnel. A global positioning device in the panic button phone provides the location of the user to the emergency response centre. A small button on the rigid housing activates a noise alarm that alerts individuals in the immediate area that an emergency situation exists. In addition, a second small button activates a radio transmitter that signals the home alarm system of the user if the user is near the home when the button is pressed. In response to being signalled, the home alarm system initiates appropriate security measures such as turning on the house's lights and producing an audible alarm.

US4492820 discloses an automatic telephone message device for transmitting prerecorded messages to predetermined telephone numbers. The device is connected to the telephone jack and AC power source of the user' s telephone and is also connected to a standard tape recording system. One or more messages are prerecorded by the user on the tape recorder. The microprocessor control circuitry of this device provides memory space for storage and modification of several telephone numbers. This device is responsive to manual, timed automatic or remotely generated activation signals for transmitting the recorded message to parties answering at the specified telephone numbers. An additional audible alarm may be set to sound at predetermined times, and if a manual switch is not closed within a specified time thereafter, the device calls the selected telephone numbers and transmits the recorded message. In response to remote transmitter activation or lack of response to the audible alarm, a tone is transmitted in addition to the message indicating that the user is probably in the vicinity of the device. All specified numbers are redialled until the device senses that they have been answered, or until a specified maximum number of dialling attempts have been made. The recorded message may be reviewed and the alarm activation time may be modified or deactivated by a party accessing the device from a remote telephone.

US patent application serial no. 09/967,291 published as US2002/0057764 discloses a system in which an emergency call initiated from a wireline or wireless device is recognised at a point along a network path and an alert signal is generated. Additional information including real-time incident and response information is collected in response to the alert signal. The emergency call is associated with the additional information separate from information in the emergency call. A call is then automatically placed to a telephone number designated by a subscriber, the call including the additional information. The real-time incident and response information includes the location of the calling device, and one or more of incident specific information, person specific information, and vehicle specific information.

All of these known devices and systems require two way communication to be established between a user and a third party or some degree of automation or increased functionality of the apparatus at the user interface in order to facilitate automated communication with a third party in an emergency situation. Automation at the user interface can require mechanical apparatus or manual inputs which are unreliable and susceptible to failure. Increased functionality is typically achieved using electronic circuitry, but this places a burden upon the user in firstly setting up the apparatus prior to use (e.g. the recording of predetermined messages and/or emergency telephone numbers for use in a subsequent emergency situation) . Alternatively, the increased functionality is achieved by complex keystroke sequences or menu driven operations on the part of the user in order that successful communication with a third party is established in an emergency situation. As will be readily appreciated, inherent unreliability in a system is undesirable for the very reason that reliability is paramount in an emergency situation. Furthermore, providing increased functionality complicates what is required from the user (e.g. menu navigation) in an emergency situation and this is undesirable since it can lead to errors or confusion at the very time when it is important that clear and reliable communication is established to elicit the necessary emergency response. Worse still, it is known for devices that require preset information not to be preset or not to be updated when necessary with new telephone numbers and messages, rendering them ineffective in an emergency situation.

The present invention addresses the limitations of the prior art devices and systems by providing a very simple system which requires no set-up routine or other information at the user interface prior to use. Functionality is provided and managed remotely by a service provider, preferably in a centralised system.

The present invention provides, in a first aspect, an incident alert and monitoring system comprising: at least one communications device for use by a subscriber; a communications network; and processing means made available by a service provider which is accessible by the at least one communications device via the communications network, wherein : the processing means has, for each at least one communications device, an alert status parameter which is initially preset to a first standby status; when the processing means records a first event which comprises the subscriber: establishing and maintaining a line of communication between a communications device and the processing means via the communications network; and providing incident data, the processing means: upgrades the alert status parameter from the first standby status to a second primed status; and creates an incident report based on the incident data provided; and when the processing means records a second event, the processing means upgrades the alert status parameter from the second primed status to a third alarm status, whereupon the incident report is communicated to an emergency service for immediate attention.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic overview of an incident alert and monitoring system according to a preferred embodiment the present invention; Figure 2 is a flow chart illustrating the function of a communications device used by a subscriber in accordance with a preferred embodiment of present invention; and

Figure 3 is a flow chart illustrating the function of a processing means provided by a service provider in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. Referring first to Figure 1, there is illustrated a schematic overview of the incident alert and monitoring system according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention. The system can be seen to comprise a communications network 10, a service provider 20 and associated processing means 22, a subscriber 32 and a communications device 34 at an incident location 30, and the emergency services 40.

The communications network 10 is of any conventional form well known in the art. Preferably, the communications network 10 takes the form of a traditional telecommunications network such as a landline or a mobile/cellular network. Processing means 22, preferably electronic, is made available by the service provider 20 and can be accessed by a subscriber 32 via the communications network 10 using a communications device 34 such as a traditional landline telephone, mobile telephone, satellite telephone or other suitable communications device. The processing means 22 is also of conventional form well known in the art, typically an electronic means such as a computer or computer network, and is programmable for providing subscriber services such as voicemail, text and photo messaging, e-mail, WAP and internet applications, as well as subscriber account information and other services. This technology is well known in the art and as such will not be described in any further detail herein.

At the location of a possible incident 30, a subscriber 32 can be seen with a communications device 34 which is capable of communication with the processing means 22 of the service provider 20 via the communications network 10. Likewise, the emergency services 40 can be seen to be in communication with the processing means 22 of the service provider 20 via the communications network 10.

A preferred embodiment of the incident monitoring and alarm system according to the present invention will now be described in use with particular reference to the flow charts illustrated in Figures 2 and 3.

Firstly, the service provider 20 makes the incident alert and monitoring system of the present invention available on its electronic processing means 22. This is indicated at 100 of Figure 2. The system can be accessed via the telecommunications network 10 by a subscriber 32 using a landline or mobile telephone as a communications device 34. The system has an alert status parameter which can be set to one of three levels; alert level 0 which is a first standby status, alert level 1 which is a second primed status and alert level 2 which is a third alarm status. At the outset at 110 and 220, the alert status parameter is initialised and set to its first standby status (alert level 0) . The alert status parameter remains in this first standby status (alert level 0) until a subscriber 32 detects the occurrence of a possible incident at 120. Next, the subscriber 32 primes the system at 130 by dialling 888 on the communications device 34 at 140 to establish and maintain an open line of communication with the electronic processing means 22 of the service provider 20 at 150 via the communications network 10. The subscriber 32 is presented with a voice ail system of the electronic processing means 22 and gives his or her name together with details of the location and nature of the perceived incident. Upon receipt of this incident information by the service provider 20 at 230, a timer is initiated at 240 and the alert status parameter is upgraded at 250 from the first standby status (alert level 0) to the second primed status (alert level 1) . An incident report detailing the incident information supplied by the subscriber 32 is created at 260 and relayed to the incident report database at 270 for storage.

Meanwhile, the subscriber 32, having primed the system, investigates or observes the situation to determine whether or not the incident resolves itself at 160 or can be confirmed at 190. The incident may be resolved at 160, for example, if it is determined by the subscriber 32 that the perceived incident is in fact an innocent occurrence (e.g. a false alarm). Alternatively, the incident may be confirmed at 190 if it is determined that an actual incident is occurring (e.g. by way of confirming evidence).

In the case that an incident is resolved to the satisfaction of the subscriber 32 at 160, the subscriber 32 dials 5 on the communications device 34 at 170 and a standdown signal is sent by the communications device 34 to the electronic processing means 22 of the service provider 20 via the communications network 10. Upon receipt of the standdown signal by the electronic processing means 22 at 280, the alert status parameter is downgraded at 290 from the second primed status (alert level 1) to the first standby status (alert level 0) . In this case, the incident report is updated accordingly at 300.

If the incident is neither resolved at 160 nor confirmed at 190, the subscriber 32 continues to monitor the situation until the incident is resolved or confirmed. The open line of communication between the communication device 34 and the electronic processing means 22 of the service provider 20 is maintained throughout. However, this monitoring of the situation by the subscriber 32 is overruled by the electronic processing means 22 of the service provider 20 if either the timer reaches or exceeds a predetermined timeout period at 320 or if the open line of communication between the communications device 34 and the electronic processing means 22 is lost at 360.

In the case that the timer reaches or exceeds the predetermined timeout period at 320 or that the open line of communication between the communications device 34 and the electronic processing means 22 is lost for whatever reason at 360, then the system treats this as an incident being confirmed by the subscriber 32 as at 190. In this situation, the alert status parameter is upgraded from the second primed status (alert level 1) to the third alarm status (alert level 2) as is described immediately below.

In the case that the subscriber 32 can confirm that the incident is in fact taking place at 190 he or she dials 9 at 200 and an alarm signal is sent to the electronic processing means 22 of the service provider 20 via the telecommunications network 10 by the communications device 34. Upon receipt of the alarm signal by the electronic processing means 22 at 310, the alert status parameter is upgraded at 330 from the second primed status (alert level 1) to the third alarm status (alert level 2) . At this stage, the relevant incident report stored in the incident report database at 270 is interrogated and updated at 340 with the new alert parameter status. This upgrade of the alert status parameter to the third alarm status (alert level 2) can occur automatically without input from the subscriber 32 if the timer exceeds the predetermined time out period at 320 or if the open line of communication between the communications device 34 and electronic processing means 22 is lost or cut at 360, as described immediately above. At this stage, the alarm signal (alert level 2) together with the incident report is communicated to the emergency services 40 for immediate action. This terminates the processing of the incident at the stop function box 370.

Whilst the above preferred embodiment of the incident alert and monitoring system according to the present invention is described in full detail, an example of what is required on the part of a subscriber 32 to use the system in a real life scenario will now be described for illustrative purposes to demonstrate the simplicity yet effectiveness of the present invention as compared to what is known in the prior art.

A subscriber 32 is woken in the middle of the night on hearing a noise emanating from a downstairs room. The subscriber 32 picks up his or her mobile telephone 34 and dials 888. The subscriber 32 then identifies him or herself, supplies the relevant address, and states that an intruder may be present. The mobile telephone 34 is kept to hand and the open line of communication is maintained. In a first scenario, the subscriber 32 investigates or monitors the situation and catches sight of an intruder and dials 9 on the mobile telephone 3 . The police subsequently arrive to attend to the incident. In a second scenario, the subscriber discovers that a vase has innocently fallen over and so dials 5 on the mobile telephone 34.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing description that many different embodiments of the present invention are envisaged.

For example, the communications network 10 has been described as preferably comprising a telecommunications network and the communications device 34 as being a landline, mobile or satellite telephone. However, any network capable of data communication could be used to implement the present invention. The network could be or include an intranet, the internet, satellite links or any other suitable network. Similarly, a personal data assistant (PDA) or other suitable communications device 34 may be beneficially employed.

Various keystrokes have been described for priming the system (dial 888), escalating the system to an alarm status (dial 9) , or for standing down the system after priming (dial 5) . These keystrokes are only a preference and used by way of example only. Alternative keystrokes or indeed dedicated function buttons may be employed instead. For example, PIN numbers, PUK codes or other selected keystrokes (e.g. subscriber specific or programmed by the subscriber) may be beneficially employed. Using subscriber specific keystrokes has the advantage of preventing third parties (e.g. intruders) who are familiar with the system from tampering with or influencing its operation. It is possible also to require that individual buttons be depressed for predetermined (e.g. extended) time periods to effect the desired function. Tactile means may also be beneficially employed, as is already the case in respect of the "5" numeric key.

The processing means 22 has been described as preferably comprising an electronic means. However, the processing means 22 may take the form of a human operator.

The service provider 20 and processing means 22 have been described as being remote from both the subscriber 32 and the emergency services 40. Alternatively, the service provider 20 and processing means 22 could be sited and/or made available by the emergency services 40.

The processing means 22 has also been described as comprising a voicemail system. However, any data processing system such as text or photo/picture messaging, for example, may be beneficially employed in the present invention.

It is also envisaged that text messaging (e.g. SMS) or photo/picture messaging may be employed as part of the system to inform the subscriber that his or her instruction (s) have been safely received and actioned. For example, in response to the subscriber priming, elevating to alarm status or standing down the system, an acknowledgement SMS text message may be sent back to the subscriber's communications device 34 in respect of any one or more of these instructions (e.g. "system primed", "emergency services alerted and on way" or "system stooddown") .

The above alternatives are just examples and it will be appreciated that developments in the art will make available many different devices and systems which can be utilised for implementing the present invention as set out in the appended claims.

Reference herein to the term subscriber simply means a user of a communications device. It is not limited to a user of a communications device who must be a registered subscriber of the service provider and/or pay a fee to the service provider. The term subscriber includes a user using his or her communications device, a third party using another user's communication device, or a user making use of a publically available communications device.

Claims

1. An incident alert and monitoring system comprising: at least one communications device for use by a subscriber; a communications network; and processing means made available by a service provider which is accessible by the at least one communications device via the communications network, wherein: the processing means has, for each at least one communications device, an alert status parameter which is initially preset to a first standby status; when the processing means records a first event which comprises the subscriber: establishing and maintaining a line of communication between a communications device and the processing means via the communications network; and providing incident data, the processing means: upgrades the alert status parameter from the first standby status to a second primed status; and creates an incident report based on the incident data provided; and when the processing means records a second event, the processing means upgrades the alert status parameter from the second primed status to a third alarm status, whereupon the incident report is communicated to an emergency service for immediate attention.

2. An incident alert and monitoring system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the communications device is a landline telephone, a mobile telephone or a satellite telephone.

3. An incident alert and monitoring system as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the communications network is a landline, cellular network, intranet, the internet, satellite link or any combination thereof.

4. An incident alert and monitoring system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the subscriber establishes a line of communication between the communications device and processing means via the communications network by dialling a first predetermined telephone number or keystroke on the communications device.

5. An incident alert and monitoring system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the incident data provided by the subscriber includes subscriber identification information and details of the nature and location of a perceived incident.

6. An incident alert and monitoring system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the processing means additionally initiates a timer means upon recording of the first event.

7. An incident alert and monitoring system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the recording of a second event by the processing means comprises any one of the following: the subscriber dialling a second predetermined telephone number or keystroke on the communications device which is communicated via the communications network to the processing means; loss of the established line of communication between the communications device and the processing means via the communications network; or the timer means exceeding a predetermined timeout parameter.

8. An incident alert and monitoring system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the processing means downgrades the alert status parameter from the second primed status to the first standby status when the subscriber dials a third predetermined telephone number or keystroke on the communications device which is communicated via the communications network to the processing means.

9. An incident alert and monitoring system as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 8 wherein the first predetermined telephone number or keystroke comprises one or more alphanumerics .

10. An incident alert and monitoring system as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 9 wherein the first predetermined telephone number or keystroke is the numeric 8 or 88 or 888.

11. An incident alert and monitoring system as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 10 wherein the second predetermined telephone number or keystroke comprises one or more alphanumerics.

12. An incident alert and monitoring system as claimed in any one of claims 7 to 11 wherein the second predetermined telephone number or keystroke is the numeric 9 or 99 or 999.

13. An incident alert and monitoring system as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 12 wherein the third predetermined telephone number or keystroke comprises one or more alphanumerics.

14. An incident alert and monitoring system as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 13 wherein the third predetermined telephone number is the numeric 5 or 55 or 555.

15. An incident alert and monitoring system as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 14 wherein the first, second and third predetermined telephone numbers or keystrokes are different.

16. An incident alert and monitoring system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the processing means is a human operator.

17. An incident alert and monitoring system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 15 wherein the processing means is an electronic processing means.

18. An incident alert and monitoring system as claimed in claim 17 wherein the electronic processing means includes an automated system for establishing the line of communication with the communications device via the communications network and receiving the incident data provided by the subscriber.

19. An incident alert and monitoring system as claimed in claim 18 wherein the automated system is a voicemail system.

20. An incident alert and monitoring system as claimed in claim 18 wherein the automated system is a text, photo or picture messaging system.

21. An incident alert and monitoring system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the incident data received by the processing means can be processed electronically in order to create an incident report.

22. An incident alert and monitoring system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the processing means implements all functionality of the system and is positioned at a location remote from the subscriber and the communications device.

23. An incident alert and monitoring system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to or as shown in the accompanying drawings.