Communications: directive radio wave systems and devices (e.g. – Directive – Including a satellite
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-22
2001-01-16
Tarcza, Thomas H. (Department: 3662)
Communications: directive radio wave systems and devices (e.g.,
Directive
Including a satellite
C342S357490, C342S357490, C701S208000, C701S213000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06175329
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to an emergency indicator device, and more particularly to an automatic emergency indicator that provides location information derived from the global positioning system.
BACKGROUND ART
The advent and continued growth of regional cellular networks has made it much easier to summon help from remote locations on cellular phones. However, it is not always possible to dial a cellular phone for help, be it the local 911 network, police, fire and rescue department, or ambulance service, in the event of an emergency. Moreover, some emergencies, such as assaults or severe injuries, may prevent a victim from providing accurate information relating to the nature of the emergency or the victim's location. For example, a victim may be prevented from speaking because he or she is being restrained by an assailant or because he or she has subsequently lost consciousness as a result of his or her injuries. Indeed, the victim may not even have had a chance to access his or her cellular phone.
While it is possible within a cellular network to determine a location based on the particular cell from which the incoming call is received or by triangulating through several cells, this does not provide reliable position information. The position information that can be obtained in this manner is limited to the cell from which the call originated. Since a cell may encompass a large geographic area, the exact location of a victim may not be readily discernible based only on the cell information. Moreover, locating a victim based on cells presupposes that the victim has had the time and ability to dial the telephone number and press the send button in the first place.
The global positioning system is a network of twenty four satellites which orbit the earth and act as reference points which transmit accurate position information and time signals to a receiver which are the direct measurements of the range to the respective satellites in three dimensions. The signals are processed to resolve the location of the receiver. Cellular telephones have been combined with G.P.S. receivers to provide position information over a cellular connection. Thus, it is possible to determine the location of the cellular user even without the user providing any information other than dialing and sending. However, this again presupposes the user has had the time and the ability to dial the correct number in the first place and then initiate the call by pressing send.
Indeed, where the emergency is an assault, the assailant would likely be privy to the victim's attempt to seek help by activation of the cellular phone just prior to the attack and could simply disable, destroy or discard the cellular telephone. Even if the assailant was not initially privy to the summons for help, the assailant may be alerted to such an attempt by hearing the voice on the other end when responding to the caller.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention results from the realization that a truly effective emergency and position indicator may be achieved with a G.P.S. receiver, a geographical information system database and a processor which, when the device is triggered, converts the G.P.S. signal, in cooperation with the G.I.S., into a realtime local geographic position. The local geographic position can be transmitted directly to a predetermined receiver, or voice synthesized into auditorily intelligible position information which is then transmitted.
The invention features an automatic emergency and position indicator having a trigger, a G.P.S. receiver, for receiving a plurality of G.P.S. satellite signals and a processor, responsive to the G.P.S. receiver, for providing G.P.S. coordinates from the received G.P.S. satellite signals. A geographic information system database is coupled to the processor wherein the processor, in response to the G.P.S. coordinates and the database, generates a realtime local geographic position. A transmitter, responsive to the trigger, transmits to a predetermined receiving station the local geographic position.
There may be voice synthesis means coupled to the processor and responsive to the local realtime geographic position, for generating a voice synthesized realtime local geographic position to be transmitted. The transmitter may include a telephony transmitter. There may be data input means. The data input means may include a user interface. The user interface may include a keypad. The user interface may include a microphone. There may be a receiver for receiving communications from the receiving station. The data input means may include an I/O interface. There may be display means. There may be an emergency indicator. The emergency indicator may include a predetermined voice message. The predetermined voice message may include a preprogrammed, voice synthesized message or a prerecorded voice message. There may be an interrupt for deactivating the power source. The trigger may include a dead man switch or a contact switch.
The invention also features an automatic emergency and position indicator system. There is a field unit including a trigger. A global positioning system receiver within the field unit, receives a plurality of global positioning system satellite signals. The field unit includes a processor, responsive to the global positioning system receiver, which provides global positioning system coordinates from the received global positioning system satellite signals. There is a transmitter, responsive to the trigger, for transmitting from the field unit to a predetermined receiving station the global positioning system coordinates. There is at least one receiving unit remote from the field unit. The receiving unit includes a computer and a geographic information system database coupled to the computer. The computer, in response to the transmitted global positioning system coordinates and the database, generates a local geographic position.
The receiving unit may include voice synthesis means, coupled to the computer and responsive to the local geographic position which generates a voice synthesized local geographic position.
The invention also features an automatic emergency and position indicator system having a trigger, a global positioning system receiver, responsive to the power source, for receiving a plurality of global positioning system satellite signals, a processor, responsive to the global positioning system receiver, for providing global positioning system coordinates from the received global positioning system satellite signals; and a transmitter, responsive to the trigger, for transmitting to a predetermined receiving station the global positioning system coordinates. There is a geographic information system database, remote from the transmitter and coupled to a computer wherein the computer, in response to the global positioning system coordinates and the database, generates a local geographic position. There may be voice synthesis means, remote from the transmitter, coupled to the computer and responsive to the local geographic position for generating a voice synthesized local geographic position.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an emergency and position indicator device which automatically transmits emergency and location information to a preselected receiving station without requiring the user to communicate directly with an individual at the receiving station.
It is another object of the present invention to provide such an emergency and position indicator which provides the information which is auditorily intelligible to an individual at the receiving station.
It is another object of the present invention to provide such an emergency and position indicator which provides location information to the receiving individual based on local geographic information.
It is another object of the present invention to provide such an emergency and position indicator which does not require special equipment at the receiving end to interpret the location information.
It is still ano
Jenkins & Wilson, P.A.
Phan Dao L.
Tarcza Thomas H.
University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
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