Telephonic communications – Emergency or alarm communications – Personal monitoring
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-31
2001-04-03
Le, Huyen (Department: 2643)
Telephonic communications
Emergency or alarm communications
Personal monitoring
C379S040000, C379S041000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06212260
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to emergency call systems, and in particular, to an emergency call system for aiding persons in distress, for example, due to medical, fire, burglary or other emergencies.
Emergency call systems are known in which a person in distress can get immediate help. Specifically, in such systems, the person presses a button on a pendant which transmits a signal to an alarm in the person's house. The alarm then sends a signal to a central station, and a person at the central station must then dial the telephone numbers from a prescribed list in order to obtain aid for the distressed person.
However, such an arrangement is relatively complicated and costly. Specifically, such arrangement operates in a similar manner to a central burglar or fire alarm in a house, and requires a separate, complicated wiring assembly for the house, at a considerable cost. Also, such a system requires that a central station be provided, and therefore, the subscriber to such a system must pay a monthly fee for such service, adding further to the cost of the system.
Also, a problem with known systems is that if a central station, upon calling a telephone number for aid, continuously receives a busy signal, the central station may stop calling after a number of attempts, so that the person in distress does not receive aid.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an emergency call system that overcomes the aforementioned problems with the prior art.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an emergency call system that eliminates the requirement for a central station.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide an emergency call system that eliminates the requirement for a separate wiring of the person's house.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an emergency call system that can be used with a conventional telephone line.
It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide an emergency call system that will continuously call predetermined telephone numbers until an acknowledgement is received.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an emergency call system that is inexpensive and easy to make, install and operate.
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, an emergency call system by which a caller can automatically call a plurality of other parties to leave an emergency message, comprises an emergency call unit including a memory for storing a plurality of telephone numbers to be called and at least one emergency message, an input/output device for connecting the emergency call unit to a telephone line, at least one emergency key, and a microprocessor connected with the memory, the at least one emergency key and the input/output device for controlling storage of the plurality of telephone numbers to be called and the at least one emergency message in the memory, reading out the telephone numbers in sequence from the memory upon activation of at least one the emergency key, then dialing the telephone numbers in sequence, and then supplying the at least one emergency message over the telephone line to the dialed telephone numbers to automatically advise of an emergency.
A plurality of numeric keys are provided for keying in the plurality of telephone numbers to be called. The emergency call unit can include a telephone incorporated therein. Alternatively, the input/output device is capable of connecting a telephone unit thereto, and the numeric keys are provided on the telephone unit.
Also, a plurality of recording keys are connected with the microprocessor for controlling the microprocessor to store the plurality of telephone numbers to be called and the at least one emergency message. The plurality of recording keys includes a record key for controlling the microprocessor to start recording an emergency message, a play key for controlling the microprocessor to playback a recorded message, and a store key for controlling the microprocessor to store a telephone number to be called. Also, a 911 key can be included for setting 911 as a further number to be dialed in the event of an emergency.
The input/output device also includes a record/call switch connected with the microprocessor for switching between a record mode in which the plurality of telephone numbers to be called and the at least one emergency message can be recorded and stored in the memory, and a call mode in which the telephone numbers can be read out in sequence from the memory and dialed, with the at least one emergency message being supplied over the telephone line to the dialed telephone numbers to automatically advise of an emergency. A decode device is also connected with the microprocessor for decoding keys activated by a called party, and an encode device is connected with the microprocessor for encoding keys activated by the caller.
Also, a speaker and a microphone are provided through which a called party can communicate to the caller.
In a preferred embodiment, the emergency call unit includes a receiver connected with the microprocessor, and further comprises a remote call unit having at least one emergency key and a transmitter for transmitting a signal to the microprocessor through the receiver when the at least one emergency key on the remote call unit is activated.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a method of alerting other parties of an emergency, includes the steps of activating an emergency key by a caller on one of an emergency call unit and a remote device; automatically dialing a first of a plurality of telephone numbers stored in the emergency call unit, in sequence, upon activation of the emergency key; automatically sending an emergency message to each dialed telephone number; and repeating the steps of automatically dialing and automatically sending after each emergency message has been sent to the respective dialed telephone number, for all of the plurality of telephone numbers in sequence.
Further, the emergency message is sent, regardless of whether there is an answer at each dialed telephone number.
The called party can also disable the emergency call unit to prevent further telephone numbers from being dialed, communicate with the caller, and replay the emergency message, by depressing respective preset keys on a keypad of a telephone of the called party.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description thereof which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2467814A (1981-05-01), None
Johnson; An Emergency Call Unit; WO 92/14333, Aug. 10, 1992.*
Park; Electronic Mail Notification and access, WO 98/53624, Nov. 26, 1998.
Baum Elliot
Starr Gilbert I.
Elliot Baum
Frishauf, Holtz Goodman, Langer & Chick, P.C.
Le Huyen
Ramakrishnaiah Melur
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