Communications: electrical – Condition responsive indicating system – With particular coupling link
Patent
1998-09-14
2000-10-03
Crosland, Donnie L.
Communications: electrical
Condition responsive indicating system
With particular coupling link
34031001, 340531, 340538, 34082569, 34082572, 379 37, G08B 108, H04B 100
Patent
active
061279250
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a signalling and/or help request system.
2. Discussion of the Background
As is known, in big cities, particularly during celebrations, manifestations or any occasion involving large crowds, risk situations occur continually in which help is required either of the authorities or specific groups of people trained to deal with specific problems. This is especially true of tourists or visitors on business, who are unfamiliar with the city and fall prey to bag-snatchers, muggers, etc. The need to send out a position signal or request for help may also arise in the case of sickness, or in the event of tourists or visiting businessmen losing their way in a foreign city and, not speaking the language, being unable to ask directions of passers-by.
Public telephones are not always a solution, owing to lack of change, telephone cards, or a nearby telephone booth, or on account of the urgency of the situation; and portable telephones are not yet of such a price as to be generally available, especially when such risk situations are only occasional.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a signalling and/or help request system designed to overcome the aforementioned problems.
According to the present invention, there is provided a signalling and/or help request system, characterized by comprising: lamp of the public lighting system, and connected to the electricity mains and to a communications network to transmit a message including an identification code; receiving/conveying device, and generating an information and/or help request output signal.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
A preferred, non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 shows an overall view of the system according to the invention;
FIG. 2 shows a more detailed view of part of the system according to the invention;
FIG. 3 shows an operation block diagram of the system according to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Number 1 in FIG. 1 indicates the system as a whole, which comprises a portable transmitter 3; a receiving/conveying device 4 suitable for transmitter 3 and fitted to a lamp 5 of the public lighting system to receive a help request from transmitter 3 and transmit messages along the electricity line of the lamp; and a centralized signal receiving and processing system 7 connected to the electricity line.
More specifically, and with reference also to FIGS. 2 and 3, transmitter 3 is preferably a commercial remote-control transmitter, for example, of the type commonly used to open gates and doors, and advantageously comprises a single button 10, which, when pressed (block 30 in FIG. 3), enables a circuit to transmit an analog or digital alarm signal (block 31). Alternatively, provision may be made for two or more buttons for transmitting different signals and help requests, in which case, a different alarm signal (code) is transmitted when each button is pressed. The alarm signal may be transmitted by radio or any other wireless (e.g. infrared) transmission technique. Transmitter 3 may preferably also operate as a receiver for receiving a confirmation code generated by receiver 4, and, for this purpose, may comprise an indicator light 11 (e.g. coloured LED) to show the help request has been transmitted.
Receiving/conveying device 4 comprises a receiver 13; a conveyed-wave transmitting device 14; and a shunt element 15. More specifically, receiver 13 is preferably a commercial type, and comprises known electric circuits for receiving the alarm signal transmitted by transmitter 3 (block 32 in FIG. 3) and transmitting a signal to conveyed-wave transmitting device 14 (block 33). Receiver 13 may also comprise circuits for supplying transmitter 3 with a reception confirmation signal, as stated above.
Conveyed-wave transmitting device 14 may also be a commercial type, e.g. of the sort used on i
REFERENCES:
patent: 4998095 (1991-03-01), Shields
"A Prison Guard Duress Alarm Location System", Thomas W. Christ et al, IEEE Jan. 1993 pp. 106-116.
Bonsignore Francesco
Taglioni Diego
Citycom S.p.A.
Crosland Donnie L.
LandOfFree
Signalling and/or help request system does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Signalling and/or help request system, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Signalling and/or help request system will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-199816