Telephonic communications – Emergency or alarm communications
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-20
2001-03-20
Woo, Stella (Department: 2743)
Telephonic communications
Emergency or alarm communications
C379S396000, C340S331000, C340S539230
Reexamination Certificate
active
06205203
ABSTRACT:
This invention relates generally to an emergency response system which is activated by dialing emergency telephone numbers and which will assist the response team in locating the source of the emergency. More particularly, the invention relates to a telephone emergency response system, which activates an external visible locating signal, such as a strobe light, without interference or false actuation of other similar emergency response systems in the same locality, and which is programmable through the telephone handset.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A universal problem shared by police officers, fire fighters, and others responding to emergency calls is the difficulty locating the origin of a 9-1-1 call. Oftentimes, there is no name or address visible at the residence or business in distress. In condominium complexes, the problem is more acute, as many of the buildings can be indistinguishable from one another. Even in areas equipped with sophisticated networks that identify the location of the 9-1-1 caller to a dispatcher, the responding personnel often cannot quickly ascertain the location of the emergency. The critical time wasted searching for the source of an emergency can often mean the difference between life and death.
Emergency telephone activated signalling systems which activate an external house light or strobe light when a 9-1-1 telephone call is made are already known in the prior art. Examples of such systems are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,935,951 issued Jun. 19, 1990 to Robinson et al.; U.S. Pat. No 4,993,058 issued Feb. 12, 1991 to McMinn et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,012,507 issued Apr. 30, 1991 to Leighton et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. Re. 34,677 dated Jul. 26, 1994 to Ray et al. The aforesaid systems are all supplied with logic circuits to distinguish 9-1-1 when it is dialed on the user's telephone from other dialed numbers which simply contain 9-1-1 along with other digits, and to activate a flashing light visible on the exterior of the building in order to assist persons responding to the emergency to locate the call. While the systems described in the patents provide, in some cases for changing the sequence of emergency digits which is recognized, and in some cases also provide for a second sequence of digits for testing purposes, they do not disclose the ability for the user to program several emergency numbers, any one of which will actuate the flashing light. Nor do they disclose systems enabling the user to easily adjust the expected response time delay.
The installation of the systems disclosed in the aforementioned patents also requires running wiring between the telephone monitor and the external lighting device. This causes the installation to be expensive and requires re-wiring when moving the telephone monitor and the external lighting device to different locations. In larger complexes of buildings, such as apartment buildings or condominiums, the distance from the telephone to a location for the flashing light which is visible from the street may be extensive. If it is desired to have several individual emergency response systems identified with different users within a building complex, they must operate independently, and serve to identify the particular individual unit within the complex where the emergency is located.
Accordingly, one object of the invention is to provide an improved emergency response system suitable for multiple residential units within a building complex.
Another object of the invention is to provide an emergency response system with ability of the user to program one or more sequences of emergency dialed digits.
Another object of the invention is to provide an improved emergency response system with flexibility to locate the external warning device easily without re-wiring.
Another object of the invention is to provide an improved emergency response system for guiding an emergency response team to a single residential unit within a building complex or group of buildings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly stated, the invention is practiced by providing (1) a telephone monitor/transmitter adapted for connection to a telephone line with a telephone handset having keys for dialing digits, the telephone monitor/transmitter comprising electronic circuit means adapted to be connected to the telephone handset and the telephone line for generating a first signal in response to sequential dialing of at least one selected sequence of emergency digits, encoding means having a first plurality of setting switches for assigning a first selectable binary code word in response to said first signal, and a radio transmitter and modulator connected to said encoding means for transmitting a radio signal modulated by the first binary code word, and (2) at least one receiver/signal beacon comprising a radio receiver demodulator adapted to receive and demodulate the radio signal and output the first binary code word, decoding means having a second plurality of setting switches for assigning a second selectable binary code word and connected to compare it with the first binary code word and to provide a second signal when it matches the first binary code word, and emergency signalling means comprising a flashing beacon arranged for placement in a location visible to emergency rescue personnel and connected to the decoding means to be actuated by the second signal. In its preferred embodiment, the electronic circuit means includes a programmable microcontroller which is responsive to dialing programming digits on the telephone handset which can select one or more emergency dialing sequences, or perform other functions.
REFERENCES:
patent: Re. 34677 (1994-07-01), Ray et al.
patent: D. 353549 (1994-12-01), Gorman
patent: 4935951 (1990-06-01), Robinson et al.
patent: 4993058 (1991-02-01), McMinn et al.
patent: 5012507 (1991-04-01), Leighton et al.
patent: 5621379 (1997-04-01), Collins
patent: 5638047 (1997-06-01), Orloff et al.
patent: 5748706 (1998-05-01), Morgan et al.
patent: 5838771 (1998-11-01), Moeller
patent: 5872832 (1999-02-01), Bishel et al.
patent: 5880672 (1999-03-01), Weaver
patent: 5898369 (1999-04-01), Godwin
patent: 5960061 (1999-09-01), Fahie et al.
Bender Edward W.
Gorman Andrew J.
Crutcher Willliam C.
Woo Stella
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