Signalling device and communications system

• US 20030034881A1
• Filed: 09/16/2002
• Published: 02/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Linlan Research and Design Company Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Linlan Research and Design Company Pty Limited
• Inventors: Linnett, Malcolm Robert, Lancini, Ben
• Granted Patent: US 6,771,163 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/309.16
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72421 with automatic activation of emergency service functions, e.g. upon sensing an alarm

Abstract

Provided is an emergency signalling device (10) and system (100) by which emergency signals are transmitted for reception by an emergency authority when a user set time for the transmission elapses without cancellation or reset. The device (10) may be a telephone or a beacon. In an example the system (100) is a digital mobile phone messaging system using a terrestrial and/or satellite based radio communications wherein the device (10) in the form of a mobile telephone or short messaging service (SMS) capable transceiver automatically transmits an emergency or distress signal addressed to a search and rescue (SAR) or emergency service organisation within a preset time interval in the event of incapacitation of the user.

Claims

1. An emergency signalling device comprising a transmitter adapted to transmit a time setting signal to a remote monitoring station, and setting means for selectively setting a time for a timer to initiate communication of an emergency signal for reception by an emergency authority.

5. The invention according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said emergency signal corresponds to at least one emergency contact reference for calling emergency assistance.

6. The invention according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the device having fixedly or removably installed memory means for storing at least one emergency contact reference.

7. The invention according to claim 6 wherein the memory means is arranged to store user information which can be retrieved for transmission with said at least one emergency contact reference.

8. The invention according to claim 6 or 7 wherein the signalling device including a global positioning satellite (CPS) receiver adapted to periodically receive GPS signals for deriving location information for storage in said memory means, the stored location information being transmitted with said at least one emergency contact reference.

10. The invention according to claim 7 wherein the system is arranged to associate user references with respective user information and the at least one server is arranged for a user to access over said emergency network for storing or updating user information and to retrieve stored user information;

in use, where the timer is in the or each said at least one emergency signalling device transmission of said contact reference from the or each said at least one emergency signalling device is relayed over the emergency network to said at least one server, and the at least one server on receiving said contact reference is adapted to search for a match of the user reference in said contact reference with the user references on the storage means and to retrieve the user information associated with the matched user reference for use by the emergency authority;

where the timer is in said monitoring station, the server is arrange to monitor the time(s) set by the or each said at least one emergency signalling device, when a set time elapses said monitoring station is arranged to retrieve from the storage means the user information associated with the signalling device concerned and communicate the retrieved information to an emergency authority.

11. The invention according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein said signalling device is a radio frequency signalling beacon and its transmitter is adapted to transmit a radio frequency (RF) signal at a predetermined emergency frequency.

13. The invention according to any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein said signalling device is a telephonic communications device and its transmitter having a dialling means arranged for initiation by said timer to dial at least one emergency contact reference for transmission by said transmitter at the set time.

14. The invention according to any one of claims 5 to 13 wherein the device having a user actuatable time delay switch adapted to, when actuated, switch the transmitter to transmit the signals corresponding to said at least one emergency contact reference at the set time.

15. The invention according to any one of claims 5 to 14 wherein the device including a warning indication arranged to indicate that the device is about to initiate transmission of signals corresponding to said at least one emergency contact reference.

16. The invention according to claim 15 wherein the device is arranged to prevent said transmission by actuating the time delay switch during said warning indication.

17. The invention according to any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein said device further comprising a receiver for receiving communications signals over a telephone network and/or a satellite communications network, and a key pad having numerical keys for entering signals corresponding to numbers;

the device being arranged so that a user can use the key pad to manually dial the or one of said at least one emergency contact reference, or any other telephone contact number for transmission over said telephone network and/or said satellite communications network.

18. The invention according to claim 17 wherein the device including an emergency switch which is arranged to dial the or one of said at least one emergency contact reference when it is switched on.

19. The invention according to any one of claims 5 to 18 wherein the device having a location beacon which is adapted to transmit beacon signals intermittently following initiation of transmission of said at least one emergency reference at said set time

20. The invention according to claim 19 wherein said location beacon being remotely controlled to switch On by a control signal received over the mobile telephone network and/or the satellite communications network.

21. The invention according to claim 19 or 20 wherein the device being selectively switchable between a suspension mode for suspending operation of said location beacon and the operation of emergency signalling, or both.

22. The invention according to claim 19 or 21 wherein the device is arranged to transmit said beacon signals for reception by the mobile telephone network or the satellite communications network;

a switch, over arrangement is provided for switching between transmissions to the mobile telephone network and to the satellite network; and

the switch over arrangement including a signal strength measuring unit for measuring signals received from the telephone network, and a network switching unit arranged to switch to satellite transmission mode when the received network signals are below a predetermined level.

23. The invention according to any one of claims 1 to 22 wherein said device having an indication means arranged to indicate at least one of a number of user settable items which include said set time, time of day, date, user PIN, and the like.

24. The invention according to claim 23 wherein the indication means is also arranged to indicate battery state, operation mode of the device, and/or signal strength, and the like.

25. The invention according to any one of claim 23 to 24 wherein said setting means including a menu selection arrangement for selectively viewing the or each said settable item, and an item setting arrangement for selectively setting the or any of the settable items.

26. The invention according to any one of claims 1 to 25 wherein the device having a power saving arrangement so that a substantially reduced power is consumed in a selected mode of operation.

27. The invention according to any one of claims 1 to 26 wherein the device includes a casing constructed so that the device is substantially water resistant and/or impact resistant.

28. The invention according to any one of claims 1 to 27 wherein the device includes controllable driving means and an antenna arranged for automatic extension by said driving means prior to transmission of the emergency signal, and antenna extension sensing means adapted to disable said driving means when the antenna is not extended within a predetermined time period.

2. An emergency signalling device comprising a transmitter adapted to transmit an emergency signal to a remote monitoring station, a timer and setting means for selectively setting a time for the timer to initiate the transmitter to transmit said signal at the time set by said setting means.

3. An emergency signalling system comprising an emergency communications network, a monitoring station, and at least one emergency signalling device having a transmitter adapted to communicate with said monitoring station over the communications network, and a timer in said monitoring station or said at least one emergency signalling device;

the or each said at least one emergency signalling device having setting means for selectively setting the timer to initiate said monitoring station or the transmitter to transmit an emergency signal at a time set by said setting means.

29. The invention as claimed in claim 3 or 4 wherein the system is adapted for use by a plurality of said devices and the monitoring station includes a message-scheduling table for said devices;

the monitoring station is arranged to use the timer as a reference for schedules on said table, and each of said devices having a timer which is set in synchronisation to the corresponding schedule in the table;

the monitoring station being arranged to initiate transmission of the emergency signal when the time corresponding to any of said schedules elapses.

4. An emergency signalling system comprising an emergency communications network, a monitoring station including at least one server having a storage means for storing user information, and at least one emergency signalling device having a transmitter adapted to communicate with said at least one server over the communications network;

the system further comprising a timer in said monitoring station or said at least one emergency signalling device, the or each said at least one emergency signalling device having setting means for selectively setting the timer to initiate said at least one server or the transmitter to transmit an emergency signal at a time set by said setting means.

9. The invention according to claim 4 wherein the storage means of said at least one server is arranged to store at least one emergency contact reference.

12. The invention according to claim 9 wherein said RF signal including data corresponding to at least one emergency contact reference.