System and method of providing emergency response to a user carrying a user device

• US 20050031102A1
• Filed: 07/21/2004
• Published: 02/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mark W. Kraus, Paul G. Toenjes
• Original Assignee: Mark W. Kraus, Paul G. Toenjes
• Inventors: Toenjes, Paul G., Kraus, Mark W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,126,472 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/114.200
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/001 Alarm cancelling procedures or alarm forwarding decisions, e.g. based on absence of alarm confirmation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/005 Alarm destination chosen according to a hierarchy of available destinations, e.g. if hospital does not answer send to police station
• 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: H04L 67/025 for remote control or remote monitoring of applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/61 taking into account QoS or priority requirements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/04 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections

Abstract

The subject invention provides a method of providing emergency response to a user carrying a user device (32). The method establishes a monitoring database (34) including identifications for a plurality of user devices (32) and user information associated with each of the user devices (32). The monitoring database (34) includes a list of contacts to be contacted in an emergency for each user of each user device (32). An internet protocol (IP) address is established for the monitoring database (34) and for each user device (32). One of the user devices (32) is selected in the database and at least one of the selected user device (32) or at least one contact from the list of contacts associated with the selected user device (32) is notified of the emergency. The communication between the monitoring database (34) and the selected user device (32) is established over the Internet (36) using internet protocols to notify the selected user device (32) and/or the contact.

Claims

1. A method of providing emergency response to a user carrying a user device (32), said method comprising the steps of:

establishing a monitoring database (34) including identifications for a plurality of user devices (32) and user information associated with each of the user devices (32) including a list of contacts to be contacted in an emergency for each user of each user device (32);

establishing an internet protocol (IP) address for the monitoring database (34);

establishing an IP address for each user device (32);

selecting one of the user devices (32) in the database;

detecting the presence of either one of a cellular network and a cradle (48) connected to the Internet (36) by the user device (32);

notifying at least one of the selected user device (32) or at least one contact from the list of contacts associated with the selected user device (32) of the emergency via one of the cellular network or the cradle (48); and

establishing communication over the Internet (36) between the monitoring database (34) and the selected user device (32) using internet protocols to notify the selected user device (32) or the contact.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of notifying the contact is further defined as utilizing at least one of an internet protocol or a public switched telephone network to notify the contact.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of notifying the contact is further defined as transmitting a prerecorded message stored in the monitoring database (34) to the contact associated with the selected user device (32).

4. A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising the step of monitoring the response of the contact and continuing to notify additional contacts until a response is confirmed by one of the contacts.

5. A method as set forth in claim 4 further comprising the step of transmitting a response signal from the monitoring database (34) to the user device (32) as a result of one of the contacts responding.

6. A method as set forth in claim 5 wherein the step of transmitting the response is further defined as establishing bidirectional audio communication between the user device (32) and the contact responding utilizing voice-over internet protocol.

7. A method of providing emergency response to a user carrying a user device (32), said method comprising the steps of:

establishing a monitoring database (34) including identifications for a plurality of user devices (32) and user information associated with each of the user devices (32) including a list of contacts to be contacted in an emergency for each user of each user device (32);

establishing an internet protocol (IP) address for the monitoring database (34);

establishing an IP address for each user device (32);

selecting one of the user devices (32) in the database and notifying at least one of the selected user device (32) or at least one contact from the list of contacts associated with the selected user device (32) of the emergency; and

establishing communication over the Internet (36) between the monitoring database (34) and the selected user device (32) using internet protocols to notify the selected user device (32) or the contact.

8. A method as set forth in claim 7 wherein the step of notifying at least one of the selected user device (32) or the contact further comprises the step of transmitting a digital signal over a cellular network and over the Internet (36) using internet protocols to one of the IP addresses associated with the monitoring database (34) and the selected user device (32)

9. A method as set forth in claim 8 wherein the step of selecting one of the user devices (32) further comprises the step of activating the user device (32) and transmitting the digital signal from the user device (32) to the monitoring database (34).

10. A method as set forth in claim 9 further comprising the step of establishing an audio connection utilizing voice-over internet protocol between the user device (32) and the monitoring database (34).

11. A method as set forth in claim 8 further comprising the step of determining a status of the user based upon the digital signal received from the user device (32) at the monitoring database (34).

12. A method as set forth in claim 11 further comprising the step of bypassing the list of contacts and contacting emergency personnel in response to the status of the user being a predetermined condition.

13. A method as set forth in claim 7 wherein the step of notifying the contact is further defined as notifying the contact via at least one of internet protocols or public switched telephone networks.

14. A method as set forth in claim 13 further comprising the step of monitoring the response of the contact and continuing to notify additional contacts until one of the contacts responds.

15. A method as set forth in claim 7 further comprising the step of establishing bidirectional audio communication between the monitoring database (34) and the user device (32) utilizing voice-over internet protocol.

16. A method as set forth in claim 7 further comprising the step of recording a message from the user and storing the message on the user device (32) for playback by emergency personnel.

17. A method as set forth in claim 8 wherein the step of transmitting the digital signal is further defined as transmitting the digital signal from the monitoring database (34) to the user device (32).

18. A method as set forth in claim 17 wherein the step of transmitting the digital signal further includes the step of packaging audio and data packets for receipt by the user device (32).

19. A method as set forth in claim 18 wherein the step of packaging the data packets is further defined as packaging medication reminders in the data packets to alert the user to take medication.

20. A method as set forth in claim 8 further comprising the step of detecting the presence by the user device (32) of either one of the cellular network or a cradle (48) having a radio frequency module for transmitting the digital signal over the Internet (36).

21. A method as set forth in claim 20 further comprising the step of transmitting the digital signal via a radio frequency signal from the user device (32) to the cradle (48) and routing the digital signal to the IP addresses over the Internet (36).

22. A method as set forth in claim 8 further comprising the step of detecting the presence of biometric equipment (44) having a radio frequency module communicating via radio frequency signals with the user device (32).

23. A method as set forth in claim 22 further comprising the step of transmitting biometric data about the user from the biometric equipment (44) to the user device (32).

24. A method as set forth in claim 23 further comprising the step of packaging the biometric data with the digital signal and transmitting the digital signal from the user device (32) to the monitoring database (34).

25. A method as set forth in claim 24 further comprising the step of storing the biometric data in the monitoring database (34) for compiling medical reports about the user.

26. A method as set forth in claim 8 wherein the step of generating the digital signal further includes the step of packaging audio packets and digital packets for transmission.

27. A method as set forth in claim 26 wherein the step of packaging the audio packets is further defined as instantaneously recording audio, creating audio packets from the audio, and transmitting the audio packets to establish instant communication with the monitoring database (34).

28. A method as set forth as claim 26 wherein the step of packaging the audio packets is further defined as recording audio, creating audio packets from the audio, and storing the audio packets on the user device (32) for playback at the user device (32).

29. A method as set forth in claim 28 further comprising the step of alerting emergency personnel of stored audio packets for playback.

30. A method as set forth in claim 8 further comprising the step of alerting the user of communication between the user device (32) from the monitoring database (34).

31. A method as set forth in claim 30 further comprising the step of initiating playback of the digital signal from the monitoring database (34) by the user.

32. A user device (32) carried by a user comprising:

a housing (112);

a processor (74) disposed within said housing (112) capable of communicating via internet protocols (IP);

a memory source (82) disposed within said housing (112) storing an IP address for said user device (32) and an IP address for a monitoring database (34);

a global positions system (GPS) receiver (38) disposed within said housing (112) and in communication with said processor (74) for receiving global positioning coordinates of said user device (32) and for storing the coordinates in said memory source (82);

a radio frequency (RF) module (42) disposed within said housing (112) and in communication with said processor (74) for transmitting and receiving radio frequency signals;

a cellular modem (40) in communication with said processor (74) for establishing a cellular connection;

a speaker (78) for playing incoming messages to said cellular modem (40) and said RF module (42); and

a microphone (80) for transmitting and recording audio from the user.

33. A user device as set forth in claim 32 further comprising a user input (94) for activating said user device (32).

34. A user device as set forth in claim 33 further comprising a power supply (96) for providing power to said processor (74) and said memory source (82).

35. A user device as set forth in claim 32 further comprising at least one antenna (84) in communication with said GPS receiver (38), said RF module (42), and said cellular modem (40).

36. An emergency alert system (30) comprising:

a user device (32) carried by a user having a housing (112), a processor (74) communicating via internet protocols (IP), a memory source (82) storing an IP address for said user device (32) and an IP address for a monitoring database (34), a global positioning system (GPS) receiver (38) in communication with said processor (74), a radio frequency (RF) module (42) in communication with said processor (74) for transmitting and receiving RF signals, a cellular modem (40) in communication with said processor (74) for establishing a cellular connection, a speaker (78), and a microphone (80);

a cradle (48) having a RF module (50) for communicating with said user device (32) via radio frequencies and a wireline module (138) being connected to the Internet (36); and

a monitoring database (34) including identifications for a plurality of user devices (32) and user information associated with each of said user devices (32) including a list of contacts to be contacted in an emergency for each user of each user device (32).

37. A system as set forth in claim 36 wherein said user information includes at least one of user address, allergies, medical history information, medical treatment information, and medical prescription information.

38. A system as set forth in claim 36 wherein said user device (32) information includes at least one of warranty information, battery life, and error reports.

39. A system as set forth in claim 36 wherein said list of contacts includes a preferred method of contacting each of the contacts.

40. A system as set forth in claim 36 wherein said cradle (48) further comprises a device connector (146) to receive said user device (32) for charging said user device (32).

41. A system as set forth in claim 40 wherein said cradle (48) further comprises a secondary connector for receiving additional power supplies.

42. A system as set forth in claim 36 wherein said cradle (48) includes a modem (140) for connecting to the Internet (36) through a public switched telephone network.

43. A system as set forth in claim 36 wherein said cradle (48) includes a network card (142) for connecting to the Internet (36) through an Ethernet connection.