Combination alarm device with enhanced wireless notification and position location features

• US 20060265195A1
• Filed: 12/27/2005
• Published: 11/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jon A. Woodard, Noel U. Woodard
• Original Assignee: Jon A. Woodard, Noel U. Woodard
• Inventors: Woodard, Jon A., Woodard, Noel U.
• Granted Patent: US 7,567,174 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 702/188
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/10 Actuation by presence of smoke or gases , e.g. automatic alarm devices for analysing flowing fluid materials by the use of optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence

Abstract

A device and method for determining and automatically transmitting a geographic location of a wireless alarm device during a potential emergency utilizing enhanced wireless communication and position location systems. In one aspect, a wireless alarm device includes a smoke alarm interfaced with a wireless transceiver, configured to operate over a plurality of existing wireless telecommunications and position location networks. The wireless transceiver can be a cellular processor comprising multiple radio frequency bands and air interface standards with an integrated memory for storing emergency identification information. Another aspect includes an integrated assisted global positioning receiver and broadcast television receiver, configured to operate with global positioning systems and broadcast television positioning systems. In one mode of operation, upon sensing the presence of smoke, the wireless transceiver automatically transmits stored emergency identification information signals and a geographic location of the wireless alarm device to a dispatch center.

Claims

1. A wireless alarm device for detecting a hazardous condition, the device comprising:

a sensor for detecting a condition in a environment, wherein the condition is hazardous to a human being;

a alarm control circuit, in communication with the sensor, the control circuit configured to generate a alarm signal in response to the sensor detecting the condition;

a wireless transceiver having a integrated memory, the transceiver in communication with the control circuit, wherein the memory includes emergency identification information, and wherein the transceiver is configured to automatically and contemporaneously transmit emergency identification information to a dispatch center upon receiving the alarm signal;

wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to transmit a plurality of mobile telephone RF signals;

wherein the emergency identification information comprises at least a geographic location of the wireless alarm device.

2. The wireless alarm device of claim 1, wherein the condition is a threshold level of smoke hazardous to at least a human being.

3. The wireless alarm device of claim 2, wherein the condition further comprises:

a threshold level of carbon monoxide hazardous to at least one human being.

4. The wireless alarm device in claim 1, further comprising:

an assisted global positioning system receiver in communication with the wireless transceiver.

5. The wireless alarm device in claim 1, further comprising:

a broadcast television positioning system receiver in communication with the wireless transceiver.

6. The wireless alarm device in claim 1, wherein the emergency identification information further comprises encoding for non-service initialized operation.

7. The wireless alarm device of claim 1, further comprising:

a RF signal verification means for verifying a RF signal to at least the wireless transceiver.

8. The wireless alarm device of claim 1, further comprising:

a wireless network transceiver, wherein the network transceiver is configured to operate over a plurality of wireless network RF signal bands.

9. The wireless alarm device of claim 8, wherein the wireless network transceiver comprises a wireless internet protocol.

10. The wireless alarm device of claim 1, further comprising:

a disable means for temporarily disabling at least one function of the alarm control circuit.

11. The wireless alarm device of claim 1, further comprising:

a time delay means for delaying a transmission of the alarm signal from the alarm control circuit to the wireless transceiver.

12. The smoke alarm device of claim 1, further comprising:

a housing encompassing at least the sensor, the alarm control circuit, and the wireless transceiver.

13. The wireless alarm device of claim 1, wherein the alarm control circuit is coupled to a audible alarm that activates when signal is received from the sensor.

14. The wireless alarm device of claim 1, wherein the alarm control circuit is coupled to a visual alarm that activates when signal is received from the sensor.

15. The wireless alarm device of claim 1, wherein the environment comprises a building structure configured to be occupied by at least one human being.

16. The wireless alarm device of claim 1, further comprising:

a audio alarm signal receiver circuit, coupled to the alarm control circuit, wherein the receiver circuit is configured to store, receive, convert, and compare audio alarm signals from remotely located alarm devices and generate a activation signal.

17. A smoke alarm device comprising:

a smoke sensor to sense a threshold level of smoke;

an alarm control circuit in communication with the smoke sensor, the alarm control circuit configured to generate a signal in response to the smoke sensor sensing the threshold level of smoke;

a wireless transceiver having an integrated memory that includes an enhanced wireless 911 feature with emergency identification information, the transceiver coupled to the alarm control circuit to automatically transmit the emergency identification information to a dispatch center upon receiving the signal from the alarm control circuit;

a broadcast television positioning system receiver means for acquiring a geographic location, the receiver circuitry coupled to the wireless transceiver;

wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to transmit a plurality of mobile telephone RF signals;

wherein the emergency identification information includes the geographic location of the wireless transceiver.

18. The smoke alarm device of claim 17, wherein the wireless transceiver further comprises:

a plurality of mobile telephone air interface standards.

19. The smoke alarm device of claim 17, further comprising:

a carbon monoxide sensor to sense a threshold level of carbon monoxide.

20. A method for notifying a dispatch center of an emergency condition, the method comprising:

monitoring a environment for a threshold level of smoke hazardous to a human being;

sensing a threshold level of smoke with a smoke sensor;

activating an alarm with an alarm control circuit, the alarm control circuit in communication with the smoke sensor and configured to be activated upon the sensor sensing the threshold of smoke;

generating an alarm signal from the alarm control circuit;

verifying that the alarm is a emergency event, wherein a user may determine if the alarm is a false alarm and disable the alarm signal from the alarm control circuit;

receiving the signal with a wireless transceiver coupled to the alarm control circuit, the wireless transceiver having an integrated processor and a memory;

initiating a wireless 911 emergency call, wherein the processor includes instructions to automatically transmit an amount of emergency identification information stored in the memory;

transmitting the emergency identification information to a dispatch center, wherein the emergency identification information includes a geographic location of the wireless transceiver.