System and method that provide emergency instructions

• US 20070139190A1
• Filed: 12/15/2005
• Published: 06/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Binforma Group Limited Liability Company (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide Incorporated (Kimberly-Clark Corporation)
• Inventors: Tanner, James, Zwick, Kenneth, Jorgenson, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 7,880,610 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.130
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/20 Checking timed patrols, e.g. of watchman
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system and method that provide emergency instructions to an individual. The emergency notification system includes a plurality of badges where each badge is adapted to be joined with an individual. The emergency notification system further includes a device that locates each badge and sends information to each badge during an emergency. The information includes emergency response instructions that are based on the location of each badge and the type of emergency. The present invention also relates to a method that includes providing individuals which are within a facility with a badge. The method further includes determining emergency response instructions when an emergency arises within the facility based on the location of each badge and the type of emergency, and then communicating the emergency response instructions to the badges to direct individuals wearing badges to an appropriate location.

Claims

1. An emergency notification system comprising:

a plurality of badges, each badge being adapted to be joined with an individual; and

a device that locates each badge and sends information to each badge during an emergency, the information including emergency response instructions based on the location of each badge and the type of emergency.

2. The emergency notification system of claim 1, wherein each badge includes information related to the identity of the individual wearing the badge so that the device is able to identify and locate individuals in an emergency.

3. The emergency notification system of claim 2, wherein each badge includes information related to a primary language of the individual wearing the badge so that the device is able to provide emergency response instructions to the individual in the primary language of the individual.

4. The emergency notification system of claim 1, wherein each badge includes a speaker such that each badge provides audible emergency response instructions to the individual wearing the badge.

5. The emergency notification system of claim 1, wherein each badge includes a display such that each badge provides visual emergency response instructions to the individual wearing the badge.

6. The emergency notification system of claim 1, wherein the badge includes an activation mechanism and a transmitter that sends signals to the device upon triggering the activation mechanism.

7. The emergency notification system of claim 1, wherein each of the badges and the device are part of a global positioning system.

8. The emergency notification system of claim 1, further comprising an alarm that notifies the individual of an emergency.

9. The emergency notification system of claim 1, wherein the device provides a badge with an alert when the individual wearing the badge is not traveling in an appropriate direction in response to the emergency.

10. The emergency notification system of claim 1, wherein the device provides rescue personnel with the location of any badges that are in an unsafe location.

11. A method of providing individuals within a facility with emergency response instructions, the method comprising:

providing individuals that are within the facility with a badge;

determining emergency response instructions when an emergency arises based on the location of each badge and the type of emergency; and

communicating the emergency response instructions to the badge to direct individuals wearing badges to an appropriate location.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein determining emergency response instructions includes monitoring a location of each badge.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein providing individuals with a badge includes obtaining information related to the identity of the individual that will wear the badge and associating the identity of the individual with the badge.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein obtaining information related to the identity of the individual includes obtaining information related to a primary language of the individual wearing the badge, and communicating the emergency response instructions to the badge includes communicating the emergency response instructions to the badge in the primary language of the individual.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein obtaining information related to the identity of the individual includes obtaining information related to the health of the individual wearing the badge.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising receiving a signal from the badge that indicates an emergency.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein receiving a signal from the badge includes triggering an activation mechanism on the badge.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein determining emergency response instructions includes locating each of the badges using a global positioning system.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising sounding an alarm at the facility to notify individuals within the facility of an emergency.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein determining emergency response instructions includes determining that a badge is not traveling in an appropriate direction in response to the emergency and providing corrective instructions to the badge.

21. The method of claim 11, further comprising sending the location of any individuals that remain in unsafe locations to rescue personnel.