AUDIO-BASED PRESENTATION SYSTEM

• US 20080040669A1
• Filed: 08/08/2006
• Published: 02/14/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Huseth, Steve D., Plocher, Thomas A., Rye, Jeffrey M., Heimerdinger, Walter
• Granted Patent: US 7,545,263 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/727
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/16 Sound input; Sound output speech processing G10L
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/00 Fire alarms; Alarms responsive to explosion
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 27/001 Signalling to an emergency team, e.g. firemen
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 15/26 Speech to text systems G10L15/08 takes precedence

Abstract

A system for providing audio-based information pertaining to a situation communicated to a first responder en route to the situation. The information may include real-time and current data of the on-going situation (e.g., a building fire). The information may be relayed to the first responder by a dispatch center, or other intermediary, or come directly from monitoring instrumentation at a location of the situation. Also, background and/or preplanned information about the location may be provided to the first responder via a handset or other device. The responder may request certain information via the handset or device in a vehicle en route with voice requests or button activation. Visual displays of information on the instrumentation may be converted to audio- or speech-based displays for the responder.

Claims

1. A first responder presentation system comprising:

an audio device;

an information panel connected to the audio device; and

wherein;

the panel comprises information relating to a situation requiring attention by a first responder; and

the first responder receives the information with the audio device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the visual part of the information is converted to an audio portion for transmission to the audio device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein a visual display on a panel is converted into an audio display for transmission to the audio device.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the audio display comprises a speech-based display.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising an intermediary mechanism connected to and between the audio device and the information panel for relaying transmissions between the audio device and the information panel.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the intermediary mechanism is a dispatch center.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the intermediary mechanism is a webserver.

8. A method for presenting information to a first responder en route, comprising:

attaining information relevant to a situation requiring a response;

converting the information into a speech-based format; and

transmitting the speech-based format to a first responder en route to the situation.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising attaining the information from instrumentation at a location proximate to the situation and from other sources.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the information comprises:

sensor data;

background;

preplanned data;

location data;

observations of person(s) proximate to the situation; and

/or

certain needs.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising responding to voice or code requests by the first responder for certain information and/or action.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein visual displays of information at the instrumentation are converted to audio-based displays of information for the first responder.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the transmitting the speech-based format is via internet, wire media, wireless media, with or without intermediary mechanisms, in the related art.

14. A system for providing an audio display to a first responder en route, comprising:

an information instrument proximate to a first location;

a converter connected to the information instrument; and

an audio communication device for a first responder connected to the converter; and

wherein the first location requires a presence of the first responder.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the converter is a visual-to-audio information converter.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the converter is for converting a visual display to a speech-based display.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein:

the audio communication device converts voice requests into electronic codes corresponding to the requests; and

the codes are transmitted to an appropriate place for responses to the voice requests.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein:

the audio communication device comprises a plurality of buttons; and

an activation of at least one button sends out a coded request corresponding to a request associated with the button.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the speech-based display is digitized.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the coded request is a dual-tone multi frequency signal.