Panic Device With Local Alarm And Distal Signaling Capability

• US 20090021370A1
• Filed: 07/15/2008
• Published: 01/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Global Life-Line, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Global Life-Line, Inc.
• Inventors: Fish, Robert D., Eisenman, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 9,142,109 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.130
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 5/001 Switches therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2325/205 Mobile phones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/1003 Alarm systems characterised by arm or disarm features
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/22 using mechanical identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/241 whereby access privileges are related to the identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 25/33 of global position, e.g. by providing GPS coordinates
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/00944 Details of construction or manufacture
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 1/00 Systems for signalling characterised solely by the form of transmission of the signal
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/22 Electrical actuation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/028 Communication between parent and child units via remote transmission means, e.g. satellite network
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0288 Attachment of child unit to child/article
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/014 Alarm signalling to a central station with two-way communication, e.g. with signalling back
• 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: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/00 Arrangements for detecting or preventing errors in the information received correcting synchronisation H04L7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/00 Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor

Abstract

A panic device operable in conjunction with a local device is configured to unlock a locking mechanism. The panic device can take the form of an electronic key fob, a key shaft, or a key holder. A first trigger on the panic device triggers a local alarm that is on-board or off-board the panic device. A second trigger on the panic device can activate an alarm circuitry that utilizes a local device to provide position information to a distant dispatch station. The local device uses a GPS-aware circuitry or other non-GPS means such as triangulation to determine the position information. The position information can then be sent to the distant dispatch station with or without the aid of the local device.

Claims

1. A panic device configured to facilitate entry into a physical space where entry is limited by a locking mechanism, the panic device comprising:

at least one of (a) electronics operable to unlock the locking mechanism, (b) a key shaft operable to unlock the locking mechanism, and (c) a holder sized and dimensioned to receive a physical key that is operable to unlock the locking mechanism;

a first trigger that triggers a local alarm;

an alarm circuitry that operates to provide position information to a distant dispatch station, without necessarily passing the position information through a satellite, and

a second trigger that activates the alarm circuitry.

2. The panic device of claim 1, wherein the holder comprises a cavity that receives at least an end of the physical key.

3. The panic device of claim 1, wherein the holder comprises a wire sized and dimensioned to be inserted into a carrying hole of the physical key.

4. The panic device of claim 1, wherein the first trigger is configured to activate a car alarm.

5. The panic device of claim 1, further comprising a functionality that utilizes a local device external to the panic device to determine the position information.

6. The panic device of claim 5, further comprising a functionality that utilizes a local device external to the panic device to transmit the signal to the dispatch station.

7. The panic device of claim 1, further comprising a functionality that utilizes a local device external to the panic device to transmit the signal to the dispatch station.

8. The panic device of claim 1, wherein the second trigger comprises circuitry that recognizes a voice command.

9. The panic device of claim 1, further comprising a speaker housed within the holder.

10. The panic device of claim 1, wherein the electronics is a key fob.

11. A method comprising using the panic device of claim 1 in conjunction with a GPS-aware circuitry in a local device, external to the panic device, to determine the position information.

12. A method comprising using the panic device of claim 1 in conjunction with a local device external to the panic device to determine the position information, wherein the local device has no GPS-aware circuitry.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining the position information by triangulation of cell phone signals emitted by the local device.

14. A method comprising using the panic device of claim 1 in conjunction with a local device external to the panic device to transmit the signal to the dispatch station over a cellular network.

15. A method comprising the panic device of claim 14, wherein the signal includes the position information.