MODULAR PROGRAMMABLE SAFETY DEVICE

• US 20090278681A1
• Filed: 05/08/2008
• Published: 11/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Health Hero Network Incorporated (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Health Hero Network Incorporated (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Inventors: Brown, Stephen J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,821,392 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/539.220
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 19/005 combined burglary and fire alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 9/00 Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections

Abstract

A modular programmable safety device and system coupled with multiple sensors. The device has a memory unit to store the data modules, which can be synthesized into speech and a microprocessor-based speech module, which is connected to the memory and to a transceiver. A remote server computer is connected to the programmable device through a wireless communication system and is provided with a database to store digital data modules and scripts that are either input by a user or downloaded from a third party content provider. Software is operated on the remote server computer to provide the third party contents and the scripts. The device has an external sensor port which is coupled with multiple sensors. The safety device senses a variety of safety parameters programmable with rule sets to communicate with a parent or service provider automatically.

Claims

1. A modular programmable safety device comprising:

at least one sensor adapted to sense a plurality of environmental parameters;

a memory unit adapted to store programmable data associated with environmental parameters;

a wireless communication system adapted to communicate wireless signals comprising computer-executable instructions related to the sensed plurality of environmental parameters;

a microprocessor adapted to (i) compare said sensed plurality of environmental parameters with said programmable data and said computer-executable instructions, (ii) generate processed data based on the comparisons, and (iii) convert said processed data into audio signals; and

a speaker adapted to transmit said audio signals.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least one environmental parameters comprises heat, smoke, air quality, humidity, mechanical vibrations, movement, and location.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least one sensor comprises any of a location sensor, a motion sensor, an electrical power detection sensor, a clock, a date sensor, a video sensor, a carbon monoxide sensor, a smoke sensor, a heat sensor, an audio sensor, a sensor adapted to sense a proximity of objects, and a sensor adapted to be programmed for a user-specified use.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least one sensor, said memory unit, said wireless communication system, said microprocessor, and said speaker are connected to a toy.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said computer-executable instructions are adapted to be accessed from a monitor remotely located from said memory unit.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said programmable data is adapted to be programmed from a server computer remotely located from said memory unit.

7. A monitoring system comprising:

a server computer adapted to generate programmable data associated with environmental parameters; and

a modular programmable safety device in wireless communication with said server computer, wherein said modular programmable safety device comprises;

at least one sensor adapted to sense a plurality of environmental parameters;

a wireless communication system adapted to (i) receive said programmable data, and (ii) communicate wireless signals comprising computer-executable instructions related to the sensed plurality of environmental parameters;

a memory unit adapted to store the received programmable data;

a microprocessor adapted to (i) compare said sensed plurality of environmental parameters with said programmable data and said computer-executable instructions, (ii) generate processed data based on the comparisons, and (iii) convert said processed data into audio signals; and

a speaker adapted to transmit said audio signals.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said at least one environmental parameters comprises heat, smoke, air quality, humidity, mechanical vibrations, movement, and location.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein said at least one sensor comprises any of a location sensor, a motion sensor, an electrical power detection sensor, a clock, a date sensor, a video sensor, a carbon monoxide sensor, a smoke sensor, a heat sensor, an audio sensor, a sensor adapted to sense a proximity of objects, and a sensor adapted to be programmed for a user-specified use.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein said modular programmable safety device comprises a toy.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein said modular programmable safety device is connected to a toy.

12. The system of claim 7, further comprising a monitor remotely located from said modular programmable safety device, wherein monitor is adapted to access said computer-executable instructions.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said monitor comprises any of a personal computer and mobile communication device.

14. A method of monitoring an environment, said method comprising:

generating programmable data associated with environmental parameters;

storing said programmable data in a modular programmable safety device, wherein said modular programmable safety device;

sensing a plurality of environmental parameters using at least one sensor;

communicating wireless signals comprising computer-executable instructions related to the sensed plurality of environmental parameters;

comparing said sensed plurality of environmental parameters with said programmable data and said computer-executable instructions;

generating processed data based on the comparisons;

converting said processed data into audio signals; and

audibly transmitting said audio signals.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said at least one environmental parameters comprises heat, smoke, air quality, humidity, mechanical vibrations, movement, and location.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein said at least one sensor comprises any of a location sensor, a motion sensor, an electrical power detection sensor, a clock, a date sensor, a video sensor, a carbon monoxide sensor, a smoke sensor, a heat sensor, an audio sensor, a sensor adapted to sense a proximity of objects, and a sensor adapted to be programmed for a user-specified use.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein said modular programmable safety device comprises a toy.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising connecting said modular programmable safety device to a toy.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising accessing said computer-executable instructions at a monitor remotely located from said modular programmable safety device.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said monitor comprises any of a personal computer and mobile communication device.