METHOD OF ACTIVATING A SUPPLEMENTAL VISUAL WARNING SIGNAL BASED ON FREQUENCY EMITTED FROM A GENERATOR OF A PRIMARY AUDIBLE WARNING SIGNAL

• US 20100102938A1
• Filed: 10/24/2008
• Published: 04/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kelley, Edward E., Delia, David J., Delia, Wayne M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,866,599 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/326
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 1/002 adapted to accommodate electronic equipment patients' garments for medical monitoring A41D13/1281; luminous ornaments A41D27/085
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0027 visually handicapped
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0627 when used improperly, e.g. by giving a warning
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0655 Tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0616 Means for conducting or scheduling competition, league, tournaments or rankings
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0619 Displays, user interfaces and indicating devices, specially adapted for sport equipment, e.g. display mounted on treadmills
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/06 using electric transmission , e.g. involving audible and visible signalling through the use of sound and light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/38 Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/001 Synchronization between nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA

Abstract

A system and method for signaling users including a control device electrically connected to a transceiver. The transceiver has a specified frequency. A first mobile signal device being activated by a first user and electrically communicating with a first transmitter having a selectable signal frequency. The first transmitter electrically communicates with the transceiver using the specified frequency. A second signal device includes a second receiver for receiving an activation signal from the transceiver. The second receiver electrically communicates with the transceiver using the specified frequency. The second signal device is activated by the activation of the first mobile signal device using the transceiver for alerting other persons.

Claims

1. A system for signaling users, comprising:

a control device;

a transceiver electrically communicating with the control device, the transceiver having a specified frequency;

a first mobile signal device being activated by a first user to indicate a predetermined event, the first mobile device electrically communicating with a first transmitter having a selectable signal frequency, the first transmitter electrically communicating with the transceiver using the specified frequency;

a second signal device including a second receiver for receiving an activation signal from the transceiver, the second receiver electrically communicating with the transceiver using the specified frequency being selected by the control device, the second signal device being activated by the activation of the first mobile signal device using the transceiver for alerting another user.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first signal device belongs to a first group of devices generating sensory stimulation of the user, and the second signal device belongs to a second group of devices generating sensory stimulation of the another user.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first group includes first devices generating audible alerts.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the second group includes second devices generating visual alerts.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the first group includes first devices generating audible signals, and the system further includes an audible device being selected from the first group comprising:

a whistle, a horn, and an alarm claxon.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the second group includes second devices generating visual alerts, and the system further comprising a visual device being selected from the second group comprising:

a flashing light and a strobe light.

7. The system of claim 2, further including a third signal device being activated by the activation of the first mobile signal device, and the third signal device being part of a third group of devices generating stimulation to a user.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the stimulation is a vibration.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the third signal device is part of an article of clothing and the signal device generates a vibration to the user.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the third signal device is a vibrating device.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the first signal device is battery powered.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the second signal device is mobile.

13. The system of claim 1, further including a plurality of defined areas wherein each area includes a transceiver having a specified frequency, each of the defined areas include a first signal device including a switchable frequency transmitter having the specified frequency matching the specified frequency of the respective transceiver and at least one second signal device having the specified frequency matching the specified frequency of the transceiver.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the first mobile signal device and the transmitter, the transmitter and the transceiver, and the transceiver and the second signal device communicate wirelessly.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the second signal device is activated for a predeterminable time interval.

16. A method of systematically signaling users, comprising:

providing a control device;

providing a transceiver electrically communicating with the control device, the transceiver having a specified frequency;

activating a first mobile signal device to indicate a predetermined event, the first mobile device electrically communicating with a first transmitter;

selecting a signal frequency for the first transmitter, and the first transmitter electrically communicating with the transceiver using the specified frequency;

providing a second signal device including a second receiver;

selecting the specified frequency for the second receiver;

receiving an activation signal from the transceiver, the second receiver electrically communicating with the transceiver using the specified frequency being selected by the control device; and

activating a second signal using the second signal device for alerting users when the first mobile signal device is activated.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

generating audible alerts using the first signal device, and the first signal device being from a first group.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

generating visual alerts using the second signal device, and the second signal device being from a second group.

19. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

activating a third signal device when the first mobile signal device is activated, and the third signal device being part of a third group of devices generating stimulation to a user including vibration.

20. A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having a computer program recorded thereon, the computer program being executed by a processor in a computer system for systematically signaling users, the computer program performing the steps of:

determining a specified frequency for a first transmitter of a first mobile signal device indicating a predetermined event;

selecting the specified frequency for a transceiver communicating with the first transmitter, and the transceiver electrically communicating with a control device which includes the computer program; and

selecting the specified frequency for a second receiver of a second signal device, the second receiver receiving an activation signal from the transceiver, and the second signal device being activated for alerting users when the first mobile signal device is activated.