ALARM APPARATUS

• US 20100277314A1
• Filed: 11/06/2008
• Published: 11/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Gabriel Bradley
• Original Assignee: Gabriel Bradley
• Inventors: Bradley, Gabriel
• Application Number:
  US12/742,115
• Publication Number:
  US 20100277314A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/540
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 1/10 together with the recording, indicating or registering of other data, e.g. of signs of identity

Abstract

An apparatus (1) for use in a multi user environment for alerting people of a predefined schedule of tasks to be undertaken. The apparatus (1) comprises a clock (2), a memory (3) for storing a schedule of alarm times and an arrangement (4) for comparing a current clock time against the schedule of alarm times. The apparatus (1) also has an arrangement (5) for generating an alarm signal when the current clock time corresponds to one of the alarm times. An alarm output arrangement (1, 121, 22) is provided for raising an alarm and an identification member (8, 21) is provided for identifying a user and deactivating the alarm.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use in a multi user environment for alerting people of a predefined schedule of tasks to be undertaken, the apparatus comprising:

clock means;

memory means for storing a schedule of alarm times;

means for comparing a current clock time against the schedule of alarm times;

means for generating an alarm signal when the current clock time corresponds to one of the alarm times; and

alarm output means for raising an alarm and identification means for identifying a user and deactivating the alarm.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a database of unique user ids is stored on the memory means.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for receiving user id information from the identification means.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for interpreting user id information from the identification means.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, further comprising means for comparing user id information from the identification means with user id information stored in the database.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 5, further comprising means for generating a user id authentication signal in response to the user id comparing means generating a match between user id information from the identification means and the user ids stored in the database.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 6, further comprising means for deactivating the alarm signal in response to a user id authentication signal being generated.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising input means for programming the predefined schedule of tasks/alarms.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the input means further comprises at least one button.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the input means further comprises a touch sensitive screen.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the identification means is provided by a biometric sensor.

12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the identification means is provided by a finger print recognition biometric sensor.

13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the database has a plurality of unique biometric signatures corresponding to staff members stored on the memory means.

14. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the user id of the person deactivating the alarm is logged in the memory means of the apparatus.

15. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for generating the alarm signal has an override function.

16. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the alarm output means comprises visual, audible or tactile output means.

17. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the clock means, the memory means, the time comparing means and the alarm signal generating means are provided by a microcontroller being operably coupled to the alarm output means and the identification means.

18. An apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein a control program is stored on the memory means of the microcontroller.

19. An apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein the control program provides comparator means for comparing live user id information from the identification means with user id information stored in the database.

20. An apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein the control program provides means for generating a user id authentication signal in response to the comparator means generating a match between live user id information from the identification means and the user ids stored in the database.

21. An apparatus as claimed in claim 18, wherein the control program is in operable communication with a graphical user interface for programming the schedule of tasks.

22. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the apparatus has communication means allowing remote access.

23. (canceled)