COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE, SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20110003601A1
• Filed: 09/12/2008
• Published: 01/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Concert Pharmaceuticals Inc., Redtail Technology, LLC
• Original Assignee: Redtail Technology, LLC
• Inventors: McLeod, Norman William, Coutts, Reginald Paul
• Granted Patent: US 8,811,934 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0415 detecting absence of activity per se
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0446 worn on the body to detect changes of posture, e.g. a fall, inclination, acceleration, gait
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/004 Alarm propagated along alternative communication path or using alternative communication medium according to a hierarchy of available ways to communicate, e.g. if Wi-Fi not available use GSM
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/005 Alarm destination chosen according to a hierarchy of available destinations, e.g. if hospital does not answer send to police station
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/006 Alarm destination chosen according to type of event, e.g. in case of fire phone the fire service, in case of medical emergency phone the ambulance
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems

Abstract

A system for communicating an alert message from a user to a recipient is disclosed. In one embodiment the system includes a communications network, a communication device, and a communications management system. The communications device is activatable by the user to transmit into the communications network a signal communicating identification information associated with the user. The communication management receives and processes the signal to establish a communications channel between the communications device and a communications service associated with a recipient. The communications service is selected according to the identification information. Method and devices for communicating an alert signal are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A system for communicating an alert message from a user to a recipient, including:

a wireless communications network;

a portable user device, to be worn or carried by the user, the device including a wireless transmitter that can be activated to transmit a communication signal into the wireless communications network; and

a communications management system for receiving the communication signal via at least the wireless communications network and thereafter establishing a communication link with a selected recipient via a communications service associated with the selected recipient to communicate the alert message;

wherein the communications management system selects the recipient according to configuration information provided to the communications management system prior to the transmission of the communication signal.

2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the communication link is for conveying the alert message to the recipient.

3. A system according to claim 1 wherein the communication link supports voice communication between the user and the recipient.

4. A system according to claim 1 wherein the wireless communications network includes one of:

a. a wide area wireless communications network;

or

b. a local area wireless communications network.

5. A system according to claim 1 further including additional communications networks for communicating the communication signal from the wireless communications network to the communications management system, the additional communications networks including one or more of:

a. a public switched telephone network (PSTN);

or

b. a packet based data communications network.

6. A system according to claim 1 wherein the portable user device includes a means for activating the transmitter to transmit the communication signal.

7. A system according to claim 1 wherein the portable user device includes a mobile phone.

8. A system according to claim 1 wherein portable user device includes memory for storing a preprogrammed text message and wherein on activation of the transmitter the communication signal contains that message.

9. A system according to claim 1 wherein the communication signal includes location information for identifying the location of the user and wherein the communications management system includes a processor for processing the location information so as to assemble an alert message containing the location information.

10. A system according to claim 9 wherein the communications management system includes means for identifying a communications service associated with the user based on the location information and wherein the generated alert message contains information that identifies that service.

11. A system according to claim 9 wherein the portable user device includes input means allowing the user to enter the location information into the device.

12. A system according to claim 9 wherein the portable user device includes means for switching the portable user device between a first mode and a second mode, wherein in the first mode, on activation of the transmitter, the communication signal contains location information that identifies the user as being located at a first location and in the second mode, on activation of the transmitter, the communication signal contains location information that identifies the user as not being located at the first location.

13. A system according to claim 12 wherein the means for switching includes a first switch operable by the user to switch the mode of the device between the first mode and the second mode.

14. A system according to claim 9 wherein the portable user device includes means for switching the device between plural modes, each mode configuring the portable user device so that, on activation of the transmitter, the communication signal contains information identifying a particular communications service corresponding to the mode.

15. A system according to claim 12 wherein the portable user device includes an indicator for indicating the mode of the portable user device to the user.

16. A system according to claim 1 wherein the portable user device includes a receiver for wirelessly receiving location information from a location information service.

17. A system according to claim 16 wherein the location information service includes one of:

a. a global positioning system (GPS) service;

or

b. a cellular network information service.

18. A system according to claim 1 wherein the portable user device further includes:

a. one or more sensing means, each sensing means for sensing a respective biometric parameter of the user; and

b. means for activating the transmitter to transmit the communication signal in response to one or more of the sensed biometric parameters having a value that is indicative of an alert condition.

19. A system according to claim 18 wherein the communication signal contains information identifying the alert condition.

20. A system according to claim 1 wherein the communications service associated with the recipient includes one of:

a. a PSTN service;

b. a public land mobile service;

c. a text messaging service;

d. a short message service (SMS); and

e. a packet based communications service.

21. A system according to claim 1 wherein the communications management system includes an interface for accepting the configuration information from the user or the recipient.

22. A system according to claim 21 wherein the interface includes a web-page.

23. A system according to claim 21 wherein the configuration information includes at least information that identifies one or more communications services associated with the recipient.

24. A system according to claim 20 wherein the configuration information further includes medical information, some or all of which is included in the alert message.)

25. A system according to claim 1 wherein the alert message includes information derived from the communication signal.

26. A system according to claim 1 wherein the alert message includes information obtained from the communications management system.

27. A system according to claim 1 wherein the communications link is established as a communications channel that includes the communications management system, the portable user device and a recipient communications device associated with the selected recipient'"'"'s communications service.

28. A system according to claim 27 wherein in response to a predetermined activation of the recipient communications device, the communications management system establishes a communications link with a third-party associated with the predetermined activation.

29. A system according to claim 28 further including a database containing information associating one or more predetermined activations with respective third-party communications services.

32. A system according to claim 1 wherein communications management system includes means for assembling the alert message according to the configuration information.

30. (canceled)

31. A system for communicating an alert message from a user to a recipient, including:

a wireless communications network;

a portable user device, to be worn or carried by the user, the device including a wireless transmitter that can be activated to transmit a communication signal into the wireless communications network; and

a communications management system for receiving the communication signal via at least the wireless communications network and thereafter establishing a communication link with a selected communications service to communicate the alert message;

wherein the communications management system selects the communications service according to configuration information provided to the communications management system prior to the transmission of the communication signal.

63. A system according to claim 31 wherein the communications management system includes means for assembling the alert message according to the configuration information.

33. (canceled)

34. A method of communicating an alert message from a user to a recipient, including:

a user activating a portable user device to transmit a communication signal into a wireless communications network; and

a communications management system receiving the communication signal via at least the wireless communications network and thereafter establishing a communications channel with a recipient selected by the communications management system via a communications service associated with that recipient to communicate the alert message;

wherein the communications management system selects the recipient or a communications service associated with the recipient, according to configuration information provided to the communications management system prior to the transmission of the communication signal.

35. A system for communicating an alert message from a user to a recipient, the system including:

a communications network;

a communication device which is activatable by the user to transmit into the communications network a signal communicating identification information associated with the user; and

a communications management system for receiving and processing the signal to establish a communications channel between the communications device and a communications service associated with the recipient, the communications service being selected according to the identification information, being the communications channel for communicating the alert message.

36. A system according to claim 35 wherein the communication network includes a voice communications network.

37. A system according to claim 36 wherein the communications channel includes a telephone communications channel.

38. A system according to claim 37 wherein the communication device is preprogrammed to call a predetermined telephone number associated with the communications management system so that, when activated by the user, the communication device calls the predetermined telephone number.

39. A system according to claim 35 further including a first database storing a data structure defining, for one or more users, associations between the identification information associated with each user and a respective first set of communications services, wherein each communications service is associated with a recipient.

40. A system according to claim 39 wherein the selected communications service is selected from the first set of communications services according to predefined rules.

41. A system according to claim 40 wherein the predefined rules are configurable via a web-portal.

42. A system according to claim 39 wherein the selected communications service is selected from the first set of communications services according to a predefined sequence.

43. A system according to claim 42 wherein the predefined sequence is configurable via a web-portal.

44. A system according to claim 39 wherein, in response to receiving the signal communicating identification information, the communications management system:

processes the identification information to select at least one other of the communications services of the first set of communications services associated with the identification information; and

communicates a preprogrammed message using the at least one other selected communications service to notify a recipient that the communication device has been activated.

45. A system according to claim 39 wherein the data structure includes, for each communications service in each first set of communications services, attributes which specify the status or availability of the communications service to receive the alert message, and wherein the selection of the communications service from a first set depends on the attributes.

46. A system according to claim 45 wherein the attributes are configurable via a web-portal.

47. A system according to claim 35 wherein the communications management system further includes signal detecting means for detecting, after the communications channel has been established, a further communication signal on the communication channel, the further communication signal containing signaling information for decoding by the communication system manager, the further communication signal being activated by the user or the recipient.

48. A system according to claim 47 wherein the communication channel includes a telephone channel and the further communication signal includes a DTMF tone.

49. A system according to claim 47 wherein the signaling information includes information which is decodable by the communications management system as a request to extend the communication channel to a third party.

50. A system according to claim 49 wherein in response to detecting signaling information requesting that the communications channel be extended to include a third party, the communications management system:

processes the signaling information to select a communications service associated with the third party; and

extends the communications channel to include the communications service associated with the third party.

51. A system according to claim 39 further including a database storing a data structure defining, for one or more users, associations between signaling information and plural communications services, wherein each communications service is associated with a recipient and wherein selecting a communications service associated with the third party includes indexing the received signaling information into the database to identify the associated communications service.

52. A system according to claim 51 wherein the database is the same database as the first database.

53. A system according to claim 49 wherein the extension of the communications channel occurs without disrupting the communication link between the communication device and the selected communications service associated with the recipient.

54. A system according to claim 47 wherein the signaling information includes information which is decodable by the communications management system as a request to communicate a prerecorded message to one or more communications services associated with other recipients.

55. A system according to claim 54 wherein the prerecorded message includes a prerecorded text message.

64. A system according to claim 50 further including a database storing a data structure defining, for one or more users, associations between signaling information and plural communications services, wherein each communications service is associated with a recipient and wherein selecting a communications service associated with the third party includes indexing the received signaling information into the database to identify the associated communications service.

56. A system for communicating an alert message from a user to a recipient, the system including:

a communications network;

a communication device which is activatable by the user to transmit into the communications network a signal communicating identification information associated with the user; and

a communications management system including;

a communications network interface for receiving the signal via the communications network;

a communications controller for processing received identification information to select a first communications service, the first communications service being associated with the recipient, and establishing a communications channel between the communications device and the first communications service, being the communications channel for communicating the alert message; and

a signal detecting means for detecting, after the communications channel has been established, a further communication signal containing signaling information, wherein the signaling information includes information which is decodable by the communications management system as a request to extend the communication channel to a second communications service, the second communications service being associated with another recipient;

wherein in response to detecting the further communication signal, the communications management system processes the signaling information to select the second communications service and extends the communications channel to include the second communications service without disrupting the communication link between the communication device and the first communications service.

57. A communications management system for handling an alert message for communication from a user to a recipient, the communications management system including:

a communications network interface for interfacing with a communications network, the interface for receiving a signal transmitted into the communications network by a communications device activated by the user, the signal communicating identification information associated with the user;

a communications controller for processing received identification information to select a communications service associated with the recipient and establishing a communications channel with the selected recipient communications service to communicate the alert message.

58. A communications management system for handling an alert message for communication from a user to a recipient, the communications management system including:

a communications network interface for receiving a signal via a communication network, the signal being transmitted into the communications network by a communication device activated by the user, the signal communicating identification information associated with the user;

a communications controller for;

processing received identification information to select a first communications service, the first communications service being associated with the recipient; and

establishing a communications channel between the communications device and the first communications service, being the communications channel for communicating the alert message; and

a signal detecting means for detecting, after the communications channel has been established, a further communication signal containing signaling information, wherein the signaling information includes information which is decodable by the communications management system as a request to extend the communication channel to a second communications service, the second communications service being associated with another recipient;

wherein in response to detecting the further communication signal, the communications controller processes the signaling information to select the second communications service and the communications controller extends the communications channel to include the second communications service without disrupting the communication link between the communication device and the first communications service.

59. A method of communicating an alert message from a user to a recipient, the method including:

the user activating a user device to transmit into a communications network a signal communicating identification information associated with the user; and

receiving and processing the signal to establish a communications channel between the user device and a recipient communications service associated with the recipient, the recipient communications service being selected according to a predefined association between the identification information and one or more recipient communications services, being the communications channel for communicating the alert message.

60. A method of activating a three way communications channel in response to communication of an alert message from a user to a recipient, the method including:

activating a user device to transmit into a communications network a signal communicating identification information associated with the user;

receiving and processing the signal to establish a communications channel between the user device and a first recipient communications service associated with the recipient, being the communications channel for communicating the alert message;

generating on the communications channel a further signal containing signaling information requesting that the communications channel be extended to a second recipient communications service associated with a second recipient;

decoding the signaling information to select the second recipient communications service having a predefined association with the identification information; and

extending the communications channel to include the second recipient communications service without disrupting the communication link between the user device and the first recipient communications service.

61. (canceled)

62. (canceled)