CORDLESS TELEPHONE SYSTEM AND SAFETY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

• US 20140270096A1
• Filed: 03/11/2014
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd. (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Panasonic Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: ASHIZUKA, Tetsuya
• Granted Patent: US 9,008,281 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/38
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0222 Message structure or message content, e.g. message protocol
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/023 Power management, e.g. system sleep and wake up provisions
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0247 System arrangements wherein the alarm criteria uses signal strength
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0283 via a telephone network, e.g. cellular GSM

Abstract

Provided is a cordless telephone system including a base unit (100) connected to a telephone line and a handset (200) configured to transmit and receive radio waves to and from the base unit via wireless channel, wherein the handset includes a strength measurement unit (20) configured to measure a radio wave strength when the radio waves transmitted by the base unit are received by the handset, and a control unit (10) configured to measure a distance between the base unit and the handset based on a result of measurement performed by the strength measurement unit and to perform a prescribed safety management action when the distance becomes larger than a predetermined value.

Claims

1. A cordless telephone system, comprising:

a base unit connected to a telephone line; and

a handset configured to transmit and receive radio waves to and from the base unit via wireless channel,

wherein the handset comprises;

a strength measurement unit configured to measure a radio wave strength when the radio waves transmitted from the base unit are received by the handset; and

a control unit configured to measure a distance between the base unit and the handset based on a result of measurement performed by the strength measurement unit and to perform a prescribed safety management action when the distance becomes larger than a predetermined value.

2. The cordless telephone system according to claim 1, wherein:

the base unit and the handset perform transmission and reception based on time division multiple access; and

the control unit is configured to measure the distance based on a result of measurement performed by the strength measurement unit when control data transmitted from the base unit is received by the handset.

8. The cordless telephone system according to claim 1, wherein:

the handset further comprises a response button; and

the control unit is configured, in response to an operation of the response button, to make a phone call to the base unit.

10. The cordless telephone system according to claim 1, wherein the safety management action includes at least one of setting off an alarm sound, outputting a predetermined message, making a phone call to a predetermined party, and making notification via the wireless channel.

3. A cordless telephone system comprising a base unit, a first handset and a second handset, the base unit and the first handset being configured to transmit and receive radio waves to and from each other via wireless channel, and the base unit and the second handset being configured to transmit and receive radio waves to and from each other via wireless channel,

wherein the second handset comprises:

a strength measurement unit configured to measure a radio wave strength when the radio waves transmitted from the base unit are received by the second handset; and

a control unit configured to measure a distance between the base unit and the handset based on a result of measurement performed by the strength measurement unit and to perform a prescribed safety management action when the distance becomes larger than a predetermined value,

and wherein the prescribed safety management action includes transmission of a first notification to the base unit, and the base unit is configured, upon receipt of the first notification, to transmit a second notification to the first handset.

4. The cordless telephone system according to claim 3, wherein:

the base unit and the second handset perform transmission and reception based on time division multiple access; and

the control unit is configured to measure the distance based on a result of measurement performed by the strength measurement unit when control data transmitted from the base unit is received by the second handset.

9. The cordless telephone system according to claim 3, wherein:

the second handset further includes a response button; and

the control unit is configured, in response to an operation of the response button, to make a phone call to the base unit.

13. The cordless telephone system according to claim 3, wherein the safety management action includes at least one of setting off an alarm sound, outputting a predetermined message, making a phone call to a predetermined party, and making notification via the wireless channel.

5. A cordless telephone system comprising a base unit, a first handset and a second handset, the first handset and the second handset being configured to transmit and receive radio waves to and from each other via wireless channel,

wherein the second handset comprises:

a strength measurement unit configured to measure a radio wave strength when the radio waves transmitted from the first handset is received by the second handset; and

a control unit configured to measure a distance between the first handset and the second handset based on a result of measurement performed by the strength measurement unit and to perform a prescribed safety management action when the distance becomes larger than a predetermined value,

and wherein the prescribed safety management action includes transmission of a first notification to the first handset.

6. The cordless telephone system according to claim 5, wherein:

the base unit and the first handset are configured to transmit and receive radio waves to and from each other; and

the first handset transmits a second notification to the base unit upon receipt of the first notification from the control unit of the second handset.

7. The cordless telephone system according to claim 5, wherein:

the first handset and the second handset perform transmission and reception based on time division multiple access; and

the control unit is configured to measure the distance based on a result of measurement performed by the strength measurement unit when control data transmitted from the first handset is received by the second handset.

12. The cordless telephone system according to claim 5, wherein:

the second handset further includes a response button; and

the control unit is configured, in response to an operation of the response button, to make a phone call to the first handset.

14. The cordless telephone system according to claim 5, wherein the safety management action includes at least one of setting off an alarm sound, outputting a predetermined message, making a phone call to a predetermined party, and making notification via the wireless channel.

11. A safety management system, comprising:

a transmitting unit configured to emit radio waves; and

a receiving unit configured to be carried by a person who needs supervision and to receive the radio waves emitted by the transmitting unit,

wherein the receiving unit comprises;

a strength measurement unit configured to measure a strength of the received radio waves; and

a control unit configured to measure a distance between the transmitting unit and the receiving unit based on a result of measurement performed by the strength measurement unit and to perform a prescribed safety management action when the distance becomes larger than a predetermined value.