Closed-loop emergency alarm and response system

• US 4,064,368 A
• Filed: 06/07/1976
• Issued: 12/20/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/1976
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lifeline Systems Company (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Lifeline Systems Company (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Dibner, Andrew S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Claffy, Kathleen H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Popek, Joseph A.
• Application Number:
  US05/693,296
• Time in Patent Office: 561 Days
• Field of Search: 179/5 R, 179/5 P, 179/2 A, 179/2 TC, 179/27 FF, 179/27 DB, 58/152 T
• US Class Current: 379/38
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems

Abstract

A closed-loop system for monitoring the condition of a person in a residence. A digital dialer-transceiver at the residence is connected to a telephone line and may be triggered by an emergency button or the running out of a timer. It transmits identification and alarm codes to a compatible digital transceiver at a central station and at the same time emits an alarm signal at the residence. The central station digital receiving unit acknowledges the communication, means being provided in response to this acknowledgement for changing the "alarm" signal at the residence to a "call received" signal. The central station operator calls emergency responders previously recruited for that residence. The responder arriving at the residence presses a reset button on the unit which transmits an "all clear" signal to the central station and changes the "call receive" mode of the residence signal to an "all clear" mode. The central station acknowledges the "all clear" signal to the residence and in response thereto, dialing of the transceiver at the residence is discontinued.

Claims

1. A closed-loop emergency alarm and response system comprising a first transceiver located at a residence, a compatible second transceiver at a central station, means at the residence for activating said first transceiver to send an alarm signal to said second transceiver, means at said second transceiver for sending a first "acknowledge" signal to the first transceiver after receipt of said alarm signal, indicating means at the residence having a "call received" made for indicating receipt of said "acknowledge" signal, signal means at the central station for facilitating the dispatch of emergency help to the residence after the sending of said first "acknowledge" signal, means at the residence operable by a person who has arrived at the residence in response to said dispatch from the central station to cause said residence transceiver to send an "all clear" signal to the central station transceiver, means at the central station for causing a second acknowledgement signal to be sent to the residence transceiver after receipt of said "all clear" signal, and means at the residence transceiver responsive to the receipt of said second "acknowledgement" signal for terminating said sending of the "all clear" signal.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said indicating means at the residence has an "alarm" mode activatable simultaneously with sending the alarm signal to said second transceiver, and means responsive to receipt of said first "acknowledge" signal for discontinuing said "alarm" mode.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein said "call received" mode comprises a continuous "call received" signal, and means responsive to said person-operable means for discontinuing said "call received" signal.