Apparatus for communicating receipt of transmitted messages

• US 4,162,449 A
• Filed: 04/14/1978
• Issued: 07/24/1979
• Est. Priority Date: 04/14/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bernard Bouyssounouse, Chantal Bouyssounouse
• Original Assignee: Bernard Bouyssounouse, Chantal Bouyssounouse
• Inventors: Bouyssounouse, Bernard, Bouyssounouse, Chantal
• Primary Examiner(s): Richardson, Robert L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ng, Jin F.
• Application Number:
  US05/896,314
• Time in Patent Office: 466 Days
• Field of Search: 325/4, 325/6, 325/55, 325/64, 325/311, 340/312, 340/313, 340/314, 340/539
• US Class Current: 455/521
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/014 Alarm signalling to a central station with two-way communication, e.g. with signalling back

Abstract

An apparatus is provided for communicating to a transmitter or sender of an emergency message a response indicating that the message was received. The apparatus operates in conjunction with a portable transceiver alarm unit carried by the sender, a continuous-loop magnetic tape recorder-player unit, and a local CB radio (i.e., a CB radio located within the range of the portable transceiver alarm unit). In response to a signal from the portable alarm unit, the apparatus activates the recorder-player causing it to play a pre-recorded emergency message and to apply this message, in the form of a message signal, to the local CB radio. The local CB radio transmits the message to a listener at a remote CB radio station. In response to a selected acknowledgement message received from a listener via the local CB radio, the apparatus detects the acknowledgement message and transmits a signal to the portable alarm unit indicating receipt by a listener of the emergency message. The apparatus includes a transceiver, a power supply unit, an interface unit, and a listening circuit.

Claims

1. In a communication system including a portable unit capable of transmitting and receiving signals, a player unit capable of playing a pre-recorded emergency message, and a CB radio capable of communicating with a listener at a remote CB radio station, an apparatus comprising:

transceiver means disposed for producing a second signal in response to receiving a first signal from the portable unit, and for transmitting to said portable unit, in response to a fourth signal, a fifth signal indicating receipt by the listener of the emergency message;

power supply means coupled to receive the second signal from the transceiver means and coupled to the CB radio for providing power and activating said radio;

interface means coupled to the power supply means, to the CB radio, and to the player unit for activating the player unit causing it to play the emergency message and the CB radio to transmit the message in response to power applied by the power supply means, for deactivating the player causing it to stop playing the emergency message and the CB radio to stop transmitting the message in response to a selected signal from the player unit, and for producing a third signal representing a reply received by the CB radio from the listener; and

listening circuit means coupled to receive the third signal from the interface means, and coupled to the transceiver and power supply means for applying the fourth signal to the transceiver means upon detecting a selected acknowledgement message in the listener'"'"'s reply indicating receipt by the listener of the transmitted emergency message.

2. The apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the power supply means is responsive to a signal from the listening circuit means causing the power supply means to conserve power by deactivating the interface means, the listening circuit means, the CB radio and the player unit upon detection by the listening circuit means of the selected acknowledgement message in the listener'"'"'s reply.

3. The apparatus as in claim 2 wherein the selected acknowledgement message is included in the pre-recorded emergency message.

4. The apparatus as in claim 3 wherein the emergency message is pre-recorded on a continuous loop magnetic tape.

5. The apparatus as in claim 4 wherein the selected signal from the player unit corresponds to a tone recorded over a portion of the length of the continuous loop, the emergency message occupying the remaining length.

6. The apparatus as in claim 5 wherein the portable unit is transportable by an individual and includes a transceiver and a motor with a shaft, the motor being coupled to the transceiver and having a flexible element fixedly attached to the shaft for imparting a brushing sensation to the individual.