System for transmitting emergency calls from persons requiring assistance

• US 4,467,142 A
• Filed: 09/13/1982
• Issued: 08/21/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/1981
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Licentia Patent-Verwaltungs-GmbH
• Original Assignee: Licentia Patent-Verwaltungs-GmbH
• Inventors: Lissner, Paul, Steimle, Josef, Weeber, Wolfgang, Rupp, Dieter
• Primary Examiner(s): Pellinen, A. D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): George, Keith E.
• Application Number:
  US06/417,369
• Time in Patent Office: 708 Days
• Field of Search: 179/2 A, 179/5 R, 179/5 P
• US Class Current: 379/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems

Abstract

A system for transmitting an emergency call from a person requiring assistance. The system includes an emergency calling device coupled via a telephone exchange system to an emergency call receiving center having an operator. The calling device automatically dials a predetermined emergency telephone number upon actuation of a sensor by the person requiring assistance for placing a call to the emergency center. A first data device is provided for transmitting predetermined emergency data by frequency keying in the voice band to the emergency center. An intercommunication set in the calling device establishes a voice connection between the person requiring assistance and the emergency center operator. The intercommunication set is switchable between states of voice transmission and voice reception. A first control unit in the calling device is responsive to a first operating mode control signal for switching in the first data device and switching out the intercommunication set, and is responsive to a second operating mode control signal for switching in the intercommunication set and switching out the first data device. In the emergency center a control unit controls the transmission of a control tone to the calling device. The control tone constitutes the first operating mode control signal and the lack of the control tone constituting the second operating mode control signal. A second data device in the emergency center selectively transmits voice direction control signals by frequency keying in the voice band for controlling the state of the intercommunication set in the calling device.

Claims

1. A system for transmitting an emergency call from a person requiring assistance, said system comprising an emergency calling device coupled via at least one subscriber line of a telephone exchange system to an emergency call receiving center having an operator,

said emergency calling device including:

automatic dialing means coupled to one such subscriber line and having an actuating sensor, said automatic dialing means automatically dialing a predetermined emergency telephone number upon actuation of said sensor by the person requiring assistance for placing a telephone call via the telephone exchange system to said emergency call receiving center;

first data means selectively connectable to the subscriber line for transmitting predetermined emergency data by frequency keying in the voice band via the telephone exchange system to said emergency call receiving center;

intercommunication means selectively connectable to the subscriber line for establishing a voice connection via the telephone exchange system between the person requiring assistance and the operator in said emergency call receiving center, said intercommunication means including first controllable switching means for switching between states of voice transmission and voice reception; and

first control means responsive to a first operating mode control signal transmitted via the telephone exchange system for connecting said first data means to the subscriber line and switching out said intercommunication means, and responsive to a second operating mode control signal transmitted via the telephone exchange system for connecting said intercommunication means to the subscriber line and switching out said first data means; and

said emergency call receiving center including;

means coupled to the telephone exchange system for receiving the call from said emergency calling device and establishing a connection via the telephone exchange system between said emergency calling device and said emergency call receiving center;

means for producing a control tone selectively connectable to the telephone exchange system;

second control means for controlling the transmission of said control tone via the telephone exchange system to said emergency calling device, said control tone constituting said first operating mode control signal, and the lack of said control tone constituting said second operating mode control signal; and

second data means selectively coupled to the telephone exchange system for selectively transmitting voice direction control signals by frequency keying in the voice band via the telephone exchange system to said emergency calling device for controlling the state of said switching means in said intercommunication means of said emergency calling device.

2. A system for transmitting an emergency call from a person requiring assistance, said system comprising an emergency calling device coupled via at least one subscriber line of a telephone exchange system to an emergency call receiving center having an operator,

said emergency calling device including:

automatic dialing means coupled to one such subscriber line and having an actuating sensor, said automatic dialing means automatically dialing a predetermined emergency telephone number upon actuation of said sensor by the person requiring assistance for placing a telephone call via the telephone exchange system to said emergency call receiving center;

first data means selectively connectable to the subscriber line for transmitting predetermined emergency data by frequency keying in the voice band via the telephone exchange system to said emergency call receiving center;

intercommunication means selectively connectable to the subscriber line for establishing a voice connection via the telephone exchange system between the person requiring assistance and the operator in said emergency call receiving center, said intercommunication means including first controllable switching means for switching between states of voice transmission and voice reception; and

first control means responsive to a first operating mode control signal transmitted via the telephone exchange system for connecting said first data means to the subscriber line and switching out said intercommunication means, and responsive to a second operating mode control signal transmitted via the telephone exchange system for connecting said intercommunication means to the subscriber line and switching out said first data means; and

said emergency call receiving center including;

means coupled to the telephone exchange system for receiving the call from said emergency calling device and establishing a connection via the telephone exchange system between said emergency calling device and said emergency call receiving center;

means for producing a control tone pulse selectively connectable to the telephone exchange system;

second control means for controlling the transmission of said control tone pulse via the telephone exchange system to said emergency calling device, said control tone pulse constituting said first operating mode control signal; and

second data means selectively connectable to the telephone exchange system for transmitting a pulse sequence and voice direction control signals by frequency keying in the voice band via the telephone exchange system to said emergency calling device, said pulse sequence constituting said second operating mode control signal and said voice direction control signals being selectively transmitted for controlling the state of said switching means in said intercommunication means of said emergency calling device.

3. A system for transmitting an emergency call from a person requiring assistance, said system comprising an emergency calling device coupled via at least one subscriber line of a telephone exchange system to an emergency call receiving center, having an operator,

said emergency calling device including:

automatic dialing means coupled to one such subscriber line and having an actuating sensor, said automatic dialing means automatically dialing a predetermined emergency telephone number upon actuation of said sensor by the person requiring assistance for placing a telephone call via the telephone exchange system to said emergency call receiving center;

first data means selectively connectable to the subscriber line for transmitting predetermined emergency data by frequency keying in the voice band via the telephone exchange system to said emergency call receiving center;

intercommunication means selectively connectable to the subscriber line for establishing a voice connection via the telephone exchange system between the person requiring assistance and the operator in said emergency call receiving center, said intercommunication means including first controllable switching means for switching between states of voice transmission and voice reception; and

first control means responsive to a first operating mode control signal transmitted via the telephone exchange system for connecting said first data means to the subscriber line and switching out said intercommunication means, and responsive to a second operating mode control signal transmitted via the telephone exchange system for connecting said intercommunication means to the subscriber line and switching out said first data means; and

said emergency call receiving center including;

means coupled to the telephone exchange system for receiving the call from said emergency calling device and establishing a connection via the telephone exchange system between said emergency calling device and said emergency call receiving center;

means selectively connectable to the telephone exchange system for producing first, second and third control tone pulses each having a different audio frequency;

second control means for selectively controlling the transmission to said emergency calling device via said telephone exchange system of a first combination of said first and second control tone pulses, and a second combination of said first and third control tone pulses, said first combination constituting said second operating mode control signal and said second combination constituting said first operating mode control signal; and

second data means selectively connectable to the telephone exchange system for selectively transmitting voice direction control signals by frequency keying in the voice band via the telephone exchange system to said emergency calling device for controlling the state of said switching means in said intercommunication means of said emergency calling device.