Emergency information facsimile transmitter

• US 5,343,509 A
• Filed: 08/30/1991
• Issued: 08/30/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gregory F. Dounies
• Original Assignee: Gregory F. Dounies
• Inventors: Dounies, Gregory F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Levy, Stuart S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): EVANS, JEFFERSON A
• Application Number:
  US07/753,384
• Time in Patent Office: 1,096 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67-70, 379/58, 379/84, 379/88, 379/40, 379/41, 379/42, 379/43, 379/44
• US Class Current: 379/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00281 with a telecommunication apparatus, e.g. a switched network of teleprinters for the distribution of text-based information, a selective call terminal details of transmission H04N1/00095; establishing a communication with one of a facsimile machine or another apparatus sharing a single line H04N1/32704; interfacing cordless telephone terminals with an accessory to increase the functionality of user interface H04M1/72409
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32037 Automation of particular transmitter jobs, e.g. multi-address calling, auto-dialing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32058 Abbreviated dialing, e.g. one-touch dialing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32363 at the transmitter or at the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32368 Functions of a still picture terminal memory associated with transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32379 Functions of a still picture terminal memory associated with reception
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 11/04 using pulse code modulation H04N11/24 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2201/0063 Constructional details

Abstract

An emergency message is communicated from a remote location to an emergency service facility. An emergency message is fed, preferably in graphic format, to a facsimile machine at a remote location. The facsimile machine has an output at which the message appears as an electrical signal. The output of the facsimile machine is coupled to external memory means at the remote location to store the message in the memory means in the form of the electrical signal. A telephone number for the emergency service facility is also stored in the memory means. A receiving facsimile is connected to the telephone system at the emergency service facility. The telephone number stored in the memory means is dialed up responsive to a user command. The message stored in the memory means is transmitted over the telephone system to the receiving facsimile after dial up.

Claims

1. An emergency data telephone apparatus for transmitting in conventional facsimile transmission format previously stored emergency information to a corresponding previously designated emergency service, said apparatus comprising:

a plurality of manually operated switches each corresponding to a different type of emergency;

first correlation means for correlating each of said switches with a respective emergency number;

second correlation means for correlating each said switches with respective emergency data;

an autodialer;

a memory for storing said respective emergency data in facsimile message format;

an autodialer responsive to an activated one of said switches for establishing a telephone connection to at least one said respective emergency number correlated with said activated switch;

a facsimile data transmitter responsive to said activated switch, to said autodialer, to said second means and to said memory for transmitting the particular emergency data correlated with said activated switch after said autodialer has established said telephone connection;

means for sensing the end of transmission of the particular emergency data;

a digital camera and flash unit for recording into said memory a contemporary visible condition or event as part of said emergency data;

a voice transmit and receive circuit; and

transfer means responsive to said sensing means for connecting said voice transmit and receive circuit to said telephone connection after said respective emergency information has been transmitted to said emergency number.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said visible condition or event is a image of the person activating the transmitter.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a function selector for placing the apparatus in a selected one of a plurality of user modes.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising a display for appraising a user of the current mode, status and configuration of the emergency data apparatus.

5. An emergency data telephone apparatus for transmitting in conventional facsimile transmission format previously stored emergency information to a corresponding previously designated emergency service, said apparatus comprising:

a plurality of manually operated switches, said plurality of switches further comprising a main alarm activation switch and at least one emergency specific switch;

first correlation means for correlating each of said switches with a particular emergency service;

second correlation means for correlating each of aid switches with a particular type of emergency;

an autodialer;

a first memory for storing telephone connection data for each said particular emergency service;

a second memory for storing emergency information data in facsimile message format for each said type of emergency, said second memory further comprising a plurality of removable solid state memories for storing digital facsimile representations of relevant data in separate addressable locations;

an autodialer responsive to an activated on of said switches, to said first means and to said first memory for establishing a telephone connection to at least one said particular emergency service correlated with said activated switch, said autodialer further comprising;

a user keypad and

a telephone dialer circuit responsive to said keypad for accepting a digital representation of a first sequence of activations of individual keys of said keypad and storing said digital representation in a location of said first memory designated by a second sequence of one or more keys of said keypad;

a facsimile data transmitter responsive to said activated switch, to said autodialer, to said second means and to said second memory for transmitting the particular emergency information data correlated with said activated switch after said autodialer has established said telephone connection;

a voice transmit and receive circuit;

transfer means responsive to said facsimile data transmitter for connecting said voice transmit and receive circuit to said telephone connection after said particular emergency information has been transmitted to said particular emergency service;

a fax controller circuit for receiving and storing facsimile data from an external facsimile transmitter;

a function selector for placing the apparatus in a selected one of a plurality of user modes;

a digital camera and flash unit for recording into an associated memory a contemporary visible condition or event; and

a display for appraising a user of the current mode, status and configuration of the emergency data apparatus.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said visible condition or event is an image of the person activating the transmitter.