Emergency phone messaging system

• US 5,710,803 A
• Filed: 09/13/1996
• Issued: 01/20/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donna Kowal, Robert Kowal
• Original Assignee: Donna Kowal, Robert Kowal
• Inventors: Kowal, Robert, Kowal, Donna
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan, Wing F.
• Application Number:
  US08/713,591
• Time in Patent Office: 494 Days
• Field of Search: 379/37-51, 379/73
• US Class Current: 379/41
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems

Abstract

A system is provided for automatically dialing and sending out a pre-recorded message in emergency situations to Police, Fire, or Ambulance departments at the push of a single button. The system has separated lighted buttons each for Police, Fire, or Ambulance, with an individual message for each emergency situation. The buttons are color coded and the international symbols for Fire, Police, and Ambulance are embossed on them respectively. The system is capable of storing phone numbers for each emergency service, and has the ability to record and play back a personalized message designed to describe the services needed and the location at which the service is need.

Claims

1. An improved emergency phone messaging system for use with a standard, wire based phone system comprising:

a housing, said housing having at least one flat, accessible control panel surface;

plurality of recording and playback means for recording phone numbers and emergency voice messages, for storing said phone numbers and emergency voice messages, and for playing back said phone numbers and emergency voice messages;

a speaker in electrical communication with at least one said recording and playback means, for audibly testing and screening said emergency voice messages;

test engagement means for selectably testing said phone numbers and emergency voice messages;

a microphone in electrical communication with and for imparting said emergency voice messages into said recording and playback means;

control means for turning said emergency phone messaging system on or off;

a telephone connection port for connecting said recording and playback means to a standard touch-tone telephone;

plurality of emergency activation means, each for activating one said recording and playback means;

message selection means for selectably assigning said phone number and emergency voice message to individual said recording and playback means;

a recording/playback/monitoring control means for initiating said recording and playback means, for accepting phone number inputs, voice message inputs and controlling inputs, for playing back said phone numbers and messages, for requesting a dial tone, and for accepting a monitoring request from a message receiver, and interrupting playback of said emergency voice messages and initiating a monitoring function in response to such a monitoring request;

said recording/playback/monitoring means in communication with said recording and playback means, said speaker, said test engagement means, said microphone, said control means, said emergency activation means, said selection means, and a telephone control means; and

a telephone control means for controlling input from said recording and playback means, from said recording/playback/control circuit and from a telephone line, and for controlling output to said recording/playback/control circuit and to a telephone line.

2. The improved emergency phone messaging system described in claim 1, wherein each said recording and playback means comprises a complete microcassette mechanism, wherein said phone numbers are recorded onto a microcassette tape as well as emergency voice messages, and wherein said phone numbers and emergency voice messages are selectably played back onto a telephone line upon initiation of said emergency activation means.

3. The improved emergency phone messaging system described in claim 1, wherein each said recording and playback means comprises a complete solid state electronic recording mechanism, wherein said phone numbers are recorded onto an integrated circuit as well as emergency voice messages, and wherein said phone numbers and emergency voice messages are selectably played back onto a telephone line upon initiation of said emergency activation means.

4. The improved emergency phone messaging system described in claim 1, wherein said recording and playback means comprises a complete microcassette mechanism, wherein said phone numbers are recorded onto a microcassette tape as well as emergency voice messages.

5. The improved emergency phone messaging system described in claim 1, wherein said recording and playback means comprises a complete solid state recording mechanism, wherein said phone numbers are recorded into said solid state recording mechanism as well as emergency voice messages.

6. The improved emergency phone messaging system described in claim 1, wherein said test engagement means and said message selection means are combined, and comprising an operating selector switch, said operating selector switch allowing a user to select between four different operating modes as follows:

A. Record Telephone Number Mode;

B. Record Emergency Message Mode;

C. Test Message Mode; and

D. Operating Mode.

7. The improved emergency phone messaging system described in claim 1, wherein said plurality of emergency activation means comprises:

a first initiation push-button, mounted accessibly on said control panel surface, said first initiation push-button activating one said recording and playback means, and said first initiation push-button embossed with the universal symbol for "police";

a first light emitting diode, said first light emitting diode being activated in a flashing manner upon both engagement of said first initiation push-button and achievement of an active connection by said telephone connection port;

a second initiation push-button, mounted accessibly on said control panel surface, said second initiation push-button activating one said recording and playback means, and said second initiation push-button embossed with the universal symbol for "fire";

a second light emitting diode, said second light emitting diode being activated in a flashing manner upon both engagement of said second initiation push-button and achievement of an active connection by said telephone connection port;

a third initiation push-button, mounted accessibly on said control panel surface, said third initiation push-button activating one said recording and playback means, and said third initiation push-button embossed with the universal symbol for "ambulance"; and

a third light emitting diode, said third light emitting diode being activated in a flashing manner upon both engagement of said third initiation push-button and achievement of an active connection by said telephone connection port.

8. An improved emergency phone messaging system for use with a standard phone system comprising:

a housing, said housing having at least one flat, accessible control panel surface;

a first recording/playback mechanism;

a second recording/playback mechanism;

a third recording/playback mechanism;

a first initiation push-button, said first initiation push-button mounted accessibly on said control panel surface;

said first initiation push-button activating a first flashing light emitting diode, a first recording/playback mechanism, and a recording/playback control circuit;

a second initiation push-button, said second initiation push-button mounted accessibly on said control panel surface;

said second initiation push-button activating a second flashing light emitting diode, a second recording/playback mechanism, and a recording/playback control circuit;

a third initiation push-button, said third initiation push-button mounted accessibly on said control panel surface;

said third initiation push-button activating a third flashing light emitting diode, a third recording/playback mechanism, and a recording/playback control circuit;

an on/off switch to deactivate said phone messaging system;

a microphone for both recording an emergency message onto a plurality of recording/playback mechanisms and remotely monitoring sounds generated in the vicinity of said emergency phone messaging system;

volume control means to allow the user to adjust the volume level that is heard through a speaker;

a speaker, said speaker allowing the user to hear the recorded message for testing purposes or during actual use;

a power plug to which alternating current power is to be applied;

a power transformer in electrical communication with said power plug;

a rectifier circuit to convert alternating current to direct current in direct electrical communication with said power transformer;

a battery;

a battery charging/automatic switchover circuit supplying a trickle charge to the battery under normal conditions, and upon loss of alternating current, said battery charging/automatic switchover circuit for automatically switching over to battery power, allowing said emergency phone messaging system to continue to operate;

an amplifier for amplifying the low-level signal from each of the three said recording/playback mechanisms into a level that will power said speaker;

a telephone control circuit, said telephone control circuit controlling all input and output functions concerning the phone line;

a telephone number/message audio line, said telephone number/message audio line for providing a means for the telephone number that is to be dialed from each of the three said record/playback mechanisms to be passed onto the phone system and, in addition, for passing along a recorded message to the recipient after the phone on the receiving end has been answered;

a call answer line, said call answer line signaling a recording playback control circuit with information that the phone on the receiving end has been answered and to begin to playback the recorded message;

a message acknowledge line for signaling any said recording/playback mechanism that the recipient of the recorded message has acknowledged said message;

a dial tone request line for allowing a recording/playback control circuit to access a telephone control circuit;

a telephone isolation coupler for coupling said telephone control circuit to an outside telephone line;

a rewind signal line for instructing each said recording/playback mechanisms to reset;

a playback signal line for instructing each said recording/playback mechanisms to playback any stored telephone number or emergency messages;

an operating selector switch for allowing an operator to select between four different operating modes as follows;

A. Record Telephone number;

B. Record Emergency Message;

C. Test Message;

D. Operating position;

an auxiliary phone jack for attachment to a standard Touch-Tone phone; and

a recording/playback control circuit, said recording/playback control circuit for accepting inputs from said telephone control circuitry and said initiation push-buttons and for sending outputs to each said recording/playback mechanisms and/or said telephone control circuitry, depending on the position of said operating selector switch, and for instructing each recording/playback mechanisms to record the telephone number or the emergency message depending on the position of said operating selector switch; and

a monitoring control means for accepting a monitoring request from a message receiver and interrupting playback of the recorded message and initiating a monitoring function in response to such a monitoring request.

9. The improved emergency phone messaging system described in claim 8, wherein said first recording/playback mechanism, said second recording/playback mechanism, and said third recording/playback mechanism each comprise a complete microcassette mechanism, wherein said phone numbers are recorded onto a microcassette tape as well as emergency voice messages.

10. The improved emergency phone messaging system described in claim 8, wherein said first recording/playback mechanism, said second recording/playback mechanism, and said third recording/playback mechanism each comprise a complete solid state electronic recording mechanism, wherein said phone numbers are recorded onto an integrated circuit as well as emergency voice messages.