Emergency response telephone monitoring device

• US 5,838,771 A
• Filed: 09/04/1996
• Issued: 11/17/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: John Daniel Moeller
• Original Assignee: John Daniel Moeller
• Inventors: Moeller, John Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah, Melur
• Application Number:
  US08/707,427
• Time in Patent Office: 804 Days
• Field of Search: 379/37, 379/38, 379/39, 379/40, 379/42, 379/45
• US Class Current: 379/37
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/06 using electric transmission , e.g. involving audible and visible signalling through the use of sound and light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems

Abstract

A novelty device for identifying the physical location of a 911 telephone-reported emergency thereby reducing the time required for the emergency professionals to arrive on the scene and to begin administering a potentially life saving service. Dialing 911 automatically activates the invention'"'"'s flashing light and audible warning device at the address where the call originates. This enables an Emergency Response Team to identify the location of an emergency from a distance and thus mitigates the need for a house to house search. Another important feature of this device is one of transmitting a telephone key activated prerecorded message by a caller who for some reason is unable to speak. The invention also enhances Neighborhood Watch Programs by alerting other residents of said emergency. The unit can be remotely reset by dialing a known numerical telephone sequence. In addition, the device continuously monitors battery usage and signals the user via the telephone receiver when the batteries need to be replaced. Yet another novelty of this device is the accessory control interface which can be used to activate a conventional home alarm system or other device

Claims

1. An emergency response telephone monitoring devices comprising:

means for enabling an emergency response team to quickly locate the address wherein emergency telephone number is dialed by a user of a telephone connectively attached to the device wherein;

a low cost totally self contained externally mounted and weather sealed device having a highly identifiable automatically operated alarm system of significant report and flashing light of significant intensity, powered solely by readily accessible inexpensive batteries for a period of time in excess of one year, thus requiring no external AC power source to back up the aforementioned batteries in said device comprising;

a microchip processor means of control operatively connected to any telephone interface within a home telephone network;

a flashing light circuit and audible alarm circuit of significant report, activated by said microprocessor and highly visible from the exterior of the dwelling powered solely by the aforementioned batteries;

an emergency voice message microchip controlled by the microprocessor having a prerecorded voice message that when activated by way of a telephone touch tone key is transmitted to and received by all parties actively connected to the telephone line;

an accessory control interface for connecting and operating external devices by said microprocessor;

a means of control whereby the microprocessor monitors the output of the device'"'"'s battery power supply and generates an audible tone in the ear piece of the users handset if the voltage level of the battery power supply is less than a preset lower limit;

a means of control whereby the microprocessor utilizes innovative low power technology to provide all functions for a period of time in excess of one year, on one set of readily available low voltage batteries;

a specific program code written and installed in the aforementioned microprocessor chip that determines from the audible touch tone frequencies being received from the telephone network which touch tone digit the user is entering and upon entering a preprogrammed set of digit(s), the microprocessor recognizes said digit(s) and performs the preprogrammed function or functions initiated by said digit(s) who'"'"'s functions comprise;

a monitor, activation, deactivation, system test and reporting, battery strength test and reporting and voice activation;

where activation of the alarm is accomplished by monitoring the telephone network for the predetermined digit or digits to be dialed on any telephone device operatively connected to the network which touch tone digit the user is dialing and determines if the user entered or dialed the correct telephone number sequence, where upon, the microprocessor powers the microprocessor pin which is connected to the appropriate micro switch thus activating the emergency response telephone monitoring device;

where upon being activated, deactivation of the alarm is accomplished by monitoring the telephone network for the predetermined digit or digits to be dialed on any telephone device operatively connected to the network which touch tone digit the user is dialing and determines if the user entered or dialed the correct telephone number sequence, where upon, the microprocessor powers the microprocessor pin which is connected to the appropriate micro switch thus deactivating the emergency response telephone monitoring device;

which can be tested to insure proper operation by monitoring the telephone network for the predetermined digit(s) to be dialed on any telephone devices operatively connected to the network.

2. An emergency response telephone monitor device in accordance with claim 1 which upon being activated may be deactivated and returned to its non-alarming state by dialing the proper phone number.

3. The rest sequence in accordance with claim 2 wherein the microprocessor embodies specific microprocessor code written into the microprocessor chip that determaines from the audible touch tone frequencies being produced from the telephone system which touch tone digit the user is dialing and determines if the user entered or dialed the correct telephone sequence;

if the correct telephone sequence is dialed, the microprcessor powers the the microprocessor pin which is connected to the appropriate micro switch thus deactivating the emergency response telephone monitoring devices.

4. An emergency response telephone monitoring device in accordance with claim 1 which can be tested to insure proper operation by dialing a preprogrammed telephone number sequence.

5. The test sequence in accordance with claim 4 wherein the microprocessor embodies specific microprocessor code written into the microprocessor chip that determaines from the audible touch tone frequencies being produced from the telephone system which touch tone digit the user is dialing and determaines if the user entered or dialed the correct telephone number sequence;

if the correct telephone sequence is dialed, the microprocessor powers the microprocessor pin which is connected to the appropriate micro switch thus activating the emergency response telephone monitoring device.