Alarm alerting method and apparatus

• US 5,926,100 A
• Filed: 04/09/1998
• Issued: 07/20/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Escolar, Carlos
• Primary Examiner(s): SWANN III, GLEN R
• Application Number:
  US09/057,558
• Time in Patent Office: 467 Days
• Field of Search: 340/506, 340/527, 340/531, 340/691, 340/635, 340/691.1, 340/691.3
• US Class Current: 340/691.3
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/005 Alarm destination chosen according to a hierarchy of available destinations, e.g. if hospital does not answer send to police station

Abstract

A method and apparatus for alerting personnel in response to an alarm from an automated system. The monitoring system detects an alarm. Upon detection of the alarm, the monitoring system searches a list. The list includes contact numbers, wherein each contact number has a corresponding contact person, delay time, and a contact day and time for when each contact number should be used. A current day and time is matched with a contact day and time from the list. Upon a successful match, a contact person corresponding to the matched contact day and time is notified using a contact number corresponding to the matched contact day and time. If after a delay time corresponding to the matched contact day and time the alarm is not reset, a next contact number from the list having a contact day and time matching the current day and time is used to notify a contact person corresponding to the next contact day and time. A next contact number is selected and used from the list until the alarm is reset.

Claims

1. A method for sending a message in response to an alarm, comprising the steps of:

a) receiving the alarm;

b) determining a current time period;

c) searching a list of time periods having associated contact numbers for a time period matching said current time period; and

d) sending the message to a contact number associated with said matched time period.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

determining whether the alarm has been reset within a predetermined amount of time; and

repeating steps c) and d) for a next matched time period from said list if the alarm has not been reset.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the alarm indicates a level of emergency, and wherein said step of determining whether the alarm has been reset comprises the steps of:

determining said level; and

setting said predetermined time in accordance with said level.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said list of time periods has a delay time associated with each contact number and time period, and wherein said step of determining whether the alarm has been reset comprises the steps of:

retrieving a delay time associated with said matched time period; and

setting said predetermined time to said delay time.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein a delay time is associated with said current time period, and wherein said step of determining whether the alarm has been reset comprises the steps of:

retrieving the delay time associated with said current time period; and

setting said predetermined time to said delay time.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein said predetermined time is constant.

7. An apparatus for sending a message in response to an alarm signal, comprising:

means for receiving the alarm;

means for determining a current time period;

means for searching a list of time periods having associated contact numbers for a time period matching said current time period; and

means for sending the message to a contact number associated with said matched time period.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising:

means for determining whether the alarm has been reset within a predetermined amount of time;

means for searching said list for a time period next matching said current time period; and

means for sending the message to a contact number associated with said next matched time period.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the alarm indicates a level of emergency, and wherein said means for determining whether the alarm has been reset comprises:

means for determining said level; and

means for setting said predetermined time in accordance with said level.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said list of time periods has a delay time associated with each contact number and time period, and wherein said means for determining whether the alarm has been reset comprises:

means for retrieving a delay time associated with said matched time period; and

means for setting said predetermined time to said delay time.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein a delay time is associated with said current time period, and wherein said means for determining whether the alarm has been reset comprises:

means for retrieving the delay time associated with said current time period; and

means for setting said predetermined time to said delay time.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said predetermined time is constant.

13. A computer for sending a message in response to an alarm, comprising:

a memory containing a computer program having functions for;

receiving the alarm;

determining a current time period;

searching a list of time periods having associated contact numbers for a time period matching said current time period;

sending the message to a contact number associated with said matched time period; and

a processor for running said computer program.

14. A computer-readable medium whose contents cause a computer system to send a message in response to an alarm by performing the steps of:

a) receiving the alarm;

b) determining a current time period;

c) searching a list of time periods having associated contact numbers for a time period matching said current time period; and

d) sending the message to a contact number associated with said matched time period.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, further comprising the steps of:

determining whether the alarm has been reset within a predetermined amount of time; and

repeating steps c) and d) for a next matched time period from said list if the alarm has not been reset.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the alarm indicates a level of emergency, and wherein said step of determining comprises the step of:

determining said level; and

setting said predetermined time in accordance with said level.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein said list of time periods has a delay time associated with each contact number and time period, and wherein said step of determining whether the alarm has been reset comprises the steps of:

retrieving a delay time associated with said matched time period; and

setting said predetermined time to said delay time.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein a delay time is associated with said current time period, and wherein said step of determining whether the alarm has been reset comprises the steps of:

retrieving a delay time associated with said current time period; and

setting said predetermined time to said delay time.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein said predetermined time is constant.

20. A computer for alerting personnel in response to an alarm signal from an automated system, comprising:

a memory containing a computer program having functions for;

a) receiving the alarm;

b) searching a list of contact numbers, wherein each contact number has a corresponding contact person, delay time, and a contact day and time for when each contact number should be used;

c) matching a current day and time with a contact day and time from said list;

d) notifying a contact person corresponding to said matched contact day and time using a contact number corresponding to said matched day and time;

e) determining whether the alarm has been reset within a delay time corresponding to said matched contact day and time, and if not, repeating steps (c)-(e) using a next contact number from said list having a contact day and time that matches said current day and time; and

a processor coupled to said memory for running said computer program.

21. A computer-readable medium whose contents cause a computer to alert personnel in response to an alarm signal from an automated system, by performing the steps of:

a) receiving the alarm;

b) searching a list of contact numbers, wherein each contact number has a corresponding contact person, delay time, and a contact day and time for when each contact number should be used;

c) matching a current day and time with a contact day and time from said list;

d) notifying a contact person corresponding to said matched contact day and time using a contact number corresponding to said matched day and time;

e) determining whether the alarm has been reset within a delay time corresponding to said matched contact day and time, and if not, repeating steps (c)-(e) using a next contact number from said list having a contact day and time that matches said current day and time.