Personal recovery system

• US 5,940,004 A
• Filed: 12/18/1997
• Issued: 08/17/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: John G. Fulton
• Original Assignee: John G. Fulton
• Inventors: Fulton, John G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dalencourt, Yves
• Application Number:
  US08/993,654
• Time in Patent Office: 607 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.49, 340/539, 340/990, 340/574, 348/135, 348/143, 348/158
• US Class Current: 340/8.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0211 Combination with medical sensor, e.g. for measuring heart rate, temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0216 Alarm cancellation after generation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0283 via a telephone network, e.g. cellular GSM
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0288 Attachment of child unit to child/article

Abstract

The personal recovery unit includes a transmitter unit carried by a user. The transmitter unit includes a transmitter for selectively transmitting a warning signal to a central processing center, a clock, and means for initiating the transmission of a warning signal at a specified time of day such that the location of an individual is provided at a specified time of day.

Claims

1. A personal recovery unit, comprising:

a transmitter unit carried by a user;

the transmitter unit includes a transmitter for selectively transmitting a warning signal to a central processing center, a clock, and means for initiating the transmission of a warning signal at a specified time of day such that the location of an individual is provided at a specified time of day; and

wherein the means for initiating includes a manual input integrally formed with the transmitter unit for selectively setting the specified time of day at which the transmitter unit is to transmit a warning signal.

2. The personal recovery unit according to claim 1, wherein the warning signal includes information regarding the status and the location of the user.

3. The personal recovery unit according to claim 1, wherein the means for initiating the transmission of a warning signal further includes a programmable memory for selectively storing the time of day at which transmission of the warning signal is to be initiated.

4. The personal recovery unit according to claim 1, wherein the means for initiating provides a preliminary countdown signal warning the individual using the transmitter unit that a warning signal will be transmitted.

5. The personal recovery unit according to claim 4, wherein the means for initiating includes a reset button preventing the transmission of a warning signal when the reset button is activated after the preliminary countdown signal is activated.

6. The personal recovery unit according to claim 5, wherein activation of the reset button causes the transmitter to send a good status signal and the location of the transmitter unit to the central processing center.

9. The personal recovery unit according to claim 1, further including a video unit for recording an image of the area surrounding the individual carrying the personal recovery unit, the video unit being associated with the transmitter such that the recorded image is sent with the warning signal to the central processing center.

10. The personal recovery unit according to claim 9, wherein the recorded image is sent via asynchronous transfer mode.

11. The personal recovery unit according to claim 1, wherein warning signals are regularly transmitted after the transmission of warning signals is initiated.

7. The personal recovery unit according to clam 1, further including an accelerometer recording rapid deceleration, and the accelerometer is associated with the transmitter for activating the transmitter to send a warning signal to the central processing station for immediate action when a rapid deceleration is recorded by the accelerometer.

8. The personal recovery unit according to claim 7, further including means for resetting associated with the accelerometer and transmitter for preventing the transmission of a warning signal in the event the transmission of a warning signal is undesired, wherein the means for resetting includes an alarm activated when the accelerometer records a rapid deceleration and the means for resetting signals the transmitter to cease transmission of a warning signal when an individual presses a reset button within a predetermined time in response to the alarm and the transmitter sends the warning signal to the central processing center when the individual does not press the reset button within a predetermined time.