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Emergency telephone number alerting device

  • US 5,960,061 A
  • Filed: 09/17/1997
  • Issued: 09/28/1999
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/17/1996
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. An emergency telephone number alerting and guidance process to guide emergency responders to the exact scene of an emergency declared by dialing the emergency services notification (ESN) telephone number comprising the following steps:

  • (a) a decoder detecting the ESN telephone number as it is dialed on the telephone instrument;

    (b) the decoder communicating an ESN detection signal via a low power, unlicenced radio link to a remotely located guidance beacon assembly informing it of the ESN detection; and

    ,(c) the beacon responding to the ESN detection signal by initiating a distress guidance signal, said distress guidance signal comprising a visual strobe light and a pulsating radio signal which signal may be used by a radio direction finder, said distress guidance signal'"'"'s operational status is verified by;

    (i) the beacon, following a command from the decoder, energizing a strobe light electronic circuit for a short time without activating either the strobe light or the pulsating radio signal;

    (ii) checking if the voltage across the circuit is sufficient to activate the strobe light thus checking the electronic circuitry;

    (iii) transmitting a status signal via a radio link to the decoder thus checking the RF transmitter;

    (iv) the decoder receiving the status signal; and

    ,(v) reporting of any anomalous condition thus detected by the decoder to a centralized monitoring point by the decoder generating a DTMF or dial pulse call via the telephone line.

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