Automated data transmission link to law enforcement and security personnel

• US 6,049,272 A
• Filed: 01/22/1997
• Issued: 04/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Boyd B. Moore
• Original Assignee: Moore Company (RR Donnelley & Sons Company)
• Inventors: Smith, Michael D., Lee, Christopher Y., Risley, John C., Montefusco, Todd R., Radabaugh, Kevin M., Moore, Boyd B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Crosland, Donnie L.
• Application Number:
  US08/787,978
• Time in Patent Office: 1,175 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539, 340/531, 340/506, 379/37-40, 379/45, 379/42, 379/44, 379/43
• US Class Current: 340/539.18
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/022 Paging systems personal calling arrangements or devices G08B3/1008; selective calling networks H04W84/022
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems

Abstract

An automated data transmission system for communicating warning signals and other information directly to law enforcement or security personnel in order to reduce response times. In the disclosed embodiment of the invention, sensing circuitry is added to a standard security system installed at an industrial or residential site. The sensing circuitry detects activation of the security system by sensing an outgoing warning call. Following activation of the security system, an automatic dialer or other automated transmitter circuitry is used to initiate a call to a processing computer at a predetermined phone number. The processing computer utilizes Caller ID™ information to determine the phone number assigned to the automatic dialer. The processing computer also maintains a database that associates assorted pieces of information with each phone number in the list, including the key map code location of the business, address of the protected business, name, date and time, and the phone number of a company contact. This information is communicated, through a paging service provider, to a dedicated group of one or more alphanumeric paging devices. The group of dedicated paging devices is provided to the law enforcement personnel assigned to protect the geographic region in which the secured industrial or residential site is located. Time-consuming human involvement in the notification process is thereby eliminated.

Claims

1. An automated data transmission system for alerting law enforcement or security personnel to an activated security system, the automated data transmission system comprising:

a sensor coupled to said security system for detecting a signal generated as a result of an emergency event and generating an activation signal in response to the emergency event;

an automated transmitter coupled to said sensor, said automated transmitter automatically initiating a call to a predetermined phone number or data port in response to said activation signal;

a processing computer configured to receive communications at said predetermined phone number or data port, said processing computer programmed to recognize and associate emergency information with the phone number assigned to said automated transmitter, wherein said emergency information includes at least one pager number and information related to the location of said security system;

a paging transmitter communicatively coupled to said processing computer to receive said emergency information; and

a group of one or more paging devices responsive to said paging transmitter and operable to receive and display relevant portions of said emergency information,

wherein said paging transmitter transmits said emergency information to said group of paging devices assigned to said at least one pager number.

2. The data transmission system of claim 1, wherein said group of at least one paging devices is distributed to law enforcement or security personnel assigned to protect a geographic region in which the security system is located.

3. The data transmission system of claim 1, further comprising additional sensors and automated transmitters for initiating calls to the predetermined phone number in response to emergency events detected by additional security systems, wherein said processing computer is further programmed to recognize and associate emergency information with the phone number(s) assigned to said additional automated transmitters.

4. The data transmission system of claim 1, wherein said relevant portion of said emergency information includes information relating to the location of said security system.

5. The data transmission system of claim 1, wherein said relevant portion of said emergency information includes a contact phone number.

6. The data transmission system of claim 1, wherein said sensing circuitry includes a passive sensor to detect the emergency event.

7. The data transmission system of claim 1, wherein said sensing circuitry includes dry contact switches to detect the emergency event and generate said activation signal.

8. The data transmission system of claim 1, wherein said processing computer receives communications from said automated transmitter via a standard subscriber line.

9. The data transmission system of claim 1, wherein said processing computer receives communications from said automated transmitter via wireless communications.

10. The data transmission system of claim 1, wherein said paging transmitter and said processing computer are communicatively coupled via a telephone company central office utilizing Positive ID™

to control the incoming calls that are allowed to activate said group of at least one paging devices.

11. The data transmission system of claim 1, wherein the automated transmitter and processing computer are communicatively coupled via a telephone company central office utilizing Positive I.D.®

to control the incoming calls that are allowed to activate said group of at least one pager claims.

12. The data transmission system of claim 1, wherein said paging device is a digital alphanumeric pager.

13. The data transmission system of claim 11, wherein said digital alphanumeric pager incorporates two-way acknowledgement paging capabilities.

14. The data transmission system of claim 1, wherein said paging device is a digital phone incorporating paging capabilities.

15. A method for alerting law enforcement personnel to an activated security system, comprising the steps of:

detecting activation of the security system;

activating an automated transmitter in response to activation of the security system, wherein the automated transmitter is configured to automatically dial a predetermined phone number or data port upon activation;

utilizing a computer identified with the predetermined phone number or data port to determine the location of the automated transmitter and associate emergency information with the activated security system, wherein the emergency information includes one or more pager numbers and information related to the location of said security system;

communicating the emergency information to a paging transmitter; and

transmitting portions of the emergency information via the paging transmitter for display on a group of one or more paging devices responsive to the one or more pager numbers.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein prior to said step of transmitting portions of the emergency information, the group of at least one paging devices is distributed to law enforcement personnel assigned to protect a geographic region in which the activated security system is located.