Method of and apparatus for individuals to maintain a trail of their well being and whereabouts

• US 6,262,666 B1
• Filed: 08/11/1999
• Issued: 07/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rudolph V. Lodichand
• Original Assignee: Rudolph V. Lodichand
• Inventors: Lodichand, Rudolph V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Previl, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US09/372,282
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/572.1, 340/825.31, 340/825.32, 340/825.34, 340/825.36, 340/825.44, 340/825.45, 340/825.49, 340/825.72, 340/286.07, 340/539, 340/540, 340/573.4, 340/573.5, 340/10.1, 379/37-51, 455/456, 455/457
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12

Abstract

The location and/or well-being information of an individual is voluntarily recorded. Location and/or well-being information is periodically entered by the individual and is transmitted to one or more central sites. The central site receives and stores the location and/or well-being information. When the location and/or well-being information includes emergency information, an emergency message is supplied to a prearranged emergency contact and the recorded location and/or well-being information, which has been kept strictly confidential up to this time, is released to the emergency contact. When further location and/or well-being information is not received within a predetermined interval after the most recently reported location and/or well-being information is received, an automated voice response system attempts to contact the individual. If the automated contact fails to connect with the individual, a customer service representative pursues the attempt. After both failed attempts, an emergency message is then supplied to a prearranged emergency contact and the recorded location and/or well-being information, which has been kept strictly confidential up to this point, is released to the emergency contact.

Claims

1. An apparatus for recording the location and well-being status of an individual, said apparatus comprising:

at least one central site comprised of a computer based environment; and

at least one terminal, remote from said central site, for periodically entering information verbally supplied by the individual, the periodically entered information comprising both a location of the individual and a well-being status of the individual, and for transmitting the periodically entered information to said central site;

said at least one central site receiving and storing the periodically entered information and, when a most recent one of the periodically entered information includes emergency information or when a further one of the periodically entered information is not received within a predetermined interval after the most recent one of the periodically entered information is received, for sending a message to an emergency contact.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said remote terminal is a telephone and is connected to said central site by a telephone network.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said remote terminal is a satellite telephone and is connected to said central site by a satellite network.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said remote terminal is a cellular telephone and is connected to said central site by a cellular network.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said remote terminal is a computer terminal and is connected to said central site using an Internet connection.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said remote terminal is an electronic portal having a dedicated connection to said central site.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said a computer based environment includes at least two computers.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said computer based environment includes a data base.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said remote terminal comprises an electronic portal that is connected to said data base using a dedicated connection.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said computer based environment includes an automated voice response system.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said remote terminal comprises a telephone and is connected by a telephone network to said automated voice response system.

12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said remote terminal comprises a satellite telephone that is connected by a satellite network to said automated voice response system.

13. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said remote terminal is a cellular telephone and is connected by a cellular network to said automated voice response system.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said computer based environment includes an Internet interface.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said remote terminal comprises a computer terminal that is connected to said Internet interface.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising at least one further central site.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said emergency contact includes a 911 station.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said emergency contact includes a customer service station.

19. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said emergency contact includes an operator station.

20. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said central site includes an operator station.

21. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said emergency contact includes a prearranged contact.

22. A method for recording the location and well-being status of an individual, said method comprising the steps of:

providing at least one central site;

periodically entering, at a facility remote from said central site, information verbally supplied by the individual, the periodically entered information comprising both a location of the individual and a well-being status of the individual;

transmitting the periodically entered information to said central site;

receiving and storing the periodically entered information; and

sending a message to an emergency contact when a most recent one of the periodically entered information includes emergency information or when a further one of the periodically entered information is not received within a predetermined interval after the most recent one of the periodically entered information is received.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein said step of periodically entering information includes the step of initiating a telephone connection.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein said step of periodically entering information includes supplying an identifier of the individual and a request to a customer service representative.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein said step of periodically entering information includes the step of entering a personal identifier and leaving a message in a voice mail box.

26. The method of claim 22 wherein said step of periodically entering information includes initiating a web site connection.

27. The method of claim 26 further comprising the step of entering an user ID and a password.

28. The method of claim 26 further comprising the step of entering a message.

29. The method of claim 28 further comprising the step of providing a time and date stamp for said message.

30. The method of claim 28 further comprising the step of storing said message in an off-site location.

31. The method of claim 22 wherein said step of periodically entering information includes the step of entering information via an electronic portal.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein said user information is entered using a card having a magnetic strip.

33. The method of claim 31 further comprising the step of entering a personal identification number.

34. The method of claim 31 further comprising the step of entering an action code

35. The method of claim 34 wherein said action code is an emergency action code.

36. The method of claim 35 further comprising the step of initiating a call to an emergency site.

37. The method of claim 34 wherein said action code is a normal action code.

38. The method of claim 36 further comprising the step of supplying an acknowledgment in response to said action code and updating a central site data base.

39. The method of claim 22 wherein said step of sending a message to an emergency contact is carried out by an operator.

40. The method of claim 22 wherein said emergency site is a 911 station.

41. The method of claim 22 wherein, when the further one of the periodically entered information is not received, an automated voice response system attempts to contact the individual.

42. The method of claim 22 wherein said step of sending a message to an emergency contact includes sending the message to a prearranged contact.

43. An apparatus for recording the location and well-being status of an individual, said apparatus comprising:

at least one central site;

means, remote from said central site, for periodically entering information verbally supplied by the individual, the periodically entered information comprising both a location of the individual and a well-being status of the individual;

means for transmitting the periodically entered information to said central site;

means for receiving and storing the periodically entered information; and

means for sending a message to an emergency contact when a most recent one of the periodically entered information includes emergency information or when a further one of the periodically entered information is not received within a predetermined interval after the most recent one of the periodically entered information is received.

44. The apparatus of claim 43 wherein said means for periodically entering information includes means for initiating a telephone connection.

45. The apparatus of claim 44 wherein said means for periodically entering information includes means for supplying an identifier of the individual and means for supplying a request to a customer service representative.

46. The apparatus of claim 44 wherein said means for periodically entering information includes means for entering a personal identifier and means for leaving a message in a voice mail box.

47. The apparatus of claim 43 wherein said means for periodically entering location information includes means for initiating a web site connection.

48. The apparatus of claim 47 further comprising means for entering an user ID and a password.

49. The apparatus of claim 47 further comprising means for entering a message.

50. The apparatus of claim 49 further comprising means for providing a time and date stamp for said message.

51. The apparatus of claim 49 further comprising means for storing said message in an off-site location.

52. The apparatus of claim 43 wherein said means for periodically entering information includes means for entering information via an electronic portal.

53. The apparatus of claim 52 wherein said user information is entered using a card having a magnetic strip.

54. The apparatus of claim 52 further comprising means for entering a personal identification number.

55. The apparatus of claim 52 further comprising means for entering an action code.

56. The apparatus of claim 55 wherein said action code is an emergency action code.

57. The apparatus of claim 56 further comprising means for initiating a call to an emergency site.

58. The apparatus of claim 55 wherein said action code is a normal action code.

59. The apparatus of claim 57 further comprising means for supplying an acknowledgment in response to said action code and for updating a central site data base.

60. The apparatus of claim 43 wherein said means for sending a message to an emergency site includes an operator station.

61. The apparatus of claim 43 wherein said emergency contact is a 911 station.

62. The apparatus of claim 43 wherein, when the further one of the periodically entered information is not received, an automated voice response means attempts to contact the individual.

63. The apparatus of claim 43 wherein said emergency contact includes a prearranged contact.