Automated emergency announcement system

• US 6,317,042 B1
• Filed: 05/01/2000
• Issued: 11/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: WSOU Investments, LLC (WSOU Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Wang, Zhibi, Lee, Chinmei Chen, Engelhorn, Sandi LaVonne
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US09/562,885
• Time in Patent Office: 561 Days
• Field of Search: 340/506, 340/531, 340/532, 340/533, 340/539, 340/287, 340/288, 340/825.06, 340/825.07, 340/825.24, 340/825.47, 340/825.25, 340/825.36, 340/825.37, 340/825.52
• US Class Current: 340/539.16
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/14 Central alarm receiver or annunciator arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/062 indicating emergency exits
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/066 guiding along a path, e.g. evacuation path lighting strip

Abstract

In response to an emergency event, an emergency announcement system (100) causes display of an escape route based upon a room location. A sensor (104) detects an emergency event. The sensor data (106) from the sensor relating to the emergency event is transmitted to an emergency server (122), the emergency server (122) determines the escape route and the escape route is sent to a display device (118) for use by the building occupants to escape the emergency.

Claims

1. A method for providing a plurality of escape routes for a plurality of room locations, the method comprising the steps of:

A) at least one sensor of a plurality of sensors detecting an emergency event;

B) the at least one sensor transmitting to an emergency server a sensor data relating to the emergency event;

C) the emergency server determining an escape route for each room location of the plurality of room locations based upon a position of the at least one sensor;

D) the emergency server transmitting the escape route for each room location of the plurality of room locations to a display device located at the each room location;

E) the display device located at the each room location communicating the escape route for each room location;

F) a first sensor of the plurality of sensors detecting a change in the emergency situation;

G) the first sensor generating a changed sensor data reflecting the change in the emergency situation;

H) the emergency server receiving the changed sensor data;

I) the emergency server determining an alternative escape route for at least one room location of the plurality of room locations, the alternative escape route reflecting the change in the emergency situation;

J) the emergency server transmitting the alternative escape route to a display device located at the at least one room location; and

K) the display device communicating the alternate escape route to building occupants.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the display device comprises one of a television and a computer.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising printing the escape route.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of the emergency server turning on the display device prior to transmitting the escape route.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the emergency server is coupled to the display device by a wireless interface.