Remote conference calling for wireline systems

• US 6,366,646 B1
• Filed: 09/29/1998
• Issued: 04/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ceglia911, LLC, Miller911, LLC
• Original Assignee: Michael J. Ceglia
• Inventors: Miller, S. Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Woo, Stella
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah, Melur.
• Application Number:
  US09/162,705
• Time in Patent Office: 1,281 Days
• Field of Search: 379/40, 379/45, 379/49, 379/51, 379/93.21, 379/202, 379/203, 379/204, 379/38, 379/39, 379/37, 340/531, 340/539
• US Class Current: 379/40
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections

Abstract

A method and means by which a called telecommunications device (14), connected on an established PSTN telecommunications link (18) with a wireline data processing means caller telecommunications device (12), can initiate a conference call to be set up from the wireline caller device (12) by sending a command signal to the data processing means caller device (12). In response to the command signal, the data processing means caller device (12) executes a signal set, predetermined to cause the PSTN (18) to set up the desired conference link (20) at the caller end of the established link (18). The method can be applied by a called alarm monitoring facility (14) to obtain emergency assistance for a distressed wireline caller (12) by causing a conference link (20) with a caller local PSAP (16) to be set up automatically from the wireline caller device (12). In so doing, the method promotes the acquisition of needed emergency assistance in the least attainable time while accessing the best source of relevant emergency information.

Claims

1. A method for improving the emergency aid response time to a first location having a wireline first telecommunications device which forms a part of a public switched telecommunications network comprising the steps of sensing a predetermined condition at said first location and in response to said sensed condition initiating a communications link between said first telecommunications device and a second telecommunications device at a remote second location by way of said network, sending a command signal from said second device to said first device by way of said network, receiving said command signal at said first device and in response thereto causing said first device to establish a communications link between said first telecommunications device and a third telecommunications device at a remote third location by way of said network and establishing communications between said second telecommunications device and said third telecommunications device.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said third telecommunications device is an emergency response device.

3. The invention of claim 2 wherein said step of establishing a communications link between said first device and said emergency response device is performed by causing said first device to dial 9-1-1.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein said communications link between said first device and said second device is established before establishing said communications link between said first device and said third device.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein said communications link between said first device and said third device is initiated from said second telecommunications device.

6. The invention of claim 1 wherein said sensing step is performed by a sensor which is part of an alarm system.

7. A system for improving the emergency aid response time to a first location comprising:

a wireline first telecommunications device at said first location and forming part of a public switched telecommunications network;

a second telecommunications device located at a second location remote from said first location and also forming a part of said public switched telecommunications network;

a third telecommunications device located at a third location remote from said first and second locations, said third telecommunications device also forming a part of said public switched telecommunications network;

sensor means and means responsive to said sensor means for causing said first device to establish a communications link with said second device in response to a predetermined sensed condition;

means at said second device for sending a command signal to said first device through said public switched telecommunications network;

means at said first device for receiving said command signal from said second device;

means at said first device and responsive to said receiving means for causing said first device to establish a communications link with said third device, and

means for establishing a conference call between said first, second and third devices.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein said third telecommunications device is an emergency response device.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said means for causing said first device to establish communications with said emergency response device causes said first device to dial 9-1-1.

10. The system of claim 7 further including an alarm means, said sensor means forming part of said alarm means.