Warning method and apparatus

• US 6,563,426 B2
• Filed: 07/03/2001
• Issued: 05/13/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pendragon Networks LLC (Pendrell Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Herzberg, Louis P.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US09/845,005
• Publication Number:
  US 20030006898A1
• Time in Patent Office: 679 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1,692,539,825.19,407.1,5.1,5.2,5.22,540,541,565 434/112,114
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons

Abstract

This invention provides methods and apparatus for a special object such as a handicapped individual and/or special equipment with access to and from telecommunications and computer controlled equipment. The equipment being such as to let it be known of the special object being in a particular moving or still environ, and requiring special attention from and/or by others entering or located in that environs The special object, handicapped person or special equipment is made known to those in the environ so as to protect/preserve/serve that object, individual, special equipment, and/or to others entering or located in that environ. The equipment transmits an alarm type signal that a handicapped individual or special equipment is in the environ. The computerized apparatus/method being adapted to be responsive to particular sensations, seeing, hearing, feeling, smelling, etc., which are operational in the particular handicapped individual. The special object has a level of bi-directional interactivity with their environ and/or those responsible for the environ and/or the special object via the computerized telecommunications apparatus/method.

Claims

1. A transmitting telecommunications apparatus comprising:

an environ detector made available for at least one special object said environ detector for detecting a reportable environmental phenomenon;

an alarm device respondent to said reportable environmental phenomenon for transmitting an alarm signal that said at least one special object is in the environ;

a sensation generator for receiving said alarm signal and generating a particular sensation signal adapted to said at least one special object; and

a response generator for causing an evasive reaction to be taken to evade or be freed from said reportable environmental phenomenon.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the special object is at least one handicapped person, a cell phone, radioactive or chemical material.

3. An article of manufacture comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for causing the elements of an apparatus, the computer readable program code means in said article of manufacture comprising computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect the apparatus of claim 1.

4. A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for causing the elements of a computerized apparatus, the computer readable program code means in said computer program product comprising computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect the apparatus of claim 1.

5. A method comprising:

detecting a reportable environmental phenomenon in an environ including at least one handicapped person;

transmitting an alarm signal responsive to said reportable environmental phenomenon indicating that said at least one handicapped person is in the environ;

receiving said alarm signal and generating a particular sensation signal adapted to said at least one handicapped person; and

causing an evasive reaction to be taken to evade and/or be freed from said reportable environmental phenomenon.

6. A method as in claim 5, wherein said step of transmitting includes transmitting an alarm signal taken from a group of alarm signals including:

transmitting an audible alarm repeatedly announcing said reportable environmental phenomenon;

transmitting an electronic and/or an electromagnetic alarm reporting said reportable environmental phenomenon to at least one interested party and/or equipment;

transmitting an olfactory alarm corresponding to said reportable environmental phenomenon;

transmitting an visual alarm corresponding with said reportable environmental phenomenon; and

any combination of these.

7. A method as in claim 5, further comprising notifying the occurrence of said reportable environmental phenomenon and the existence of said at least one handicapped person to others entering or located in said environ.

8. A method as in claim 7, wherein said step of causing an evasive reaction is taken by said others entering or located in said environ.

9. A method as in claim 5, wherein said step of causing an evasive reaction is taken by said at least one handicapped person, and said particular sensation signal is a signal taken from a group including seeing, hearing, feeling, and/or smelling.

10. A method as in claim 5, further comprising said at least one handicapped person communicating interactively with a responsible reaction agent.

11. A method as in claim 5, wherein said responsible reaction agent is a medical care or other responsible entity.

12. A program storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for communication, said method steps comprising the steps of claim 5.

13. An article of manufacture comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for communication, the computer readable program code means in said article of manufacture comprising computer readable program code means for causing a computer to effect the steps of claim 5.

14. A transmitting telecommunications apparatus comprising:

an environ detector made available for at least one environ sensitive entity for detecting a reportable environmental phenomenon; and

an alarm device responsive to said reportable environmental phenomenon for transmitting an alarm signal that said at least one environ sensitive entity is in the environ, and for generating a particular sensation signal adapted to said at least one environ sensitive entity.

15. A transmitting telecommunications apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein said at least one environ sensitive entity includes a handicapped person.

16. A transmitting telecommunications apparatus as recited in claim 14, wherein said at least one environ sensitive entity includes special equipment.

17. A transmitting telecommunications apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein said special equipment is radioactive.