Emergency alarm system using pull-station with camera

• US 6,693,534 B2
• Filed: 09/24/2001
• Issued: 02/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/24/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GE Security Incorporated (Carrier Global Corporation)
• Original Assignee: SPX Corporation
• Inventors: Burns, Jeffrey, Costa, Hilario S., Right, Robert W.
• Primary Examiner(s): POPE, DARYL C
• Application Number:
  US09/961,103
• Publication Number:
  US 20030058109A1
• Time in Patent Office: 876 Days
• Field of Search: 340/506, 340/525, 340/533, 340/539, 340/569, 340/686.1, 340/693.5, 340/693.6, 340/3.3, 340/3.31, 340/3.32, 340/286.02, 340/286.05, 340/286.06, 340/287, 340/304, 340/306
• US Class Current: 340/531
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19626 optical details, e.g. lenses, mirrors or multiple lenses
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19663 Surveillance related processing done local to the camera
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/19669 Event triggers storage or change of storage policy
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/00 Fire alarms; Alarms responsive to explosion
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/008 Alarm setting and unsetting, i.e. arming or disarming of the security system
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/12 Manually actuated calamity alarm transmitting arrangements emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm, activators, e.g. details of alarm push buttons mounted on an infrastructure

Abstract

An emergency alarm system is provided having a manually operated pull-station that activates the system. The emergency alarm system has a camera that provides image data of the area surrounding the pull-station. The emergency alarm system also has a control panel having an image memory that is operable to provide storage for the image data from the camera.

Claims

1. An emergency alarm system, comprising:

a manually operated pull station that activates the system;

a camera obtaining image data in the vicinity of said pull station;

a control panel having image data memory that stores image data from said camera; and

a peripheral communication device, wherein the peripheral communication device communicates with at least one of said pull station and said control panel to transfer at least one of image data and commands.

2. The emergency system according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral communication device is a laptop computer.

3. The emergency system according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral communication device is a Personal Digital Assistant.

4. The emergency system according to claim 1, wherein the peripheral communication device is a desktop computer.

5. The emergency system according to claim 1, wherein said pull-station communicates with the peripheral device via an infrared signal.

6. The emergency system according to claim 1, wherein said pull-station communicates with the peripheral device via direct wire connection.

7. The emergency system according to claim 1, wherein the pull-station communicates with the peripheral device using wireless RF frequency.