Emergency call system using wireless, direct connect and telephone subsystems

• US 6,870,906 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2002
• Issued: 03/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Silversphere, LLC
• Original Assignee: Brian Dawson
• Inventors: Dawson, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): WOO, STELLA L
• Application Number:
  US10/116,675
• Publication Number:
  US 20020145514A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,085 Days
• Field of Search: 379/37, 379/38, 379/39, 379/40, 379/45, 340/286.07, 340/531, 340/539, 340/573.1
• US Class Current: 379/37
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/04 responsive to non-activity, e.g. of elderly persons G08B21/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence

Abstract

An emergency call system includes a data bus and bus controller operatively connected to the data bus for controlling data access on the data bus. The system can include at least one of wireless, direct connect and telephone subsystems. A wireless device module could be operatively connected to the data bus for receiving and passing alarm signals onto the data bus from a premises based wireless subsystem having at least one wireless receiver that receives wireless alarm signals from wireless pendants and other devices. The system could also include a direct connect module that receives and passes alarm signals onto the data bus from a premises based direct connect subsystem having wired stations and/or sensors. A telephone module could be operatively connected to the data bus for receiving alarm signals from a telephone of a residence through the telephone network and to the telephone module.

Claims

1. An emergency call system comprising:

a data bus that receives alarm signals for a premises having a plurality of resident occupied residences from which alarm signals may generate and be passed through;

a bus controller operatively connected to said data bus for controlling access of data relating to alarm signals generating from different resident occupied residences on the data bus for further processing of the data relating to the alarm signals and each residence on the premises including at least a wireless device, a wired station and/or sensor or a telephone, each for generating alarm signals, and further comprising at least one of;

a wireless device module operatively connected to said data bus for receiving and passing alarm signals onto the data bus from a premises based wireless subsystem having at least one wireless receiver operatively connected to said wireless device module that receives wireless alarm signals from wireless devices;

a direct connect module operatively connected to said data bus for receiving and passing alarm signals onto the data bus from a premises based direct connect subsystem having wired stations and/or sensors wired to said direct connect module, said wired stations and/or sensors generating alarm signals thereto; and

a telephone module operatively connected to said data bus and a telephone network for receiving and passing alarm signals onto said data bus and/or to a wireless staff phone from a premises based telephone that is operatively connected to said telephone network such as to forward alarm signals from said telephone through said telephone network and to said telephone module.

2. An emergency call system according to claim 1, wherein said telephone network comprises a public switched telephone network.

3. An emergency call system according to claim 1, and further comprising an annunciator operatively connected to said data bus for receiving alarm signals from one of said wireless device module, direct connect module or telephone module for indicating an alarm signal.

4. An emergency call system according to claim 3, and further comprising a printer operatively connected to said data bus and annunciator that logs alarm events in real time and/or prints reports regarding the emergency call system operation.

5. An emergency call system according to claim 1, and further comprising a paging apparatus operatively connected to said data bus for generating a paging signal in response to an alarm signal.

6. An emergency call system according to claim 1, and further comprising a computer operatively connected to said data bus and wireless device module, direct connect module and telephone module for maintaining a database of alarm signals.

7. An emergency call system according to claim 1, wherein said wireless subsystem comprises one of at least a wireless pendant and/or a wireless alarm station.

8. An emergency call system according to claim 1, wherein said direct connect subsystem comprises one of at least a plurality of smoke detectors, resident check-in stations, emergency call stations, door switches, intercom and/or corridor speakers.

9. An emergency call system according to claim 1, wherein said telephone subsystem comprises at least one premises based telephone that is operative from a wireless pendant for generating an alarm signal through said telephone network to said telephone module.

10. An emergency call system according to claim 1, wherein said direct connect subsystem further comprises a wired station that is operative from a wireless pendant for generating an alarm signal through said wired subsystem to said direct connect module.

11. An emergency call system for a premises having a plurality of resident occupied residences and comprising a head end platform positioned at a selected location within said premises and comprising:

a data bus that receives alarm signals for the premises from the different resident occupied residences;

a bus controller operatively connected to said data bus for controlling access of data relating to alarm signals generating from different resident occupied residences on the data bus for further processing of the data relating to the alarm signals and each resident on the premises including at least a wireless device, a wired station and/or sensor or a telephone, each for generating alarm signals, and further comprising at least one of;

a wireless device module operatively connected to said data bus for receiving and passing alarm signals onto the data bus from a premises based wireless subsystem having at least one wireless receiver operatively connected to said wireless device module, said wireless receiver being operative to receive wireless alarm signals from wireless devices of residents within the premises;

a direct connect module operatively connected to said data bus for receiving and passing alarm signals onto the data bus from a premises based direct connect subsystem having wired stations and/or sensors located within residences and wired to said direct connect module, wherein the stations and/or sensors are operative for generating alarm signals to the direct connect module; and

a telephone module operatively connected to said data bus and a telephone network for receiving and passing alarm signals onto said data bus and/or to a wireless staff phone from a premises based resident telephone within a residence of said premises, which is operatively connected to said telephone network such as to forward alarm signals from said telephone through said telephone network and to said telephone module.

12. An emergency call system according to claim 11, wherein said telephone network comprises a public switched telephone network.

13. An emergency call system according to claim 11, and further comprising an annunciator operatively connected to said data bus for receiving alarm signals from one of said wireless device module, direct connect module or telephone module for indicating an alarm signal.

14. An emergency call system according to claim 13, and further comprising a printer operatively connected to said data bus and annunciator that logs system events in real time and/or prints reports regarding system operation.

15. An emergency call system according to claim 11, and further comprising a paging apparatus operatively connected to said data bus for generating a paging signal in response to an alert signal.

16. An emergency call system according to claim 11, and further comprising a computer operatively connected to said data bus and wireless device module, direct connect module and telephone module for maintaining a database of premises based alert signals.

17. An emergency call system according to claim 11, wherein said wireless subsystem comprises one of at least a personal pendant transmitter and/or a wireless alarm station.

18. An emergency call system according to claim 11, wherein said direct connect subsystem comprises one of at least a plurality of smoke detectors, resident check-in stations, emergency call stations, door switches, intercom and/or corridor speakers.

19. An emergency call system according to claim 11, wherein said telephone subsystem comprises at least one premises based telephone that is operative from a wireless pendant worn by a resident for generating an alarm signal through said telephone network to said telephone module.

20. An emergency call system according to claim 11, wherein said direct connect subsystem further comprises a wired station that is operative from a wireless pendant worn by a resident for generating an alarm signal through said wired subsystem to said direct connect module.