Alarm system and method

• US 6,980,105 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2004
• Issued: 12/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Todd Robert Hodgen
• Original Assignee: Todd Robert Hodgen
• Inventors: Hodgen, Todd Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Tai T.
• Application Number:
  US10/833,415
• Publication Number:
  US 20040217870A1
• Time in Patent Office: 608 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.11, 340/426, 340/430, 340/825.44, 340/825.69, 307/10.2, 307/10.3, 307/10.4, 307/10.5
• US Class Current: 340/539.11
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/001 Alarm cancelling procedures or alarm forwarding decisions, e.g. based on absence of alarm confirmation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12

Abstract

In an integrated system of alarm components used in the real estate industry, the product family consists of three primary components: a portable transmitter unit, a vehicle-mounted transceiver unit, and a house-installed receiver unit. The system is intended to enhance the personal safety of real estate professionals who venture into the field, e.g., to show vacant houses to potential buyers.

The transmitter is sized to be handheld, attached with a belt clip, or carried in pocket. When a panic button on the transmitter is depressed, the transmitter sends coded radio frequency signals which will activate either or both of the vehicle-mounted transceiver and the house-installed receiver as well as other system devices within range. When the transceiver is activated, the unit'"'"'s horn will sound, and the transceiver will in turn transmit a coded radio frequency signal to any one or more identified receiver units sharing the same signal code. The receiver unit also comprises a horn that will sound upon receipt of the correct signal. Additionally, contacts are operated to signal ancillary devices that are interfaced to the unit.

Claims

1. A personal alarm system comprising:

A personal transmitter unit to be carried by a user, comprising a panic button, a flashlight with flash button, a test button, and at least one deactivation button, said buttons being arranged around an integral alarm comprising percussion chamber with piezo device;

An auto transceiver unit installed in a user'"'"'vehicle connected wirelessly to the transmitter unit by a uniquely coded radio frequency signal, said transceiver unit including a cable containing a plurality of electrical wires for connecting the unit to the vehicle'"'"'s electrical system; and

A plurality of home receiver units connected wirelessly to the auto transceiver by a standard system coded radio frequency signal, each of said receiver units being installed into a standard electrical outlet in a house and comprising at least one integral alarm comprising a percussion chamber with piezo device wherein said home receiver unit further comprises a remote indicator light and a local/remote mode switch capable of setting the receiver unit either local mode or remote mode, wherein said home receiver unit is set in local mode and said integral alarm of said home receiver will be activated only upon receipt either one of the standard system coded radio frequency signals, and wherein said home receiver unit is set in remote mode and said integral alarm of said home receiver unit will be activated only upon receipt of both standard system coded radio frequency signal from the transmitter unit and the transceiver unit.

2. The alarm system of claim 1 wherein the personal transmitter unit further comprises a belt clip.

3. The alarm system of claim 1 wherein the personal transmitter unit further comprises a key ring.

4. The alarm system of claim 1 wherein the auto transceiver unit further includes a horn.

5. The alarm system of claim 1 wherein the auto transceiver unit further includes an antenna.

6. The alarm system of claim 1 wherein the auto transceiver unit further includes ancillary connections.

7. The alarm system of claim 1 wherein the auto transceiver unit further includes a learn button with software to configure the unit to recognize the unique code of the radio frequency signal transmitted from the personal transmitter unit.

8. The alarm system of claim 1 wherein said home receiver units are also wirelessly connected to the transmitter unit by said standard system coded radio frequency signal.

9. A personal alarm system including personal transmitter unit, auto transceiver unit and home receiver unit, all connected wirelessly to each other by uniquely coded radio frequency signal, comprising the steps of:

A user, typically a real estate agent, depressing a panic button on said personal transmitter unit carried on her person;

Said transmitter unit sounding an alarm integrally contained within said transmitter unit, and also transmitting a first radio frequency signal carrying a unique rolling code;

Said first radio frequency signal with unique rolling code being received by said auto transceiver unit, and said auto transceiver unit responsively transmitting a radio frequency signal carrying a system standard code;

Said radio frequency signal with said system standard code being received by said home receiver unit attuned thereto and thereby activating an integral alarm of said receiver unit wherein said home receiver unit further comprises a remote indicator light and a local/remote mode switch capable of setting the receiver unit either local mode or remote mode, wherein said home receiver unit is set in local mode and said integral alarm of said home receiver will be activated only upon receipt either one of the standard system coded radio frequency signals, and wherein said home receiver unit is set in remote mode and said integral alarm of said home receiver unit will be activated only upon receipt of both standard system coded radio frequency signal from the transmitter unit and the transceiver unit.

10. The personal alarm system of claim 9 wherein said personal transmitter unit further comprises a built-in flashlight with flash button.

11. The personal alarm system of claim 9 wherein said personal transmitter unit further comprises a cancel button for deactivating the alarm once sounded.

12. The personal alarm system of claim 9 wherein a deactivation code of said personal transmitter can be set by the user with said cancel button in combination with other available buttons.

13. The personal alarm system of claim 9 wherein said auto transceiver unit further comprises an antenna capable of extending the receive range of said transceiver.

14. The personal alarm system of claim 9 wherein said transmitter unit also transmits a second radio frequency signal carrying said standard system code.

15. The personal alarm system of claim 9 wherein said transceiver unit further comprises a learn button with software for recognizing the unique rolling code of the radio frequency signal transmitting from the transmitter unit.