Portable alarm and methods of transmitting alarm data

• US 7,327,220 B2
• Filed: 06/14/2004
• Issued: 02/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tattletale LLC
• Original Assignee: Tattletale Portable Alarm Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Hess, Brian K.
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, TAI T
• Application Number:
  US10/867,124
• Publication Number:
  US 20050030174A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,331 Days
• Field of Search: 340/286.11, 340/531, 340/539.1, 340/540, 340/541, 340/426, 340/436
• US Class Current: 340/286.11
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence

Abstract

A portable alarm having an intelligent communications interface is provided. The portable alarm may transmit digital wireless data wirelessly to a location external to the portable alarm. Methods of transmitting alarm data from a portable alarm are provided. The alarm data may be converted to wireless digital data and transmitted wirelessly.

Claims

1. An alarm, comprising:

a portable alarm having an alarm enclosure;

a processor for receiving alarm data, wherein said processor is in said alarm enclosure; and

an intelligent communications interface in said alarm enclosure wherein;

said intelligent communications interface is connected to said processor;

said intelligent communications interface is configured to receive alarm data from said processor;

said intelligent communications interface converts at least a portion of said alarm data to wireless digital data; and

said intelligent communications interface is configured to wirelessly transmit said wireless digital data to a location external to said portable alarm, wherein said location comprises an interactive alarm processor that processes said wireless digital data and transmits said processed wireless digital data to any fixed or portable device;

wherein said fixed or portable device sends control data to said interactive alarm processor, and wherein said interactive alarm processor processes said control data and sends said control data to said intelligent communications interface.

2. The alarm as claimed in claim 1 wherein said location comprises a device.

3. The alarm as claimed in claim 2 wherein said wireless digital data is transmitted to said device via a service center.

4. The alarm as claimed in claim 1 wherein said location comprises a plurality of locations.

5. The alarm as claimed in claim 1 wherein said location comprises a service center.

6. The alarm as claimed in claim 1 wherein said wireless digital data comprises digital textual data.

7. The alarm as claimed in claim 6 wherein said digital textual data comprises a short message service type data.

8. The alarm as claimed in claim 1 wherein said wireless digital data comprises a multimedia messaging service type data.

9. The alarm as claimed in claim 1 wherein said wireless digital data comprises a general packet radio service type data.

10. The alarm as claimed in claim 1 wherein said intelligent communications interface further comprises a radio that transmits said digital wireless data to said location.

11. The alarm as claimed in claim 1 wherein said control data controls said portable alarm.

12. The alarm as claimed in claim 1 wherein said central monitoring station sends control data to said interactive alarm processor, and wherein said interactive alarm processor processes said control data and sends said control data to said intelligent communications interface.

13. The alarm as claimed in claim 12 wherein said control data from said central monitoring station controls said portable alarm.

14. A method for transmitting alarm data from a portable alarm having a processor for receiving alarm data and an intelligent communications interface connected to said processor for receiving alarm data, comprising:

transmitting alarm data from said processor for receiving alarm data to said intelligent communications interface;

converting said alarm data to wireless digital data using said intelligent communications interface;

causing said wireless digital data to be wirelessly transmitted from said portable alarm to a service center external from said portable alarm;

transmitting said wireless digital data from said service center to an interactive alarm processor;

processing said wireless digital data in said interactive alarm processor and further transmitting said processed wireless digital data to another device; and

sending control data from said device to said interactive alarms processor, processing the control data to a wireless digital data format in said interactive alarm processor, and transmitting said control data to said intelligent communications interface.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14 wherein said step of converting said alarm data to wireless digital data comprises converting said alarm data to textual digital data.

16. The method as claimed in claim 14 wherein said step of converting said alarm data to wireless digital data comprises converting said alarm data to a data type selected from a short message service type, a multimedia messaging service type, and a general packet radio service type.

17. The method as claimed in claim 14 further comprising the step of transmitting said wireless digital data from said wireless service center to a digital device.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17 wherein said digital device is portable.

19. The method as claimed in claim 17 further comprising the steps of transmitting control data from said portable digital device to said service center and transmitting said control data from said service center to said intelligent communications interface.

20. The method as claimed in claim 14 further comprising the step of processing said wireless digital data in said interactive alarm processor and further transmitting said processed wireless digital data to a central monitoring station.

21. The method as claimed in claim 20 wherein said device is selected from a portable device and a static device.

22. The method as claimed in claim 20 wherein said processed digital data is transmitted to said device via a network selected from a wireless network, an internet network, a voice network, and a paging network.

23. The method as claimed in claim 20 further comprising the steps of sending control data from said central mentoring station to said interactive alarms processor, processing the control data to a wireless digital data format in said interactive alarm processor, and transmitting said control data to said intelligent communications interface.

24. The method as claimed in claim 14 further comprising configuring said interactive alarm processor such that a user may access and configure said interactive alarm processor.