Combination alarm device with enhanced wireless notification and position location features

• US 7,567,174 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2005
• Issued: 07/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jon A. Woodard, Noel U. Woodard
• Original Assignee: Jon A. Woodard, Noel U. Woodard
• Inventors: Woodard, Noel U., Woodard, Jon A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bugg, George A
• Application Number:
  US11/320,011
• Publication Number:
  US 20060265195A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,309 Days
• Field of Search: 340/540, 340/539.26
• US Class Current: 340/539.26
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 17/10 Actuation by presence of smoke or gases , e.g. automatic alarm devices for analysing flowing fluid materials by the use of optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence

Abstract

A device and method for determining and automatically transmitting a geographic location of a wireless alarm device during a potential emergency utilizing enhanced wireless communication and position location systems. In one aspect, a wireless alarm device includes a smoke alarm interfaced with a wireless transceiver, configured to operate over a plurality of existing wireless telecommunications and position location networks. The wireless transceiver can be a cellular processor comprising multiple radio frequency bands and air interface standards with an integrated memory for storing emergency identification information. Another aspect includes an integrated assisted global positioning receiver and broadcast television receiver, configured to operate with global positioning systems and broadcast television positioning systems. In one mode of operation, upon sensing the presence of smoke, the wireless transceiver automatically transmits stored emergency identification information signals and a geographic location of the wireless alarm device to a dispatch center.

Claims

1. A wireless alarm device for detecting a hazardous condition, the device comprising:

a sensor for detecting a hazardous condition in a environment;

a alarm control circuit, in communication with the sensor, the control circuit configured to generate a alarm signal in response to the sensor detecting the hazardous condition;

a disable means for temporarily disabling at least one function of the alarm control circuit;

a wireless transceiver having a integrated memory that includes an wireless enhanced 911 feature with emergency identification information, the transceiver coupled to the alarm control circuit to automatically transmit the emergency identification information to a dispatch center upon receiving the signal from the alarm control circuit;

wherein the wireless transceiver is configured to transmit a plurality of mobile telephone radio frequency signals;

wherein the emergency identification information comprises at least a geographic location of the wireless alarm device.

2. The wireless alarm device of claim 1, wherein the sensor is at least one of a smoke sensor for detecting a hazardous threshold of smoke, a carbon monoxide sensor for detecting a hazardous threshold of carbon monoxide, and a heat sensor for detecting a hazardous threshold of heat.

3. The wireless alarm device of claim 2, wherein the alarm control circuit is configured to output at least one of a first unique alarm signal indicating a fire emergency, and a second type of unique alarm signal indicating a carbon monoxide emergency.

4. The wireless alarm device of claim 3, wherein the emergency identification information is further comprises:

at least one of a first type of encoding indicating a fire emergency, and a second type of encoding indicating a carbon monoxide emergency.

5. The wireless alarm device of claim 4, wherein the emergency identification information further comprises:

a encoded synthesized voice message to indicate at least one of a fire emergency, a carbon monoxide emergency, and a geographic location on the wireless alarm device.

6. The wireless alarm device of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one of a global positioning satellite system receiver and a broadcast television system receiver in communication with the wireless transceiver.

7. The wireless alarm device of claim 1, further comprising:

a radio frequency signal verification means, for verifying a radio frequency signal to at least one of the wireless transceiver, the global positioning satellite system receiver, and the broadcast television system receiver.

8. The wireless alarm device of claim 7, wherein the radio frequency signal verification means comprises a liquid crystal display configured to display at least alpha numeric characters.

9. The wireless alarm device of claim 1, further comprising:

a wireless network transceiver, in communication with the alarm control circuit, configured with at least one wireless networking radio frequency band.

10. The wireless alarm device of claim 9, wherein the wireless network transceiver is configured with a wireless internet protocol.

11. The wireless alarm device of claim 10, wherein the wireless network transceiver is configured with at least one of a IEEE 802.11 wireless networking standard, and a IEEE 802.16 wireless networking standard.

12. The wireless alarm device of claim 11, wherein the wireless network transceiver is configured to communicate with at least one of a remotely located alarm device, a remotely located hub, and a remotely located terminal.

13. The wireless alarm device of claim 1, further comprising:

a housing means encompassing at least the sensor, the alarm control circuit, and the wireless transceiver.

14. The wireless alarm device of claim 1, wherein the alarm control circuit is coupled to a audible alarm that activates when signal is received from the sensor.

15. The wireless alarm device of claim 1, wherein the alarm control circuit is coupled to a visual alarm that activates when signal is received from the sensor.

16. The wireless alarm device of claim 1, wherein the visual alarm comprises at least a white light emitting diode.

17. The wireless alarm device of claim 1, further comprising:

a alarm interconnection circuit comprising at least one of a audio alarm signal receiver, and a alternate current power line signal transceiver.

18. A wireless alarm system comprising:

a wireless transceiver having one or more mobile telephone radio frequency bands, and one or more mobile telephone air interface standards, wherein the wireless transceiver is coupled to a radio frequency verification circuit having a radio frequency indicator;

a memory couple to the wireless transceiver, the memory comprising at least emergency identification information;

at least one of a broadcast television positioning system receiver and a global positioning satellite system receiver, in communication with the wireless transceiver and the radio frequency signal verification circuit;

a alarm control circuit coupled to the wireless transceiver, a audio alarm, a visual alarm, and a time delay circuit;

a audio alarm signal receiver circuit coupled to the alarm control circuit, wherein the receiver circuit is configured to store, receive, convert, and compare distinct audio signal frequencies from remotely located alarm devices and generate a activation signal;

a sensor coupled to the alarm control circuit, configured to detect at least one of a amount of smoke, a amount of carbon monoxide, and a amount of heat;

a power source comprising at least one of a direct current and a alternate current, coupled to at least the sensor and the wireless transceiver.

19. A method for notifying a dispatch center of an emergency condition, the method comprising:

monitoring a environment for at least a threshold of smoke;

sensing at least a threshold level of smoke with a sensor;

activating an alarm with an alarm control circuit, the alarm control circuit in communication with the sensor and configured to be activated upon the sensor sensing at least the threshold level of smoke;

generating an alarm signal from the alarm control circuit;

verifying that the alarm is a emergency event, wherein a user may determine if the alarm is a false alarm and disable the alarm signal from the alarm control circuit;

receiving the signal with a wireless transceiver coupled to the alarm control circuit, the wireless transceiver having an integrated processor and memory;

initiating a wireless 911 emergency call, wherein the processor includes instructions to automatically transmit an amount of emergency identification information stored in the memory;

transmitting the emergency identification information to a dispatch center, wherein the emergency identification information includes at least a geographic location of the wireless transceiver.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the wireless transceiver is in communication with at least one of a global positioning satellite system receiver and a broadcast television positioning system receiver configured to determine the geographic location of the emergency condition.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the environment comprises the interior of at least one of a recreational vehicle, a motor home, and a travel trailer.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the transmitting step further comprises transmitting the emergency identification information and geographic location of the wireless transceiver to one or more remotely located public safety personnel, wherein the public safety personnel are equipped with at least one of a mobile cellular telephone, a mobile computer, and a personal digital assistant.