Automated emergency detection and response
First Claim
1. A system for detecting and responding to emergency events occurring in a predetermined local area, comprising a plurality of local emergency detection and response units to be positioned in the local area, each local emergency detection and response unit including one or more local sensing agents and a local detection manager, the local detection manager including a local processor, each local sensing agent being operable to detect a change in a given emergency factor in the local area and to convey data representative of the change in the emergency factor, the detection manager being operable to receive the data and to assign a value to the emergency factor according to the data, and a local interface agent for issuing, on a data path, one or more event status signals including the assigned value for the emergency factor, a central location controller unit including a central processor and a central interface agent in communication with the local interface agent on the data path to receive the event status messages therefrom, each local emergency detection and response unit including a local emergency event response agent for responding to at least one person in or near the local area, the central location controller unit and/or the local emergency detection and response unit being operable for classifying the assigned value of the emergency function to form an assigned value classification and initiating the local emergency event response agent to implement a response protocol according to the assigned value classification, the response protocol including dispatching a message to the person and recording a response therefrom, the central processor including a ranking agent for ranking status signals being received from more than one local emergency detection and response unit in the same local area.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for detecting and responding to emergency events includes a plurality of local emergency detection and response units positioned in a local area. Each unit includes one or more local sensing agents and a local detection manager. Each local sensing agent is operable to detect emergency events by a change in a given emergency factor in the local area and to convey data representative of the change in the emergency factor to a detection manager which is operable to receive the data and to assign a value to the emergency factor according to the data. A central location controller unit and/or the local emergency detection and response unit are operable for classifying the assigned value of the emergency function to form an assigned value classification and for initiating the local emergency event response agent to implement a response protocol according to the assigned value classification.
29 Citations
21 Claims
- 1. A system for detecting and responding to emergency events occurring in a predetermined local area, comprising a plurality of local emergency detection and response units to be positioned in the local area, each local emergency detection and response unit including one or more local sensing agents and a local detection manager, the local detection manager including a local processor, each local sensing agent being operable to detect a change in a given emergency factor in the local area and to convey data representative of the change in the emergency factor, the detection manager being operable to receive the data and to assign a value to the emergency factor according to the data, and a local interface agent for issuing, on a data path, one or more event status signals including the assigned value for the emergency factor, a central location controller unit including a central processor and a central interface agent in communication with the local interface agent on the data path to receive the event status messages therefrom, each local emergency detection and response unit including a local emergency event response agent for responding to at least one person in or near the local area, the central location controller unit and/or the local emergency detection and response unit being operable for classifying the assigned value of the emergency function to form an assigned value classification and initiating the local emergency event response agent to implement a response protocol according to the assigned value classification, the response protocol including dispatching a message to the person and recording a response therefrom, the central processor including a ranking agent for ranking status signals being received from more than one local emergency detection and response unit in the same local area.
- 14. A system for detecting and responding to emergency events occurring in a predetermined local area, comprising a plurality of local emergency detection and response units positioned in the local area, each local emergency detection and response unit including one or more local sensing agents and a local detection manager, the local detection manager including a local processor, each local sensing agent being operable to detect emergency events by a change in a given emergency factor in the local area and to convey data representative of the change in the emergency factor, the detection manager being operable to receive the data and to assign a value to the emergency factor according to the data, and a local interface agent for issuing, on data path, one or more event status messages including the assigned value for the emergency factor, a central location controller unit including a central processor and a central interface agent in communication with the local interface agent on the data path to receive the event status messages therefrom, each local emergency detection and response unit including a local emergency event response agent for responding to at least one person in or near the predetermined area, the central location controller unit and/or the local emergency detection and response unit being operable for classifying the assigned value of the emergency function to form an assigned value classification and for initiating the local emergency event response agent to implement a response protocol according to the assigned value classification.
- 16. A system for detecting and responding to emergency events occurring in a predetermined local area, comprising a plurality of local emergency detection and response units to be positioned in the local area, each local emergency detection and response unit including one or more local sensing agents and a local detection manager, the local detection manager including a local processor, each local sensing agent being operable to detect a change in a given emergency factor in the local area and to convey data representative of the change in the emergency factor, the detection manager being operable to receive the data and to assign a value to the emergency factor according to the data, and a local interface agent for issuing, on a data path, one or more event status signals including the assigned value for the emergency factor, each local emergency detection and response unit including a local emergency event response agent for responding to at least one person in or near the local area, the local emergency detection and response unit being operable for classifying the assigned value of the emergency function to form an assigned value classification and initiating the local emergency event response agent to implement a response protocol according to the assigned value classification, the response protocol including dispatching a message to the person and recording a response therefrom, one or more of the local detection and response units responsive to data received on the data path for ranking status signals received from more than one local emergency detection and response unit in the same local area, one or more of the local emergency detection and response units being operable to select one of the emergency detection and response units according to the ranking as an active local emergency detection and response unit to initiate the emergency event response protocol.
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19. A method for detecting and responding to emergency events occurring in a predetermined local area, comprising:
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i. providing a local emergency detection and response unit in the local area, ii. providing the local emergency detection and response unit with one or more local sensing agents and a local detection manager with a local processor, iii. configuring the local sensing agents to detect an emergency event by a change in a corresponding emergency factor in the local area, and to generate data representative of the change in the emergency factor, arranging the detection manager to assign a value to the emergency factor according to the first data, iv. providing a local interface agent for issuing, on a data path, one or more event status signals including the assigned value for the emergency factor, v. providing a local emergency event response agent for responding to at least one person in or near the local area, and vi. configuring the local interface agent to receive an initiation signal for initiating the local emergency event response agent to implement a response protocol according to an assigned value.
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20. A method for detecting and responding to emergency events occurring in a predetermined local area, comprising:
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i. providing a plurality of local emergency detection and response sites in the local area; ii. providing each local emergency detection and response site with one or more local sensing agents; iii. configuring the sensing agents to sense a change in a predetermined emergency factor in the local area; iv. providing a detection manager at each site to receive, from each sensing local sensing agent, data representative of the change in the emergency factor, v. arranging the detection manager to assign a value to the emergency factor according to the data; vi. dispatching, over a data path, one or more event status messages including the assigned value for the emergency factor; vii. providing a central location controller to receive, in a first operative phase, the event status messages over the data path; and viii. configuring the central location controller, in a second operative phase, to; 1. classify the assigned value of the emergency factor to form an assigned value classification; 2. rank the status messages according to one or more ranking criteria, 3. select one of the emergency detection and response sites according to the ranking as an active local emergency detection and response site to initiate an emergency event response protocol; and 4. instruct the selected active local emergency detection and response site to initiate the emergency event response protocol. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification