Portable emergency device

• US 8,359,000 B2
• Filed: 06/07/2010
• Issued: 01/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Barbara J. Fee
• Original Assignee: Barbara J. Fee
• Inventors: Fee, Barbara J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ngo, Chuong A
• Application Number:
  US12/795,165
• Publication Number:
  US 20110045797A1
• Time in Patent Office: 960 Days
• Field of Search: 4554041-409, 4554141-415, 455/440, 4554561-458, 455/422.1, 455/423
• US Class Current: 455/404.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72418 for supporting emergency services

Abstract

A portable emergency device is disclosed. The device contains an internal antenna for allowing two-way communications, a speaker, an activation button to be pressed in case of an emergency, a microphone, a battery for powering the device and a GPS tracking device that allows emergency personnel to locate the person. The device performs in two operation modes, wherein in one mode a call is placed to a public emergency service provider, and in the second mode a call is placed to the public emergency service provider and a recorded message is transmitted along with the location of the device. The device is particularly useful for the elderly and the handicapped that they can use in case of an emergency.

Claims

1. A portable emergency device comprising:

a housing;

an antenna operable to transmit and receive signals compatible in a cellular network, a battery operable to power the device, a global positioning system (GPS) operable to obtain the location of the device, a processor and a database operable to store a recorded message; and

a speaker, microphone, and actuator mounted on the housing, the processor operable to process the actuation of the actuator so as to perform in sequence a first mode of operation and then a second mode of operation, in the first mode of operation the device places a call to a public emergency service provider (PESP) and the device is operable to provide two-way communication with the PESP, in the second mode of operation the device provides the recorded message to the PESP and the GPS location of the device, wherein a single actuation of the actuator initiates the first mode of operation and a second actuation of the actuator within a predetermined period of time within the single actuation initiates the second mode of operation.

2. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the actuator is a button disposed on the outer surface of the housing.

3. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the GPS is a GPS tracking device operable to transmit the longitudinal and latitudinal coordinates of the device.

4. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the processor is operable to actuate the GPS and obtain the current location of the device, and the processor is further operable to process the location so as to transmit to the PESP an audible communication providing the current location of the device.

5. The device as set forth in claim 1, further including a port operable to receive a line for charging the battery and for downloading a recorded message.

6. The device as set forth in claim 5, wherein the port is configured to receive a micro universal serial bus.

7. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the speaker is voice-enhanced so as to amplify the volume of the verbal communications received through the speaker.

8. The device as set forth in claim 1, further including clip mounted to the outer surface of the housing, the clip operable to engage the device with an article of clothing or a structure having a generally planar member.

9. The device as set forth in claim 1, further including a ring mounted to the outer surface of the housing, the ring operable to receive an attachment device so as to secure the ring to the attachment device.

10. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the first mode of operation further includes actuating the GPS so as to obtain the current location of the device.

11. The device as set forth in claim 10, further including a display, the display in communication with the processor, the processor operable to process the current location of the device and display the current location of the device onto the display.

12. The device as set forth in claim 11, wherein the current location of the device is transmitted to the PESP.

13. The device as set forth in claim 1, further including a recorder operable to record a message.

14. A method for contacting a designated public emergency service provider (PESP) by a person in distress, the method includes a device having an actuator, global positioning system (GPS), an antenna, a processor, a microphone, a speaker, a recorder operable to record a message, and a database, the method comprising the steps of:

actuating the actuator once so as to place the device in a first operation mode, or actuating the actuator twice so as to place the device in a second operation mode, wherein in the first operation mode a call is placed directly to the designated PESP wherein the user may communicate verbally to the designated PESP the nature of the distress and the user'"'"'s present location, and in the second operation mode the method includes the step of placing a call directly to the designated PESP and playing the recorded message providing the designated PESP, and providing the designated PESP with the user'"'"'s current GPS location, wherein the device is placed in the first operation mode upon actuation of the actuator, and wherein the device is placed in the second operation mode upon a second actuation of the actuator within a predetermined period of time of the first actuation.

15. The method as set forth in claim 14, wherein the first operation mode further includes the step of actuating the GPS so as to determine the present location of the device.

16. The method as set forth in claim 15, wherein, the second operation mode further includes the step of providing the designated PESP with the user'"'"'s current GPS location in the form of a text message.

17. The method as set forth in claim 15, wherein, the second operation mode further includes the step of providing the designated PESP with the user'"'"'s current GPS location in the form of a pre-recorded verbal communication.

18. The method as set forth in claim 14, further including the step of waiting a predetermined period after the first actuation of the actuator before placing the call.