Versatile personal medical emergency communication system

• US 8,548,422 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2009
• Issued: 10/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nevin Jenkins
• Original Assignee: Nevin Jenkins
• Inventors: Jenkins, Nevin C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hu, Jinsong
• Assistant Examiner(s): TAYLOR, NATHAN SCOTT
• Application Number:
  US12/398,860
• Publication Number:
  US 20090227223A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,671 Days
• Field of Search: 4554041-4042, 455/425, 455/445, 379 37- 40, 379/45, 379/48
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/045 using recorded signals, e.g. speech

Abstract

A versatile personal emergency, especially medical emergency, communication system includes a user-carried portable communication unit having a single button, which when depressed by the user, wirelessly sends a call request signal to a base unit. The base unit initiates a telephone call through a dial-up network to an emergency response center and places an operator at the emergency center in wireless voice communication with the portable unit when the call is connected. The telephone number of the emergency responder to be called is stored in the system. A program is used to set up the system to a selected one of a central monitoring station and a 911 operator. Voice messages are stored in the system and are used to advise the user of the status of the call, and to provide the user with verbal confirmation that functional systems of the base unit are operating properly. The units are programmable selectively by phone, voice or computer.

Claims

1. A versatile personal emergency response communications system, comprising:

(a) a portable communications unit intended to be carried by a user who may require emergency attention, including (1) a wireless transmitter—

receiver for respectively transmitting and receiving communication signals;

(2) a first microprocessor unit;

(3) an emergency call button manually actuatable by a user to initiate a call request signal;

(4) a test button manually actuatable by the user to initiate a system condition request;

(5) a microphone through which the user can communicate by voice during a two-way voice communication between the user and an emergency responder;

(6) a speaker to hear voice communications during a two-way voice communication between the user and the emergency responder and to hear voice messages;

(7) an indicator for showing visually a status of the system; and

(8) a battery;

(b) a base communications unit for coupling with a public dial-up telephone system for establishing two-way voice communication via the public dial-up telephone system between the user through the portable communications unit and an emergency responder, the base unit including (1) a wireless transmitter-receiver for respectively transmitting and receiving communication signals from and to the portable communications unit ;

(2) a dialer for dialing a telephone number to establish two-way voice communication between the user and an emergency responder connected to the dial-up telephone system;

(3) a second microprocessor unit;

(4) a first connection for connecting a telephone to the base communications unit;

(5) a second connection for connecting a computer to the base communications unit;

(6) a power connection;

(7) circuitry for conducting tests for determining system condition and generating a signal for transmission to the portable communications unit; and

;

(c) a non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing computer readable and executable instructions, and a plurality of voice messages concerning (i) dialing an emergency responder responsive to the actuation of the emergency call button to place the user on the portable communications unit in two-way voice communication with the emergency responder (ii) results of system testing;

(d) wherein execution of the computer readable and executable instructions cause the versatile personal emergency response communications system (1) to be enabled to program the versatile personal emergency response communications system to selectively dial a central monitoring station instead of 911;

(2) to be enabled to put the versatile personal emergency response communications system into a learning mode to be programmed responsive to (i) a predetermined key sequence of a telephone connected to the first connection of the base communications unit, (ii) a preloaded program in a computer connected to the second connection of the base communications unit, and (iii) by voice input to the microphone of the portable communications unit responsive to a predetermined actuation of the emergency call button and the test button of the portable communications unit;

(3) to enable the versatile personal emergency response communications system to program the versatile personal emergency response communications system to selectively dial at least one of a list of prioritized telephone numbers and names of a plurality of third parties stored in the system;

(4) to perform versatile personal emergency response communications system viability tests including at least one of battery condition, range test, phone line check, and voice recognition test;

(5) to generate and transmit a voice message to the portable communications unit indicative of a viability test result that is played through the speaker of the portable communications unit (6) to establish two-way voice communication between the user speaking through the microphone and hearing through the speaker of the portable communications unit and the selected one of 911, a central monitoring station and one of said third parties responsive to the actuation of the emergency call button;

(7) at the user'"'"'s selection to dial successively the list of prioritized telephone numbers and names of the plurality of third parties until one answers and a correct preset code is received, to establish two-way voice communication between user speaking through the microphone and hearing through the speaker of the portable communications unit and the answering one of said third parties, and if none answer, then to dial automatically the selected one of 911 and a central monitoring station (8) to monitor the user speech through the microphone of the portable communication unit to determine if within a predetermined set time following actuation of the emergency call button, the user'"'"'s voice instructs dialing one of the list of prioritized telephone numbers and names of the plurality of third parties, and if the third party answers, but no acknowledgement by appropriate preset code is received within a predetermined time, the versatile personal emergency response communications system will automatically dial the selected one of 911 and a central monitoring station, and if there is no answer by the third party within a predetermined time, the versatile personal emergency response communications system will automatically dial the selected one of 911 and a central monitoring station;

(9) to play stored voice messages to the user through the speaker in the portable communications unit; and

(10) to detect status of a call to the selected one of the emergency responders.

2. The versatile personal emergency response communications system according to claim 1 wherein the voice messages include a first voice message indicating that the telephone number of the emergency responder is being dialed, and a second voice message indicating that the call to the emergency responder is being terminated.

3. The versatile personal emergency response communications system according to claim 1 wherein the computer readable and executable instructions include terminating an initiated call responsive to actuation of at least one of the emergency call button and the test button on the portable communications unit in a predetermined manner.

4. The versatile personal emergency response communications system according to claim 1 wherein the computer readable and executable instructions cause the versatile personal emergency response communications system to sense if a phone line of a coupled public dial-up telephone system is out and responsive thereto transmit an indication thereof to the portable communications unit, and thereafter continuously monitor to determine phone line restoration and responsive thereto transmit an indication thereof to the portable communications unit.

5. The versatile personal emergency response communications system according to claim 1 wherein the computer readable and executable instructions cause the versatile personal emergency response communications system, responsive to a predetermined actuation of the test button, to transmit a test request signal to the base unit to perform a specified test correlated with the predetermined actuation of the test button and to initiate a voice message via the speaker in the portable communications unit announcing the results of the specified test.

6. The versatile personal emergency response communications system according to claim 1 wherein the indicator of the portable communications unit is a lamp for visually indicating the operational status of the portable unit.

7. The system versatile personal emergency response communications according to claim 1 wherein the computer readable and executable instructions for the versatile personal emergency response communications system include a requirement to enter a secret code in order to be able to program a central monitoring station.

8. The versatile personal emergency response communications system according to claim 1 wherein the computer readable and executable instructions for the versatile personal emergency response communications system includes periodic checks with a central monitoring station when a central monitoring station has been selected.

9. The versatile personal emergency response communications system according to claim 1 wherein the portable communications unit includes a housing having an opening within which the emergency call button is mounted, and a raised ring circumscribing the emergency call button and extending outwardly from the surface of the housing to provide the user with a tactile guide for locating the emergency call button.

10. The versatile personal emergency response communications system according to claim 9 wherein the speaker of the portable communication unit is waterproof and is located behind a grill with slanted slats for water drain, the microphone is mounted in a waterproof manner in the housing, and a drain hole in the housing is provided for drainage of water.

11. The versatile personal emergency response communications system according to claim 10 wherein the portable communications unit further includes a shock detector for sensing the portable communications unit being subjected to a shock of a predetermined value, and when so sensed, responsive thereto the computer readable and executable instructions initiate the system to transmit a signal to the base communications unit to directly dial the selected one of 911 and the central monitoring station.

12. The versatile personal emergency response communications system according to claim 1 wherein the stored voice messages convey the following individual meanings:

(1) Battery is ok

(2) Replace battery soon

(3) Replace battery now

(4) Help is on the way your pendant is turning off

(5) No phone line present, please standby

(6) System check all functions are ok

(7) System check please standby

(8) System test failed

(9) This is a medical alarm emergency phone call;

please enter your pass code

(10) Your emergency phone call is now being dialed please standby.

13. The system versatile personal emergency response communications according to claim 1 further including a computer being coupled to the base communications unit, said computer containing an email program supported by a provider, said email program being programmed with at least one addressee for sending an email message that the user has activated his/her medical alert system, and being further programmed so that responsive to a signal from the base communications unit, the said email message is transmitted to said addressee.

14. The versatile personal emergency response communications system according to claim 1 further including a telephone number of at least one person known to the user stored in the versatile personal emergency response communications system and wherein the computer readable and executable instructions responsive to conclusion of notifying the selected one of 911 and the central monitoring station, as programmed, causes the stored telephone number of said at least one person to be dialed and when the telephone number answers a voice tag to be played continuously for a selected period of time advising that the user has activated his/her medical alert system.

15. The versatile personal emergency response communications system according to claim 1 wherein the versatile personal emergency response communications system further includes an unlocked cell phone capability to call 911 whereby responsive to loss of phone service on a coupled public dial-up telephone system to automatically switch to the unlocked cell phone and call 911.

16. The versatile personal emergency response communications system according to claim 1 wherein the versatile personal emergency response communications system further includes a back-up battery that is connected to be active responsive to power loss.

17. A method of calling an emergency response provider by a user requiring emergency attention by signaling via a user-carried, portable communications unit of a personal emergency response communications system that can place the user in direct voice communication with the emergency response provider, the personal emergency response communications system including the user-carried portable communications unit, a base communications unit and a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, said user-carried portable communications unit including (1) a wireless transmitter-receiver for respectively transmitting and receiving communication signals to and from a base communications unit;

(2) a first microprocessor unit;

(3) an emergency call button manually actuatable by a user to initiate a call request signal;

(4) a test button manually actuatable by the user to initiate a system condition request;

(5) a microphone through which user can communicate by voice during a two-way voice communication with an emergency response provider;

(6) a speaker to hear voice communications during a two-way voice communication with the emergency response provider and to hear voice messages;

(7) an indicator for showing visually status of the system; and

(8) a battery;

a base communications unit for coupling with a public dial-up telephone system for establishing two-way voice communication via the public dial-up telephone system between the user through the user-carried portable communications unit and an emergency response provider;

the base unit including (1) a wireless transmitter-receiver for respectively transmitting and receiving communication signals from and to the user-carried portable communications unit;

(2) a dialer for dialing a telephone number to establish two-way voice communication with an emergency response provider connected to the dial-up telephone system;

(3) a second microprocessor unit;

(4) a first connection for connecting a telephone to the base communication unit;

(5) a second connection for connecting a computer to the base communication unit;

(6) a power connection;

(7) circuitry for conducting tests for determining system condition and generating a signal for transmission to the indicator of the user-carried portable communications unit;

said non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing computer readable and executable instructions and a plurality of voice messages concerning (i) dialing an emergency response provider responsive to the actuation of the emergency call button, and (ii) results of system testing;

said method including the steps of;

(a1) connecting the personal emergency response communications system to a public dial-up telephone system;

(a2) operating the personal emergency response communications system responsive to preprogramming for dialing a selected one of 911 and a central monitoring station as the selected emergency response provider;

(b) putting the personal emergency response communications system into a mode to be programmed responsive to (i) a predetermined key sequence of a telephone connected to the first connection of the base communications unit, (ii) a preloaded program in a computer connected to the second connection of the base communications unit, and (iii) by voice input to the speaker of the user-carried portable communications unit responsive to a predetermined actuation of the emergency call button and the test button of the user-carried portable communications unit;

(c) programming the personal emergency response communications system to selectively dial at least one of a list of stored prioritized telephone numbers and names of a plurality of third parties;

(d) setting the personal emergency response communications system to perform a functional test of the operation of the personal emergency response communications system including at least one of battery condition, range test, phone line check, and voice recognition test;

(e) generating and transmitting a voice message to the user-carried portable communications unit of the result of a functional test and playing via the speaker in the user-carried portable communications unit;

(f) establishing two-way voice communication between the user-carried portable communications unit and the selected one of 911, a central monitoring station and one of said third parties responsive to the actuation of the emergency call button;

(g) monitoring the user'"'"'s speech responsive to the actuation of the emergency call button to determine if within a predetermined set time following actuation the user instructs dialing of one of the list of prioritized telephone numbers and names of the plurality of third parties, and if so, whether the third party answered, and acknowledged by appropriate preset code within a predetermined time, and if not, automatically dialing the selected one of 911 and a selected central monitoring station; and

(h) playing stored voice messages to the user through the speaker in the user-carried portable communications unit.

18. The method of claim 17 further including coupling an unlocked cell phone capability, without any service, to the base communication unit;

programming the system to store 911 and a central monitoring station as telephone numbers of emergency response providers, responsive to loss of communication from the base communication unit to the connected public dial-up telephone system, dialing a selected one of 911 and the central monitoring station via the coupled unlocked cell phone, and establishing two-way voice communication between the user-carried portable communications unit and the called emergency response provider.

19. The method of claim 17 further including the further steps of performing a functional test of the operation of the personal emergency response communications system in response to actuation of the test button on said user-carried portable communications unit;

and if the functional test is successful, reporting to the user via a voice message played through the speaker of the user-carried portable communications unit that the functional test performed was successful.

20. The method of claim 17 including the further steps of transmitting to the user via the speaker in the user-carried portable communication unit a voice message responsive to the base communication unit placing a call to an emergency response provider that a call is being placed, and responsive to termination of a call to an emergency response provider a voice message that the call to the emergency response provider is terminated.

21. The method of claim 17 wherein the plurality of messages stored in said non-transitory computer readable storage medium convey the following individual meanings:

(1) Battery is ok

(2) Replace battery soon

(3) Replace battery now

(4) Help is on the way your pendant is turning off

(5) No phone line present, please standby

(6) System check all functions are ok

(7) System check please standby

(8) System test failed

(9) This is a medical alarm emergency phone call;

please enter your pass code

(10) Your emergency phone call is now being dialed please standby; and

the method includes the further step of playing voice messages to the user via the speaker in the user-carried portable communication unit as appropriate.