Versatile personal medical emergency communication system
DCFirst Claim
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
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(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.
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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.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A versatile personal emergency response communications system, comprising:
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(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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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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. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
- (2) a first microprocessor unit;
Specification