Localized personal emergency response system

• US 8,682,284 B2
• Filed: 01/21/2009
• Issued: 03/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Brackett, Cameron, Lillegard, Gregory A.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, MAHENDRA R
• Application Number:
  US12/357,199
• Publication Number:
  US 20100184400A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,889 Days
• Field of Search: 4554041-402, 455/556.1, 455/414.2, 340/531, 340/573.1, 340/517, 379/45, 714/712
• US Class Current: 455/404.2
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/04 responsive to non-activity, e.g. of elderly persons G08B21/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems

Abstract

A personal emergency response system oriented to mobile individuals uses cell phones or other wireless devices as sources of an emergency indicating signal. A personal profile associated with that signal can be evaluated, along with location information to determine which emergency device(s) should be activated and which local messages should be produced to alert other individuals in the area as to the existence of an emergency.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

establishing a plurality of personal response profiles in a database with each personal response profile associated with a possible personal emergency of a person and with each personal response profile including information related to an optimal desired response for that person to a safety or health issue;

sensing an emergency indicating signal initiated by that person through a mobile device carried by the person;

a processor of a response coordinating unit receiving a personal response profile for that person including location information of the mobile device, the received personal response profile including information related to an optimal desired response for that person, and

responsive thereto, the processor retrieving that person'"'"'s personal response profile from the plurality of personal response profiles in the database;

the processor comparing at least some of the information related to the optimal desired response in that person'"'"'s retrieved personal response profile to the information related to the optimal desired response in that person'"'"'s received personal response profile in order to discern a service that the person is entitled to receive; and

responsive to the comparison of the personal response profiles, the processor transmitting an emergency indicating signal activating a nearby public safety or health device based upon the location information of the person, the activated nearby public safety or health device emits a visual alarm in the vicinity of the person.

2. A method as in claim 1 which includes, establishing at least one of a plurality of treatment devices, or, a plurality of communications devices and upon one of the devices receiving the emergency indicating signal, responsive thereto, emitting at least a visual alarm in the vicinity of the person.

3. A method as in claim 2 which includes emitting an audible alarm.

4. A method as in claim 3 where emitting an audible alarm includes emitting verbal instructions.

5. A method as in claim 2 which includes establishing a plurality of automatic emergency defibrillators as the treatment device and a telephone as the communications device.

6. A method as in claim 1 which includes establishing an originating location of the sensed signal.

7. A method as in claim 6 which includes establishing at least one emergency assistive device proximate to the location and transmitting an emergency signal to activate the device.

8. A method as in claim 7 where activating the device includes emitting at least one of a visual, or an audible emergency indicator.

9. A system comprising:

a plurality of emergency response devices where each member of the plurality has a communications port;

a locating system that identifies the location of members of the plurality of emergency response devices;

a database that contains a plurality of personal response profiles, where each personal response profile is associated with a possible personal emergency of a person and where each personal response profile includes information related to an optimal desired response for that person to a safety or health issue;

a port emergency signal generator that can emit an emergency indicating signal and transmit a pre-stored personal response profile and location information, where the pre-stored personal response profile includes information related to an optimal desired response for a person associated with the port emergency signal generator; and

a processor of a response coordinating unit that processes the transmitted pre-stored personal information profile and location information,

wherein, in response to the emitted emergency indicating signal and the transmitted prestored personal response profile, the processor compares the pre-stored personal information profile with a content of the database and when the information related to the optimal desired response in the pre-stored personal response profile matches the information related to the optimal desired response in a personal response profile in the plurality of personal response profiles in the database, then at least one of the emergency response devices is activated by the processor based upon the location information.

10. A system as in claim 9 where at least one device is activated which is within a predetermined distance from the location of the signal generator.

11. A system as in claim 9 wherein the emergency response device includes a receiver to respond to a received emergency indicating signal.

12. A system as in claim 11 where the emergency response devices are selected from a class which includes at least, automatic emergency defibrillators, or, telephone-like communications devices.

13. A method comprising:

establishing at least one personal response profile in a database, the personal response profile including information related to an optimal desired response to a personal emergency for an associated person to a safety or health issue;

associating the personal response profile with a wireless communications device;

receiving an emergency indicating signal through the wireless communication device;

a processor of a response coordinator unit receiving a personal response profile including location information of the wireless communication device, the received personal response profile including information related to an optimal desired response for an associated person;

comparing at least some of the information related to the optimal desired response in the received personal response profile with the information related to the optimal desired response in the personal response profile in the database in order to discern a service that the associated person is entitled to receive; and

responsive to the comparison of the personal response profiles and location information, locating at least one responsive device consistent with the information in the personal response profiles and activating that device to emit locating indicia.

14. A method as in claim 13 which includes emitting at least one of audible or visual locating indicia.

15. A method as in-claim 14 which includes transmitting the emergency indicating signal from the communications device.

16. A method as in claim 13 which includes using the communications device to establish the person specific profile in the database.

17. A method as in claim 16 where the responsive device is selected from a class which includes at least automatic emergency defibrillators, and telephone-type communications devices.