Portable wireless automobile and personal emergency responder and messenger system and method

• US 8,768,292 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2011
• Issued: 07/01/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2011
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alfonzo Welch
• Original Assignee: Alfonzo Welch
• Inventors: Welch, Alfonzo
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, CONGVAN
• Application Number:
  US13/284,924
• Publication Number:
  US 20130109342A1
• Time in Patent Office: 973 Days
• Field of Search: 455/521, 455/221, 455418-420, 455/567, 455/569.2, 455/95, 455/99, 455/238.1, 455/344, 455/345, 455/346
• US Class Current: 455/404.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2002/2815 with additional belt accessories, e.g. a belt tension detector
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/544 for indicating other states or conditions of the vehicle occupants, e.g. for indicating disabled occupants
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 5/005 automatically actuated
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/22 responsive to presence or absence of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/24 Reminder alarms, e.g. anti-loss alarms
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/001 Alarm cancelling procedures or alarm forwarding decisions, e.g. based on absence of alarm confirmation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]

Abstract

Devices, systems, and methods for responding to emergency situations of infants, children and pets left unattended in a vehicle. The device comprises a control module for short range RF transmission housed in a lightweight, portable unit plugged into a vehicle accessory power outlet. The system may additionally comprise sensors in communication with the module to detect and trigger alarms, including: when a vehicle has been in a collision; whether a child has climbed out of a car seat while the vehicle is in motion; when the temperature within the vehicle is unsafe; whether an infant has been left unattended in a vehicle; and whether children are playing in a parked vehicle (e.g. trunk) in unsafe temperatures. The portable device may also be configured with an “SOS” button housed within a key fob, wristband, or necklace, to transmit GPS coordinates of the wearer in emergency situations (such as kidnappings).

Claims

1. A lightweight, portable emergency messenger system PEMS device for use in wirelessly contacting emergency responders comprising:

a) a detachable control module head unit housing a communications and monitoring components separable from a base unit, comprising;

1. i) a voice system comprising a speaker and a microphone to transmit automated audio alert messages to Users from said voice system, and one and/or two way conversations between Users and said emergency responders;

ii) a movement sensor with the ability to detect vehicle inertia;

iii) a motion sensor to detect movement of occupants within a vehicle;

iv) a MEMS accelerometer to detect if the vehicle is involved in a collision;

v) a Temperature Sensor to detect temperatures within a vehicle;

vi) a microcontroller or microprocessor device;

vii) a Global System for Mobile Communication Subscriber Identity Mobile (GSM SIMS) card reader;

viii) a global positioning system (GPS), a global system for mobile communications supporting four radio frequency bands (GSM—

Quad

     4), and general packet radio service (GPRS);

ix) a sensor to indicate a change in the type of power source and a means to detect the type of power source in current use by said system;

x) a means to activate said PEMS device to wirelessly transmit SMS/MMS messages comprising a User'"'"'s global positioning system (GPS) coordinates and live audio feed of a User'"'"'s situation to said emergency responders; and

,

b) a base unit configured to plug into a vehicle accessory power outlet, comprising a

i. rechargeable battery with the ability to provide about 96 hours of continuous power to said PEMS device, and the means to recharge said battery via USB port and via a power accessory outlet;

ii. wherein said head unit is programmable to activate alarms and transmit SMS messages with the User'"'"'s GPS coordinates to emergency responders if detached from the base unit after said device is armed, and is configured to monitor the safety of vehicle occupants within and outside the vehicle.

2. The PEMS device of claim 1, wherein the device lacks the ability to store the User'"'"'s history of movement within a computer memory or to remotely activate said device by non-User entities.

3. The PEMS device of claim 1, wherein said device is deactivated when:

1) the User calls the GPS tracker and enters their PIN;

or

     2) said emergency responders call a User'"'"'s mobile communications device and the User correctly states their password.

4. The PEMS device of claim 1, wherein said means to activate said PEMS device comprises a computer program product comprising non-transitory machine-readable medium storing machine instructions that, when executed by a User'"'"'s mobile communications device comprising one or more programmable processors, cause the mobile device to perform functions comprising transmitting wireless communications between said mobile device and said emergency responders disclosing the User'"'"'s GPS coordinates.

5. The PEMS device of claim 4, wherein said functions further comprise enabling said mobile device to auto-connect to an activated PEMS device when it comes within a range of about 4 meters of the PEMS device and if the Bluetooth is enabled on the mobile device.

6. The PEMS device of claim 1, further comprising a sensor and short range radio frequency transmitter to detect the presence and movement of a child/infant in a safety car seat, wherein said transmitter is incorporated into the harness of said seat and detects the heartbeat of said child/infant, and wherein said PEMS device is programmable to sound an alarm if the child/infant is left unattended in the vehicle.

7. The PEMS device of claim 1, further comprising a pressure sensor and a short range radio frequency transmitter within the safety car seat to detect the presence and movement of a child/infant;

and wherein said device is programmable to emit an automated message from the voice system when the child/infant has climbed out of the car seat.

8. The PEMS device of claim 1, further comprising sensors to detect the entry of individuals into a parked vehicle with a temperature within the vehicle that is above a designated atmospheric temperature, that triggers an automated means to roll up or down the vehicle windows;

to flash automobile lights;

to sound car horns;

to send audio and text messages to the emergency responders; and

to lock/unlock vehicle doors and trunk.

9. The PEMS device of claim 1, further comprising sensors and short range radio frequency transmitters to detect the presence of a pet within a vehicle;

and the means to

     1) send SMS messages to a User when the temperature exceeds a safe level, and to

     2) lower vehicle windows.

10. The PEMS device of claim 1, further comprising a key fob device comprising a short range very low power transmitter and power button wherein depressing said button arms said PEMS device.

11. The PEMS device of claim 10, wherein said PEMS device will trigger an audible alarm emitted from said key fob if the PEMS device is not disarmed when the key fob moves more than about 4 meters from said PEMS device.