Communications device, system and method

• US 8,811,934 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2008
• Issued: 08/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Concert Pharmaceuticals Inc., Redtail Technology, LLC
• Original Assignee: Redtail Technology, LLC
• Inventors: McLeod, Norman William, Coutts, Reginald Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Huy C
• Application Number:
  US12/677,925
• Publication Number:
  US 20110003601A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,167 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.1
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0415 detecting absence of activity per se
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/0446 worn on the body to detect changes of posture, e.g. a fall, inclination, acceleration, gait
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/004 Alarm propagated along alternative communication path or using alternative communication medium according to a hierarchy of available ways to communicate, e.g. if Wi-Fi not available use GSM
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/005 Alarm destination chosen according to a hierarchy of available destinations, e.g. if hospital does not answer send to police station
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/006 Alarm destination chosen according to type of event, e.g. in case of fire phone the fire service, in case of medical emergency phone the ambulance
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems

Abstract

A system for communicating an alert message from a user to a recipient is disclosed. In one embodiment the system includes a communications network, a communication device, and a communications management system. The communications device is activatable by the user to transmit into the communications network a signal communicating identification information associated with the user. The communication management receives and processes the signal to establish a communications channel between the communications device and a communications service associated with a recipient. The communications service is selected according to the identification information. Method and devices for communicating an alert signal are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A communications management system for handling communication between a user and a plurality of recipients associated with the user, the communications management system including:

a communications network interface for interfacing with a communications network, the interface for receiving a communication signal transmitted into the communications network by a communications device activated by the user, the communication signal including the unique user identifier previously received by the communications device from the user;

a communications controller for

processing the communication signal to obtain the unique user identifier,

accessing user information based on the unique user identifier from the communication signal, the user information including an identification of a plurality of potential recipients associated with the user,

attempting to establish a first communications link over a public communications network with at least one recipient of the plurality of potential recipients via a communications service associated with each of the potential recipients,

establishing the first communications link with an active recipient, the active recipient being a recipient of the plurality of potential recipients with whom the first communications link is first established,

establishing a second communications link over the public communications network or a further public communication network with the communication device activated by the user via a communications service associated with the user,

providing an active communications link for two-way verbal communication between the user and the active recipient via the first communications link and the second communications link, and

transmitting a one-way communication message to remaining recipients of the plurality of recipients with whom the active communication link was not established, the one-way communication message identifying the active recipient and providing a status of an alert message received by the active recipient.

2. A system for communicating between a user and a first recipient, the system including:

the communications management system of claim 1; and

a portable user device, to be worn or carried by the user,

the user device configured to receive the unique user identifier,

the user device including a wireless transmitter that, when activated, transmits the communication signal including the unique user identifier into a wireless communications network.

3. A system according to claim 2 wherein the portable user device includes a mobile phone.

4. A system according to claim 2, wherein the portable user device includes input means allowing the user to enter location information into the device, and wherein the communication signal includes the location information.

5. A system according to claim 2, wherein the portable user device includes means for switching the portable user device between a first mode and a second mode, wherein in the first mode, on activation of the transmitter, the communication signal contains location information that identifies the user as being located at a first location and in the second mode, on activation of the transmitter, the communication signal contains location information that identifies the user as not being located at the first location.

6. A system according to claim 5 wherein the means for switching includes a first switch operable by the user to switch the mode of the device between the first mode and the second mode.

7. A system according to claim 5 wherein the portable user device includes an indicator for indicating the mode of the portable user device to the user.

8. A system according to claim 2, wherein the portable user device includes means for switching the device between plural modes, each mode configuring the portable user device so that, on activation of the transmitter, the communication signal contains information identifying a particular communications service corresponding to the mode.

9. A system according to claim 2, wherein the portable user device includes a receiver for wirelessly receiving location information from a location information service, and wherein the communication signal transmitted by the portable user device includes the location information.

10. A system according to claim 9 wherein the location information service includes one of:

a. a global positioning system (GPS) service;

or

b. a cellular network information service.

11. A system according to claim 2 wherein the portable user device further includes:

a. one or more sensing means, each sensing means for sensing a respective biometric parameter of the user; and

b. means for activating the transmitter to transmit the communication signal in response to one or more of the sensed biometric parameters having a value that is indicative of an alert condition.

12. The communications management system of claim 1, wherein the communication signal includes location information for identifying a location of a user device and wherein the communications management system communicates the location information to the active recipient.

13. The communications management system according to claim 1, wherein the communication signal contains information identifying an alert condition.

14. The communications management system according to claim 1, wherein the communications management system includes an interface for accepting configuration information from the user or the first recipient.

15. The communications management system according to claim 14 wherein the interface includes a web-page.

16. The communications management system according to claim 14 wherein the configuration information includes a contact telephone number for the first recipient.

17. The communications management system according to claim 14 wherein the configuration information further includes medical information, some or all of which is included in an alert message transmitted to at least one of the plurality of potential recipients.

18. The communications management system of claim 1, wherein the communications control further establishes a second active communication link with a third-party via a communications service associated with the third party, and provides for three-way verbal communication between the user, the active recipient, and the third party via the first communication link and the second active communication link.

19. The communications management system according to claim 18 further including a database including the predetermined activation information in association with respective third-party communications services.

20. The communications management system of claim 1, further including a database containing data structures including predefined associations of the unique user identifier with each of the plurality of recipients.

21. The communications management system of claim 1, wherein the data structures further include predefined associations of a communication service associated with each potential recipient of the plurality of potential recipients.

22. The communications management system of claim 1, wherein the communications controller establishes the first communication link with the active recipient according to configuration information provided to the communications management system prior to receipt of the communication signal.