Systems and methods for automated monitoring with flexible operator control

• US 8,896,435 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2013
• Issued: 11/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Geoffrey Vanderkooy, Thomas Philip
• Original Assignee: Geoffrey Vanderkooy, Thomas Philip
• Inventors: Philip, Thomas, Vanderkooy, Geoffrey
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US13/853,117
• Publication Number:
  US 20130293372A1
• Time in Patent Office: 606 Days
• Field of Search: 340/501, 340/502, 340/506, 340/3.1, 340/5.8, 340/5.81, 340/5.85, 340/5.86, 340/5.1, 340/5.2, 340/5.21, 726/16, 726/19, 726/17, 726/2, 726/4, 726/21, 726/28
• US Class Current: 340/501
• 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 27/001 Signalling to an emergency team, e.g. firemen
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/1408 by monitoring network traffic monitoring network traffic per se H04L43/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/53 using third party service providers
• 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 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]

Abstract

A monitoring service is described that allows flexible response through operators taken from a group of chosen individuals. When an alarm state is triggered the chosen individuals may act collaboratively as operators to manage alarm conditions for a particular user.

Claims

1. A monitoring and response system comprising:

a) at least one monitoring server with operator function;

b) at least one remote login to operator function under control of a pre-identified operator in communication with the monitoring server;

c) at least one base transceiver in communication with the monitoring server;

d) at least one remote unit in communication with a base transceiver;

e) a means to alert at least one third party of an option to use said operator function when an alarm condition has been triggered whereby any of a set of pre-identified responders can utilize the operator function on the monitoring server and respond to the alarm condition, without necessarily having a standing operator, allowing significant flexibility in response and reduction of standing cost.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a means to inform an individual that they are a valid operator for a particular user of the system whereby the operator has an opportunity to be informed of their potential future involvement with the system and learn of an associated functionality.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising a means to offer training to an operator whereby said operator is informed of the capabilities of said operating system and is able to try a demonstration version of said system to be better prepared for future usage of said system.

4. The system of claim 2 further comprising a means to register an individual as a valid operator for a particular user whereby a candidate operator has an opportunity to be informed of their potential future involvement with said system, and an opportunity to agree or refuse to participate as an operator with feedback to said particular user.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a means to prioritize which of responding operators is in control of the operator function whereby there is clear control and action by a single operator avoiding confusion when there is a plurality of operators responding.

6. The system of claim 1 further comprising a means to escalate or handoff an alarm handling of a particular responding operator to any other available operator for a user whereby said responding operator is provided the opportunity to pass the operator duties to an available operator when a more qualified or higher priority operator is available or when said responding operator must end their involvement.

7. The system of claim 6 in which said available operator could include a standing operator at a regular monitoring station or an EMS system.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising a means for a plurality of operators to co-operate in their response to the alarm condition whereby said plurality of operators can collaborate or share tasks allowing for more effective or faster response.

9. A method of providing flexible emergency response to a user comprising the steps of:

a) identification by the user of a set of trusted individuals that could act as operators;

b) registration of each of said trusted individuals as an operator if said operator accepts;

c) notification of the operator(s) that an intervention response for the user is requested due to an alarm condition;

d) transfer of intervention response control to a first responding operator for further action.

10. A method as set forth in claim 9 where the user may optionally prioritize a list of operators to allow escalation of the response control to a most highly prioritized responding operator.

11. A method as set forth in claim 9 where information on the user, including but not limited to audio, video, location, and biometric information, is transmitted to the operators for use in choosing a course of action.

12. A method as set forth in claim 9 where responding operators are given visibility of other responding operators and, optionally, of non-responding operators.

13. A method as set forth in claim 9 where responding operators are given an option of deciding to escalate a situation to EMS or other services or visibility of other responding operators or to clear the alarm condition.

14. A method as set forth in claim 9 where an interaction between the user and the operator(s) is logged during an alarm state situation.