Method of activating a supplemental visual warning signal based on frequency emitted from a generator of a primary audible warning signal

• US 9,741,217 B2
• Filed: 02/06/2017
• Issued: 08/22/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Delia, David J., Delia, Wayne M., Kelley, Edward E.
• Primary Examiner(s): SMALL, NAOMI J
• Application Number:
  US15/425,533
• Publication Number:
  US 20170148284A1
• Time in Patent Office: 197 Days
• Field of Search: 34053917
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 1/002 adapted to accommodate electronic equipment patients' garments for medical monitoring A41D13/1281; luminous ornaments A41D27/085
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0027 visually handicapped
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0625 Emitting sound, noise or music
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0627 when used improperly, e.g. by giving a warning
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/0655 Tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2225/50 Wireless data transmission, e.g. by radio transmitters or telemetry
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0616 Means for conducting or scheduling competition, league, tournaments or rankings
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0619 Displays, user interfaces and indicating devices, specially adapted for sport equipment, e.g. display mounted on treadmills
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 7/06 using electric transmission , e.g. involving audible and visible signalling through the use of sound and light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/38 Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 56/001 Synchronization between nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/0453 Resources in frequency domain, e.g. a carrier in FDMA

Abstract

A system and method for signaling users including a control device electrically connected to a transceiver. The transceiver has a specified frequency. A first mobile signal device being activated by a first user and electrically communicating with a first transmitter having a selectable signal frequency. The first transmitter electrically communicates with the transceiver using the specified frequency. A second signal device includes a second receiver for receiving an activation signal from the transceiver. The second receiver electrically communicates with the transceiver using the specified frequency. The second signal device is activated by the activation of the first mobile signal device using the transceiver for alerting other persons.

Claims

1. A system to activate supplemental signals in response to primary signals, the system comprising:

a plurality of first signal devices for generating the primary signals, each of the first signal devices being associated with one of a plurality of defined areas to generate one of the primary signals to indicate specified events associated with said one of the plurality of defined areas;

a plurality of second signal devices for generating the supplemental signals, each of the second signal devices being associated with one of the defined areas;

a plurality of transceivers for selectively activating the second signal devices in response to the primary signals generated by the first signal devices, each of the plurality of transceivers having a settable operating frequency for associating said each transceiver with a respective one of the defined areas, and each of the first signal devices being associated with one of the plurality of transceivers; and

a control to set the operating frequencies of the plurality of transceivers to associate each of the transceivers with a respective one of the defined areas;

wherein when each of the first signal devices generates one of the primary signals to indicate one of the specified events relating to the one of the defined areas associated with said each first signal device, said each first signal device sends an event signal to the one of the transceivers associated with said one of the defined areas, and in response, the one of the transceivers sends an activation signal to the one or more of the second signal devices associated with said one of the defined areas, and each of the one or more of the second signal devices generates one of the supplemental signals to confirm that said each of the first signal devices has generated one of the primary signals to indicate the one of the specified events related to said one of the defined areas.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein:

each of the first signal devices sends the event signal generated by said each first signal at an adjustable frequency; and

each of the first signal devices includes a frequency control for adjusting the frequency of the event signal sent by said each first signal to associate said each first signal device with the one of the transceivers associated with the said one of the defined areas.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein:

the operating frequencies of the transceivers are adjustable; and

the control adjusts the operating frequencies of the transceivers to associate each of the transceivers with the respective one of the defined areas.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the primary signals provide sensory stimulation of a person, and the supplemental signals provide sensory stimulation of said person or of one or more other persons.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the primary signals are audible alerts.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the supplemental signals are visual alerts.

7. The system according to claim 1, further comprising third signal devices activated by activation of the first signal devices to generate stimulation of persons.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the third signal devices are vibrators.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the vibrators are parts of articles of clothing worn by said persons.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein each of the first signal devices is associated with only one of the plurality of defined areas.

11. A method for activating supplemental signals in response to primary signals, the method comprising:

using a plurality of first signal devices for generating the primary signals, each of the first signal devices being associated with one of a plurality of defined areas to generate one of the primary signals to indicate specified events associated with said one of the plurality of defined areas;

operating a plurality of second signal devices for generating the supplemental signals, each of the second signal devices being associated with one of the defined areas;

operating a plurality of transceivers for selectively activating the second signal devices in response to the primary signals generated by the first signal devices, each of the plurality of transceivers having a settable operating frequency for associating said each transceiver with a respective one of the defined areas, and each of the first signal devices being associated with one of the plurality of transceivers; and

setting the operating frequencies of the plurality of transceivers to associate each of the transceivers with a respective one of the defined areas;

wherein when each of the first signal devices generates one of the primary signals to indicate one of the specified events relating to the one of the defined areas associated with said each first signal device, said each first signal device sends an event signal to the one of the transceivers associated with said one of the defined areas, and in response, the one of the transceivers sends an activation signal to the one or more of the second signal devices associated with said one of the defined areas, and each of the one or more of the second signal devices generates one of the supplemental signals to confirm that said each of the first signal devices has generated one of the primary signals to indicate the one of the specified events related to said one of the defined areas.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein:

each of the first signal devices sends the event signal generated by said each first signal at an adjustable frequency; and

each of the first signal devices includes a frequency control for adjusting the frequency of the event signal sent by said each first signal to associate said each first signal device with the one of the transceivers associated with the said one of the defined areas.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein:

the operating frequencies of the transceivers are adjustable; and

the control adjusts the operating frequencies of the transceivers to associate each of the transceivers with the respective one of the defined areas.

14. The method according to claim 11, further comprising activating vibrating devices when the first signal devices are activated.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein said vibrating devices are worn by persons.

16. A computer program product comprising a computer readable deice having a computer program tangibly embodied therein, the computer program being executed by a processor in a computer system for activating supplemental signals in response to primary signals, the computer program, when executing by said processor, performing:

receiving the primary signals from a plurality of first signal devices, each of the first signal devices being associated with one of a plurality of defined areas to generate one of the primary signals to indicate specified events associated with said one of the plurality of defined areas;

operating a plurality of second signal devices for generating the supplemental signals, each of the second signal devices being associated with one of the defined areas;

operating a plurality of transceivers for selectively activating the second signal devices in response to the primary signals generated by the first signal devices, each of the plurality of transceivers having a settable operating frequency for associating said each transceiver with a respective one of the defined areas, and each of the first signal devices being associated with one of the plurality of transceivers; and

operating a control to set the operating frequencies of the plurality of transceivers to associate each of the transceivers with a respective one of the defined areas;

wherein when each of the first signal devices generates one of the primary signals to indicate one of the specified events relating to the one of the defined areas associated with said each first signal device, said each first signal device sends an event signal to the one of the transceivers associated with said one of the defined areas, and in response, the one of the transceivers sends an activation signal to the one or more of the second signal devices associated with said one of the defined areas, and each of the one or more of the second signal devices generates one of the supplemental signals to confirm that said each of the first signal devices has generated one of the primary signals to indicate the one of the specified events related to said one of the defined areas.

of the supplemental signals to confirm that said each of the first signal devices has generated one of the primary signals to indicate the one of the specified events related to said one of the defined area.

17. The computer program product according to claim 16, wherein:

each of the first signal devices sends the event signal generated by said each first signal at an adjustable frequency; and

each of the first signal devices includes a frequency control for adjusting the frequency of the event signal sent by said each first signal to associate said each first signal device with the one of the transceivers associated with the said one of the defined areas.

18. The computer program product according to claim 16, wherein:

the operating frequencies of the transceivers are adjustable; and

the control adjusts the operating frequencies of the transceivers to associate each of the transceivers with the respective one of the defined areas.

19. The computer program product according to claim 16, wherein the operating the plurality of second signal devices includes operating the plurality of the second signal devices to generate the supplemental signals for predeterminable time intervals.

20. The computer program product according to claim 16, wherein the operating the control to set the operating frequencies of the one or more transceivers includes:

reallocating frequencies from the first signal devices to the transceivers, and reallocating frequencies from the one or more transceivers to the second signal devices; and

communicating via a network with a global timing system to provide an automatic alert signal based on synchronized time.