System and method for transmitting an emergency message over an integrated wireless network

• US 20030078029A1
• Filed: 10/24/2001
• Published: 04/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SIPCO LLC (Ideahub, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Statsignal Systems Incorporated (Statsignal)
• Inventors: Petite, Thomas D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,480,501 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 45/22 Alternate routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/04 Error control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]

Abstract

An emergency message system provides a system and method for generating and transmitting emergency messages. In one embodiment, the emergency message system employs a transceiver network with a plurality transceivers coupled to monitoring devices residing at a plurality of customer premises. Control room operators receive an emergency message from an identifiable transceiver. The transceiver, identified by an identification code, indicates a location and the nature of the emergency condition so that the control operators may request appropriate emergency assistance.

Claims

1. A system which communicates emergency messages, comprising:

at least one emergency message transceiver having a first identification code and configured to generate an emergency message,

a transceiver network, the transceiver network further comprising;

a plurality of network transceivers, each network transceiver having a unique identification code and configured to communicate the emergency message with other network transceivers;

at least one transceiver unit configured to communicate the emergency message with at least one of the network transceivers; and

at least one site controller coupled to the transceiver unit, the site controller configured to communicate the emergency message between the transceiver unit and an intermediary communication system such that the emergency message is communicated with an emergency message management controller coupled to the intermediary communication system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the intermediary communication system further comprises a portion of an Internet.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the intermediary communication system further comprises a portion of a digital communication system.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the intermediary communication system further comprises a portion of a public switched telephone network.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the intermediary communication system further comprises a combination of portions of at least an Internet, a digital communication system and a public switched telephone network.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the intermediary communication system further comprises a combination of portions of at least an Internet and a public switched telephone network.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the intermediary communication system further comprises a combination of portions of at least an Internet and a digital communication system.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the intermediary communication system further comprises a combination of portions of at least a digital communication system and a public switched telephone network.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the emergency message transceiver is coupled to a sensor device and is configured to generate the emergency message in response to a signal received from the sensor device.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the emergency message transceiver is coupled to a manually actuated device, and the emergency message transceiver configured to generate the emergency message in response to a signal received from the manually actuated device.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the emergency message transceiver is coupled to a key pad and is configured to generate the emergency message in response to a signal received from the key pad.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the emergency message transceiver is coupled to a mobile communication device and is configured to generate the emergency message in response to detecting an emergency 911 call from the mobile communication device.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising a memory residing in each one of the network transceivers and the emergency message transceiver such that a communication transmission path is defined by at least one of the unique identification codes of the network transceivers and the first identification code of the emergency message transceiver, the communication transmission path being used to identify the location of the emergency message transceiver.

14. A system which communicates an emergency message generated by an emergency message transceiver having a unique identification code, comprising:

an interface configured to receive the emergency message communicated though an intermediary communication system coupled to the interface, and the emergency message having at least the unique identification code of the emergency message transceiver;

a memory having data, the data including at least an identification code corresponding to the emergency message transceiver'"'"'s unique identification code;

a processor coupled to the interface and the memory, and configured to associate the received emergency message and the data by associating the identification code of the emergency message with the identification code of the data.

15. The system of claim 14, further comprising a connection coupled to the processor and configured to communicate information corresponding to the emergency message and the associated data such that emergency assistance is summoned based upon the received emergency message and the data corresponding to the emergency message transceiver.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the associated data further includes information of interest so that the emergency assistance is informed of the information of interest corresponding to the emergency message transceiver generating the emergency message.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the information of interest further includes location information so that the emergency assistance is directed to the location information corresponding to the emergency message transceiver generating the emergency message.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the information of interest further includes medical information of people likely associated with the emergency message transceiver so that the emergency assistance is informed of the medical information.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the information of interest further includes descriptive information describing the nature of the emergency so that the emergency assistance is informed of the descriptive information.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the information of interest further includes personal contact information listing at least one person to be contacted and information describing how to contact the person so that the emergency assistance is informed of the person to be contacted.

21. The system of claim 14, wherein the intermediary communication system further comprises a portion of an Internet.

22. The system of claim 14, wherein the intermediary communication system further comprises a portion of a digital communication system.

23. The system of claim 14, wherein the intermediary communication system further comprises a portion of a public switched telephone network.

24. The system of claim 14, wherein the intermediary communication system further comprises a combination of portions of at least an Internet, a digital communication system and a public switched telephone network.

25. The system of claim 14, wherein the intermediary communication system further comprises a combination of portions of at least an Internet and a public switched telephone network.

26. The system of claim 14, wherein the intermediary communication system further comprises a combination of portions of at least an Internet and a digital communication system.

27. The system of claim 14, wherein the intermediary communication system further comprises a combination of portions of at least a digital communication system and a public switched telephone network.

28. A system which generates emergency messages, comprising:

a first transceiver configured to detect a first emergency message from a second transceiver and configured to transmit a second emergency message; and

an identification code uniquely associated with the first transceiver such that a location of the second transceiver is approximated by determining the location of the first transceiver, the location of the first transceiver determined by associating the identification code with information residing in a database that includes at least the location of the first transceiver.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the second emergency message transmitted by the first transceiver includes at least the identification code of the first transceiver.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein the second transceiver is a personal emergency message transceiver configured to generate the first emergency message.

31. The system of claim 28, wherein the second transceiver is a mobile telephone configured to generate an emergency 911 call, the emergency 911 call being the first emergency message.

32. The system of claim 28, further comprising a third transceiver configured to detect the first emergency message and configured to transmit a third emergency message, the third emergency message including at least a second unique identification code associated with the third transceiver such that the location of the third transceiver is determined by associating the second unique identification code with information residing in the database that includes at least the location of the third transceiver, and such that the location of the second transceiver is approximated by the determined location of the first transceiver and the third transceiver.

33. A system which communicates emergency messages, comprising:

a transceiver configured to receive an emergency message broadcasted through an emergency message transceiver network;

a connection configured to couple the transceiver to an information communication device that is on; and

a signal processing unit configured to generate a signal corresponding to the emergency message such that a person viewing the information communication device is informed of the emergency message.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the information communication device is always on.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein the information communication device is a personal computer.

36. The system of claim 33, wherein the information communication device is a cable television box.

37. The system of claim 33, wherein the information communication device is a security system control panel.

38. The system of claim 33, wherein the information communication device is a pager.

39. The system of claim 33, wherein the transceiver is configured to broadcast a return emergency message to an emergency message management controller requesting additional information pertaining to the received emergency message.

40. The system of claim 33, wherein the transceiver is configured to communicate the emergency message to the information communication device using a power line carrier (PLC) signal over an electric distribution system.

41. A method for communicating emergency messages, the method comprising the steps of:

generating an emergency message with an emergency message transceiver, the emergency message having at least an identification code uniquely assigned to the emergency message transceiver; and

communicating the emergency message from the emergency message transceiver to a network transceiver such that the emergency message is communicated over an intermediary communication system to an emergency message management controller.

42. The method of claim 41, further comprising the step of communicating the emergency message onto the intermediary communication system.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the step of communicating the emergency message onto the intermediary communication system further comprises the step of converting the emergency message into a suitable Internet signal, and wherein the intermediary communication system is a portion of an Internet.

44. The method of claim 42, wherein the step of communicating the emergency message onto the intermediary communication system further comprises the step of converting the emergency message into a suitable digital signal, and wherein the intermediary communication system is a portion of a digital communication system.

45. The method of claim 42, wherein the step of communicating the emergency message onto the intermediary communication system further comprises the step of converting the emergency message into a suitable telephone signal, and wherein the intermediary communication system is a portion of a public switched telephone network.

46. The method of claim 42, wherein the step of communicating the emergency message onto the intermediary communication system further comprises the step of converting the emergency message into a suitable Internet signal, and wherein the intermediary communication system is a portion of portions of at least an Internet, a digital communication system and a public switched telephone network.

47. The method of claim 42, wherein the intermediary communication system further comprises a combination of portions of at least an Internet and a public switched telephone network.

48. The method of claim 42, wherein the intermediary communication system further comprises a combination of portions of at least an Internet and a digital communication system.

49. The method of claim 42, wherein the intermediary communication system further comprises a combination of portions of at least a digital communication system and a public switched telephone network.

50. The method of claim 41, further comprising the step of receiving a signal from a sensing device such that the step of generating the emergency message is made in response to the step of receiving the signal from the sensing device.

51. The method of claim 41, further comprising the step of receiving a signal from a button residing on a personal security device such that the step of generating the emergency message is made in response to the step of receiving the signal from the button.

52. The method of claim 41, further comprising the step of receiving a signal from a keypad such that the step of generating the emergency message is made in response to the step of receiving the signal from the keypad.

53. The method of claim 41, further comprising the step of receiving a signal from a pressure sensitive device manually actuated by a person such that the step of generating the emergency message is made in response to the step of receiving the signal from the pressure sensitive device.

54. The method of claim 41, further comprising the step of detecting an emergency 911 call from a mobile communication device by the emergency message transceiver such that the step of generating the emergency message is made in response to the step of detecting an emergency 911 call and such that the location of the mobile communication device is approximated by location information associated with the identification code of the emergency message transceiver.

55. The method of claim 41, wherein the step of generating an emergency message with an emergency message transceiver further includes indicating that the emergency message is a high priority message, and wherein the step of communicating the emergency message from the emergency message transceiver to the network further comprises the step of halting other communications such that the emergency message is communicated on a high priority basis.

56. The method of claim 41, wherein the step of generating an emergency message with an emergency message transceiver further includes indicating that the emergency message is a high priority message, and wherein the step of communicating the emergency message from the emergency message transceiver to the network further comprises the step of creating bandwidth such that the emergency message is communicated on a high priority basis.

57. A method for communicating emergency messages, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving an emergency message broadcasted from an emergency message transceiver, the emergency message having at least an identification code uniquely assigned to the emergency message transceiver;

determining information relevant to the received emergency message by associating the information with the identification code of the emergency message transceiver; and

communicating the emergency message and the relevant information such that assistance is summoned in response to the received emergency message.

58. The method of claim 57, wherein the step of determining information further includes the step of determining a location of the emergency message transceiver by associating an address residing in a database with the identification code of the emergency message transceiver.

59. The method of claim 57, wherein the step of determining information further includes the step of determining at least medical information by associating the medical information residing in a database with the identification code of the emergency message transceiver.

60. The method of claim 57, wherein the step of determining information further includes the step of determining a person to be contacted by associating information in a database regarding the person with the identification code of the emergency message transceiver.

61. The method of claim 57, wherein the step of determining information further includes the step of determining a nature of an emergency by associating information residing in a database regarding a device coupled to the emergency message transceiver with the identification code of the emergency message transceiver.

62. The method of claim 57, wherein the step of receiving the emergency message further includes the step of recognizing an emergency 911 call that is detected by the emergency message transceiver, and wherein the step of determining information further includes the step of determining a location of the emergency message transceiver by associating an address residing in a database with the identification code of the emergency message transceiver such that a second location of a device generating the emergency 911 call is approximated.

63. The method of claim 57, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a second emergency message from a second emergency message transceiver; and

determining that the received emergency message is to be disregarded.

64. The method of claim 57, further comprising the step of generating a second emergency message that is communicated to the emergency message transceiver.

65. The method of claim 64, further comprising the step of including within the generated second emergency message information acknowledging receipt of the emergency message.

66. The method of claim 57, further comprising the steps of:

generating a second emergency message that is communicated to at least one second emergency message transceiver; and

including within the generated second emergency message information describing of the emergency message.

67. A method for communicating emergency messages, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving an emergency message broadcasted from an emergency message management controller, the emergency message having information of interest associated with an emergency message transceiver; and

communicating the emergency message and the information of interest to a display device.

68. The method of claim 67, wherein the display device is a component of an always-on appliance.

69. The method of claim 68, further comprising the step of communicating the emergency message to the always-on appliance using a power line carrier signal (PLC) communicated over an electric distribution system.

70. A system for communicating emergency messages, comprising:

means for generating an emergency message with an emergency message transceiver, the emergency message having at least an identification code uniquely assigned to the emergency message transceiver; and

means for communicating the emergency message from the emergency message transceiver to a network transceiver such that the emergency message is communicated over an intermediary communication system to an emergency message management controller.

71. The system of claim 70, further comprising means for communicating the emergency message onto the intermediary communication system.

72. The system of claim 71, further comprising means for converting the emergency message into a suitable Internet signal, and wherein the intermediary communication system is a portion of an Internet.

73. The system of claim 71, further comprising means for converting the emergency message into a suitable digital signal, and wherein the intermediary communication system is a portion of a digital communication system.

74. The system of claim 71, further comprising means for converting the emergency message into a suitable telephone signal, and wherein the intermediary communication system is a portion of a public switched telephone network.

75. The system of claim 71, further comprising means for converting the emergency message into a suitable Internet signal, and wherein the intermediary communication system is a portion of portions of at least an Internet, a digital communication system and a public switched telephone network.

76. The system of claim 70, further comprising means for receiving a signal from a sensing device such that the means for generating the emergency message generates the emergency message in response to receiving the signal from the sensing device.

77. The system of claim 70, further comprising means for receiving a signal from a button residing on a personal security device such that the means for generating the emergency message generates the emergency message in response to the step of receiving the signal from the button.

78. The system of claim 70, further comprising means for receiving a signal from a keypad such that the means for generating the emergency message generates the emergency message in response to the step of receiving the signal from the keypad.

79. The system of claim 70, further comprising means for receiving a signal from a pressure sensitive device manually actuated by a person such that the means for generating the emergency message generates the emergency message in response to the step of receiving the signal from the pressure sensitive device.

80. The system of claim 70, further comprising means for detecting an emergency 911 call from a mobile communication device by the emergency message transceiver such that the means for generating the emergency message generates the emergency message in response to the step of detecting an emergency 911 call and such that a location of the mobile communication device is approximated by location information associated with the identification code of the emergency message transceiver.

81. A system for communicating emergency messages, comprising:

means for receiving an emergency message broadcasted from an emergency message transceiver, the emergency message having at least an identification code uniquely assigned to the emergency message transceiver;

means for determining information relevant to the received emergency message by associating the information with the identification code of the emergency message transceiver; and

means for communicating the emergency message and the relevant information such that assistance is summoned in response to the received emergency message.

82. The system of claim 81, wherein the means for determining information further includes means for determining a location of the emergency message transceiver by associating an address residing in a database with the identification code of the emergency message transceiver.

83. The system of claim 81, wherein the means for determining information further includes means for determining at least medical information by associating the medical information residing in a database with the identification code of the emergency message transceiver.

84. The system of claim 81, wherein the means for determining information further includes means for determining a person to be contacted by associating information in a database regarding the person with the identification code of the emergency message transceiver.

85. The system of claim 81, wherein the means for determining information further includes means for determining a nature of an emergency by associating information residing in a database regarding a device coupled to the emergency message transceiver with the identification code of the emergency message transceiver.

86. The system of claim 81, wherein the means for receiving the emergency message further includes means for recognizing an emergency 911 call that is detected by the emergency message transceiver, and wherein the means for determining information further includes means for determining a location of the emergency message transceiver by associating an address residing in a database with the identification code of the emergency message transceiver such that a second location of a device generating the emergency 911 call is approximated.

87. The system of claim 81, further comprising:

means for receiving a second emergency message from a second emergency message transceiver; and

means for determining that the received emergency message is to be disregarded.

88. The system of claim 81, further comprising means for generating a second emergency message that is communicated to the emergency message transceiver.

89. The system of claim 88, further comprising means for including within the generated second emergency message information acknowledging receipt of the emergency message.

90. The system of claim 81, further comprising:

means for generating a second emergency message that is communicated to at least one second emergency message transceiver; and

means for including within the generated second emergency message information describing of the emergency message.

91. A system for communicating emergency messages, comprising:

means for receiving an emergency message broadcasted from an emergency message management controller, the emergency message having information of interest associated with an emergency message transceiver; and

means for communicating the emergency message and the information of interest to a display device.

92. The system of claim 91, wherein the display device is a component of an always-on appliance.

93. A computer readable medium having a program for communicating emergency messages, the program comprising logic configured to perform the steps of:

analyzing an emergency message broadcasted from an emergency message transceiver, the emergency message having at least an identification code uniquely assigned to the emergency message transceiver;

determining information relevant to the received emergency message by associating the information with the identification code of the emergency message transceiver; and

generating a second emergency message having the emergency message and the relevant information such that assistance is summoned in response to the received emergency message.