Method and apparatus for utilizing 911 and e911 features from a remote location

• US 20070086578A1
• Filed: 09/07/2004
• Published: 04/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Russell, James, Hansen, Kim
• Application Number:
  US10/573,063
• Publication Number:
  US 20070086578A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/45
• 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 25/012 using recorded signals, e.g. speech G08B25/08 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/045 using recorded signals, e.g. speech
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/04 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42042 Notifying the called party of information on the calling party details within substation equipment H04M1/57, signalling details H04Q3/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42068 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42348 Location-based services which utilize the location information of a target
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53366 Message disposing or creating aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53375 Message broadcasting
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/53383 Message registering commands or announcements; Greetings

Abstract

A method and system are disclosed that enable a remote location to first contact a emergency call center due to an emergency/alarm condition and then automatically call 9-1-1 like service and transmit a predetermined message so that local emergency response personal have access to 9-1-1 like features such as automated address and telephone number look-up as well as additional information provided via the message.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a controller;

a communication interface coupled to the controller;

an alarm interface coupled to the controller; and

a storage unit including at least one message,

wherein the controller is arranged to contact a monitoring center via the communication interface upon detection of an alarm condition from the alarm interface, to contact a local emergency center upon receiving a command from the monitoring center and transmit the at least one message.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein the communication interface is a telephone network interface.

3. The device according to claim 2 wherein the local emergency center is a public safety answering point.

4. The device according to claim 2 further comprising a dual-tone multiple frequency detector for decoding the command.

5. The device according to claim 1 further comprising a speech recognition unit for determining that the command has been spoken by an operator at the monitoring center.

6. The device according to claim 1 further comprising a flash detector for determining that the command has been received.

7. The device according to claim 1 wherein the at least one message includes an audio message.

8. The device according to claim 1 wherein the at least one message includes non-audio data.

9. The device according to claim 1 further comprising a speakerphone unit.

10. The device according to claim 3, wherein the controller is further arranged to establish a 3-way communication connection among the device, the monitoring center and the public safety answering point.

11. The device according to claim 1, wherein the alarm interface includes a wireless interface.

12. The device according to claim 1, wherein the controller is further arranged to contact at least one additional center if contact with the monitoring center cannot be established.

13. The device according to claim 1, further comprising an audio recorder.

14. A method for utilizing a telecommunication emergency service by a remote unit, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting at least one alarm condition;

automatically contacting a call center upon detection of the at least one alarm condition;

upon receiving a command from the call center, automatically contacting the telecommunication emergency service; and

transmitting a stored message.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the telecommunication emergency service is a9-1-1 type of service.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the call center monitors a plurality of remote units.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the plurality of remote units are associated with at least two different public safety answering points

18. The method according to claim 16, further comprising the step of establishing a 3-way communication connection among the call center, the public safety answering point and the remote unit.

19. The method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of allowing a user within speaking range of the remote unit to communicate with the call center with a hands-free interface.

20. The method according to claim 14, further comprising the step of sending a selection command to the remote unit to select a particular message to be transmitted.