Multi-state selection switch for a personal emergency response system
First Claim
1. A personal emergency response system including a subscriber station capable of transmitting messages over a communications link to a central station, comprising:
- portable activator means selectively operable for generating an activating signal;
functional subsystem means operative in response to said activating signal for performing a predetermined function;
subscriber unit means disposed within the subscriber station and normally operative in response to said activating signal for transmitting one or more messages over the communications link to the central station; and
multi-state selection means coupled to said subscriber unit means and selectively actuatable for selectively operating said subscriber unit means in HOME and AWAY modes;
operation of said subscriber unit means in said HOME mode causing said subscriber unit means to be normally operative in response to said activating signal to transmit one or more messages over the communications link to the central station; and
operation of said subscriber unit means in said AWAY mode causing activation of the functional subsystem means to perform the predetermined function.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A multi-state selection switch for a personal emergency response system which permits selective operation of the system in HOME or AWAY modes. In the HOME mode, a subscriber unit located in a remote subscriber station is activated by a subscriber using either a portable or wired-in activator to transmit an alarm message to a central station via an interconnecting communications link. In the AWAY mode, the subscriber unit is inhibited from activation as a personal emergency response system by the protable activator and may be interfaced with one or more funtional subsystems of the remote subscriber station and operative to perform one or more predetermined regulating and/or monitoring functions in combination with the corresponding interfaced subsystems. The subscriber unit in the AWAY mode may be operative to transmit status messages to the cnetral station. Also, while the system is in the AWAY mode, the portable activator can be used for command or control purposes without causing an alarm to be transmitted. Upon return of the subscriber to the remote subscriber to temporarily deactivate the subscriber unit, thereby permitting the subscriber to enter the remote subscriber station and selectively switch the subscriber unit to the HOME mode.
42 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A personal emergency response system including a subscriber station capable of transmitting messages over a communications link to a central station, comprising:
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portable activator means selectively operable for generating an activating signal; functional subsystem means operative in response to said activating signal for performing a predetermined function; subscriber unit means disposed within the subscriber station and normally operative in response to said activating signal for transmitting one or more messages over the communications link to the central station; and multi-state selection means coupled to said subscriber unit means and selectively actuatable for selectively operating said subscriber unit means in HOME and AWAY modes; operation of said subscriber unit means in said HOME mode causing said subscriber unit means to be normally operative in response to said activating signal to transmit one or more messages over the communications link to the central station; and operation of said subscriber unit means in said AWAY mode causing activation of the functional subsystem means to perform the predetermined function. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A personal emergency response system including a subscriber station capable of transmitting messages over a communications link to a central station, comprising:
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portable activator means selectively operable for generating an activating signal at the subscriber station; functional subsystem means associated with the subscriber station for performing at least one function at the subscriber station; subscriber unit means disposed within the subscriber station and normally operative in response to said activating signal for transmitting one or more messages over the communications link to the central station; and multi-state selection means coupled to said subscriber unit means and selectively actuatable for selectively operating said subscriber unit means in HOME and AWAY modes; operation of said subscriber unit means in said HOME mode causing said subscriber unit means to be normally operative in response to said activating signal to transmit one or more messages over the communications link to the central station; and operation of said subscriber unit means in said AWAY mode causing said subscriber unit means to be interfaced with the functional subsystem means associated with the subscriber station and activating said subscriber unit means to implement corresponding protocols for controlling operation of the functional subsystem means associated with the subscriber station to perform the at least one function. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification