Combination emergency phone and personal audio device

• US 6,285,867 B1
• Filed: 11/03/1998
• Issued: 09/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SecureAlert Incorporated
• Original Assignee: American Secure Care, LLC
• Inventors: Boling, Brian M., Bernstein, Michael C., Natale, Nicolas A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cumming, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Corsaro, Nick
• Application Number:
  US09/185,191
• Time in Patent Office: 1,036 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404, 455/550, 455/564, 455/566, 455/414
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/086 Portable receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3805 with built-in auxiliary receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/677 Preventing the dialling or sending of predetermined telephone numbers or selected types of telephone numbers, e.g. long distance numbers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6775 by providing access to preprogrammed keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72424 with manual activation of emergency-service functions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver

Abstract

A combination personal audio device and emergency phone provides a user with personal audio entertainment while also providing full duplex wireless communication with an emergency response service. The apparatus includes an audio information access device, such as a compact disc player, for accessing audio information and generating an electrical audio information signal based upon the audio information. A transmitter generates an outgoing communication signal that is capable of reaching and being received by the emergency response service. A single emergency response switch is the user'"'"'s sole means for activating the transmitter. When pressed, the emergency response switch activates the transmitter to generate the outgoing communication signal. A receiver receives an incoming communication signal from the emergency response service, and generates an audio communication signal based upon the incoming communication signal. An audio amplifier receives and amplifies the electrical audio information signal and the audio communication signal to produce an amplified electrical audio information and an amplified audio communication signal. A sound production device converts the amplified electrical audio information signal and the amplified audio communication signal into acoustical sound waves capable of being aurally perceived by the user. The apparatus includes an aural alarm, such as a siren, and a visual alarm, such as a flashing light, to alert individuals in an area surrounding the apparatus when an emergency situation exists.

Claims

1. An electronic apparatus for providing a user with personal audio entertainment and full duplex wireless communication with one or more emergency response services, the apparatus comprising:

a rigid housing constructed from lightweight materials;

an audio information access device disposed within the housing for accessing audio information from an audio information source, and for producing an electrical audio information signal based on the audio information;

only one large emergency response button disposed on the rigid housing, the emergency response button being the user'"'"'s sole means for activating the apparatus to initiate wireless communication with the one or more emergency response services, there being no control buttons for initiating wireless communication other than the one emergency response button;

a single emergency response switch disposed within the rigid housing, a state of which is changed by pressing the one large emergency response button;

a controller for monitoring the state of the single emergency response switch and for executing a plurality of emergency operations in response to a change in the state of the emergency response switch, the emergency operations including activating a transmitter to place an emergency telephone call to the one or more emergency response services;

the transmitter disposed within the housing for generating an outgoing communication signal when activated by the controller to communicate with the one or more emergency response services, the outgoing communication signal containing communication information necessary to establish communications with the one or more emergency response services;

a receiver disposed within the housing for receiving an incoming communication signal from the one or more emergency response services, and for generating an audio communication signal based upon the incoming communication signal;

an audio amplifier disposed within the housing for receiving and amplifying the electrical audio information signal and the audio communication signal to produce an amplified electrical audio information signal and an amplified audio communication signal; and

a sound production device electrically connected to the audio amplifier, for converting the amplified electrical audio information signal and the amplified audio communication signal into acoustical sound waves capable of being aurally perceived by the user.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the audio information access device further comprises an audio information retrieval device for retrieving audio information stored on an information storage medium, and for generating the electrical audio information signal based upon the audio information retrieved from the information storage medium.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the information storage medium is a digital audio disc, and the information retrieval device further comprises a digital audio disc player.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the information storage medium is magnetic tape, and the information retrieval device further comprises a magnetic tape player.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the audio information access device further comprises a broadcast signal receiver for receiving a broadcast signal that carries audio information from a broadcast signal source, the broadcast signal receiver for accessing the audio information carried by the broadcast signal and for generating the electrical audio information signal based upon the audio information carried by the broadcast signal.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the broadcast signal receiver further comprises a frequency modulation (FM) radio receiver.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the broadcast signal receiver further comprises an amplitude modulation (AM) radio receiver.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

an audio input switch for receiving the electrical audio information signal from the audio information access device and the audio communication signal from the receiver, and for directing the electrical audio information signal to the audio amplifier when the audio input switch is in a first state, and for directing the audio communication signal to the audio amplifier when the audio input switch is in a second state; and

a controller for determining whether the audio input switch is in the first state or the second state.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein

the transmitter further comprises a radio-frequency cellular telephone transmitter for generating an outgoing cellular telephone signal containing communication information necessary to establish cellular telephone communications with the emergency response service;

and

the receiver further comprises a radio-frequency cellular telephone receiver for receiving an incoming cellular telephone signal from the emergency response service, and for generating an audio communication signal based upon the incoming cellular telephone signal.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein

the transmitter further comprises a digital signal transmitter for generating an outgoing digitally-modulated signal containing communication information necessary to establish digital communications with the emergency response service;

and

the receiver further comprises a digital signal receiver for receiving an incoming digitally-modulated signal from the emergency response service, and for generating an audio communication signal based upon the incoming digitally-modulated signal.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the sound production device further comprises an earphone.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the sound production device further comprises a wireless earphone.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a visual alarm for alerting individuals in an area surrounding the apparatus that an emergency situation exists.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a microphone disposed in the housing and electrically connected to the transmitter, the microphone for generating electrical speech audio signals corresponding to vocal communications from the user; and

the transmitter receiving the electrical speech audio signals from the microphone and generating an outgoing communication signal based thereon.

10. An apparatus for providing a user with personal audio entertainment and wireless communication with an emergency response service, comprising:

a rigid housing constructed from lightweight materials;

an audio information access device disposed within the housing for accessing audio information from an audio information source, and for producing an electrical audio information signal based on the audio information;

a transmitter disposed within the housing for producing outgoing communication signals capable of reaching and being received by a private emergency response service and a public emergency response service, the transmitter, when activated, for producing a first outgoing communication signal containing information for the private emergency response service, and immediately after completion of communication with the private emergency response service, automatically producing a second outgoing communication signal to communicate with the public emergency response service;

a receiver disposed within the housing for receiving an incoming communication signal from the public emergency response service, and for generating an audio communication signal based upon the incoming communication signal;

an audio amplifier disposed within the housing for receiving and amplifying the electrical audio information signal and the audio communication signal to produce an amplified electrical audio information signal and an amplified audio communication signal; and

a sound production device electrically connected to the audio amplifier, for converting the amplified electrical audio information signal and the amplified audio communication signal into acoustical sound waves capable of being aurally perceived by the user.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the transmitter is further operable to produce, as the first outgoing communication signal, a paging signal containing information for identifying and indicating the location of the apparatus.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the transmitter is further operable to transmit the paging signal directly to the private emergency response service.

13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the transmitter is further operable to transmit the paging signal to a central paging service that forwards the information for identifying and indicating the location of the apparatus to the private emergency response service.

19. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising a location determining device for determining the location of the apparatus.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the location determining device includes a global positioning system (GPS) receiver for determining the location of the apparatus.

21. An electronic apparatus for providing a user access to audio information stored on a digital audio disc, and for providing wireless telephone communication with a public emergency response service and with a private emergency response service, the apparatus comprising:

a rigid housing constructed from lightweight materials;

a digital audio disc player disposed within the housing for accessing the audio information stored on the digital audio disc, and for generating an electrical audio information signal based upon the audio information;

only one large emergency response button disposed on the rigid housing, the emergency response button being the user'"'"'s sole means for activating the apparatus to initiate wireless telephone communication with the public or private emergency response services, there being no control buttons for activating the apparatus to initiate wireless telephone communication other than the one emergency response button;

a single emergency response switch disposed within the rigid housing, a state of which is changed by pressing the one large emergency response button;

a controller for monitoring the state of the single emergency response switch, and for executing a plurality of emergency operations in response to a change in the state of the emergency response switch, the emergency operations including activating a transmitter to place an emergency telephone call to the one or more emergency response services;

a radio-frequency cellular telephone transmitter which, when activated by the controller, produces outgoing radio cellular signals, including a first outgoing cellular radio signal containing information for the private emergency response service, and immediately after completion of communication with the private emergency response service, automatically producing a second outgoing cellular radio signal to communicate with the public emergency response service,

a radio-frequency cellular telephone receiver disposed within the housing for receiving an incoming cellular telephone signal from the public emergency response service, and for generating an audio communication signal based upon the incoming cellular telephone signal;

an audio amplifier disposed within the housing and electrically connected to the digital audio disc player, for receiving and amplifying the electrical audio information signal and the audio communication signal to produce an amplified electrical audio information and an amplified audio communication signal; and

an earphone for receiving and converting the amplified electrical audio information signal and the amplified audio communication signal into acoustical sound waves capable of being aurally perceived by the user.