Personal emergency information transmitter

• US 6,445,300 B1
• Filed: 06/19/2001
• Issued: 09/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Company (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Luman, David J.
• Primary Examiner(s): La, Anh V
• Application Number:
  US09/885,317
• Time in Patent Office: 441 Days
• Field of Search: 340/573.1, 340/573.4, 340/539, 340/286.07, 340/286.06, 340/825.08, 340/825.49, 128/903, 128/904, 455/66, 455/100, 455/524
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12

Abstract

This invention relates to a small, wireless transmitter which contains important, personal information, such as the user'"'"'s name, address, current medications, allergies, contact information or the like. When the user gets into trouble or becomes incapacitated, the transmitter could be used to send a signal to emergency response personnel. In this manner, emergency response personnel could respond to the distress signal and assist the user.

Claims

1. An emergency distress response method, comprising the steps of:

downloading of a first and a second portions of personal information by a user into a transmitter;

encrypting said first portion of said personal information with a public key;

encrypting said second portion of said personal information with a private key;

encountering a distress/emergency situation by said user;

transmitting a signal by said transmitter;

interacting with said transmitter by emergency personnel;

downloading said first portion of said personal information by said emergency personnel;

determining if said first portion of personal information is adequate;

downloading, if necessary, said second portion of said personal information;

determining if said user is from out-of-town; and

contacting, if necessary, a user'"'"'s local authority.

2. The method, as in claim 1, wherein said transmitting step is further comprised of the step of:

wirelessly transmitting said signal.

3. The method, as in claim 1, wherein said first portion is further comprised of:

the user'"'"'s name; and

the user'"'"'s city, state, and country residence.

4. The method, as in claim 1, wherein said transmitting step is further comprised of steps of:

activating an alarm/alert system located substantially within said transmitter;

transmitting said signal if said user does not de-activate said alarm/alert system within a predetermined amount time.

5. The method, as in claim 1, wherein said downloading personal information step is further comprised of the step of:

wirelessly downloading said personal information from an information inputting device into said transmitter.

6. An out-of-town/local determination/emergency distress response method, comprising the steps of:

downloading of a first and second portions of personal information by a user into a transmitter;

encrypting said first portion of said personal information with a public key;

encrypting said second portion of said personal information with a private key;

encountering a distress/emergency situation by said user;

transmitting a signal by said transmitter;

interacting with said transmitter by emergency personnel;

downloading said first portion of said personal information by said emergency personnel;

determining if said first portion of personal information is adequate;

determining if said user is from out-of-town;

contacting, if necessary, a user'"'"'s local authority; and

downloading, if necessary, said second portion of said personal information.

7. The method, as in claim 6, wherein said transmitting step is further comprised of the step of:

wirelessly transmitting said signal.

8. The method, as in claim 6, wherein said first portion is further comprised of:

the user'"'"'s name; and

the user'"'"'s city, state, and country residence.

9. The method, as in claim 6, wherein said transmitting step is further comprised of steps of:

activating an alarm/alert system located substantially within said transmitter;

transmitting said signal if said user does not de-activate said alarm/alert system within a predetermined amount time.

10. The method, as in claim 6, wherein said downloading personal information step is further comprised of the step of:

wirelessly downloading said personal information from an information inputting device into said transmitter.