Emergency telecommunication device

• US 6,765,991 B1
• Filed: 06/22/2001
• Issued: 07/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Joseph A. Finley Jr, Michael Hanuschak, Michael Quigley
• Original Assignee: Joseph A. Finley Jr, Michael Hanuschak, Michael Quigley
• Inventors: Quigley, Michael, Hanuschak, Michael, Finley, Joseph A. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eng, George
• Application Number:
  US09/887,555
• Time in Patent Office: 1,124 Days
• Field of Search: 379/37-40, 379/42-47, 379/49-51, 379/102.01, 379/102.06, 340/505-506, 340/571, 340/573, 348/558, 455/404.1, 455/404.2, 381/356
• US Class Current: 379/37
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways

Abstract

An emergency telecommunications device that works with existing telephone lines to provide continuous hands-free two-way communication using a remote speaker with built-in microphone sensitivity that allows rescuers to use the device from a far distance. The device is activated with a pull or push of a single button activation mechanism, which instantly contacts emergency personnel who provide potentially life saving instruction to rescuers.

Claims

1. A weather resistant emergency call device for establishing a communications session with a trained emergency response personnel to aid a rescuer on a scene with a victim of an accident, the device comprising:

an electronic telecommunications circuit comprising;

a network interface using internet protocol (IP) to a telecommunications line to enable multiple simultaneous communications to at least two emergency call devices;

a single button for seizing control of the telecommunication line with a dialer for dialing a pre-programmed telephone number of emergency response personnel and for establishing a connection therewith;

a speaker with an amplifier coupled to the interface for reproducing one or more voice instructions coming from the emergency response personnel;

a microphone coupled to the interface, the microphone including at least two automatic gain amplifier circuits for amplifying the signal received so as to allow communications from a rescue personnel aiding a victim of an accident at a distance greater than fifteen feet; and

a weather-proof chassis for holding the electronic communication circuitry.

2. The device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a set of diagnostic indicators providing a user with feedback, including whether the telecommunication line is connected, whether there is power to the unit, whether the unit is in use, and whether there is a communications problem.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the pre-programmed telephone number is pre-programmed at a factory or programmed during an initial installation of the device.

4. The device according to claim 1, wherein the circuit further comprises:

an interface to an antenna for providing communication over free-space to a monitoring center.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the circuit further comprises:

a call sense circuit that monitors if a call to a preprogrammed number has been disconnected and if the call has been disconnected, the call sense circuit automatically answers the next callback to the device.

6. A weather resistant emergency call device for establishing a communications session with a trained emergency response personnel to aid a rescuer on a scene with a victim of an accident, the device comprising:

an electronic telecommunications circuit comprising;

a network interface using internet protocol (IP) to a telecommunications line to enable multiple simultaneous communications to at least two emergency call devices;

a single button for seizing control of the telecommunication line with a dialer for dialing a pre-programmed telephone number of emergency response personnel and for establishing a connection therewith;

a speaker with at least two automatic gain amplifier circuits for coupled to the interface for reproducing one or more voice instructions coming from the emergency response personnel;

a microphone coupled to the interface, the microphone including an automatic gain amplifier circuit for amplifying the signal received so as to allow communications from a rescue personnel aiding a victim of an accident at a distance greater than fifteen feet;

a microprocessor for controlling the call flow into and out of the emergency call device, including a means for programming the pre-programmed telephone number control; and

a weather-proof chassis for holding the electronic communication circuitry.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein the circuit further comprises:

an interface for connecting with an X-10 device for sending X-10 compatible commands in response to an activation of the single button.

8. The device according to claim 6, wherein the circuit further comprises:

an interface for connecting with a NTSC/PAL character generator for sending preprogrammed text in response to the activation of the single button.

9. The device according to claim 6, wherein the circuit further comprises:

an interface for connecting with an Ethernet network interface module for sending pre-programmed signal in response to the activation of the single button.

10. The device according to claim 6, wherein the circuit further comprises:

an interface for connecting with a RELAY 4PDT, which provides four normally open and four normally closed relay contacts for use with external devices, wherein the four normally open contacts are closed in response to the activation of the single button.

11. The device according to claim 6, wherein the circuit further comprises:

an interface for connecting with a U5A OPTICAL ISOLATION SWITCH, which provides two switch outputs which are electrically isolated from the system, wherein the two normally open switch outputs are closed in response to the activation of the single button.

12. The device according to claim 6, wherein the circuit further comprises:

a set of diagnostic indicators providing a user with feedback, including whether the telecommunication line is connected, whether there is power to the unit, whether the unit is in use, and whether there is a communications problem.

13. The device according to claim 12, wherein the set of diagnostic indicators further comprises:

an LCD display for providing one or more text lines of information.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the LCD display further comprises:

a multilingual mode to provide prompts in a national language selected from the group of national languages consisting of English, French, Spanish, Italian, and Japanese.

15. The device according to claim 6, wherein the pre-programmed telephone number is pre-programmed at a factory or programmed during an initial installation of the device.

16. The device according to claim 6, wherein the pre-programmed telephone number is remotely programmed and changed by support personnel using a central computer.

17. The device according to claim 6, wherein the microprocessor further comprises:

a program to access backup numbers stored in the device and automatically dial the backup numbers in case the call initiated by activating the device goes unanswered after a predetermined number of rings.

18. The device according to claim 17, wherein the microprocessor further comprises:

a program to automatically answer a callback when a call is disconnected.

19. The device according to claim 17, wherein the microprocessor further comprises:

a program to automatically redial a number when a call is disconnected and no callback occurs within a set period.

20. The device according to claim 6, wherein the circuit further comprises:

an interface for connecting to an antenna for providing communication over free space to a monitoring center.

21. The device according to claim 6, wherein the circuit further comprises:

an interface for connecting to an RJ45 connector for LAN based communication.

22. A system for contacting emergency medical services (EMS), the system comprising:

two or more emergency call devices coupled together over a local area network to enable multiple simultaneous communications, each of the emergency call device comprising;

an electronic telecommunications circuit comprising;

an interface to a telecommunications line;

a single button for seizing control of the telecommunication line with a dialer for dialing a pre-programmed telephone number of emergency response personnel and for establishing a connection therewith;

a speaker with an amplifier coupled to the interface for reproducing one or more voice instructions coming from the emergency response personnel;

a microphone coupled to the interface, the microphone including at least two automatic gain amplifier circuits for amplifying the signal received so as to allow communication from a rescue personnel aiding a victim of an accident at a distance greater than fifteen feet; and

a weather-proof chassis for holding the electronic communication circuitry, whereby the system provides a coverage area which is greater than a coverage area defined by the capabilities of the microphone and the speaker of one emergency call device.

23. The system according to claim 22, further comprising:

a monitoring station for communicating with one or more emergency devices, according to the present invention, wherein the monitoring station is a personal computer coupled to an Ethernet communications port.

24. The system according to claim 22, wherein the local area network coupling the two or more emergency call devices is a wireless network based upon BlueTooth technology.

25. The system according to claim 22, wherein the local area network coupling the two or more emergency call devices to a monitoring station is a wireless network based upon BlueTooth technology.

26. The system according to claim 22, further comprising:

input/output interfaces for coupling to other warning devices selected from the group of warning devices consisting of alarms, sirens, and strobe lights.

27. The system according to claim 26, wherein the input/output interfaces couple network cameras for recording and monitoring events within the coverage area, when the single button is activated.

28. The system according to claim 22, further comprising an interface to an antenna for receiving an activation signal from a wireless device to activate the single button, so that the wireless device remotely alerts the system that an emergency has occurred.