Hybrid communication terminal-alarm system

• US 7,982,600 B2
• Filed: 12/05/2003
• Issued: 07/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Gabriel Patulea, Marian Gavrila
• Inventors: Gavrila, Marian, Patulea, Gabriel
• Primary Examiner(s): GOINS, DAVETTA WOODS
• Application Number:
  US10/727,584
• Publication Number:
  US 20100109866A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,783 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.1, 340/539.17, 340/539.11, 340/539.22, 340/539.26, 340/540
• US Class Current: 340/539.22
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence

Abstract

A hybrid communication terminal-alarm system is described, for individual use or for use in public facilities. A communication terminal, such as cellular telephone, personal digital assistant (PDA), fixed or mobile phone, etc, has one or more built-in alarm sensors. The sensors are capable of identifying various hazards and/or potentially dangerous events and appropriately warning the person(s) that may be affected, by the respective event. The alarm may be acoustic (e.g. a sound or a voice message) or optic (flashing light). The system also transmits automatically a distress message to a third party for help, as/if needed. The distress message may be transmitted over the public wireless or wireline network, or over a private network.

Claims

1. A mobile hybrid communication terminal-alarm system, for enabling access to a communication network in a normal operation mode and alarming presence of an environmental hazard in an alarm mode, comprising:

a communication terminal for connection to said communication network, adapted to exchange voice and data messages over the communication network;

a multi-sensor block for continuously monitoring the environment and providing a sensor reading signal indicative of a level of an environmental agent;

an alarm mode controller for operating said communication terminal in one of an alarm mode and in a sleep power mode according to said sensor reading signal; and

a power turn-on unit for permanently powering said multi-sensor block during the sleep power mode and the alarm mode.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said alarm mode controller comprises:

a memory for storing a threshold for indicating a hazardous level of said environmental agent;

a comparator unit for receiving said sensor reading signal from said multi-sensor block and said threshold from said memory and providing an alarm signal whenever said threshold is violated; and

an alarm driver for receiving said alarm signal and initiating an alarm mode of operation sequence.

3. A system as claimed in claim 2, further comprising an alarm block.

4. A system as claimed in claim 3, wherein said alarm block provides one of an audio, video and mechanical alarm.

5. A system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said alarm driver triggers transmission of a distress signal for establishing an automatic connection over said network using said mobile communication terminal on receipt of said alarm signal.

6. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said multi-sensor block includes one of a smoke detector, a chemical agents detector, a radiation detector and a biological agent detector.

7. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said multi-sensor block comprises a plurality of sensors, each for monitoring presence of a specific environmental agent.

8. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said the multi-sensor block is a biosensor array.

9. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said multi-sensor block is a digital sensor.

10. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said multi-sensor block is an analog sensor, further comprising an analog-to-digital converter for formatting said sensor reading signal.

11. A system as claimed in claim 5 wherein said mobile communication terminal comprises a communication functions control unit for generating said distress signal, encoding said distress signal into an outgoing message using a communication protocol, and sending said message over said communication network to a specified location.

12. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mobile communication terminal includes a receiver for enabling reception of incoming messages over said network.

13. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mobile communication terminal further comprises a keyboard for enabling transmission of alphanumeric messages over said network and a display for enabling reception of video messages over said network.

14. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mobile communication terminal is one of a cellular telephone, a cordless telephone, a pager and a fax machine.

15. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mobile communication terminal is one of a personal digital assistant, a laptop equipped with a communication functions control unit for generating a distress signal, encoding said distress signal into an outgoing message using a communication protocol, and sending said message over said communication network to a specified location.

16. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said multi-sensor block comprises a plurality of sensors (Sn) and a multiplexer for providing the sensor reading signal from any sensor of the plurality of sensors on a single input of said alarm mode controller.

17. A method for alarming presence of a hazardous agent, comprising:

equipping a mobile communication terminal, with a multi-sensor block for monitoring the environment and generating a sensor reading signal indicative of a level of the hazardous agent, the mobile communication terminal being used in a normal operation mode for communicating voice and data over a communication network;

operatively integrating a power turn-on unit with said mobile communication terminal for permanently powering said multi-sensor block; and

further equipping said communication terminal with an alarm mode controller for continuously comparing said sensor reading signal with a threshold, detecting a threshold violation and initiating an alarm mode protocol.

18. A method as claimed in claim 17, wherein said alarm mode protocol performs the steps of:

turning ‘

on’

said mobile communication terminal if turned ‘

off’

;

interrupting normal operation mode of said mobile communication terminal if performing a normal communication routine;

transmitting a distress signal by establishing an automatic connection over the communication network using said mobile communication terminal; and

providing an alarm to indicate said threshold violation.

19. A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein said distress signal includes an identification of said mobile communication terminal and an information on the present location of said communication terminal.

20. A method as claimed in claim 18, further comprising indicating the gravity of said threshold violation.

21. A method as claimed in claim 17, wherein said multi-sensor block is permanently powered, while said alarm mode controller operates in a sleep power mode whenever said communication terminal is turned ‘

off’

.

22. A method as claimed in claim 17, further comprising receiving, at the mobile communication terminal, instructions over said communication network regarding immediate protective measures for minimizing the effects of said hazardous agent.

23. A method as claimed in claim 17, further comprising:

equipping said multi-sensor block with a plurality of detectors specialized for measuring and alarming presence of a plurality of respective environmental agents;

multiplexing a plurality of detector measurements on an input of said alarm mode controller; and

reading continuously and sequentially said detector measurements to detect any dangerous level of any of said environmental agents.