Remote supervision system and method
First Claim
1. A method for interactive communication between one or more spaced apart active locations, each having one or more rooms therein, and a single remote supervision location comprising the steps of providing a communication system between said remote supervision location and each of said active locations, said communication system including an audio system and a visual system, said communication system selectively providing communication between each of said active locations and said remote supervision location, selectively prompting a first action at one of said spaced apart active locations through use of said communication system, awaiting at said remote supervision location for acknowledgment of the performance of said first action at said one active location, repeating said first-action prompting step and said awaiting step if no acknowledgment is received at said remote supervision location within an agreed upon response time until an acknowledgment is received at said remote supervision location, receiving acknowledgment from said one active location through said communication system of the performance of said first action, and selectively prompting a second action to be performed at said one active location through said communication system after receipt of acknowledgment that said first action is completed, whereby multiple actions to be performed at multiple spaced apart active locations may be monitored and supervised from a single remote supervision location.
10 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A new and improved method for supervising and monitoring people from a remote location comprising the use of a communication system that builds upon telecommunications connections, computer interfaces, and information management via the internet. Strategically placed web cams, microphones, speakers, and display monitors are operatively linked to computers and information management means, and are used to permit a person in a remote location to view and listen to people in a plurality of active locations to verbally or visually prompt responses to inquiries or directives. The people in the active locations may also interact via these same interconnections to the person at the remote location. Touch screen technology may be included for purposes of automated supervision of tasks performed to accomplish a particular routine by the people in the active locations. Safety devices, such as smoke detectors, carbon monoxide detectors and intrusion detectors, may also be installed to warn a remotely located supervisor, the police or fire departments, or emergency medical services.
26 Citations
39 Claims
- 1. A method for interactive communication between one or more spaced apart active locations, each having one or more rooms therein, and a single remote supervision location comprising the steps of providing a communication system between said remote supervision location and each of said active locations, said communication system including an audio system and a visual system, said communication system selectively providing communication between each of said active locations and said remote supervision location, selectively prompting a first action at one of said spaced apart active locations through use of said communication system, awaiting at said remote supervision location for acknowledgment of the performance of said first action at said one active location, repeating said first-action prompting step and said awaiting step if no acknowledgment is received at said remote supervision location within an agreed upon response time until an acknowledgment is received at said remote supervision location, receiving acknowledgment from said one active location through said communication system of the performance of said first action, and selectively prompting a second action to be performed at said one active location through said communication system after receipt of acknowledgment that said first action is completed, whereby multiple actions to be performed at multiple spaced apart active locations may be monitored and supervised from a single remote supervision location.
- 21. A communication system for enabling interactive communication between one or more spaced apart active locations having one or more rooms therein and a single remote supervision location, comprising at least one video camera, video monitor, audio speaker, and audio microphone, and light flasher installed in each of said active locations, and a video camera, a video monitor, an audio speaker, and an audio microphone located at said remote supervision location, each of said video cameras , video monitors , audio speakers, audio microphones located at both of said locations being operatively interconnected through an information exchanging means for selective simultaneous communication of video pictures, audio messages, audio signals, and visual signals between said remote supervision location and said spaced apart active locations, and for selective operation of said video cameras, visual signals, audio speakers, audio signals, and selective combinations thereof, said information exchanging means including computing means for communicating prompts of actions, acknowledgements of completion of actions, recording data, assembling data, displaying data and reporting data in a variety of formats, whereby multiple actions to be performed in multiple spaced apart active locations may be monitored and supervised from a the single remote supervision location.
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34. A communication system for enabling interactive communication between one or more spaced apart active locations and a remote supervision location, comprising:
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at least one video camera, audio speaker, and audio microphone installed in said one or more active locations, and a video monitor, an audio speaker, and an audio microphone located at said remote supervision location, said video camera, video monitor, audio speakers, and audio microphones located at said locations being operatively interconnected for selective simultaneous communication of video pictures, audio messages, audio signals, and visual signals between said remote supervision location and said one or more spaced apart active locations, and for selective operation of said video cameras, visual signals, audio speakers, audio signals, and selective combinations thereof, means for sequentially communicating prompts of actions to said one or more active locations and for confirming completion of the actions at the remote supervision location, whereby multiple actions to be performed in the one or more spaced apart active locations may be monitored and supervised from the remote supervision location. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38)
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35. A method for interactive communication between one or more spaced apart active locations and a remote supervision location comprising the steps of
providing a communication system between said remote supervision location and each of said active locations, said communication system comprising an audio system and a visual system, said communication system selectively providing communication between each of said active locations and said remote supervision location, selectively prompting a first action at one of said spaced apart active locations through use of said communication system, awaiting at said remote supervision location for confirmation of the performance of said first action at said one active location, repeating said first-action prompting step and said awaiting step if no confirmation is received at said remote supervision location until confirmation is received at said remote supervision location, receiving confirmation from said one active location through said communication system of the performance of said first action, and selectively prompting a second action to be performed at said one active location through said communication system after receipt of confirmation that said first action is completed, whereby multiple actions to be performed at multiple spaced apart active locations may be monitored and supervised from a remote supervision location.
Specification