Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02213796 1997-08-19 PCT~Z9 ~ / O O ~ ~ ~
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A ~'ireless Alerting and Te~le~ ti--~ Device for The Hearing Impaired
Backgrourld - Cross Reference to Related ~p~l;r~t~
This (loc~-m~nt malkes rcrc~C~,c to a number of prior art patents as follows:
US Patents 5,254,986; 5,196,842; 5,355,126; and 4,644,347; all assigned to Motorola
Background - FieLd of the Invention
The invent.ion relates in general to radio based Selective Si~n~ling Systems particularly, though
not solely, to those systems which support t~lPco.~ in~til nC and alerting of alarm conditions
in an in~ 'c manner for use with hearing impaired persons, and in security applic~tionc
Backgroulld - Present Situation
A~ u~iluatcly 1~/c of the worlds popnl:ltinn is deaf or cignifir:lntly hearing impaired to such an
eYtent that they ca]mot use a telPphf)n~ or hear common sounds around their home or w~.k~ e
U-lrollunalely few products have been developed for the Deaf due to the l~l<,li-,~,ly small size of
20 this markel and the general lack of lmt1rr5t~n~1ing of the unique needs of the Deaf. As a result,
the Deaf and Hearing Impaired have been using ineffective and outdated devices for many years.
There is an major opportunity to improve the lives of these people with modern technology.
Just as the number of hearing impaired persons is increasing worldwide, so is the amount of
25 crime. The:re is an increasing need for effective and discrete security systems also.
Many systems utilise audible signals to indicate events taking place in a normal home or work
CllVilUlUllCllL Some ~Y~mpler are; smoke, fire, and intruder alarms, ringing doorbells and
t~leph-lt?ec, oven timers etc. These audible signals can be difficult to detect in a noisy
30 c.~vilulllllclll, or when distant from the signal, or if one has a hearing hllpdillllclll. Whereas in
other citl~ onC it may be hld~l lulnidtc to use audible signals since they would be di~lu~livc such
as in the quiet CllVil~lllllCIII of a child nursery or in discrete security cit~ tionc
There is a need ior a method of alerting a person to events occurring in the surrounding
35 environment which does not rely on the use of sound, or a need for hearing.
For the He:aring Impaired, solutions have been to replace or ~u~ple nPnt audible signals with
visual ones. This may involve the use of a lamp which flashes when a particular event occurs.
However, there are p~ nc with this t~rhnitlll~ If the person is in a location which prevents
40 him from s~eeing the visual signal, or the person's attention is ...o...~ .ily diverted or focused on
other things, the individual would not detect the signal.
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Therefore a method of attracting the attention of a person without concern for their location or
visual attention is required. Since some of the events may be life threatening or require
imm~ te ~tt~ntinn the alerting must take place with a minimnm of delay. Also, since
45 llunleluus events may occur throughout the day (eg. a crying baby alert), the n-~tifit~tion of each
event must involve minimal cost (if any).
It is also important for a person to be able to co",....-"i~ te with other people and/or l,.;~ c
over greater ~ict~nlrcc using inaudible methods.
Present iniaudible commnni~tions devices which convey information over distance include,
fa~es, m~ devices, ~,o~ ulel e-mail, and video ~,O~ g. U~lrollullal~ly most of these
devices are c~-nnPcted to a telephone line and therefore fixed in place. To use them a person must
be notified of the in~oming message and then physically move to the device to receive it. This
55 greatly resl:ricts th~e person's freedom and mobility. If the person is unaware of the inr~oming
message, or cannot get to the device in time, the inrolllldlion may be missed.
What is re,quired is a more reliable method of commnni~ Iting with people over distance in an
inaudible manner. The solution must be portable so as to allow co-,-----l"i~tion regardless of the
60 person's location and does not restrict the person's mobility.
There are inct:lncpc when a person may require ~CCiCt~nfe and must signal for help. The person
may not be able l:o generate a suitable verbal signal due to a lack of strength or a speech
~di-,l~ In other citll~tionc the person cannot rely on an audible signal since the ,~ r -~tc
65 of the call for help cannot hear the signal due to distance, location, ba,h~luulld noise, or a
hearing impairment. Such is the case with deaf ~,al~:~,iV~ , security guards, the elderly, and bed
ridden.
Therefore a de~ice is required which can be easily carried by a person and activated to signal a
70 caregiver, neighbollr, or security force over distance in an audible and/or inaudible manner.
The solution must be very reliable since it may be conveying i~L[ululalion about life-~ nillg
events.
75 A solution is required which is simple to use, and of the lowest possible cost since many of the
Deaf and Hearing ]:mpaired are either poorly t~d~ terl elderly, and have limited income.
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The solution should be easy and inPYpPnCive to install and remove so that it can be moved from
one environment to another (eg. moving house, when on vacation, or for use '~in the field"). It
80 should utilise commercially available technology which is familiar to a user and is less c~l cn~ivc
than custom designed equipment.
Within the limits of the above objects of the invention the Present Invention aims to provide a
solution to these problems without the limitations of the prior art.
Background - D~ of Prior Art
In order that the irlvention may be completely understood and a~ c-,ialcd in its proper context,
reference may be made to a number of prior art patents and pnhlirationc as follows:
US Patent numbers 3,925,763; 4,297,677; 4,380,759; 4,539,557; 4,692,742; 4,731,603;
4,777,474; ~,853,67~; 4,926,460; 5,159,315; 5,200,735; 5,223,816; 5,272,465; 5,319,698;
5,355,126; 5,365,21~
Whatever the precise merits, features, and advantages of the above cited Icrclcllces, none of them
fulfills the goals or delivers the functionality of the Present Invention. Specifically, the prior art;
~ does not provilde a sin~le portable device which combines the ability to cùl""..,-,ic~te with
people over distance and deliver detailed il~-uldlion about events, and in a manner which
does not require the need for hearing and,
100
~ does not use a conventional and cu~ ,ially available tPIPc~ nir:~fionC devices such as;
a radio pager, text capable cellular t~lerhonP, or cullll.ulcl equipped with a radio modem, as
a portable alerling and co~"~lnir:~tionc device and,
105 ~ does not utilise the capabilities of a conventional personal colll~u~el to generate alerts,
program and configure the system, and commllnir~te with a telephone network and,
~ does rlot convey detailed event illrullllalion directlv to a portable alerting and
telecQI-lmllnirationc device using a locally ~;c~P~t~Pd radio signal. But instead use a public
110 tele,,u.. "",--lir~tinns network which illlruduccs delays and commllnic~tic~nc charges.
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Objects and A.l~.l",t~_s of Present Invention
As stated it is an object of the Present Invention to provide a telecommllnir~ti~n system which
will at least provide the publie with a useful ehoice. The Present Invention also aims to overeome
115 the p~ul~~ nc with the prior art by providing one or more of the following objects and advantages;
~ To suplport comm~lnie~tionc with distant people via a por,~able device. This provides a person
with increased co.. ~ir~tinnc freedom by m~int~ining the person's mobility.
~ To monitor events and show details of these events on a por,~able device. So as to notify a
120 person of important events anytime and almost a~.ywl.~.~, creating a safer environment while
mzlintAining the person's mobility.
~ To eonvey il~ alion in an in~ !e manner using vibration, text and~or graphies. So that
the Pre:sent Invention can be used in situations where verbal comm~miratione hearing or
audiblc: signals cannot, or should not be used. Such as with deaf individuals or in security
125 appliea.tions.
~ To deli.ver info~m~ltion to a specific person in an inaudible manner, so that information ean
be provided in a very private and discrete manner.
~ To provide both details of enviromnental events and support ,~o-",---n~ir~ions between distant
parties using the same device. So that the present invention has m:lximnm portability and
130 simplieity of opeMtion.
~ To utilise radio com-nnnir~tionc wllerever possible so that the Present Invention offers a user
m~ximllm mobility and freedom.
~ To utilise conventional and eo---l-lel-,;ally available eomronPntc wherever possible (sueh as
radio pagers, eellular telPphc)nPe PDAs, wireless modems, personal eo---pulel~ ete) thereby
135 keepin,g the F'resent Invention's devPIopmPnt costs and selling price down. The use of
eonven.tional deviees also hll~ Jv ;;s the familiarity and ease of use.
~ To work with deviees whieh already exist within the offiee or home sueh as smoke alarms,
intruder alarms, baby monitors ete. This f~rilit~t~c inct~ tion and keeps eosts to a
minimllm
140 ~ To use direc:t radio ll,.n~;c~.ion wherever possible and not rely upon a publie
telP~o.,..-...--ir;ltionc network to deliver il,rO"l.~lion. Radio is a more direet -,o-~ -ic;~sion
method and allows event information to be delivered without delay and with a ",ini""ll" of
eost. V,rhereas c~n~ niratin~ via a publie telpco~ irati~nc network ean be less reliable,
inserts ci~nifi-:~nt time delays, and ineurs co-..~ ;c ~ionc eharges.
145 ~ To be able to commlmir:lte over a tPIPrhnnP network so that the Present Invention can
commlmir~te with people who use common tPI~co,,,,,.~..ir~tionc devices such as telfph~nf.c
fax m,lrhinPc Cf ~ , and TTYs. The tPlPphonp network ean also be used as a baekup
netwolk in easR of radio network failure.
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~ To allo~,v a person to remotely control electrical devices, remotely activate alarms and
150 remotely send mPCC~C So that a person can signal for :lCcict~nre or highlight an emergency
situation.
~ To be legally compii~nt with RF frequency regulations and minimiC~r the chances of RF
interference. So that the reliability of the Present Invention is improved.
~ To be a self-cont~inrd device capable of operating from a battery power source. So that tl-e
155 Present [nvention is fully portable, and can be easily installed, removed, and used elsewhere.
~ To m~int~lin a record of events and m~cc~g~c delivered by the device, so that a history of
activities can be viewed.
~ To be progr~mm:~h'~ so that the operation of the Present Invention can be ,;.~ ...,ixed by a
person to meet his/her specific needs.
160
Further obj,ects and advantages of the Present Invention will become apparent from a .
consideration of the drawings and ensuing description.
Summary of Present Invention
165 Accordingly, the Present Invention ~,-JUlplisc~ a ~PIecomm-lni~ltions system which involves a
plurality of ~sensors placed to monitor the occurrence of a number of events or alarm con-litionc
Each event 'sensor being connl~cted to a radio Ll,.n~ P~ so that upon occurrence of an event or
alarrn, the radio l,,n~ dllsl~ an encoded radio signal. The encoded radio signal
contains information identifying the event sensor and~or the radio trancmittpr activated. The
170 system further includes a radio receiver for receiving and decoding the radio signal, and a
controller cont -inin~ a micro-p,~e~ul to processes the decoded il~lllld~ion and select a course
of action pre-pro~ l<llulllcd into the controller memory. The controller's action(s) will serve to
alert a person of the OC~;UIICII~,C of the event or alarm by using one or more methods. One method
involves the application of power to electrical contacts which in turn operate ~.. ;,t~.. x
175 attached the~reto. Another alerting method is to have the controller send il~luldlion to personal
C'J"~ ~ attached l:o the system so that the personal colll~ulcu can use its ~el ,.h~llP dialing and
lllldlion delivery capabilities to commllnin~te text, graphics, fax or voice l~ rc with a
remote local~ion via a telephone nehvork.
180 Still another meth~d is to use the systems ability to ~ n~te with a portable lldllS~e;V~;I
using a 'local lldnsceivel'. Here the controller sends il~llllalion relating to the event or alarm to
a portable l.ransceiver carried by a person. The portable transceiver receives and decodes the
signal and clelivers the information in inaudible manner. Conversely, the portable ~ldnsc~;iv~;:l can
transmit a radio signal to the controller so as to instruct the controller to follow a pre-
185 programmed course of action such as d~s~,libed above.
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In a further aspect of the Present Invention, the s~stem has the ability to col.m.ullicate with a
wide area radio nehvork using a 'net~vork transceiver' This allows the controller to deliver
information about events to the wide area radio nehvork andlor, be instructed by the wide area
radio network to follow a particular course of action such as described above
190
Since commllniration occurs between the portable transceiver, the 'local lldn~,c;iv~l', the
controller, the 'network transceiver', and a wide area radio network, and vice versa, the portable
transceiver and wide area radio net vork can çomm mir~te hlru,l. dlion with each other
195 The Present Invention has been designed to allow a conventional portable t~locommllnin~tionc
device (such as a radio pager, cellular telephone, or comrl~tf~r vith a radio modem) to act as the
portable transceivel So as to directly convey details of events occurring in a e~ in,lu..~;lll as well
as contin ing to operate in the normal manner by co~ m~in:~ting with people over a wide area
radio network The system is designed to convey h~roll .~,lion in an inaudible manner using
200 tactile alerts, text and/or graphics so that it can be used in security applications, and also by the
Deaf and Hearing Impai}ed
Brief Desclription Of The D~a~ings
One ~Icfel~cd forrm of the Present Invention and m~Aific:ltil~nc of the Present Invention will be
205 described with ~:r~ llce to the accomr~nying drawings in which
Figure 1 is a block diagram showing interconnf~ction of major components of the Present
Invention
Figure 2 is a diagram showing selection of channels by Personal Trallscci~l shown in Figure 1
2I0 Figure 3 is a block diagram showing an all~...aliv~ emho~im~nt of the Present Invention
Figure 4 is an op~r~tionZll flow chart when a 'general event' occurs
Figure 5 is an operational flo~vchart when an 'emergency event' occurs
Figure 6 is an operational flowchart when an 'innoming Wide Area Radio Network
comml~nir;~til~n occurs
215 Figure 7 is an operational flowchart when an 'outgoing co~ nir~tiûrl from the Personal
Transceiver' occurs
Figure 8 is an op~r~tion~l flowchart when 'inroming Telephone Network co~ m~in n-iOn~ occurs
Figure 9 is an oper ltion~l flowchart showing how the Present Invention can be queried or
progr:lmtn~A
220
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Refc.~ -E Numer;lls Used in Dra~ings
Event Sensor (10) Interface Circuit (46)
Event (12) Keypad (48)
225 Event Tr~ncmitter (14) Visual Display (50)
Event Radic, Signal (16) Commnni~ lti nc Port (52)
Small AC Power Supply (18) Electrical Contacts (54)
Pocket Tr~ncmitter (20) Personal Computer (56)
Alert Radio Signal (22) Telephone Network (58)
230 Buttons (24'1 Fax/Modem/V'oice Card (60)
Base Station (26) Alarm ~nnlm~i ~tor~ (62)
Event Receiver (28) Computer ~nn m~ rc (64)
Net vork Tl;~nsce;vt . (30) Power Supply (66)
Wide Area Radio Network (32) Local Environment (68)
235 Net vork Radio Signal (34) Net vork Environment (70)
Local Transceiver (36) Radio Pager (72)
Local Radio Signal (38) Salcom 1143 (74)
Personal Transceiver (40) Salcom 1140 (76)
Message Received Alert (42) Salcom 1521 (78)
240 Remote Swiitch (43) Salcom 1110 (80)
Controller (44)
Li~t of Equivalent Terms
The following list of terms have been provided to ensure terms used in the claims find suitable
245 ~l~tec~d~ ll in this patent ~l~eeific~tion The following words can be read as equivalents when
il~t~ gr the claims
In Claims In Spe~ifiç;l~ion
250 first tr~ncmitter means Event Tn
first receiver means Event Receiver
third radio tr~nsmitter & follrth radio receiver Local Tl~naceiv~;
fourth radio tr~ncmitter & third radio receiver Personal Tr;lnsc~ivel
fifth radio tr~ncmitter & second radio receiver Network Transceiver
255 sixth receiver means Remote Switch
controller means Controller
data entry means Keypad
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display means Visual Display
storage means memory storage
260 timing means clockcircuit
electrical interface means Commnni~tionc Port
proeessing and eontrolling means Controller
cc n~ition responsive: device Event Tr~ncmitt~r & Event Sensor
event responsive device Event TrAncmitn~r & Event Sensor
265 eombined
a radio nehvork Wide Area Radio Network
first reeeiver Event Reeeiver
loeal radio transceiver Loeal Transceiver
portable radio trZlncmitter & portable radio receiver Personal Trdnscc;vt;r
270 user h~"ldLion h~",.alion from Personal Tr~lscei~
event signal Event Radio Signal
It l~o.. --.. ie~tionc actuated a. liVdlillg device Personal T-dnsc~:iv~:
information proeessing device Personal Computer
275 Definitions of Terrïls
The following terms have been defined to ensure the proper hllel~.eldtion of the wording
eont~in~cl in this patent cpe-ifi~ti-)n and the .~ cl dra~vings and elaims. These ~ fini~i~me
are to ~ .rle-nent other generally accepted ~Pfinitionc ho~vever should a contradiction exist
between the!ie ~rfinitionc and other generally aa:epted flefinitio~c the following ~1. finiti~me shall
280 take preeeclenee
Channel
A medium used to eommllnir:lte illr~ n sueh as a wire or radio signal. A single ehannel
may support either one-way or t vo-way eu.. ~ir;-tionC in simplex or full duplex modes.
285
E~ r~ ~ ~P~'
Energy radiated in the form of radio waves, heat or light, and ir~ln-ling ultra-sonie sound.
C~
290 The movement of il~....alion between two Ol more entities or Pleetrie~l deviees. The term
'c~,.. -.. ~ie:lte' shall be h~t~ led in the broadest possible manner to inelude one-way transfer of
h~-,--dlion or tvo-way transfer of i--r~ ion (eg. sending information and/or l~e~;:ivhlg
inf~)r-m~fion~
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295 Wireless Modem or Radio Modem
A device which allows hvo electrical devices to commllnicAte with each other using
electr mA~n~tic radiation thereby ÇliminAtin~ the need to use a wired commnnicAtiQnc link
bet veen the devices.
300 T~ t~r
A device which can generate an electrical or el~ A~ tic signal, and may encode information
on said signal.
Receiver
305 A device wlhich can receive an electrical or electromAgnf tic signal and may extract i~ ldlion
from said signal.
T~ cr
As used in this patent cpcrificAti~)n, appended drawings and claims, the term lldnscciv~l" shall
310 be strictly taken to mean a device (or combination of devices) which can transmit ancVor receive
information. using electrical or electrnmAgn~tir signals. A llans~ cr" shall be il~ led as a
device ~vhic:h can only transmit, or can only receive, or can transmit and receive. In this way the
term ll~nsccivel'' is broader in scope than either the term IIA~ 7' or the term "receiver"
alone, since: it defines a device which can do either one or both
315
C~ ;ally Available
An object is des._lil,ed as being 'commercially available' if it is mAnnfArtllred and has been
offered for use, or for sale, to the public.
320 C .. ' ~'
An object iis des~.lil~d as being 'conventional' if it is common place, usual, typical, standard,
and/or commercially available.
C~~~. o~ or C~ ~;ally Available Tel~ - Device
325 In the context of this patent cpecifiir~tion a "conventional tclccommllninationc device" or
"commercially ava,ilable tt~lpcommllnir~tirlnc clevice" will include among others, radio pagers,
cellular te lephoncc t vo-way radios, and ccllll~ulillg devices equipped with radio modems.
Selc.li.., Call De~ice
330 A device which can be selectively signaled, and can selectively receive i"r... "".~ion and
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seleetively transmit information.
Cc ~ir~tic--- Port
A means to comml-nic:-te information between two electrical devices, generally comprising a
335 physical electrical connector w hich may also employ a commnni~ation protoeol. Examples are;
serial RS-232 ports, parallel printer ports, PCMCIA interf~rPc etc
Electrical Characteristics
The electrical n~sict~nr.~, continuity, and/or electrical pot~nti~-l between two electri~l contacts.
340
~- ~ at~l~r
A device w}lich can. generate a signal which can be detected by a person, such as electrom~gnPtic
radiation, light, sound, and/or mf~cll~nie:ll vibration, in response to an electrieal signal.
345 Fa~/Modem/Voice Card
An electrieal device which connects to a co~ er and allows the collll-~lr~ to send and/or reeeive
fax information, binary data, and/or voice over a telephone network.
Local En~ironment
350 A physical area surrounding, and in near proximity to, a person such as an offilce, warehouse,
co"lpound, campus, home and yard, etc. More cpec ifi~lly in the context of this patent
specifin~ti~n~ it defines the area in which radio signals from the Local Tl~u~c~,;vcl can be
received.
355 Local T ~... 1
Tnfnr~~ti- gen~r,lted by or delivered to devices located in the local envi.u"nlclll
Network hu~;r~
The physical area comprising all areas other than the local en~ii,olll"c:,ll
360
Network Info. tio-
Information gener l~ed by or delivered to devices located in the net vork CllVilUlllllCII
Wide Area Radio Net vork
365 A network. whieh allows deviees to co~ ic~te information with each other using radio signals
over a wide area such as a eity, state, or country, or otherwise outside the Loeal E~vi~u~ enL
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defined above. Examples are; tlle cellular telephone network, radio paging network, radio
telephone network e~c.
370 Structure of' the Pr~ferred Form of the Present Invention as shown in Figure 1
The Present Invention's major co-l-polle~ , their functions, and interconnectionc are described
below and shown in Figure 1 as discrete parts to facilitate eYpl~n~tion In the final embodiment
of the invention, several fimetionc may be comhined into a single cc-~ ~n~ Therefore the
Present Invention should not be limited to the specific items in the drawings and text, as these are
375 illustrative only of the principles involved. The actual scope of the invention will be covered in
the claims section.
Event Sensors
A number of Event Sensor (10) (or condition responsive devices) are employed which can detect
380 an Event (12) and generate a ~;ul~ o--~iin~ electrical signal. Event (12) can be the presence,
absence or change in; a mpeh~nie~l action, motion, ~..~ , electrical signal, electrical
~;hdld.;l~ li,c, light (visible and invisible), sound (audible and ultrasonic), heat, vibration, water
level, contact closure, or chemical state.
385 Event Tr - ''~-
One or more Event Tr~ncmitt~r(s) (14) will generate an Event Radio Signal (16) when
electrically alctivatecl by one or more Event Sensor (10) attached to Event T-, n~ . (14). Event
Radio Signal (16) is encoded so as to contain the identify of Event Trancmitter (14) and/or Event
Sensor ( 10) .activated. The ~,hardc~ ics of Event Radio Signal (16), (eg. r~ uen~;y, rn~ tion
390 and encoding format) are such that Event Radio Signal (16) can be received and decoded by
Event Receiver (28). Event Tr:-ncmitter (14) can be housed in weatherproof case so as to protect
Event T-;.n~ (14) in adverse ~IIVil~ con~1itionc Event Tr:lncmitt~r (14) is powered
by a battery andlor Small AC Power Supply (18) to give an event signal in the form of an e.g
personal emergency alert signal.
395
Pocket Tr - ' -
Pocket Tr:lncmitter (20) is equipped with a plurality of Buttons (24) which when pressed by a
person will cause Pocket Tr~ncmitter (20) to generate a specific radio signal which is received by
Event Receiver (28,1. Each one of Buttons (24) will generate a different and unique radio signal
400 which Evemt Receiver (28) can decode and identify. Pocket Tr~ncmitter (20) is small in size and
is battery powered so that it can easily fit in a pocket, purse, or be worn as a pendant. It is
designed to be carried by a person, and used to signal for attention or indicate an ~-I.e~gell~
Sihl~tion
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A processing and controlling means is shown in Figure 1 in the form of a Base Station (26)
405 eont,qinPd witllin broken lines. In this Base Station (26) integers are provided as follows:
Event Receiver
Event Receiver (28) is capable of receiving the radio signals sent by one or more Event
Tr,qncmittPr(s) (14) and Pocket Tr,qncmitter(s) (20). It can decode the radio signals received and
410 extract infolmation to identity wllich tr~qncmittPr, Event Sensor (10) or Button was activated.
Network Transcei~,~er
Network Transceiver (30) is designed to emulate a specific tel~Pcomm-lnir~q~tionc device such as a
conventiona,l and commercially available cellular tt~lPphnne, radio pager, or wireless modem etc.
415 Network Tr~nsceiver (30) may be purpose built to operate as only one type of teleco-.. irqtinnc
deviee or it may be progr,qmmqhle so that it ean emulate several different t-Plecn-----~ ir~qtinnc
devices.
If Network Tldns~,eiv~;, (30) is a pro~"....---;~l-le deviee it may be tuned to transmit and/or reeeive
420 signals on various channels used by Wide Area Radio Network (32) by any number of known
methods, inrlll~iin3ar rh~nging its internal oscillator crystals or reprogramming its 5ynthPciced
tuner eireuitry ete. Network Transceiver (30) can also be configured as a selective call device to
respond only to Network Radio Signal (34) which is addressed to a specific telPco..... ~;r,qtionc
device(s). Conversely Network Tldll~ ~;iV~;l (30) can generate Nehvork Radio Signal (34) which
425 is destined for Wide Area Radio Network (32) and contains unique i~lPntifir<qtion information.
Network Transceiver (30) uses the rlc~u~"-~(s) of the Network Channel.
In this way Network Transceiver (30) is capable of co""""~ir~q~ing with Wide Area Radio
Network (32) as a tile~o...~ irqtion device using Network Radio Signal (34) and Network
430 Channel.
To provide at least one individual teleco.. ;rqtinnc actuated activation device a Personal
Transceiver (40) is provided.
435 The .,hdldc,l~ lics of Net vork Radio Signal (34) (ie. rle.~ c, power and protocols) used by
Network Tlldna~;ei~c:l (30) is the same as that used by the particular type of teleco~ -irqtion
device being used as Personal Transceiver (40). The .,hdld.,l~ lics of Network Radio Signal (34)
(eg. r~ luencies, p~ ~er and protocols) are also selected so as to comply with d~.luplidle radio
emission legic lq~ion, and not eause hll~lr~ lce with Loeal Radio Signal (38). This means that
440 Network Clhannel and Local Channel use different, non-inl~:lreling rl~ e~ ;.~c
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Network Tr~msceiver (30) is equipped with an antenna to improve reception and tr~ncmiCcion of
Network Radio Signal (34).
Local Tran!iceiver
445 Local Transceiver (36) is designed to emulate a specific Wide Area Radio Network (32) such as
that used b~ Plecomm~nic~tion devices like conventional and commercially available cellular
telephone5 r adio pagers, or wireless modems etc. Local Trdnsc~;ivt;i (36) may be purpose built to
operate like only one type of Wide Area Radio Network (32) or it may be programmable so that it
can emulate several different Wide Area Radio Networks (32).
450
The local Transceiver is designed to be It;~Joll~iv~;: to an event ~ n~ting from a local
environmem~
If Local Tr~msceiver (36) is a pro~ldl~ lablc device it can be tuned to transmit ancVor receive
455 signals on various channels used by t~ commnnir~ti~)n devices by any number of known
m.~thn~1c, in~ ing ~h~nging its internal oscillator crystals or reprogramming its synth~ciced
tuner circuilt}y etc. Local Transceiver (36) can also be configured as a selective call device to
respond only to Loc:al Radio Signal (38) from a specific ~eleco~ """ic~ionc device. Collv~ ly
Local Tran;ceiver can generate Local Radio Signal (38) which is add-c~ed for a specific
460 ~el~v""",~ic:ltion device. Local Transceiver (36) uses the L.e4ue~ (s) of the Local Channel.
In this ~vay ILocal Transceiver (36) is capable of co",l----nin:lting with a ~el~nc,..,,,,-n~ tion device
as a Wide Area Radio Network (32) using Local Radio Signal (38) and Local Channel.
465 The cLala I~PI i~ir.C of Local Radio Signal (38) (ie. r~c~ n- :~c and protocols) used by Local
T ~ (36) is the same as that used by the particular type of tel~collllllllllinationc device
being used ~with the Present Invention as Personal Transceiver (40). The cllald.ltili~lics of Local
Radio Signal (38) (eg. frequ~n~ c power and protocols) are also selected so as to comply vith
app."p-ialc radio emission legicl~tion and will not cause i-ll~.r~;;.t;.lce with Net vork Radio Signal
470 (34).
Local T-all:~c~;ivt;- (36) is equipped with an antenna to improve reception and l"~n~ ion of
Local Radio Signal (38).
475 Local Transceiver (36) periodically lldl~ a "null message" or "p-t;dllll)le" signal as part of the
Local Radio Signal (38). This null message is received by Personal T-i~lscc iv~. (40) only when
Personal T-dnscc;v~;. (40) is in co--------"i~:-tion range of the Local T-dl~ iv~;- (36). Personal
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TrdllSCt iVt I (40) ca.n then take appropriate action to monitor the signal on a continuous basis
such as s~vitching its operating frequency or channel as described below.
480
P~ I Transcei~er
Personal Tr~msceiver (40) is a trlPcQmml-nir:ltionc device ~vhich contains means for trzlncmitting
and/or receiving radio signals. Personal Transceiver (40) is a selective call device which can
identify radio signal,s which have been addressed to it and then activate means to notify a person
485 of this fact by g~pner~ting Message Received Alert (42) which may be a visual, audible and/or
tactile .ctimnlllc Personal Transceiver (40) will decode the radio signal and p-t;re-dl,ly display the
il~rOI ..-ation or message using a means which does not require sound such as text and/or graphics.
Personal Transceiver (~0) can also be in~llu~ d by a person to generate a radio signal with
490 ilLl;JIlalion encode,i on it and transmit it to a radio receiving device such as Local Tldnsct ;Vt;l
(36). Personal Transceiver (~0) is fully portable and is powered by a battery.
The Present Invention has been cpecif~rzllly designed to allow a "commercially available"
Telecomm--l~iczltions Device such as a conventional radio pager (eg. Motorola's Advisor), a
495 cellular telephone with text paging capabilities (eg. Nokia 2110), a col--L,utel or portable
c.)lll~u~ g device eqnirppd with a wireless data modem (eg. Motorola's Personal MPCCPng,Pr
IOOD) etc. ~:o be used as Personal Transceiver (~0).
Personal Transceiver (40) is also capable of rh~nging the radio frequPnriPc or channels upon
500 which it operates as dei~,.il,ed below.
Channel ~;~~ t- r ~
Personal Tl,dnsce;~/~;. (40) can transmit and/or receive radio signals over two or more different
radio ~ t"~r;pc or rhzlnnPlc These channels will include the freqllPnries used by Local
505 T.dni,~,t,i~ti~. (36) aind the frequencies used by Wide Area Radio Network (32). Personal
Transceiver (40) caln effectively operate on either of these channels and can switch from one
channel to another by employing one or more of the following channel selection means:
(i) the physical selection of a different receiver tuning crystal (or other r-pcnnzlnre tuning
510 device) using a switching means manually activated by a person or,
(ii) reprogr~mming of a ~y~th. ~;c~d receiver circuit using a manual switching means (eg.
Motorola's ]3ravo Plus radio pager) or,
(iii) the zlntomzlt;r reprogramming of a synthpcicpd receiver circuit as a result of the presence
(or albsence) of a received signal (like that disclosed in Patent Numbers 5,254,986;
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515 5, l96,842; and 5,355,126 assigned to Motorola) or,
(iv) the o~ in--~l and ~lltom~tic "scanning" of different frequencies by the receiver circuitry
(like tilat ~icclo$ed in patent 4,641,31'7 assigned to Motorola) or,
(v) the use of a second complete receiving circuit.
520 The above n Irntiot~Pd patent cpe~ific~ions are herein in.;ul~ol~.led by reference.
Remote Switch
Remote Switch (43) is a selective call device wllich can receive and decode Loeal Radio Signal
(38) on the 1,ocal Channel. Remote S- itch (13) is equipped with one or more electrical switches
525 which it can. activate to generate open andlor elosed eireuit eonditions. Remote Switeh (43) will
reeeive and decodc Local Radio Signal (38) addressed to it and can activate one or more
Eleetrieal Switehes ~dep~n-lin~ upon the data eontent of Loeal Radio Signal (38).
Remote Switch (43) may be equipped with an antenna to improve reception of Local Radio Signal
530 (38) and may be powered by a battery and/or an AC power souree.
Controller
Controller (~4) is designed to monitor and eontrol the operation of the Present Invention and is
comprised of a micro-processor, memory stoMge means such as Random Access Memory, a
535 timing means such as a clock cireuit, and eontroller software. Controller (44) has the means to
send and r~ceive il~ll.lalion from Local Trdnsc~ive~ (36), Network Tldnseeiv~;l (30), Event
Receiver (28), Interface Circuit (46), Power Supply (66), and Controller (44), while using the
memory storage as a data buffer by storing all data to be sent to, or received from, Local
Tl~ulscc:iv~;l (36), Network Tldns~ ,. (30), Event Reeeiver (28), Interfaee Cireuit (46), Power
540 Supply (66)1, and Controller (44). This data can be analysed, decoded or otherwise processed by a
micro-L~-uce~ol Dep~n~ling upon the content of this data, the micro-plu~~s~ui will execute pre-
plu~;l~llllled instruetions also stored in the memory storage. Micro-pluce~ol will store details of
the Present Invention's actions in memory storage as an activity log. The cloek eireuit supplies
the time and date of an event or action so that this h~rollll.llion can be stored in the activity log as
545 well. Memory storage also contains the software and eonfiguration h~rullll~on required for the
Present Invention to funetion properly.
Controller (44) is i-ully plugl,.~ e therefore it ean perform various funetions whieh ean, and
will, extend beyond the descriptions so far. Some of the additional fi1n-~tionc and eapabilities of
550 Controller (44) will beeome evident in the "Operation of Present Invention" section of this
floalnl.~n~
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Interface C'i~cuit
A further activating device may alternatively, or in addition to the Personal Transceiver (40), be
provided as Interface Circuit (16) to provide a way for externally conn.oct~-cl electrical devices and
555 people to activate, control, program or othenvise change the activated signal given as a result of
using the Present Invention.
Interface Circuit (46) provides a way for externally conn~cted electrical devices and people to
activate, co;ntrol, program or otherwise change the operation of the Present Invention.
560
Conversely. Interface Circuit (46) provides a ~vay for the Present Invention to activate, control, or
comm-mi~ate with externally conn~ctcd electrical devices and people. This is accomplished by
having Controller (44) comm~mir~e electrical signals and data with a number of input and
output devices via Interface Circuit (46). These input and output devices are; Keypad (48),
565 Visual Display (50), Commllnir~tionc Port (52), and Electrical Contacts (54).
Ke~pad (1~,) is an input device attached to the Present Invention. Keypad (48) allows a person to
supply datal to Controller (41) via an alpha-numeric keypad. This data can be used to program
the Present Invention to operate in a particular fashion.
570
Visual Display (50) is an output device such as a liquid crystal display which can display alpha-
numeric te~t and/or graphics. Controller (14) sends data to Visual Display (50) so as to inforrn a
person of the Present Invention's actions and configuration.
575 ~ Commnni~tion Port is an electrical interface means which allows Controller (44) to
comm1mic~te with Personal Computer (56), a modem or other electrical device.
Comm~lni~tionc Port (52) is a standardised electrical h1le~r~ces such as; a serial RS-232
port, a PCMCIA port, a parallel printer port, or a SCSI interface etc. Commnnir:ltion~ Port
(52) is used to pass data or comm:ln-lc between Controller (44) and Personal Computer (56).
580 This allows th.e Present Invention to use the hd-d~ ; and capabilities of Personal Computer
(56) to enhance the operation of the Present Invention. Access to Personal Computer (56), in
comhi n:~tion with ~o--" ulti- software, will allow the Present Invention to;
~ send d.ata over Telephone Network (58) via Fax/Modem/Voice Card (60) located in Personal
Computer (56),
585 ~ receivle data from Telephone Network (58) via Personal Computer (56) and
~ Fax/Modem/~loice Card (60),
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~ instruct Personal Computer (56) to activate Computer ~ (64) such as displaying a
"pop-up ~indow", displaying a text message or g}aphic image, flashing the screen, and/or
generating audible signals using a computer sound card,
590 ~ allow a person to utilise the keyboard and screen of Personal Computer (56) to program,
configure, or monitor the operation of the Present Invention,
~ provide a very simple and highly graphical user interface for those with sight or reading
problem,s.
~ store and display on Personal Computer (56), a complete log of events, mP,CC:lgPC and
595 activities which have taken place,
Interface Ci~rcuit (46) has the means to change the electrical characteristics of FhPctri~l Contacts
(54) when instructed by Controller (14) This includes the ability to deliver electrical power from
Power Supply (66) to Electrical Contacts (5~) and/or generate open and closed circuit
600 appearances at Electrical Contacts (51) The opening and closure of the circuits and/or the
application of power can be continuous or periodic and can be programmed to last for a specific
period of time
Electrical devices such as Alarm Ann n~ ors (62) can be attached to Electrical Contacts (54)
605 and therefore be operated upon instruction from Controller (44) Alarm Annnn~i~t-rs (62) can
be used to supplement tlle alerts and mPCc~c displayed on Personal Transceiver (40), or to
inform individuals who are not in possession of the an appropriate Personal Transceiver (40) (eg
neighbours, hearingpeople, etc) Thefollowingare e n ,)~es of Alarm Ann n~ orc (62);
610 ~ a series of lamps (or other visual inr1ic ltorc)
~ a large all h~ ic display
~ a siren (or other audible indicators)
~ a "loop ~ ~nc~ lr~" system which sends signals to a hearing aid with a T-coil setting
~ an "auto-dialer" which ~lt~m~tic~lly dials a telPFhonP number and delivers a615 pre-recorded message
Power Supply
The device uses Power Supply (66) which supplies electrical power to operate Local Tralls~_~iv
(36), Network Transceiver (30), Controller (44), Interface Circuit (46), and Event Receiver (28)
620 Power Supply (66) also provides electrical power to be applied to FlPctric~l Contacts (54) Power
Supply (66'~ can obtain electrical power from an AC mains power source and also from a battery
power source The battery source allows the Present Invention to continue to operate if the AC
power source has failed or is o~h~l wijt unavailable Power Supply (66) and its power sources are
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contin--ollcly monitored by Controller (44) so that d~ liate action can be followed in the event
625 the supply a,f power changes. For example, if the AC power source has failed and the battery
voltage is mnning low, the Present Invention could send a "low po~ver" message to Personal
Transceiver (40), and/or activate an alarm :lnn~mr~ or~
630 The compon~?ntC of the Present Invention previously des~-il)ed are housed within one or more
containing means so as to contain and protect the co".pon~ ; from damage.
Personal Computelr
Personal C~mputer (56) is a conventional personal computer which compric~c a co----~-----ic?~tionc
635 interface or data interface which is compatible with Comm--ni~ mc Port (52); ha~lwal~; and
software, such as E ax/Modem/Voice Card (60), to allow Personal Computer (56) to send and
receive data, to and from, Telephone Net~vork (58); Computer ~nnlmni~nrc (64) which allow
Personal Computer (56) to signal a person (such as pop-up windows and graphics, a speaker, and
sound card). Personal Computer (56) also contains a software program to allow it to
640 commlmirate with IController (44).
Controller an~l Computer Software
Soft~ ~are resides w ithin Controller (14) and also ~vithin Personal Computer (56). This soft~vare is
designed to control the operation of the Present Invention so that Controller (44) can, among
645 other things;
~ receivc data fiom Local Transceiver (36), Network Transceiver (30), Event Receiver (28),
Power Supply (66), Interface Circuit (46), and Keypad (48) and store data in the memory
storage,
~ analyses the content of received data and identify the source of received data and compare
650 received data with pre-progr~-n-nPd data, stored in the memory storage,
~ execute pre-pl.u~ld~llnled instructions when received data matches pre-p.. ,~.,.. ~d data,
thus causing l:he Present Invention to follow a particular course of action ~csc~i~ted with
received data,
~ send d.ata and control signals to Local Transceiver (36), Network T-ansc~iv~l (30), Event
655 Receiver (28), Power Supply (66), Interface Circuit (46), and Visual Display (50),
~ instruct Local Transceiver (36), Network Tldnsc,:ivel (30) and Event Receiver (28) to change
their operating pdld~ such as freqllenci~c, signal formats, and which signals they are
receptive to etc,
~ pass message data to Local Transceiver (36) and Network Transceiver (30) which is to be
660 incorporated into a tr~ncmi~ radio signal,
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~ instruct Interface Circuit to open or close Electrical Contacts (5~) and/or apply electrical
power to Electrical Contacts (54),
~ pass data to Visual Display (50) for a person to see,
~ use the memory storage to maintain a log record of all its actions such as; the data it receives
665 or sends, the device it was sent to or received from, and the time this occurred,
~ send and receive, data and instructions, to and from, Personal Computer (56) via
Comm--nic~tions Port (52). So that Personal Computer (56) can be instructed to activate
Computer ~nnnnri ~torS (64), display configuration of Present Invention, display and print
contents of activity log, comm--nic:-te ~vith Telephone NehYork (58). Also allowing Personal
670 Compute,r (56) to program Controller (44) and configure op~r~tion of Present Invention.
~ buffer al l data sent and received so that data to be sent by andlor received by Event Receiver
(28), Local Transceiver (36), and Network Transceiver (30) will not be lost if one or more of
the Preslent Inventions co~po~ t~ are already busy.
675 Since tlle Present Invention in the preferred fonn is fully p-o~;-d~ -al~le, it can perform fim~tit~nc
which can extend beyond that implied by the exrl~n:-tion above. Some of the ~C~rlition~l
fim~ic-nc and capabilities of the Present Invention will become evident from the following
description of how the Present Invention operates.
680 O~,c. ' -- ~f the Present In~ ar
This section and figures D, E, F, G, H, and I, describe the operation of the present invention
under several common sihuations For simplicity only the most common cihl~tionc have been
~Ypl~int~rl Since the Present Invention can be programmed and configured to operate in many
different ways and in different citll~tionC it will be evident that many other forms of op~?r~tinn are
6~5 possible. These oper~tion~l descriptions are provided to facilitate understanding of the Present
Invention's i.unction and flexibilit~, and should not be used to limit the Present Invention. Again,
the actual scope of the Present Invention will be covered in the claims.
r~ of General Event (Figure 4)
690 An Event (12) occurs in a person's surro~n~lingc such as a doorbell, t~lPphon~ or fax machine
ringing, smoke alarm, baby crying etc Event Sensor (10) which has been specially selected and
located to detect F:vent (12) ~ c an electrical signal which in turn activates Event
Tr~ncmitt~r (14) Event Tl;n.~ (14) g.,n~,.utc,s a Event Radio Signal (16) which is encoded
with the id~ntify of the particular Event Sensor (10) and/or Event T.,.n~..-ill~ (14) activated
695 Event Radio Signa] (16) is received by Event Receiver (28) which decodes the Event Radio
Signal (16) and passes the encoded data to Controller (44) Controller (44) stores and analyses
the data, to identify which Event Sensor (10) and Event T-,.nc...;ll~. (14) was activated.
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Controller (44) compares the d;lta to pre-programmed information in the memory storage and
sends a corresponding message data to Local Transceiver (36). Controller (44) also records the
700 time of Evemt (12), details of Event (12) and the actions of Controller (4~) in the memory storage.
Local Transceiver (36) transmits the message data using Local Radio Signal (38) and Local
Channel. If tuned to Local Channel, Personal Transceiver (40) receives Local Radio Signal (38)
and generates Message Received Alert (42) using vibration, sound, light etc. Personal
TransceiveI (40) tl en decodes and displays the message data preferably in text and/or graphical
705 form. A person is informed of Event (12) by reading this message data which Cullt,~OI ds to,
and describ~es, Event (12).
Request folr A~ t~ Event
A person ~vishes to indicate that they require special ~ttenti~n such as help with mobility etc. A
710 person presses one of Buttons (24) on Pocket Tr:~ncmittPr (20). Pocket T-,1n~ (20) transmits
a Alert Radio Signal (22) which contains the identity of Pocket Tl,~ e. (20) and Button.
Event Recciver (2~3) receives and decodes Alert Radio Signal (22) and passes decoded data to
Controller /~44).
Alternatively, a person can transmit a Local Radio Signal (38) using Personal Transceiver (40).
715 Local Radio Signal (38) is encoded to identify it as a "request for ~ccict~n~e event" type message.
Local T~allsceivc~ (36) receives and decodes Local Radio Signal (38) and passes data to
Controller 1(44).
Controller (41) i(l~Pntifi~Pc Alert Radio Signal (22) and/or Local radio Signal (38) as a "request for
720 ~ccict:lnce e vent" and performs the same activities as dPscrihçd above in 'Notification of General
Event'. Hc~wever lController (44) ~vill also instruct Interface Circuit (46) to supply Plpctric~l
power to, and/or close, Electrical Contacts (54). Alarm ~n.. ~ rs (62) col nP~ d to Electrical
Contacts (54) will in turn be activated to generate a visual, audible and/or tactile ~ccict~nne alarm
signal to attract the necessd-y attention from neighbours or ~,alt,~;ivt:l~ etc.725
F ~ Event OC~ur~ . ~ e (Figure 5)
A serious e---er~.,.,l~ event occurs such as a violent attack on a person, the presence of fire, or a
medical en;lergency, etc. A person presses a different Button (24) on Pocket Tr:lncmittpr (20) to
transmit an "~ e~cll~,y event" encoded Alert Radio Signal (22). Alert Radio Signal (22)
730 contains the iden.tity of Pocket Tr~ncmittPr (20) and Button. Or Sensor (10) detects the
t;llltn~ ,y event and Event Tr:~nc--itter (14) sends Event Radio Signal (16). Event Receiver (28)
receives and decodes Alert Radio Signal (22) and/or Event Radio Signal (16) and passes data to
Controller (44).
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Alternatively, a person ean use Personal Tl~ns~:~ivt:l (40) to transmit a Loeal Radio Signal (38)
735 whieh is encoded with data to identify it as an "emergency event" type message. Local
Transeeiver (36) receives and decodes Local Radio Signal (38) and passes data to Controller (44).
Controller (~ l~ntifiPc data as an "emergency event" and performs the same activities as
described above in 'Notification of General Event'. However Controller (44) will also instruct
740 Interface Circuit (46) to supply electrical power to, and/or close, Electrical Contaets (54). Alarm
~nm1nri~torlc (62) conneck~d to Electrical Contacts (51) will in turn be activated to generate a
visual, audible and/or tactile t;ll~ n~;y alarm signal to attract the necessary attention from
neighbours or caregivers etc.
745 Controller (~ ) would also send data to Commnnic~tion Port to instruct Personal Computer (56)
to; log the event ~etails, and/or activate its Computer Ann--nriAtr,rc t64), and/or use its
Fa.Y/Modem/Voice ('ard (60) to place a telephone call over Telephone Network (58) to a remote
station. Once ronnPcted to the remote station Personal Computer (56) ~ ould deliver a pre-
programmed~ f~x, voice or data message to a computer, radio pager, TTY, and/or telephone etc.
750 identifying the ty-pe and location of emergency event, and a request for Accict,~nne
~'~r~ ti~~ Event
When an event alert, "request for aC~ . ~", or "~:,ll~~ ;y event" is to be cAnrr~ a person
can use a different button on Pocket Tl,n~ r~ (20) to generate Alert Radio Signal (22) which
755 is encoded as a "cAnrP11Atio-~. event" type message. Event Receiver (28) receives and decodes
Alert Radio Signal (22) and passes data to Controller (44).
All~i..~li~,~,l~, a person can transmit a Local Radio Signal (38) using Personal Transceiver (40).
Loc~l Radio Signal (38) is encoded to identify it as a ''cAnr~ ion event" type message. Local
760 T-~sct;i~;- (36) receives and decodes Local Radio Signal (38) and passes data to Controller (44).
Controller (44) idPntifiPc Alert Radio Signal (22) and/or Local Radio Signal (38) as a
"nAnr.~-11,~tinn event" and; records the ''c~nrpllAtion event" in an activity log, instructs Interfaee
Circuit (46) to return Eleetrieal Contacts (51) to normal status thus deactivating any
765 .~nnnnri~tors7 sends a "nAnrP11Ation event" message to Personal Transeeiver (40).
Controller (~4) wollld also send data to Co-mmllnirAtion Port to instruct Personal Computer (56)
to; log the ~rAnrPl~ n event" details, deactivate Computer ~nl....l-: ~nl~ (64), and use
Fax/Moderïl/Voice Card (60) to place a t~1oph.~,ne call over Telephone Network (58) to a remote
770 station. Onee connPcted to the remote station Personal Computer (56) ~vould deliver a fax, voiee
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or data message identifying that the emergency situation has been t~n~ Pfl and that ~ccict~nce is
not required
Ir~~ ;ng VVi~le Area Ra(lio Network Cs ~;~n~ti(~ igure 6)
775 A person wishes to send a 'network message' from a remote location to Personal Transceiver
(40) The 'net~ork message' is tr~ncmitted over Wide Area Radio Network (32) using Network
Radio Signal (34) and is received by Network Transceiver (30) which is tuned to Network
Channel Nehvork Transceiver (30) decodes Network Radio Signal (34) and sends the 'network
message' data to Controller (44) Controller (44) stores and analyses the 'net~vork message' data,
780 records the 'network message' data in an activity log, and for vards the 'network message' data to
Local Transceiver (36) Local Transceiver (36) transmits the 'network message' data to Personal
Transceiver (40) using Local Radio Signal (38) and Local Channel If tuned to Local Channel,
Personal Transceiver (40) receives Local Radio Signal (38) and generates Message Received
Alert (42) using vib~ration, sound, light etc Personal Transceiver (40) then decodes and displays
785 the 'networ~. message' data preferably in te,Yt anWor graphical form
Personal Trimsceiver (40) can reply to the 'neh~ork message' by tr~ncmi~ting a 'reply message'
on Local Radio Signal (38) using Local Channel The 'reply message' is received by Local
Transceiver (36), decoded and passed to Controller (44) Controller (44) stores and analyses the
790 'reply message' data, records the 'reply message' data in an activity log, and fonvards the 'reply
message' data to Net~vork Transceiver (30) Network Transceiver (30) lrdn~ the 'reply
message' data using Network Radio Signal (34) and Network Channel In this manner, two way
comml ni~ ion can take place bet~veen Wide Area Network and Personal Tldns~,~;iv~. (40)
795 Controller (~14) can take ayyl~Jpli~ te action based upon the content of 'net vork message' data and
'reply message' data, such as cign~ling Interface Circuit (46) to operate Electrical Contacts (54),
instruct Personal Computer (56) to record message data, activate its Computer ~, ", ~ (64),
or send data over Telephone Nehvork (58)
800 Outgoing ~ from Personal Tr..nsce;~ (Figure 7)
A person wishes to send a 'personal message' from Personal Transceiver (40) to Wide Area
Radio Network (32) The 'personal message' is tr~ncmitt~i by Personal Tldn5c~;ivt;l (40) using
Local Radic, Signal (38) over Local Channel Local Transceiver (36) receives and decodes Local
Radio Signal (38) and passed 'personal message' data to Controller (44) Controller (44) stores
805 and analyses the 'personal message' data, records the 'personal message' data in an activity log,
and fonvards the 'personal message' data to Network Transceiver (30) Netvork T,dnsctivt;
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(30) transmits the 'personal message' data to Wide Area Net~vork using Network Radio Signal
(34) and Network Channel
810 Wide Area Net-vork ean reply to 'personal message' by tr~ncmi~ing 'reply message' on Net vork
Radio Signal (34) using Network Channel The 'reply message' is received by Network
Transceiver (30), decoded and passed to Controller (44) Controller (44) stores and analyses the
'reply message' data, records the 'reply message' data in an activity log, and fonvards the 'reply
message' data to Local Transceiver (36) Local Transceiver (36) transmits the 'reply message'
815 data using L,oeal Radio Signal (38) and Local Channel In this manner, two way comml nic~tion
can take place between Personal Transceiver (40) and Wide Area Network
As before, ('ontroller (4~) ean store and analyse the content of 'personal data' and 'reply data'
and take appropriate action such as cign~ling Interface Cireuit (46) to operate Eleetrieal Contaets
820 (54), instruct Personal Computer (56) to record message data, activate its Computer Annlln~i~t~rc
(61), or send data over Telephone Nehvork (58)
Tr-- ing '~ p'~lre Nct~vork Cl m~nir ~fin~ (Figure 8)
A eall is placed over Telephone Network (58) to Fax/Modem/Voice Card (60) w~hich is cont lin~d
825 within Personal Computer (56) Fa~/Modem/Voice Card ((~3) answers and receives the call, and
deterrnines ~ hether the call is a voice, fax or data call and handles it using ayl,lvp.iatt software
Personal Computer (56) then sends 'call data' (eg call type, call content, and/or comm lnriC) to
Controller 1(44) via~ Commllninltions Port (52) Controller (44) stores and analyses the 'call
data', records al",.vl,lidt~ 'call data' in an activity log, and selects and sends an d~ Iidt~ 'call
830 message' to Local Transceiver (36) The 'call message' may include 'call data' and/or a pre-
progr~mm~d message Local T dnsceivel (36) then ~Idll5,111i~S the 'call message' using Local
Radio Signal (38) and Local Channel If tuned to Local Channel, Personal Tl~nsc~ cl (40)
receives Loeal Radlio Signal (38) and gent~r~tf~c Message Received Alert (42) using vibration,
sound, light etc Personal Tldns~ ~iv~;. (40) then decodes and displays the 'call message'
835 preferably in text and/or graphical form
Controller (14) may also receive 'call co ,~n~ic~ via Telephone Network (58) to instruct
Interface Ciircuit (16) to operate Electrical Contacts (54) and/or send a Local Radio Signal (38) to
activate electrical switches on one or more Remote Switches (43) Thereby allo~ving a person or
840 device to remotely control the operation of electrical devices via Telephone Network (58)
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Remote Control E~ent
In any of the events described above, Controller (44) can choose to instruct Local Transceiver
(36) to tran'smit Local Radio Signal (~8) addressed to one or more Remote Switch(s) (43) to
instruct Renlote S-~itch(s) (43) to activate one or more of their electrical switches Thus remotely
845 controlling the operation of electrical devices which may be attached to those switches
Programming & Softw;lre (Figure 9)
The Presenl Invention can be configured to operate in a particular manner by supplying the
micro-processor ~ ith programming instructions via Ke~pad (18) and/or the keyboard of Personal
850 Computer (56) The micro-processor will display existing and new configurations via Visual
Display (50'~ and/or the screen of Personal Computer (56) The details of any reconfi~1r lti n will
also be stored in an activity log located in Controller (41) and Personal Computer (56) Controller
(44) can also be cor~lgured by extracting progr lmmi ng comm ~nl1c sent via Nehvork Radio Signal
(34) and/or Telephone Net vork (58) This "remote programming" allows a person to configure
855 and control the operation of the Present Invention from a remote location Likewise, Controller
(44) can send activity log information to a remote location by using Network Radio Signal (34) or
Telephone Net~ ork (58)
Personal Transcci~er F~ n~ Selcction (Figure 2)
860 When Personal Transceiver (10) is NOT located within Local Environment (68), Personal
Transceiver (40) will be tuned to Network Channel which co~ ;c~ltrc directly with Wide Area
Radio Net vork (32) Since Personal Transceiver (40) is out of range of Local Transceiver (36), it
will not receive signals detailing events occurring in the Local Environment (68) directly from
Local Transceiver 1~36) However the Present Invention may be configured to send event details
865 to Personal Computer (56) wllich then sends event details over Telephone Network (58) using
Fax/Modem/Voice Card (60) Telephone Net~vork (58) in turn sends event details to Personal
Trancceiver (40) via Wide Area Radio Network (32) Or the Present Invention may send event
details to Wide Area Radio Netnork (32) using Network Transceiver (30)
870 When Personal Transceiver (10) enters Local Environment (68) and is in comm~mir~tion range
of Local Transceiver (36), Personal Transceiver (40) can be instructed to operate using Local
Channel This allo- s Personal Transceiver (40) to receive event details directly from Local
Transceiver (36) on the Local Channel In this sitll~tion~ Personal Transceiver (40) will not
comm nicate directly with Wide Area Radio Network (32) on Network Channel Instead
875 comm~mir~ltionC ~ t veen Wide Area Radio Net vork (32) and Personal Transceiver (40) will take
place via the Present Invention
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The methods used to instruct Personal Transceiver (40) to operate on Local Channel or Network
Channel have been dc~ ibed previously. However the following is an operational description of
880 an automatic channel s~itching method.
Local Transceiver 1(36) will periodically transmit a Local Radio Signal (38) which contains a
'null messape' or pr.eamble signal. This 'null message' wil~ ~e of suitable duration and format so
that it can be detected by Personal Transceiver (40). Personal Transceiver (40) will periodically
885 or continuously monitor Local Channel for this 'null message'. When Personal Tl~ns~;~ive, (40)
detects the ' null message', Personal Transceiver (~0) deems itself to be in commnnin~tion range
of Local Tr,ansceiver (36) and hence within Local Euviru~ (68). Personal Tldl~su~iv~:l (40)
then begins using Local Channel in a more confin~louc manner so that it can ~on~ te
directly wilh Local ~ransceiver (36). Should Personal Transceiver (40) no longer receive
890 periodic null message signals (or any other signal) from Local Transceiver (36), Personal
Transceiver (40) will assume that it is out of co--lmnnin~tion range of Local Transceiver (36), and
outside of I,ocal Emvironment (68), and will begin operating using Net~vork Channel so as to
commnnin~tc directly with Wide Area Radio Network (32).
895 An Alterna.ti~e F~ho~'- ' of the Prescnt In~ention (~igure 3)
The follo ing section defines an all~ .livt; embodiment of the Present Invention using
componcnt~. m:lmlf~cfllred by a company called Salcom of New Zealand. The function and
operation of this embodiment is similar to the previously described embodiment, except that it
uses;
900
~ a POC',AG encoded radio signal for all radio commllnir:lfiûnc
~ a POCSAG comrli~nf radio pager as a receive only Personal Tl~n~ueivel (40),
~ a Salcom 1143 (74) as Pocket Tr:mcmitt~r (20),
~ a Salcom 1143 (74) as Event Tr,n.~ . (14),
905 ~ a Salcom 1140 (76) as Event Receiver (28) and providing Electrical Contacts (54),
~ a Salcom 1521 (78) as a receive only Network Transceiver (30),
~ a Salcom 1110 (80) as Controller (44), Commllni(~fi- n Port (52), and a transmit only Local
Transceiver (3~5),
910 One or more Sensor(s) attached to one or more Salcom 1143 (74) can detect an event, and cause
Salcom 1143 (74) to transmit Event Radio Signal (16) to Salcom 1140 (76). Button(s) located
upon Salcom 1143 (74) can also be actuated by a person to cause Salcom 1143 (74) to transmit
Event Radio Signal (16). Event Radio Signal (16) is coded so as to identify the Sensor(s) and/or
Button(s) actuated.
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.
915 Salcom 114() (76) receives and decodes Event Radio Signal (16) and activates specific electrical
relays whichl are ~cco~i~tpd with tlle received code When activated, these relays close Electrical
Contacts (54) Some of Electrical Contacts (54) are used to activate Alarm ~nlllll~ n rs (62)
The ren lining Electrical Contacts (5~) are connected to the input tenninals of Salcom 1110 (80)
Depenrii ng on whicll of these re n~ining Electrical Contacts (5~) are closed by Salcom 1140 (76),
920 Salcom 111l~) (80) ~vill select and transmit a pre-programmed 'canned' alpha-numeric message
which is stored within its memory The alpha-numeric message is tr lncmittPd by Salcom 1110
(80) and received by Radio Pager (72) as Local Radio Signal (38) using Local Channel Radio
Pager (72) activates its Message Received Alert (42) and when instructed by a person, displays
the alpha-mlmeric rrlessage
925
Salcom 1521 (78) receives and decodes Network Radio Signal (34) on Network Channel and
passes decoded alpha-numeric data to Co m n~mi~tions Port (52) of Salcom 1110 (80) Salcom
1110 (80) lldnsll.iL~i the alpha-numeric data as Local Radio Signal (38) using Local Channel
Again, Radio Pager (72) receives Local Radio Signal (38), activates its Message Received Alert
930 (42) and when instructed by a person, displays the alpha-numeric message
Radio Pager (72) used with this particular alternative PmhorlimPnt is a Motorola Advisor Pager
which has bcen modified to include a manually actuated switch which electricallyconnects/discomlec~s different tuning crystals When Radio Pager (72) moves out of
935 commnnication range of Salcom 1110 (80), Radio Pager (72) must be made to operate on
Network Channel This is ~ccomplicllPd by having a person manually actuate the switch on
Radio Pager (72) to ~ic~onnPct the Local Channel tuning crystal and insert a tuning crystal for
the Networl~ Chanmel Conversely, when Radio Pager (72) is within range of Salcom 1110 (80),
a person must manually actuate the switch to change back to the tuning crystal for the Local
940 Channel
Salcom IlllO (80) can be configured and programmed via Comm~mi~ti~nc Port (52) This
allows for the ~h~nging of 'canned' alpha-nuuneric mesC lg~c~ and modifying the ~halacleli~lics
and content of Local Radio Signal (38)
945
Cr~ r, R~ ---c"md Scope of the Invention
In conclusion it can be seen that the Present Invention provides a means for keeping a person
informed oi-' important events occurring in their surroundings while also ~u~o ling long distance
950 co nm ni~tions This is done using a single, portable, conventional t~l~cnmm ni~tionc device,
wllich can operate anytime and al~nost an~rwhere The Present Invention is designed to create an
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unprecerlPnt~d degree of cQmm-'nications freedom and environmPnt~l safety for deaf and hearing
impaired indlividuals. This is accomplished by:
955 Using a plurality of sensors to detect events occurring in the local en~i,onl-.enL. When an event
occurs a sigmal is sent from a sensor to a controller which records and analyses the signal and
follows a pn~determined course of action. These actions may be to activate an audible or visual
alarm, and/c,r activate a remote switch, and/or send a message over a telephone network, and/or
send details to a portable device v ia a radio signal.
960
The Present Invention can also com-nnnir -le with a wide area radio network and a tPIPphr,nP
network and convey message details from these sources via a radio signal to the portable device.
The portable device is also capable of receiving mrcc~Pc directly from the wide area radio
nehvork wllen the portable device is not in com-n--nir: tic-n range of the Present Invention.
965
The Present Invention also provides a portable llim~ lP~ which can be carried by a person and
activated to instruct the Present Invention to generate an alarm, andlor send a message to the
portable device, andlor send a message over a telPpllone network. The portable device can also be
used in place of a separate portable tr,lncmittPr to achieve the above.
970
The Present Invention is designed so that certain conventional and commercially available
tPIPcomm--nic~tion devices such as radio pagers, cellular telephones, or portable computers
equipped with a radio modem, can be used as the portable device.
975 The Present Invention can commnnic~t~ with a standard personal computer so that the co--,~ulc.
can; act as an :lnmln~ r, act as an input device to configure the operation of the Present
Invention, maintain a log of events and system activities, and use its fax/modem/voice card to
co~ nir,:-te with other tPlecommllni~tions devices over a telepl-on~P network.
980 Since the p-crc-~cd Pmho limPnt of the Present Invention is controlled by a Micro-processor, the
Present Invention can be configured or progr~mm~Pd to operate in many different ways.
While the above descriptions contain many cperifiriti~Pc these should not be con~l-ued as limiting
the scope of the Present Invention but rather as examples of l~-cs~;-lLly preferred embo~limPntc of
985 the Present ]:nvention. Many other variations are possible. For example;
~ The Pre:sent Invention may not comprise Network T-d-~ iv~i~ (30) and therefore not allow
Personal T-dnsccivc. (40) to commllnir:lte with Wide Area Radio Network (32). In this
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possible embodiment the Present Invention would only provide details of events to Personal
990 Transceiver (4(}).
~ Personal Transceiver (40) does not have to be a conventional, commercially available
teleco"",lll-lic:-lions device. The Present Invention could utilise a specially designed receiver
and/or ll;m~ to fulfill the role of Personal Transceiver (40).
995
~ Controller (44) fimetionc may be performed by the CPU of a personal colll~ , or otherwise
incorporated imto a eireuit board physically cont:lin~d within a personal co~ Jult;l.
~ Networlc Transeeiver (30), Loeal T,dnseeivt;l (36), and Event Receiver (28) rnay also be
1000 loeated on a eircuit board cont~in~d within a personal eomputer.
~ Networlc Tl~ns~eivel (30) may be a receiver only, Local Tldnsceiv~. (36) may be a
tr:lncmitter only, Personal Tldn~ ;vrl (4û) may be a receiver only. So that Personal
Tldnsc~ivc;. (40) ean onl~ reeeive information from Wide Area Network, and not transmit to
1005 Wide Area Radio Network (32).
~ Personal Transeeiver (40) ean be any device which can send andlor receive information
using radio waves sueh as any eomputing device with a wireless modem or radio modem.
This includes so ealled "Personal Digital Assistant" devices.
1010
~ Althoug~h the ~l~r~ d form of the Present Invention has been cre~ifir~lly designed for the
Deaf and Hearing Impaired, it has use in many security ~pplie~tionc, or in remote monitoring
of industrial ~ c~s~es, ete. Basieally a-ly~hele h~lllldtion about events or eonditions must
be gathered am1 delivered to a person, along with personal ml~cc:~g~c from people, or other
1015 i.. ru.. ~ion from distant sourees.
~ Event Tl,.llc...illP. (14) eould co-nmllnic:-te with Event Reeeiver (28) using; eleetrieal signals
~-ollv~y~d by an eleetrieal power line, or eleetrieal signals eonveyed by d~ ated wire
eonduetors, or ultrasonie sounds, or infra-red light.
1020
~ The funetionality of Remote Switeh (43) may be incorporated into Event Tr:~ncmitter (14)
making Event Tr~ncmitt~r (14) a transeeiver. Event Reeeiver (28) may also beeome a
transeeiver thereby allowing Controller (14) to instruet Event T-.ln~ P~ (14) via Event
Radio Signal (16), to aetivate eleetrieal switches attaehed to Event Tr,.ll~ r~ (14).
1025
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~ Another means whereby Personal Transceiver ( I0) is infonmed that it is in (or out of) Local
Environment (68) and therefore undertakes to s~vitch its operating channel, could involve the
use of a NEDAP "Hands-free" XS Card and NEDAP Access Control System both
m~ lf,lrtllred ~)y NEDAP N.V., Groenlo, The Netherlands. The NEDAP system detects
1030 Personal Transceiver (40) entering or lealdng Local Environment (68) and will send a
message or signal to Personal Transceiver (40) using either Local T~i~n~;eiv~l (36) or Wide
Area Radio Network (32), to instructing Personal Transceiver (40) to switch to an
appropriate channel.
1035 ~ E~ent P'adio Signal (16), Alert Radio Signal (22) and Local Signal (38) may all be of the
same frequency and fonmat so that Event Tr:lncmitt~r (14) and Pocket Tli.n~ (20) can
com~ miczlte directly with Personal Transceiver (40). This means that Event Tr~ncmitt~r
(14) and Pocket Tr~ncmittt~r (20) may be capable of generating signals which are compatible
with those used by conventional, commercially available telecommlmic~tionc devices such
1040 as; radio pagers, cellular telephon~c, and ~OIII~,UIel:~ using wireless modems.
Thus the scope of the invention should be detennined by the appended claims rather than by the
examples given.
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