Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02532889 2006-O1-12
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING AN EMERGENCY
RESPONSE VIA A WIRELESS SYSTEM
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. section 119(e) from co-pending
U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/536,578, filed January 15, 2004,
naming
Dimitrios Lalos as inventor, and titled "REMOTE CONTROL MOBILE STATION FOR
AUTOMATICALLY PROVIDING POSITION LOCATION AND AUDIO
ASSISTANCE FOR EMERGENCY COMMUNCIATIONS".
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention disclosure relates to a system and method for responding to an
emergency, and more particularly to a system and method for providing an
emergency
response via a wireless system.
Mobile transceiver assemblies utilizing one of any number of radio frequency
links are well known in the art. Mobile transceiver assemblies typically
transmit and
receive via a radio network that may include a number of fixed base stations
with
antennas, one or more mobile switching center(s), PSTNs and satellites. The
radio
network may also include one or more links to the Internet, to a local area
network
(LAN) and/or to a wide area network (WAN). Although communicating via one or
more
fixed base stations, a typical mobile transceiver assembly caller or emergency
personnel
do not know the exact location of the mobile transceiver assembly.
In some cases however, the mobile transceiver assembly may include location
determination capability. Such a capability is typically enabled via the use
of a global
positioning system (GPS) receiver in the mobile transceiver assembly where the
GPS
receiver is in communication with a GPS satellite. Other well known methods of
determining a location of a mobile transceiver station include trilateration,
or
triangulation, utilizing a time of arrival (TOA) algorithm and at least one
fixed base
station receiver (or WiFi hot spot) and/or smart antenna technology.
Mobile transceiver assemblies having position-finding capability may be
configured to gain access to a variety of services, including, for example,
emergency
roadside assistance (ERA) service, personal emergency response (PER) service,
vehicle
CA 02532889 2006-O1-12
tracking assistance (VTA) service, traveler information assistance (TIA)
service, traffic
incident management (TIM), and fleet management, to name a few.
In some applications such as VTA service, automatically transmitting mobile
transceiver assembly location information to a responder is sufficient to
adequately
address an emergency situation and dispatch help (e.g., dispatching a tow
truck to assist a
car stalled on the roadside). Unfortunately, in other emergency situations,
transmitting
only mobile transceiver assembly location information to the responder is not
enough to
enable an adequate response to the emergency situation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The system and method for providing an emergency response via a wireless
system disclosed herein improves on the prior art in a number of ways. In
addition to
dispatching emergency responders to the proper geographic location, it
generally enables
transmission of audio, audible, or text information, in real time, to a
distressed registered
user of the mobile transceiver assembly ("the registered user"). Moreover, it
enables
quick access to medical and other personal information/data specific to the
registered
user, and using that information, allows emergency responders to respond more
efficiently. It also allows emergency responders or others having the
registered user's
information to communicate with the registered user via the mobile transceiver
assembly.
Further, it enables persons proximate to the registered user to be alerted
that an
emergency situation is occurring and that the registered user may be in
distress.
Accordingly, the system and method for providing an emergency response via a
wireless
system enables help and instruction to be dispatched to the registered user
quickly and
effectively.
According to a first aspect of the invention, there is disclosed a system for
providing an emergency response via a wireless system comprising: a mobile
transceiver
assembly that includes a radio network transceiver configured to receive and
transmit
radio frequency signals via a radio frequency link, a location determination
receiver
configured to receive location determination signals from a location
determination
transmitter, an emergency notification device configured to generate an
emergency
notification signal upon actuation by a registered user of the mobile
transceiver assembly,
CA 02532889 2006-O1-12
and a mobile transceiver assembly controller operatively coupled to the radio
network
transceiver, the location determination receiver, and the emergency
notification device;
and an operations center operatively coupled to the mobile transceiver
assembly via the
radio frequency link where the operations center includes a database
processing facility
having a data storage device and a facility controller where the data storage
device stores
personal data associated with the registered user of the mobile transceiver
assembly and
where the facility controller is adapted to retrieve the personal data of the
registered user
in response to receipt of the emergency signal, an integrated phone-computer
terminal
operatively coupled to the facility controller, where the integrated phone-
computer
terminal is adapted to enable an operations center attendant to initiate an
emergency
response action in response to receipt of the emergency notification signal,
and a
communication interface operatively coupled to the data processing facility
and the
integrated phone-computer terminal where the communication interface is
adapted to
enable communication between the integrated phone-computer terminal and the
mobile
transceiver assembly and emergency responders.
Preferably, the mobile transceiver assembly further includes a keypad, a
speaker,
a microphone, a display, a siren device, and a battery, and the location
determination
receiver includes a Global Positioning Satellite receiver.
Conveniently, the emergency notification signal includes an identity and a
geographic location of the mobile transceiver assembly, and the personal data
includes
the registered user's identity and medical data. The emergency response action
includes
dispatching emergency responders, initiating establishment of a full duplex
voice channel
between the operations center attendant and the registered user, and/or
activating an
audible alarm of the mobile transceiver assembly.
According to a second aspect of the invention, there is disclosed a method for
providing an emergency response via a wireless system where the wireless
system
includes a mobile transceiver assembly operatively coupled to an operations
center via a s
radio frequency link and where the mobile transceiver assembly includes a
mobile
transceiver assembly controller, the method comprising: receiving a location
of the
mobile transceiver assembly via a location determination receiver of the
mobile
transceiver assembly; detecting actuation of an emergency notification device
of the
.,
- CA 02532889 2006-O1-12
mobile transceiver assembly; causing an emergency notification signal to be
transmitted
to the operations center in response to the actuation; in response to a data
poll, causing an
identity and the location of the mobile transceiver assembly to be transmitted
to the
operations center; and enabling a full duplex communication link to be
established
between the mobile transceiver 'assembly and an integrated phone-computer
terminal of
the operations center in response to an emergency response action initiated by
an
operations center attendant located at the integrated phone-computer terminal
where the
full duplex communication link allows communication between a registered user
of the
mobile transceiver assembly and the operations center attendant.
Conveniently, the step of enabling a full duple;c communication link to be
established between the mobile transceiver assembly and the integrated phone-
computer
terminal of the operations center in response to an emergency response action
includes
enabling an audible alarm to be generated via a speaker of the mobile
transceiver
assembly; enabling instruction from the operations center attendant to be
displayed to the
registered user via a display device of the mobile transceiver assembly and
enabling
audible instructions to be broadcast to the registered user.
Preferably, the step of causing the emergency notification signal to be
transmitted
to the operations center includes causing a radio network transceiver of the
mobile
transceiver assembly to transmit the emergency notification signal, and the
step of
receiving the location of the mobile transceiver assembly includes receiving
the location
via a Global Positioning Satellite receiver operatively coupled to the mobile
transceiver
assembly controller.
According to a third aspect of the invention, there is disclosed a .method for
providing an emergency response via a wireless system, the wireless system
including a
mobile transceiver assembly operatively coupled to an operations center via a
radio
frequency link where the mobile transceiver assembly includes a mobile
transceiver
_ assembly controller and the operations center includes a facility
controller, the method
comprising: receiving an emergency notification signal . from the mobile
transceiver
assembly; transmitting a data poll to the mobile transceiver assembly
requesting an
identity and a location of the mobile transceiver assembly; receiving the
identity and the
location of the mobile transceiver assembly; based on the identity of the
mobile
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_ CA 02532889 2006-O1-12
transceiver assembly, retrieving identity and medical data associated with a
registered
user of the mobile transceiver assembly; and causing the identity and medical
data and
the location to be transmitted to an integrated phone-computer terminal of the
operations
center.
Preferably, the method further comprises establishing a full duplex
communication Link between the mobile transceiver assembly and the integrated
phone-
computer terminal, causing an audible alarm to be generated via a speaker of
the mobile
transceiver assembly, causing instniction from an operations center attendant
to be
displayed to the registered user via a display device of the mobile
transceiver assembly,
and transmitting the location of the mobile transceiver assembly and the
identity and
medical data of the registered user to emergency responders, all in response
to an
emergency response action initiated by the operations center attendant located
at the
integrated phone-computer terminal where the full duplex communication link
allows
communication between the registered user of the mobile transceiver assembly
and the
operations center attendant .
Advantageously, the step of retrieving identity and medical data associated
with
the .registered user includes retrieving identity and medical data from a data
storage
device coupled to the facility controller, and the step of receiving the
identity and the
location of the mobile transceiver assembly includes receiving the identity
and the
location from a radio network receiver of the mobile transceiver assembly
where the
location of the mobile transceiver assembly is detected by a Global
Positioning Satellite
receiver or Time-of Arrival estimating device operatively coupled to the
mobile
transceiver assembly controller.
Other objects, advantages and novel feahires of the present disclosure will
become apparent ,from the following detailed description when considered in
conjunction
with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIGURE 1 is a functional block diagram of a wireless system for providing an
emergency response .according to an embodiment of the invention;
FIGURE 2 is a functional block diagram of an exemplary mobile transceiver
assembly of FIG. l;
CA 02532889 2006-O1-12
FIGURE 3 is a flowchart of an emergency response routing that may be
performed utilizing elements of the wireless system of FIG. 1; and
FIGURE 4 is a fttrther functional diagram of the system according
to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Throughout the description, identical reference numbers are used to identify
like
parts.
FIGURE 1 is a functional block diagram of an exemplary wireless system 10 for
providing an emergency response according to an embodiment of the invention.
The
wireless system 10 includes an operations center 12 having a communications
interface
14, one or more integrated phone-computer terminals 16 and a database
processing
facility 18 operatively coupled to both the communication interface 14 and the
integrated
phone-computer terminal 16. The integrated phone-computer terminal 16 is also
operatively coupled to the communication interface 14.
The integrated phone-computer terminal 16 provides both telephone and
computer functionality. Accordingly, the integrated phone-computer terminal 16
may
have one of any number of configurations including, for example, a smart-phone
with a
suitable display, or a telephone coupled to a computer having a display. In
cases where
more than one integrated phone-computer terminal 16 is utilized, the
integrated phone-
computer terminals 16 may be arranged in a network using one of many well
known
methods (e.g., using an Ethernet LAN arrangement).
As illustrated by FIG. 1, the communication interface 14 is configured to
enable
wireless or wired transmission/receipt to and from emergency personnel such as
police,
ambulance and hospital personnel. In some cases, the communication interface
14 may
be configured to. enable wireless or wired transmission/receipt to and from
the
Department of Homeland Security. The communication interface 14 is also
configured to
enable wireless transmission/receipt to and from mobile transceiver
assemblies, such as a
mobile transceiver assembly 20 via a radio frequency (RF) network 22. Thus, an
operations center attendant located at the integrated phone-computer terminal
16 may
communicate with emergency personal or a registered users) of the mobile
transceiver
assembly(s) 20 via the communications interface 14 and/or the RF network 22.
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CA 02532889 2006-O1-12
The RF network 22 may support one of any number of types of mobile transceiver
assemblies 20 utilizing one of a number of radio frequency protocols. For
example, the
RF network 22 may support a mobile phone utilizing a code division multiple
access
(CDMA) protocol or a Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) protocol,
etc.,
or it may support a personal digital assistant (PDA) or laptop computer
utilizing one of
any number of 802.1x protocols such as, for example, enhanced Bluetooth, WiFi
and
WiMax. The RF network 22 may further include satellite links. Moreover, as
will be
appreciated by those skilled in the art, the RF network 22 may include
Internet capability
to support Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE) standards
such as IEEE
802.XX.
The database processing facility 18 includes a data storage device 24 and a
facility controller 26 operatively coupled to the data storage device 24. The
data storage
device 24 is configured to store personal data associated with one or more
registered
users of the mobile transceiver assembly(s) 20. The personal data may include,
for
example, the identity of the registered user, medical data associated with the
registered
user, medical personnel preferences of the registered user, drug allergies,
next of kin data,
etc. An external database 28 coupled to the database processing facility 18
may also be
provided to store additional personal data associated with registered users.
Although not separately shown in detail, the facility controller 26 includes
at least
a processor and a memory operatively coupled to the processor of the facility
controller
26. (See, FIG. 2). The facility controller 26 is adapted to control various
operations of the
operations center 12 and is discussed below in connection with a flowchart
(see, FIG. 3)
that represents a number of portions or routines of one or more computer
programs.
FIGURE 2 is a more detailed functional block diagram of the mobile transceiver
assembly 20 of the wireless system of FIG. 1. As mentioned in connection with
FIG. 1,
the mobile transceiver assembly 20 may be one of any number of mobile
transceiver
assemblies utilizing one of a number of suitable radio frequency protocols.
Referring to FIG. 2, the mobile transceiver assembly 20 includes a mobile
transceiver assembly controller 30 coupled to a location determination
receiver 32 (e.g., a
GPS receiver) and an RF transceiver 34. The RF transceiver 34 is configured to
receive
and transmit radio frequency signals via radio frequency links of the RF
network 22. The
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CA 02532889 2006-O1-12
mobile transceiver assembly 20 may also include a keypad 36, an emergency
notification
device 38, a speaker 40, a microphone 42, a display 44, a siren device 46 and
a battery
48, all coupled to the mobile transceiver assembly controller 30.
During operation, the emergency notification device 38 is adapted to generate
an
emergency notification signal upon its actuation by the registered user of the
mobile
transceiver assembly 20. Accordingly, the emergency notification device 38 may
be any
one of a button, a voice activated device or a biometric activated device, to
name a few.
Among other things, the keypad 36 is adapted to enable the registered user to
textually
communicate with an operations center attendant located at the operations
center 12; the
speaker 40 is adapted to transmit audible instructions from an operations
center attendant
to the register user and, in some cases, to transmit an audible alarm (via the
siren device
46) to persons proximate to the mobile transceiver assembly 20; the microphone
42 is
adapted to enable the registered user to audibly communicated with the
operations center
attendant; and the display 44 is adapted' to display instruction from the
operations center
attendant to the registered user.
The mobile transceiver assembly controller 30 may include a program memory
50 .(including a read only memory (ROM)), a microcontroller-based platform or
microprocessor (MP) 52, a random-access memory (RAM) 54 and an input/output
(I/O)
circuit 56, all of which may be interconnected via a communications link, or
an
address/data bus 58.
The microprocessor 52 is capable of, among other things, detecting actuation
of
the emergency notification device 38, causing an emergency notification signal
to be
transmitted via the RF transceiver 34 and enabling a communications link to be
established by the operations center 12. The RAM 54 is capable of storing~data
used or
generated during an emergency situation, etc. The program memory 50 is capable
of
storing program code that, among other things, controls operation of the
mobile
transceiver assembly 20. For example, based on detecting actuation of the
emergency
notification device 38, the microprocessor 52, executing code in the program
memory 50;
causes an emergency notification signal to be transmitted via the radio
transceiver
assembly 34.
Although only one microprocessor ~2 is shown, the mobile transceiver assembly
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CA 02532889 2006-O1-12
controller 30 may include multiple microprocessors. Similarly, additional
memory (e.g.,
flash memory) may be included, depending on the requirements of the mobile
transceiver
assembly 20. The RATvI(s) 54 and program memory(s) ~0 may be implemented as
semiconductor memories, magnetically readable memories, and/or optically
readable
memories, etc. Although not separately illustrated in detail, the facility
controller 26 is
similarly constricted and operable.
One' manner in which the wireless system 10 may operate is described below in
connection with a flowchart (see, FIG. 3) that represents a number of portions
or routines
of one or more computer programs, which may be stored in one or more of the
memories
of the facility controller 26 and/or the mobile transceiver assembly
controller 30. The
computer programs) or portions thereof may also be stored remotely, outside of
the
wireless system 10 and may therefore control the operation from a remote
location.
FIGURE 3 is a flowchart of an emergency response routine 100 that may be
performed by the facility controller 26 and the mobile transceiver assembly
controller 30.
Referring to FIG. 3, the emergency response routine 100 begins when the mobile
transceiver assembly controller 30 detects actuation of the emergency
notification device
38 by a registered user of the mobile transceiver assembly 20 (step 104). Such
a
registered user has previously registered with and provided his/her personal
data to the
operations center 12 and may additionally have paid a fee.
Upon detecting actuation of the emergency notification device 38, the mobile
transceiver assembly controller 30 causes an emergency notification signal to
be
transmitted via the RF transceiver 34 to the operations center 12 (step 106).
In response to detecting receipt of the emergency notification signal via the
communication interface 14, the facility controller 26 causes a data poll or
other suitable
request or query for information to be transmitted to the mobile transceiver
assembly 20
(step 108). The data poll includes a request for the geographic location and
identity of
the mobile transceiver assembly 20. The geographic location of the mobile
transceiver
assembly 20 is periodically received via the GSP receiver 32 or a Time-of
Arrival device
and temporarily stored via the mobile transceiver assembly controller 30. The
mobile
transceiver assembly 20 is uniquely identified by a mobile ID number (MIN)
correlated
with an electronic serial number (ESN) of the mobile transceiver assembly that
is also
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CA 02532889 2006-O1-12
stored via the mobile transceiver assembly controller 30.
Upon receipt of the request from the facility controller 26, the mobile
transceiver
assembly controller 30 causes the requested location and identity information
of the
mobile transceiver assembly 20 to be transmitted to the operations center I2
(step 110).
Upon receipt of the location and mobile transceiver assembly identity
information (step
112), the facility controller 26 associates (i.e., matches) the identity
information of the
mobile transceiver assembly 20 to the particular registered user and that
registered user's
personal data (step I 14). Similarly, the facility controller 26 associates
the location of the
mobile transceiver assembly 20 to nearby landmarks, intersections, road
services and to
the applicable 91I jurisdiction. Once associated, the mobile transceiver
assembly
identity and location information, the registered user's identity, and
personal data may be
forwarded to the integrated phone-computer terminal 16 and an operations
center
attendant.
Alternatively, the facility controller 26 may cause the identity and. location
information of the mobile transceiver assembly 20 to be transmitted directly
to the
integrated phone-computer terminal I 6. An operations center attendant may
then, using
personal data records displayed via the integrated phone-computer terminal 16,
associate
the mobile transceiver assembly identity information to the particular
registered user and
that registered user's personal data. As previously mentioned, the personal
data may
include medical history and issues, medical preferences, dmg allergies,
special
instructions, next of kin, etc. Once associated, all of the data including the
mobile
transceiver assembly identity and location information, the registered user's
identity and
personal data may be displayed via the integrated phone-computer terminal 16
(step 116).
Next, an emergency response action is initiated by the operations center
attendant
(step 118). It is contemplated however, that the facility controller 26 may
also initiate the
emergency response action. The emergency response action may include one or
more
types of emergency responses depending on a number of factors including, inter
alia, the
medical condition of the registered user, his/her locatiori and environment,
and the time
of day.
As part of the emergency response action in step 118, personal information
stored
CA 02532889 2006-O1-12
at the Network Center may be made available to emergency personnel 60 arriving
at the
scene: To this end, personal information concerning the registered user can be
stored in
the memory of the mobile transceiver in step 120. Then, that personal
information may
be displayed at the mobile transceiver upon triggering of a particular menu
instruction at
the mobile transceiver, in step 122.
Figure 4 illustrates the basic components of the invention, in combination
with
emergency personnel 60. The mobile transceiver assembly 20 of the distress
user
communicate with the Network Center 12, and may also communicate via the
emergency
personnel 60 to the Network Center 12. In this manner, data exchange can be
via the
mobile transceiver assembly 20 and/or a computer system of the emergency
personnel
60, and verification of the distress user can be directly via the emergency
personnel 60 by
fingerprint identification or otherwise.
For example, a full duplex communication link may be established between the
mobile transceiver assembly 20 and the integrated phone-computer terminal 16
to allow
communication between the distressed registered user and the operations center
attendant. An audible alarm may also be generated at the mobile transceiver
assembly 20
to alert people proximate to the mobile transceiver assembly 20 that the
registered user is
in distress. Instructions from the operations center attendant may be
displayed to the
registered user via the display device 44 of the mobile transceiver assembly
20, or may be
audibly broadcast to the registered user via the speaker 40. Emergency
personnel 60 may
also be dispatched to the location of the distressed registered user. Further,
the identity
and personal data of the registered user may be transmitted to the emergency
personnel,
via wireless or landline means to assist them in helping the registered user.
When emergency personnel 60 are deployed, the Network Center 12 coordinates
activity and is issued the response personnel's identification. The Network
Center
forwards medical information of the person. under distress to the computer of
the
emergency personnel, such as an onboard vehicle computer. The emergency
personnel
check and verify personal data of the person under distress by causing the
mobile
transceiver assembly 20 to display personal information, or causing the mobile
transceiver 20, via a wireless link such as blue tooth, WiFi, etc, to transmit
the personal
CA 02532889 2006-O1-12
information to the computer of the emergency personnel 60, or the person under
distress
is fingerprinted, causing release of the personal information.
As may be apparent = from the above discussion, the system and method for
providing an emergency response via a wireless system disclosed herein enables
a
distressed registered user of a mobile transceiver assembly to easily summon
"informed"
rescue personnel to their geographic location. In addition to dispatching
emergency
responders to the proper geographic location, the system and method for
providing an
emergency response via a wireless system generally enables transmission of
audio,
audible, or text information, in real time, to the distressed registered user.
Further, it
enables quick access to medical and other personal information/data specific
to the
registered user, and using that information, allows the emergency responders
to respond
more efficiently. Further, it enables persons proximate to the distressed
registered user to
be alerted that an emergency situation is occurring. Accordingly, the system
and method
for providing an emergency response via a wireless system enables help and
instruction
to be dispatched to the registered user quickly and effectively.
While embodiments have been illustrated and described in the drawings and
foregoing description, such illustrations and descriptions are considered to
be exemplary
and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only illustrative
embodiments
have been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come
within
the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected. The applicant has
provided
description and figures which are intended as illustrations of embodiments of
the
disclosure, and are not intended to be construed as containing or implying
limitation of
the disclosure to those embodiments.
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