Abstract:
A personal alarm system characterized by a central control or base unit wirelessly connected to one or more remote personal alarm units. The central control unit stores one or more alarms and is configured to transmit alarm notifications to one or more of the remote personal alarm units. Each remote personal alarm unit is in a convenient form for individual use.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The invention is generally directed to personal alarm and notification systems, and in particular to notification systems supporting remote notification functionality. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Alarm clocks have long been used by individuals to wake themselves up in the morning or at other times of the day. Typically, a user is able to set a specific time of day for an alarm, whereby the alarm clock will typically generate a loud noise such as a beep to wake up the user at the desired time. Some alarm clocks also include an AM/FM radio and/or a CD player, and permit either a radio station or a CD to be played back to the user in lieu of a beep. Other consumer devices may also support alarm functionality, e.g., cell phones, PDA&#39;s, electronic watches, personal computers, etc. 
         [0003]    One limitation of existing alarm clocks and like devices, however, is that the audible alarm broadcast thereby is generated at the device, thereby requiring the individual being woken up to be in close proximity with the device. Furthermore, while some devices support the ability to set multiple alarms for different individuals, if those individuals are located in the same location (e.g., sleeping in the same bed), each individual will hear every audible alarm since all alarms are broadcast from the device. For example, when two individuals need to wake up at different times to go to work, and one sets an alarm that is earlier than when the other needs to get up, the individual who doesn&#39;t need to wake up as early often will still be woken up by the earlier alarm. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The invention addresses these and other problems associated with the prior art by providing a remote notification system having functionality that allows a user to program a timed event into a base unit (BU), which upon occurrence of the timed event, sends a message to or otherwise controls one or more remote receiving units (RU&#39;s) to provide a remote notification of the timed event. 
         [0005]    In one implementation of the invention, the BU is the “central control” of the system and supports the basic features of a classic alarm clock, with additional features to accommodate remote notification. The basic features may include, for example, an AM/FM radio, a flash memory music player and/or an optical disc (e.g., CD or DVD) player, a time display, an alarm, and relatively basic “feature setting” capability. Additional features allow for communication between the BU and the RU&#39;s. Communication from the BU to the RU(s) may be unidirectional, i.e. where the BU is transmit only and each RU is configured to only receive BU transmissions, or alternatively, bidirectional communication may be supported. The BU in this implementation may additionally support the ability to program unique RU identifications (IDs) to support wireless transmission of notifications to individual RU&#39;s. 
         [0006]    Each RU may be configured to receive a wireless communication from the BU, and may support multiple alarm modes, e.g., sonic/audible, visual display and/or vibrating. Each RU may also support “alarm off” and “alarm mode” selection functionality. Furthermore, each RU may be configured to be wearable by an individual, e.g., via an associated wristband. 
         [0007]    These and other advantages and features, which characterize the invention, are set forth in the claims annexed hereto and forming a further part hereof. However, for a better understanding of the invention, and of the advantages and objectives attained through its use, reference should be made to the Drawings, and to the accompanying descriptive matter, in which there is described exemplary embodiments of the invention. 
     
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  shows the overall functionality associated with a Base Unit component of a Remote Notification System consistent with the invention. 
           [0009]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  show alternative implementations of the overall functionality associated with a Receive Unit component of the Remote Notification System of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of one circuit arrangement suitable for implementing the Base Unit of  FIG. 1 , illustrating time/alarm entry and signal output functionality therefor. 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram of the circuit arrangement of  FIG. 3 , illustrating information entry functionality therefor. 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram of one circuit arrangement suitable for implementing the Receive Unit of  FIGS. 2A and 2B . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    Reference shall be made to the drawings in which the same reference numbers are used throughout the different figures to designate the same components.  FIG. 1  shows the overall functionality associated with a Base Unit (BU) component  10  of a Remote Notification System consistent with the invention. Base Unit  10  is implemented in this embodiment as an alarm clock comprised of multiple features, e.g., a radio tuner  12 , a volume control  14 , a radio tuner display  16 , a snooze button  18 , an antenna  20 , minute/hour set buttons  22 ,  23 , a mode switch  24 , an enter switch  26 , a time display  28 , and BU and RU alarm on indicators  30 ,  32 . Base Unit  10  may additionally incorporate any alternate configuration or functionality utilized in conventional alarm clocks and associated devices. For example, the base unit may include a backup power source such as a battery to maintain settings in the event of a power loss. The base unit may also include a receiver for receiving a time of day signal such as an atomic clock signal. In addition, for local alerts generated by the base unit itself, the alert may take the form of an audible beep or buzzer, or the alert may incorporate the activation of the radio tuner, or alternatively, an optical disc player (e.g., a CD or DVD player) or flash memory music player (e.g., an MP3 player), as with conventional alarm clocks. 
         [0014]      FIG. 2A  shows the overall functionality associated with one suitable implementation of a Receive Unit (RU) component  40  for the Remote Notification System. The Receive Unit  40  is comprised of multiple features such as an antenna  42 , an alarm off switch  44 , an alarm mode select switch  46 , an alarm set indicator  48 , and a battery compartment  50 , each disposed within a wristband form factor  52 . In this embodiment, the wristband is continuous in nature, and to this extent is similar in nature to a bracelet. The wristband may also be elastic or otherwise expandable to permit the receiver unit to pass over the hand of the user yet be retained securely on the user&#39;s wrist. It will be appreciated that different combinations of control buttons may be used on each RU, and that an RU may use different form factors, and may or may not be wearable. For example,  FIG. 2B  shows an alternate Receive Unit  40 ′ incorporating a separable or non-contiguous wristband  54  upon which is disposed an antenna  56 , an alarm off switch  58 , an alarm mode select switch  60 , an alarm set indicator  62 , and a battery compartment  64 . Various manners of affixing the ends of wristband  54  to one another, e.g., a clasp, hook and loop fastener, a buckle, etc., may be used consistent with the invention. 
         [0015]    Other manners of making an RU wearable may also be used in the alternative, e.g., via a necklace, a clip, a leg-band, adhesive, etc. In addition, an RU may be embedded in or otherwise coupled to another item, e.g., apparel. 
         [0016]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram of one implementation of a circuit arrangement suitable for controlling the operation of BU  10 , and illustrates the functionality that may be provided in such a circuit arrangement for programming events and determining when a wireless alarm signal is sent out. In particular, Mode switch  24  is used to toggle through all operational modes such as “Set time of day”, “Alarm  1 —Time” and “Alarm  1 —Enable”, “Alarm  2 —Time” and “Alarm  2 —Enable”, and “Alarm n—Time” and “Alarm n—Enable”. 
         [0017]    The time of day setting is enabled by the use of mode switch  24  that of which puts a switch control block  70  into “Set Time of Day” mode, which modifies the Time of day clock  72  using the hour switch  22  and minute switch  23 . Once the expected time is displayed, the time is set, as the time of day clock is always running. 
         [0018]    Each alarm register pair is related to a unique RU by the unique RU ID stored in identifier registers  78 ,  82 ,  86 . The RU ID may be implemented as an address, or by any other identifier, e.g., a numeric code, an alphanumeric code, etc. The time registers  76 ,  80 ,  84  are individually selected and updated by setting the update mode using the Mode Switch  24  in combination with hour switch  22  and minute switch  23 , thru Set Time Gate  74 . 
         [0019]    The Comparator  94  is used to compare the current time of day  72  with each alarm register set time of  76 ,  80 ,  84  via mux  88 . Each time register  76 ,  80 ,  84  is selected by a circular 1 to n counter  90 , which is configured to cycle through each of n register pairs on a periodic basis, e.g., once a minute. If the comparator  94  gets a match between the time of clock  72  and any one of the alarm time registers  76 ,  80 ,  84 , then an alert signal is sent to the Wireless Alarm Transmitter  96 . Selection of the appropriate RU to notify is performed by mux  92 , which is also driven by counter  90 , and which passes the associated ID address for the RU for which the alarm time matches, stored in the respective identifier register  78 ,  82 ,  86 . 
         [0020]    Transmitter  96  generates a notification signal having encoded therein the ID address for the RU to be notified of the alarm condition. As such, all RU&#39;s receive the notification signal. Each RU is configured to decode the ID address from the notification signal such that only the intended RU will signal the alarm. In other embodiments, however, an RU ID may be associated with a particular frequency or protocol such that only the appropriate RU will be responsive to the notification signal. In such an instance, the ID address may be used to configure wireless transmitter  96  to generate the appropriate notification signal. 
         [0021]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram illustrating how Base Unit  10  may be used to enter the ID of an RU into an appropriate ID register. Each receiver unit  40  comes preprogrammed with an ID number. Each alarm ID register  78 ,  82 ,  86  must be programmed with the ID of each RU. Mode switch  24  is used to put the BU  10  in an RU ID program mode. Hour switch  22  and minute switch  23  may be used to allow input of the appropriate RU ID address. 
         [0022]    An alarm ID display  98  will display the RU ID being programmed. The alarm display  98  will be reflective of the selected RU unit ID stored in alarm register  78 ,  82 ,  86 . In the alternative, the tuner display  16  or the time display  28  may be used to display RU unit ID information. 
         [0023]    It may also be desirable to assign a register pair to the base unit  10  such that one or more register pairs may be used to provide the local notification functionality for the device. In such an instance, a local alarm signal would be generated in lieu of outputting a wireless signal via transmitter  96 . In the alternative, separate alarm notification circuitry, e.g., as used on conventional alarm clocks, may be used to handle local alarm notifications. 
         [0024]      FIG. 5  is the block diagram of one implementation of a circuit arrangement suitable for controlling the operation of an RU  40 . Its pre-defined RU ID is stored in ID register  100 . When a wireless alarm receiver  102  receives an RU ID signal from the BU, it is compared to the RU ID stored in ID register  100  with comparator controller  104 . This result is sent to demux  106 . 
         [0025]    Each RU can be enabled to use one of four alert modes: sound (provided by a speaker  108 ), vibrate (provided by a vibrator  110 ), visual (provided by indicator/LED  62 , or by an alternate visual mechanism), or electrical stimulation (provided by stimulator or TENS device  114 ). The alert mode is set locally in the RU. Alert mode can be chosen thru switch control  112  by using alarm mode switch  60 . This result is sent to demux  106 . Alternatively, an alert mode may be specified by the base unit and selectable by a user, with the RU notified via the notification signal of the type of alert to generate in response to the notification signal. In addition, audible alerts may simply incorporate beeps, or may include more complex sounds, such as songs or audio clips, e.g., as with conventional ringtones that are utilized on mobile phones. 
         [0026]    An active alarm can be disabled thru switch control  112  by depressing alarm off switch  58 . A “Snooze mode” can be enabled by depressing and holding alarm mode switch  60  followed by immediately depressing alarm switch  58 . This activates time keeper  116  and will temporarily disable the selected alarm mode for a preprogrammed period defined at RU assembly. 
         [0027]    It will be appreciated that various modifications may be made to the illustrated embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, various communication protocols may be used to implement with wireless notification of receiver units. In addition, it may be desirable to program base unit  10  to permit a register pair to be associated with multiple receiver units, or with the base unit and one or more receiver units, so that multiple notifications may be generated at a given alarm time. It may also be desirable to define a broadcast ID to which all RU&#39;s are responsive. 
         [0028]    Additional modifications may be made to the illustrated embodiments as will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, the invention lies in the claims hereinafter appended.