Patent Publication Number: US-2011068917-A1

Title: Emergency Notification Apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This application relates to notification systems and, more particularly, to an emergency notification apparatus that enables a user to contact an emergency network by pressing a single button. 
     If and when an emergency event is experienced—whether a medical emergency, fire, or criminal act—a person desires to contact police, ambulance, or other appropriate authority for assistance as soon as possible. In fact, contacting such assistance very quickly may be the difference between life and death. In some cases, unfortunately, locating and then dialing a telephone may not always be convenient or feasible. Even with the popularity of cell phones, they are often times not carried by a person inside their own home or even at work. 
     Various devices have been proposed for making fast contact with an emergency network. Although assumably effective for their intended purposes, some of the proposed devices have attempted to incorporate emergency notification devices into other electronic devices in ways that would not be convenient or feasible to manufacture or use. 
     Therefore, it would be desirable to have an emergency notification system having a button that is separate from a telephone and which automatically makes an emergency 911 call when pressed. Further, it would be desirable to have an emergency notification system that may be positioned at multiple locations within a residence such that emergency assistance may be obtained quickly from many locations. In addition, it would be desirable to have an emergency notification system that may be individually programmed with specific information that may then be transmitted to the emergency notification network when the button is activated, such as address or medical information. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, an emergency notification system includes a single-motion user input device and a processor in data communication therewith. The system includes an input jack for connecting the processor to a communication network for allowing communication between the processor and an emergency response entity. A microphone and a speaker are in data communication with the processor. The processor includes programming for causing the processor to actuate the microphone and the speaker to allow audio communication between a user and the emergency response entity through the communication network upon activation of the single-motion user input device. 
     Therefore, a general object of this invention is to provide an emergency notification system that enables a user to communicate with an emergency network with a one-touch motion. 
     Another object of this invention is to provide an emergency notification system, as aforesaid, that allows multiple notification buttons to be positioned throughout a residence or commercial structure. 
     Still another object of this invention is to provide an emergency notification system, as aforesaid, that may optionally provide predetermined data to be transmitted to the notification network so that the user may be located more quickly, accurately, or with enhanced support. 
     Yet another object of this invention is to provide an emergency notification system, as aforesaid, in which the one-touch input is protected from inadvertent activation. 
     Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, embodiments of this invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an emergency notification system according to one embodiment of the present invention covering a telephone jack faceplate; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the emergency notification system as in  FIG. 1  removed from the telephone jack faceplate; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the emergency notification system as in  FIG. 2  from a reverse angle; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of an emergency notification system according to another embodiment of the present invention with a cover in a closed configuration; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of the emergency notification system as in  FIG. 4  with the cover in an open configuration; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a data input device according to the emergency notification system 
         FIG. 7  is a block diagram of the emergency notification system as in  FIG. 4 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     An emergency notification apparatus according to the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 1 through 7  of the accompanying drawings. More particularly, an emergency notification apparatus  100  according to one embodiment ( FIGS. 1 through 3  and  FIG. 7 ) includes a user input device  120  in data communication with a processor  110 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the input device  120  may be an input device that requires only a single motion (referred to herein as a “single-motion” input device), such as (for example) a button (shown in the accompanying drawings), switch, or knob. The input device  120  may further be lighted (e.g., by a LED or any other appropriate light source) and may have multiple settings of light intensity. Light intensity may be changed, for example, through switch  121 , and the light may serve as a night light and also ensure that the input device  120  may be located. A cover  125  may cover the input device  120  to protect against unwanted activation, and the cover  125  may be movable and/or breakable to allow access to the input device  120 .  FIGS. 1 and 2  show the cover  125  in a position restricting access to the input device  120 , and  FIG. 5  shows the cover  125  pivoted to provide access to the input device  120 . 
     Means are included for connecting the processor  110  to a communication network (e.g., a telephone network) for allowing communication between the processor  110  and an emergency response entity (e.g., a 911 dispatch station). For example, an input jack  130  ( FIG. 3 ) in data communication with the processor  110  may be included for connecting to the telephone network. 
     A microphone  140  and a speaker  145  are also in data communication with the processor  110 , and the user input  120 , the microphone  140 , and the speaker  145  may be coupled to a housing  150 . The processor  110  may be housed in the housing  150 , and is accordingly only shown in  FIG. 7 . At least one power supply (e.g., electricity transferred through cord  152  or a battery) energizes the processor  110  and the other electrical components of the apparatus  100  that require electricity. Programming is included to cause the processor  110  to actuate the microphone  140  and the speaker  145  to allow audio communication between a user and the emergency response entity through the communication network after the input device  120  is activated. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 through 3 , the housing  150  may be configured to substantially cover a telephone jack faceplate  10 . The housing  150  may have a plurality of screwholes  152  corresponding to screwholes  12  of the faceplate  10  such that screws (not shown) may pass through the housing screwholes  152  and the faceplate screwholes  12  to couple the housing  150  and the faceplate  10  to a support (e.g., a wall). A rear surface  153  of the housing  150  may be generally planar ( FIG. 3 ) for abutment against the faceplate  10 , and the input jack  130  may extend generally perpendicularly outward from the housing rear surface  152  ( FIG. 3 ). As such, the input jack  130  may engage an output jack  13  ( FIG. 2 ) when the housing  150  is coupled to the faceplate  10 . A perimeter of the housing  150  (i.e., of the rear surface  152 ) may be bounded by a perimeter of the faceplate  10 , as shown in  FIG. 1 , and in some embodiments the two perimeters generally correspond to one another. 
     An output jack  160  may be included (e.g., coupled to the housing  150 , as shown in  FIG. 1 ) to allow a telephone to be coupled to the telephone network through the input jack  130  and the output jack  160 . 
     In use, the housing  150  is coupled to the faceplate  10  with the input jack  130  engaging the output jack  13 . A telephone may be connected to the telephone network through the output jack  160  and used in a traditional manner. When assistance is needed, a user may activate the input device  120 , which may require moving or breaking the cover  125 . The processor  110  then actuates the microphone  140  and the speaker  145  to allow audio communication between the user and the emergency response entity through the communication network and causes a connection between the processor  110  and the emergency response entity to be made. The user may then communicate with the emergency response entity using the microphone  140  and the speaker  145 . Another embodiment  200  of the emergency notification apparatus is shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . Embodiment  200  is substantially similar to embodiment  110  except as set forth herein and/or shown in the drawings, and the reference numbers set forth above are used to denote like parts. In embodiment  200 , the housing  250  is not configured like housing  150 . Instead, the housing  250  is configured to be located away from the faceplate  10 , and the input jack  130  (not shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 ) is in communication with the processor  110  through a wired connection and/or a wireless connection. It should be appreciated that the location of various components may be altered in a similar manner so long as the necessary data communication is present. 
     In some embodiments, a data storage device (e.g., inside the housing  150 ,  250 ) may be in data communication with the processor  110 , and means for inputting preset data (e.g., a specific location within a property, a medical condition, etc.) to the data storage device may be included. The means for inputting may include a data input device  300  ( FIG. 6 ) in selective communication with the data storage device (e.g., through cord  302  if the data input device  300  is separate from the housing  150 ,  250 , as shown). The data input device  300  may have a plurality of prerecorded selections that may be selectively transmitted to the data storage device upon user selection, and the data storage device may store the chosen selections as the preset data. The data input device  300  may also (or alternately) have instructions for selectively inputting audio data from the microphone  140  or another microphone to the data storage device for storage as the preset data. Moreover, the data input device  300  may include instructions for selectively reviewing the preset data in the storage device using the speaker  145  or another speaker, and for selectively deleting the preset data from the data storage device. By using a data input device  300  that is separate from the housing  150 ,  250 , a single data input device  300  may be used with multiple emergency notification apparatus. In addition, this may safeguard against the preset data being unintentionally or undesirably altered. 
     In embodiments with the data storage device, programming may cause the processor  110  to send a notification to the emergency response entity through the communication network upon activation of the input device  120 , and the notification may include the preset data. Further, programming may cause the processor  110  to actuate the microphone  140  and the speaker  145  to allow audio communication between the user and the emergency response entity through the communication network after the notification is sent. 
     In embodiments such as these, then, the user may save a room&#39;s location or a health condition (e.g., diabetes, blindness, etc.), and this information would be transmitted upon activation of the input device  120  to further aid the emergency response entity in locating the emergency and providing adequate support and services. 
     It is understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable functional equivalents thereof.