Abstract:
A personal safety accessory device that is worn or carried by the user along with a communication device, such as a cellular telephone, is disclosed. In an emergency situation, the personal safety accessory device is actuated causing the accessory device to emit a short range radio frequency signal that is received by the communication device which attempts to establish a connection to a predetermined address. If a connection is established, the communication device transmits a message, which may consist of voice and/or data to the predetermined address. The connection may be automatically terminated after successful transmission of the message or the connection may remain intact until it is manually terminated. If the connection is not successfully established, the communication device will repeatedly attempt to establish the connection until it is successfully established or the connection has been manually terminated. Alternatively, the communication device will attempt to sequentially establish a connection to a predetermined list of addresses in order to transmit a message, which may consist of voice and/or data, to same.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates, in general, to a personal safety accessory device and, more particularly, to a personal safety accessory device that can be easily added to a commonly used communication device, such as a cellular telephone or a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA). 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0002]    There are numerous personal safety devices that are presently available. Such devices range from medical alert systems used by individuals to Personal Alert Safety Systems (PASS) used by fire departments. These systems are effective but are not flexible with respect to their applications. Typically, such systems are designed for and function correctly in a narrow set of applications. 
         [0003]    For example, transmitter pendants typically worn by the users of medical alert systems are effective within a limited range from a base unit that is connected to a telephone line. Problems occur when a person having relatively high level of mobility uses such a system and an accident occurs outside the communication range of the pendant. Similar systems are not suitable for assuring the safety of workers who work alone or who travel long distances to remote work sites. 
         [0004]    In contrast, large and complex Personal Alert Safety Systems (PASS) used by fire departments have a much greater range than the medical alert systems, but such systems are expensive, complex and inappropriate for use in many industrial or commercial applications or as medical alert systems. In this instance, the maximum distance of a user from a manned base unit depends on the range of the transmitter worn by the user. This range may be adequate for a large building or industrial site, but may be inadequate to assure the safety of individuals who work alone and travel long distances to remote work sites. 
         [0005]    In view of the foregoing disadvantages associated with presently available safety alert systems, it has become desirable to develop a personal safety accessory device that can be easily adapted to a commonly used communication device, such as a cellular telephone or a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA). 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention solves the problems associated with the prior art safety alert systems and other problems by providing a personal safety accessory device that is easily adapted to a commonly used communication device, such as a cellular telephone or a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA). The personal safety accessory device of the present invention is battery operated and does not require a physical connection with the associated communication device since it utilizes one of several industry standards for short-range communication, such as Bluetooth, Near Field Communication (NFC), or other communication system. The personal safety accessory device of the present invention utilizes means for manual activation by the user. Additionally and alternatively, the personal safety accessory device of the present invention can incorporate means for automatic activation if the device detects a problem situation, such as no user movement for a predetermined period of time or an orientation of the device that is defined as a problem situation. When activation occurs, the device sends a signal to the associated communication device. When the associated communication device receives the signal it causes software within the communication device to be executed. The software initiates communication to one or more predetermined addresses, such as telephone numbers or Internet Protocol (IP) addresses. When communication has been established, a message that the user requires assistance is transmitted. This message can be in the form of a synthesized or recorded voice and/or data depending upon the message destination and the specific implementation of the present invention. If the associated communication device is a cellular telephone and the software is configured so as to place a call to the 911 service, the user&#39;s location can be determined according to the E911 standard. If the associated communication device incorporates positioning technology, such as global or local positioning, the user&#39;s position can be transmitted by a synthesized voice or as data. 
         [0007]    It can be seen that applications of the present invention can vary widely. In a relatively simple application, a cellular telephone is utilized as the associated communication device and the software within the cellular telephone is configured to place a telephone call and transmit a message using synthesized or recorded voice to the 911 service when activation of the personal safety accessory device occurs. Additionally or alternatively, the software within the cellular telephone can be configured to place a series of telephone calls, each transmitting a message using a synthesized or recorded voice to one or more individuals when activation of the personal safety accessory device occurs. 
         [0008]    In more complex applications, a global positioning system (GPS) and Internet enabled cellular telephone or Personal Digital Assistant (PDA) can be utilized as the associated communication device and the software within the associated communication device is configured to connect to a central computer system via the Internet and transmit a data message when activation of the personal safety accessory device occurs. The transmitted data can include the identity of the user of the personal safety accessory device and the user&#39;s exact location. Software within the central computer system analyzes the data and alerts the appropriate individuals or agencies via telephone calls, email messages, pager, fax, and other messaging types. Similarly, the central computer system can alert an operator or operators at a manned monitoring center via a computer terminal or work station displays. 
         [0009]    As such, the personal safety accessory device of the present invention comprises means to activate and deactivate the accessory device, means to uniquely associate the accessory device with a communication device to which the personal safety accessory device is an accessory, means to create visual and audible alarms on or in the personal safety accessory device when short range radio frequency communication between the personal safety accessory device and the associated communication device is lost and/or a short range radio frequency alarm signal is transmitted from the personal safety accessory device, and means to transmit a short range radio frequency alarm signal to the associated communication device under certain conditions. Such conditions include the manual initiation of an alarm condition by the user through the actuation of a push button or the like, or the automatic initiation of an alarm by means of a motion detector when the user has not physically moved for longer than a predetermined period of time. The means to automatically initiate an alarm incorporates visual and audible alarms on or in the personal safety accessory device of the present invention so as to notify the user of the impending transmission of the short range radio frequency alarm signal during a predetermined time interval before the short range radio frequency alarm signal transmission begins. This permits the user to deactivate the personal safety accessory device to prevent false alarm signals from being transmitted. 
         [0010]    Operating in conjunction with the personal safety accessory device of the present invention, but within a separate long-range communication device, such as a cellular telephone or a Personal Data Assistant (PDA), to which the personal safety accessory device is an accessory, is the software component of the present invention. This software component comprises means to manually activate and deactivate the software, means to uniquely associate the communication device with the personal safety accessory device, means to activate visual and/or audible alarms on the associated communication device, (if such alarms are available), when short range radio frequency communication between the associated communication device and the personal safety accessory device is lost or a short range radio frequency alarm signal is received from the personal safety accessory device, and means causing the associated communication device to transmit a long range message consisting of synthesized or recorded voice and/or data to a predetermined address or addresses when short range communication between the associated communication device and the personal safety accessory device is lost for longer than a predetermined period of time or a short range radio frequency alarm is received from the personal safety accessory device. 
         [0011]    In one implementation of the present invention, software is loaded into the communication device to which the personal safety accessory device is an accessory. A unique identifier of the personal safety accessory device and its communication device are entered into both devices, and addresses, such as telephone numbers or Internet Protocol (IP) addresses, are entered into the communication device. The personal safety accessory device and the associated communication device communicate with one another periodically so that each device can determine the presence of the other device. For example, the personal accessory device can transmit its unique identifier to its associated communication device and the associated communication device can respond to the personal safety accessory device with its own unique identifier. If the personal safety accessory device loses communication with its associated communication device, visible and available alarms within the personal safety accessory device are activated. If the associated communication device loses communication with the personal safety accessory device, any available local visible and audible alarms are activated. If communication is not restored and the associated communication device is not manually deactivated within a predetermined period of time, a voice and/or data message indicating a problem is transmitted to the previously entered address or addresses. 
         [0012]    The personal safety accessory device of the present invention is worn or otherwise carried by the user along with its associated communication device, such as a cellular telephone. In an emergency situation, a push button or other manual or automatic means for initiating an alarm changes the state of at least one pin of a digital input/output port causing hardware and firmware components of the personal safety accessory device to emit a short range radio frequency signal. This short range radio frequency signal is received by the associated communication device causing this communication device to execute software that has been pre-loaded into the associated communication device. This software causes the associated communication device to attempt to establish a connection to a predetermined address. If the connection is established, the software causes the associated communication device to transmit a message to the predetermined address. This message may consist of voice and/or data, as appropriate. The connection may be automatically terminated after transmission of the message has been successfully completed or the connection may remain intact until it is manually terminated. If the connection is not successfully established, the software will repeatedly attempt to establish the connection until it is either successfully established or the connection is manually terminated. 
         [0013]    In another implementation of the present invention, rather than attempting to establish a connection to a predetermined address, the software within the associated communication device attempts to establish a connection with the first address in a predetermined list of addresses. If the connection is established with the first address, the software causes the associated communication device to transmit a message to the first address. This message may consist of voice and/or data, as appropriate. After the message transmission has been completed, the connection may be automatically terminated and no further action may be taken, or the connection may be automatically terminated and the software may then attempt to establish a connection to the next address in the predetermined list of addresses, or the connection may remain intact until it is manually terminated. If a connection is not established to the first address, the software may attempt to establish a connection to the next address in the predetermined list of addresses, in a circular manner, until at least one connection is established and the message has been successfully transmitted. In still another implementation of the present invention, the software may attempt to establish a connection to the next address in the predetermined list of addresses, in a circular manner, until each connection has been established and the message has been successfully transmitted to each address in the predetermined list of addresses. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of an implementation of the present invention using synthesized or recorded voice communication. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of an implementation of the present invention using data communication. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of the personal safety accessory device of the present invention. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a flow chart of the software logic that is executed by the personal safety accessory device to detect its associated communication device. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a flow chart of the software that is executed by the associated communication device to detect its associated personal safety accessory device. 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a flow chart of the software that is executed by the associated communication device when an alarm signal is received from its associated personal accessory device. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0020]    Referring now to the Figures where the illustrations are for the purpose of describing the preferred embodiment of the present invention and are not intended to limit the invention described herein,  FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of one implementation of a system  10  utilizing the concepts of the present invention and using previously recorded and stored, or synthesized voice message communication to accomplish same. As such, a personal safety accessory device  12  of the present invention is utilized to activate a cellular telephone  14  through Bluetooth, Near. Field Communication (NFC), or other communication system. The cellular telephone  14 , in turn, transmits a previously recorded and stored, or synthesized voice message via a cellular telephone communication system  16  of the appropriate type, such as a TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) system, CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) system, GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications), or other communication system to another cellular telephone  18  or to a typical landline telephone by means of the landline-based telephone communication network  20 . 
         [0021]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a schematic diagram of another implementation of a system  30  utilizing the concepts of the present invention and using data communication to accomplish same is illustrated. The system  30  includes pairs of personal safety accessory devices and associated communication devices, shown generally by the numeral  32 , a wireless communication network, shown generally by the numeral  34 , a computer system, shown generally by the numeral  36 , and a plurality of output devices, shown generally by the numeral  38 . 
         [0022]    The pairs  32  of personal safety accessory devices and associated communication devices can include, for example, a personal safety accessory device  40  and its associated Personal Digital Assistant (PDA)  42  with integrated cellular telephone and/or  802 . 11  (Wi-Fi) capability. Additionally and alternatively, a personal safety accessory device  44  and its associated cellular telephone  46  can be utilized. In any case, the personal safety accessory devices  40  and  44  can activate their respective associated communication devices  42  and  46  by means of Bluetooth or Near Field Communication (NFC), and the respective communication devices  42  and  46  are connectable to a computer  64  via a wireless communication network, shown generally by the numeral  34 . 
         [0023]    The wireless communication network  34  can utilize an existing cellular telephone communication system of the appropriate type, such as TDMA (Time Division Multiple Access) system, a CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) system, or a GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication), shown generally by the numeral  50 , or another type of system, that is connectable to an existing landline-based telephone network, shown generally by the numeral  54 , or to the Internet  60 , via an optional intermediate computer  56 . A modem or other device  58  is utilized to connect the landline-based telephone network  54  to a computer  64  to receive data transmissions from the cellular telephone  46  and/or the PDA  42 . Alternatively, the computer  64  is connectable to the Internet  60  to receive data transmissions from the cellular telephone  46  and/or the PDA  42 , via the existing cellular telephone communication system  50 . Furthermore, the computer  64  can receive data communications from the cellular telephone  46  and/or the PDA  42  directly via a Wi-Fi network  62  based on the IEEE 802.11 specification, or from the Wi-Fi network  62 , via the Internet  60 . Also, the computer  64  can receive data communications from the cellular telephone  46  and/or the PDA  42  from the existing telephone communication system  50 , via a cellular data communication device  52 . 
         [0024]    The computer  64  is equipped with software, shown generally by the numeral  66 , for the purposes of notifying appropriate persons, logging, and generating reports regarding messages received from the cellular telephone  46  and/or the PDA  42 . The computer  64  generates commands, as instructed by the software  66 , to produce notifications and reports at various output devices  38 , which include work stations  68 , printers  70 , and facsimile machines  72 . Additionally or alternatively, the computer  64  can provide information and notify individuals of exceptions that require attention through email messages  74 , PDAs  76 , cellular and other telephones  78 , or pagers  80 . 
         [0025]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a schematic diagram of the personal safety accessory device  12 ,  40 ,  44  of the present invention is illustrated. The personal safety accessory device  12 ,  40 ,  44  includes an integrated circuit  90 , a battery  92 , power monitor  94 , visual and audible alarm devices  96 , a manual alarm signal activation device  98 , an automatic alarm signal activation device  100  and a manual local alarm deactivation device  102 . The integrated circuit  90  includes a programming interface  104 , digital input/output ports  106 , a radio frequency transmitter  108 , a processor  110 , a SRAM  112 , and flash memory  114 . The flash memory  114  stores the operating system and associated programs of the personal safety accessory device  12 ,  40 ,  44 , which are loaded into the flash memory  114  by means of the programming interface  104 . The operating system and associated programs stored in the flash memory  114  are executed by the processor  110  utilizing the SRAM  112  and a clock  116 . When executing, the operating system and associated programs perform functions necessary for the operation of the personal safety accessory device  12 ,  40 ,  44 , including monitoring the status of the inputs and controlling outputs of the digital input/output ports  106 , and transmitting and receiving data via the radio frequency transceiver  108  and an antenna  118 . The monitored inputs include a manual alarm signal activation device  98  (which may be a push button, or the like), an automatic alarm signal activation device  100  (which may be a movement sensing device, or the like) and a manual local alarm deactivation device  102  (which may be a push button, or the like). The outputs controlled include visual and audible alarms of the PSAD. The battery  92  provides power for the operation of the integrated circuit  90  and the associated circuitry of the personal safety accessory device  12 ,  40 ,  44 . The power monitoring circuit  94  monitors battery condition and provides battery condition data as an input to the digital input/output ports  106  which are monitored, as previously described. 
         [0026]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a flow chart of the communication device detection logic utilized by the present invention and executed by the personal safety accessory device is illustrated. As shown, when the personal safety accessory device  12 ,  40 ,  44  is activated in block  120 , the software illustrated in this Figure immediately begins being executed in the personal safety accessory device. The manual alarm deactivation flag is set to NO in block  122  indicating that the local visible and audible alarms of the personal safety accessory devices  12 ,  40 ,  44  are not manually deactivated. The personal safety accessory device  12 ,  40 ,  44  then transmits a presence signal (a unique identifier) in block  124  utilizing a short range communication technology, such as Bluetooth or Near Field Communication (NFC). In block  126 , the personal safety accessory device  12 ,  40 ,  44  waits to receive an acknowledgement from its associated communication device of the presence signal (identifier) transmitted in block  124 . The acknowledgement consists of at least the unique identifier of the communication device. The logic waits until either the acknowledgement signal has been received or until a predetermined period of time has elapsed. A determination is then made in block  128  as to whether an acknowledgement of the presence signal (identifier) has been received from the associated communication device or whether the predetermined period of time has elapsed without the reception of the acknowledgement. If an acknowledgement has been received, any previously activated local alarms are turned off in block  130  and the logic then proceeds to block  132 . If the predetermined period of time has elapsed without the reception of an acknowledgement, the local and audible alarms are turned on in block  134  informing the user that the personal safety accessory device  12 ,  40 ,  44  cannot communicate with its associated communication device, and the logic then proceeds to block  132 . A determination is then made in block  132  as to whether the manual alarm deactivation flag has not been set to YES. If the manual alarm deactivation flag has not been set to YES, the logic proceeds to block  136  where it waits for a predetermined period of time before beginning again at block  124 . If in block  132 , a determination is made that the manual alarm deactivation flag is set to YES, the logic proceeds to block  138  where it waits for a separately configurable period of time before beginning again at block  122 . 
         [0027]    Software within the personal safety accessory device  12 ,  40 ,  44  includes a feature allowing the user to temporarily turn off local visible and audible alarms when the manual local alarm deactivation devices  102 , as shown in  FIG. 3 , are activated. Activation of the manual local alarm deactivation devices  102  causes a manual alarm deactivation event, as shown in block  140 , causing the software to turn off visible and audible alarms if the alarms are active, as shown in block  142 . The logic next proceeds to block  144  where the manual alarm detection flag is set to YES, indicating that the user has manually deactivated the alarms. The logic finishes, as indicated in block  146 , and is then ready to accept another manual alarm deactivation event at any time. 
         [0028]    A flowchart of the personal safety accessory device detection logic utilized by the present invention and executed by the associated communication device is illustrated in  FIG. 5 . As illustrated, when the personal safety accessory device  12 ,  40 ,  44  is activated in block  150 , the software illustrated in this Figure immediately begins being executed in the associated communication device and resets a continuously running timer in block  152 . The manual local alarm deactivation flag is then set to NO in block  154  indicating that local visible and audible alarms of the associated communication device are not manually activated. A check is then made in block  156  to determine whether local visible and audible alarms of the associated communication device are manually deactivated. If so, the logic proceeds to block  158  where it waits for a predetermined period of time before resuming again beginning with block  152 . Otherwise, the logic proceeds to block  160  in which the associated communication device waits to receive a presence signal (a unique identifier) from the personal safety accessory device  12 ,  40 ,  44 . The logic waits until either the presence signal (identifier) is received by the associated communication device or until a predetermined period of time has elapsed. A determination is then made in block  162  as to whether the presence signal (identifier) was received from the personal safety accessory device  12 ,  40 ,  44  or whether the predetermined period of time elapsed without the reception of the presence signal (identifier). If the presence signal (identifier) was received from the personal safety accessory device  12 ,  40 ,  44 , an acknowledgement consisting of at least the unique identifier of the associated communication device is transmitted utilizing a short range communication technology, as shown in block  164 , causing local and visible alarms to be turned off in block  166  and the logic begins again in block  152 . If the predetermined period of time elapsed without the reception of the presence signal (identifier) from the personal safety accessory device  12 ,  40 ,  44 , local visible and audible alarms are turned on in block  168  informing the user that communication with the personal safety accessory device  12 ,  40 ,  44  has been lost. The logic then proceeds to block  170  where a determination is made as to whether the alarm timer has exceeded a predetermined limit. If so, the associated communication alarm software, illustrated in  FIG. 6  and hereinafter described, is executed. Otherwise, the logic begins again starting with block  156 . 
         [0029]    Software within the associated communication device includes a feature that allows the user to temporarily turn off local visible and audible alarms and temporarily prevent the software illustrated in  FIG. 6  from being executed if such execution has not already begun. The foregoing causes a manual deactivation event, as shown in block  172 , causing the software to turn off local and visible alarms if the alarms have been activated, as shown in block  174 . The logic then proceeds to block  176  where the manual local alarm deactivation flag is sent to YES, indicating that the user has manually deactivated the alarms. The logic finishes, as indicated in block  178 , and is then ready to accept another manual alarm deactivation event at any time. 
         [0030]    With the personal safety accessory device and its associated communication device both activated and communicating with one another, the local visible and audible alarms on either device will not be activated, and the associated communication device alarm software, as illustrated in  FIG. 6  and hereinafter described, will not execute until a manual or automatic alarm signal activation device of the personal safety accessory device  12 ,  40 ,  44  is activated causing hardware and firmware of the personal safety accessory device  12 ,  40 ,  44  to transmit an alarm and alarm signal utilizing short range communication technology, such as Bluetooth or Near Field Communication (NFC), as shown in  FIG. 4 . When a manual alarm signal activation device  98  or an automatic alarm signal activation device  100  of the personal safety accessory device  12 ,  40 ,  44  is initiated, an alarm signal is transmitted utilizing short range communication technology. The alarm signal consists of at least the unique identifier of the personal safety accessory device  12 ,  40 ,  44  and a flag indicating that an alarm condition has occurred. 
         [0031]    Referring now to  FIG. 6 , a flow chart of the associated communication device alarm logic of the present invention is illustrated. As illustrated, when an alarm signal is received by the associated communication device in block  180 , or when the logic illustrated in  FIG. 5  results in the execution of block  170  of that Figure due to an exceeded alarm timer limit, a counter N is set to 1, as shown in block  182 . A determination is then made in block  184  as to whether an alarm message consisting of voice and/or data has already been set to address N in a predetermined list of addresses. Since no messages have yet been sent, the logic of block  186  is executed and a connection with address N is attempted. In block  188  a determination is made as to whether the connection attempted in block  186  has been successful. If so, an alarm message is sent, as shown in block  190 , and address N is marked as having been notified of the alarm, as shown in block  192 . A determination is then made in block  194  as to whether address N is the last address in the predetermined list of addresses, as is the case if a determination was made in block  184  that the alarm message had already been sent to address N, or if a determination was made in block  188  that the connection attempted in block  186  was not successful. If address N is the last address in the predetermined list of addresses, N is set equal to 1, as shown in block  196 . If N is not the last address in the predetermined list of addresses, N is incremented (N=2), as shown in block  198 . In either case, the logic in one of the blocks  196  or  198  is then executed. Block  200  is executed if it is predetermined that all addresses in the list of addresses must be notified. Block  202  is executed if it is predetermined that only one address in the predetermined list of addresses must be notified. In either case a determination is made as to whether a manual termination of the notification process has been initiated. If so, the program ends in block  204 . If a determination is made in block  200  or block  202  that any address that must be notified has not been notified, the logic repeats beginning again at block  184 . 
         [0032]    Certain modifications and improvements will occur to those skilled in the art upon reading the foregoing. It is understood that all such modifications and improvements have been deleted herein for the sake of conciseness and readability, but are properly within the scope of the following claims.