Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is related to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, filed on Dec. ______, 2007, Attorney Docket No. CML04445AS, and entitled “PROMPTING AND DIRECTING USERS TO SAFETY DURING EMERGENCY SITUATIONS”; the entire disclosure of the above-identified application being hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]    The present invention generally relates to the field of emergency alerts, and more particularly relates to providing wireless devices with emergency exit information during an emergency situation. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]    Emergency alert systems are used to communicate vital information to the public during emergency situations. This information is generally conveyed to the public via televisions or public addressing systems. However, recent advances in technology have allowed wireless communications systems such as cellular systems to be used as an alerting system. For example, a wireless communication network can operate in an emergency mode. A mobile device can enter into an emergency mode and perform various functions such as repeating signals to proximate mobiles, responding with indications of user presence, transmitting an emergency beacon, and sending position information to a network. 
         [0004]    Another example is that messages from the national Emergency Alert System (“EAS”) are routed to mobile stations via a wireless network. This system receives a message that is to be broadcasted to a geographic area and transmits a notice to one or more mobile stations in the geographic area. These notices inform the mobile stations to tune to a broadcast channel. The message is then broadcasted on that channel to the mobile stations until a termination notice is received from the message source. 
         [0005]    One problem with the above systems and similar systems is that the individual wireless devices are not targeted. Stated differently, individualized information is not transmitted to a wireless device during emergency situations. For example, wireless devices are not provided with information such as emergency exit directions when a user is within a structure during times of an emergency. 
         [0006]    Therefore a need exists to overcome the problems with the prior art as discussed above. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    Briefly, in accordance with the present invention, disclosed is a method for directing a user to safety during an emergency situation using a wireless device. The method includes determining, by an emergency alerting device, that an emergency condition has occurred. An emergency alerting device identifies at least one wireless device within a given area. The emergency alerting device transmits an emergency signal to the each of the at least one wireless device. Each of the at least one wireless device directs each user associated with each of the at least one wireless device to an exit associated with the emergency alerting device based on the emergency signal. 
         [0008]    In another embodiment, a method for directing a user to safety during an emergency situation is disclosed. A wireless device receives an emergency signal from an emergency alerting device. The wireless device extracts directional information from the emergency signal. The wireless device directs a user to an exit associated with the emergency alerting device based on the directional information extracted from the emergency signal. 
         [0009]    In yet another embodiment, a wireless device for directing a user to safety during an emergency situation is disclosed. The wireless device includes a memory and a processor that is communicatively coupled to the memory. A user interface is communicatively coupled to the memory and the processor. An emergency alert manager is communicatively coupled to the memory, processor, and user interface. The emergency alert manager is adapted to receive an emergency signal from an emergency alerting device. Directional information is extracted from the emergency signal. A user is directed via the user interface to an exit associated with the emergency alerting device based on the directional information extracted from the emergency signal. 
         [0010]    An advantage of the foregoing embodiments is that wireless devices are provided with emergency exit routing information during times of an emergency. Emergency alerting devices can be situated throughout a structure such as an office building, shopping center, hotel, and any other public building. When an emergency alerting device detects that an emergency situation exists, the alerting devices generate an emergency beacon that wireless devices can follow to safety. Another advantage is that the emergency beacons can carry directional information that direct a user of a wireless device to safety. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The accompanying figures where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views, and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and to explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is block diagram illustrating a general operational environment, according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIGS. 2-3  are examples of a user interface for displaying emergency exit information to a user according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is an operational flow diagram illustrating a process of directing a user of a user to an exit during an emergency situation via the user&#39;s wireless device according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is an operational flow diagram illustrating a process of prompting a user for locating an exit during an emergency situation according to one embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a block diagram illustrating a detailed view of a wireless device according to one embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a block diagram illustrating a detailed view of an information processing system according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0018]    As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely examples of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting; but rather, to provide an understandable description of the invention. 
         [0019]    The terms “a” or “an”, as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term plurality, as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term another, as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms including and/or having, as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term coupled, as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically. 
         [0020]    The term “wireless device” is intended to broadly cover many different types of devices that can wirelessly receive signals, and optionally can wirelessly transmit signals, and may also operate in a wireless communication system. For example, and not for any limitation, a wireless communication device can include any one or a combination of the following: a two-way radio, a cellular telephone, a mobile phone, a smartphone, a two-way pager, a wireless messaging device, a laptop/computer, a personal digital assistant, and other similar devices. 
         [0021]    General Operating Environment 
         [0022]    According to one embodiment of the present invention, as shown in  FIG. 1 , a general operating environment  100  for implementing one or more embodiments of the present invention is illustrated. In particular,  FIG. 1  shows a plurality of wireless devices  102 ,  104  within a structure  106  such as an office building, shopping center, hospital, hotel, stadium, cruise ship, hurricane shelter, tornado shelter, or any other type of structure. It should be noted that although  FIG. 1  shows a structure  106 , the various embodiments of the present invention are also applicable to open environments as well. For example, the present invention is also applicable to environments such as (but not limited to) outdoor shopping centers, amusement parks, city parks, or any other open environment. Each wireless device  102 ,  104  includes an emergency alert manager  108 ,  114 , a transceiver  110 ,  116 , and a user interface  112 ,  118 . Each of these components is discussed in greater detail below. 
         [0023]    The environment  100  also includes one or more emergency alerting devices (“EAD”)  120  that can be communicatively coupled to the wireless devices  102 ,  104  during emergency situations. The example of  FIG. 1  shows the EAD  120  being located within the structure  106 , however this is not required. The EAD  120  can be a stand-alone unit or integrated within one or more emergency systems/components of the structure  106 . For example, the EAD  120  can be mechanically coupled to an emergency exit, smoke detector, heat detector, air quality detector, emergency lighting system, or any other emergency system/component within the structure  108 . 
         [0024]    The EAD  120  includes an emergency monitor  122 , a device monitor  124 , routing information  126 , a signal/message generator  128 , and a transceiver  130 . Each of these components is discussed in greater detail below. Although only one EAD  120  is shown within  FIG. 1 , it should be noted that multiple EADs  120  can be situated throughout the structure  106 . For example, each emergency exit within a building or each floor of a building can include one or more EADs  120 . 
         [0025]    Routing Emergency Exit Information to Wireless Devices 
         [0026]    During times of an emergency such as a fire, hurricane, tornado, blackout, national emergency, or any other type of emergency or critical situation, the EAD  120  provides an emergency beacon  121  to a wireless device  102 ,  104 . This emergency beacon  121  can include critical information such as emergency exit/evacuation routing information to the wireless devices  102 ,  104 . The emergency monitor  122  monitors for and detects when an emergency situation is occurring. For example, the EAD  120  can be communicatively coupled to the national EAS system and receives a notification when an emergency such as (but not limited to) a tornado, hurricane, or national emergency is occurring or is going to occur. 
         [0027]    Alternatively, the EAD  120  can be communicatively coupled to a local emergency system instead of or in addition to the national EAS. For example, an office building can include a fire alarm system, biological warning system, tornado or hurricane warning system, or other similar warning systems. The EAD  120 , in this embodiment, can receive a signal form one of these local systems. A signal  121 , for example, can be generated when a fire is detected; when an emergency door is opened, when emergency lighting is activated; when a fire alarm is activated; or by other similar means. 
         [0028]    Once the emergency monitor  122  receives a signal indicating an emergency situation, the device monitor  124  identifies the wireless devices  102 ,  104  within the vicinity of the EAD  122  via the transceiver  130 . For example, the device monitor  124 , via the transceiver  130 , detects wireless signals emitted from the wireless devices  012 ,  104  from their transceivers  110 ,  116  and stores the unique identifier of the wireless device in memory. The transceiver  130 ,  110  of the EAD  120  and a wireless device  102  can utilize various technologies such as Bluetooth, WiFi, Zigbee, or any other short range radio technology. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to short range technologies. The EAD systems  120  can be situated among each other so that as a wireless device  102 ,  104  becomes out of range of one EAD another EAD detects the device. 
         [0029]    For example, consider a first EAD (east EAD) that is situated at a first emergency exit or stairwell located at an east wing of a floor. As the wireless device  102  moves further west away from the east emergency exit or stairwell the wireless device  102  becomes out of range of the east EAD. However, another EAD (west EAD) situated at a second emergency exit or stairwell located at the west wing of the floor detects and communicates with the wireless device  102   
         [0030]    The EAD  120  within range of a wireless device  102  determines a routing strategy for the wireless device  102  using its internal routing information  126 . The internal routing information  126  comprises a plurality of routing plans that can be used by the EAD  120  for directing a wireless device  102  to an emergency exit. For example, the device monitor  124  can determine a current location of the wireless device  102  or whether the device  102  is moving closer to or away from the EAD  120  using a variety of positioning methods. For example, the EAD  120  can utilize GPS technology or monitor signal strength (where a decreasing signal indicates the device is moving away from the EAD  120  and an increasing signal indicates the device is moving towards the EAD  120 ). The present invention is not limited to a particular method for determining the current position or direction of a wireless device. 
         [0031]    Once the routing plan is determined (such as head east; turn left in  20  feet; continue your current direction) the EAD  120  can output this information to the wireless device  102 . The message can include routing information such as head east; turn left in  20  feet; continue your current direction; information regarding the emergency; current location information with respect to the nearest emergency exit; emergency safety tips; or other similar information. The message type can be (but is not limited to) a text message, a multimedia message, an email, an automated message, or any other similar messaging types. The messages include text, pictures, voice prompts, and other visual and audio indicators. 
         [0032]    The EAD  120  can utilize its own communication system or any other network communicatively coupled to EAD  120  for sending out the message. For example, the EAD  120  can out the routing message to a wireless device  120  using the emergency signal/beacon  121  generated by the signal/message generator  128 . In other words, the EAD  120  and the wireless device  102  can communicate directly with each other utilizing their internal technologies such as Bluetooth, WiFi, Zigbee, or any other RF technology. Alternatively, the EAD  120  can be communicatively coupled to various access networks such as a circuit switched or packet data network; a local area network; or a public switched telephone network and utilize these networks to send the routing message or even the emergency signal/beacon. 
         [0033]    The wireless device  102  detects the emergency signal/beacon  121  and the based on the signal  121  the emergency alert manager  108  within the device  102  determines that an emergency condition exists. If the signal  121  includes routing information or is accompanied by routing information the emergency alert manager  108  displays the routing information to the user via the user interface  112 . The user is then able to follow the routing directions to the nearest or safest exit. For example,  FIG. 2  shows one example of the user interface  112  of the wireless device  102  displaying routing information received from the EAD  120 . In particular,  FIG. 2  shows information  202  such as the current location with respect to the nearest or safest exit.  FIG. 2  also shows that the information can change as the user moves. For example, a first routing prompt  204  tells the user to keep moving straight or in the current direction. As the user moves, a second prompt  206  tells the user to turn right. 
         [0034]    It should be noted that the device monitor  124 , routing information  126 , and message generator  128  within the EAD  120  are optional. For example, the EAD  120 , in one embodiment, only generates the emergency signal  121  that is detected by the wireless device  102 , as discussed above. In this embodiment, the wireless device  102  periodically checks if an emergency signal  121  from an EAD  120  is detected. The EAD  120  generates the emergency signal  121  when it detects an emergency condition as discussed above. The emergency signal  121 , in one embodiment, includes a direction indicator that the wireless device  102  saves for a later comparison as the device  102  moves about its location. 
         [0035]    As the user moves, the emergency alert manager  108  acquires another direction indictor from the emergency signal  121 . The emergency alert manager  108  compares this new direction indictor the original direction indicator to determine if the user has moved away from or closer to the EAD  120 . If the user has moved away from the EAD  120 , the emergency alert manager  108  notifies the user that he/she is traveling in the wrong direction. If the user has moved closer to the EAD  120 , the emergency alert manager  108  notifies the user that he/she is traveling in the correct direction. 
         [0036]    For example,  FIG. 3  shows the user interface  112  of the wireless device  102  displaying routing notifications to the user as the user moves about a location. In particular,  FIG. 3  shows a first prompt  302  that notifies the user that he/she is moving in the wrong direction with respect to the nearest or safest exit.  FIG. 3  also shows a second prompt  304  that notifies the user when he/she is moving in the correct direction with respect to the nearest or safest exit. The user can use these prompts to locate the direction with respect to the nearest or safest exit. 
         [0037]    As can be seen, the various embodiments of the present invention are advantageous because a user is able to locate an emergency exit or follow an evacuation plan using his/her wireless device during times of an emergency. The relevant routing information can be displayed to a use via his/her wireless device. 
         [0038]    Process for Directing a User of a Wireless Device to an Exit During an Emergency Situation 
         [0039]      FIG. 4  is an operational flow diagram illustrating a process of directing a user of a user to an exit during an emergency situation via the user&#39;s wireless device. The operational flow diagram of  FIG. 4  begins at step  402  and flows directly to step  404 . The EAD  120 , at step  404 , detects an emergency condition as discussed above. For example, the EAD  120  can receive a signal from the national EAS system, a local emergency monitoring system, or an emergency notification device such as (but not limited to) a siren, emergency lights. 
         [0040]    The EAD  120 , at step  406 , identifies any wireless devices  102 ,  104  in its vicinity. A routing plan, at step  408 , for each of the identified wireless devices  102 ,  104  is generated. The EAD  120 , at step  410 , then generates an emergency signal  121  that includes the routing information or can generate an additional message to accompany the emergency signal  121 . The routing information, at step  412 , is then transmitted to the wireless device(s)  102 ,  104 . The control flow then exits at step  414 . It should be noted that steps  406 - 412  are optional. For example, the EAD  120  can generate an emergency signal  121  once an emergency condition is detected. This emergency signal  121  is then used by the wireless device  102 ,  104  to locate the nearest or safest exit as discussed above. 
         [0041]    Process for Prompting a User of a Wireless Device for Locating an Exit During an Emergency Situation 
         [0042]      FIG. 5  is an operational flow diagram illustrating a process of prompting a user for locating an exit during an emergency situation. The operational flow diagram of  FIG. 5  begins at step  502  and flows directly to step  504 . The wireless device  102 , at step  504 , determines that a timer has expired for identifying any emergency signals  121  and the wireless device  102  “wakes up”. The wireless device  102 , at step  506 , determines if any emergency signals  121  are active. If the result of this determination is negative, the wireless device  102 , at step  508 , goes back to “sleep”. The control flow returns to step  504 . If the result of this determination is positive, the wireless device  102 , at step  510 , analyzes the signal  121  signal and saves a direction indicator within the signal  121 . The wireless device  102  can optionally extract information within the beacon and display it to the user via the user interface  112 . This information can be routing information as discussed above. 
         [0043]    The user begins to move about the location and the wireless device  102 , at step  512 , acquires another direction indicator form the emergency signal  121 . The wireless device  102 , at step  514 , compares the original direction indicator to the newly acquired direction indicator to determine if the newer indicator is closer or farther away from the original indicator. If the wireless device  102 , determines that it is moving further away from the EAD  120  generating the signal  121 , the wireless device  102 , at step  516 , notifies the user via the user interface  112  that he/she is moving in the wrong direction. The original indicator is replaced with the newly acquired indicator. The control flows back to step  512 . If the wireless device  102 , determines that the wireless device is moving closer to the EAD  120  generating the beacon, the wireless device  102 , at step  518  notifies the user via the user interface  112  that he/she is moving in the correct direction. The original indicator is replaced with the newly acquired indicator. The control flow then returns to step  512 . 
         [0044]    Wireless Device 
         [0045]      FIG. 6  is a block diagram illustrating a detailed view of the wireless device  102  according to one embodiment of the present invention. It is assumed that the reader is familiar with wireless communication devices. To simplify the present description, only that portion of a wireless communication device that is relevant to the present invention is discussed. The wireless device  102  operates under the control of a device controller/processor  602 , that controls the sending and receiving of wireless communication signals. In receive mode, the device controller  602  electrically couples an antenna  604  through a transmit/receive switch  606  to a receiver  608 . The receiver  608  decodes the received signals and provides those decoded signals to the device controller  602 . 
         [0046]    In transmit mode, the device controller  602  electrically couples the antenna  604 , through the transmit/receive switch  606 , to a transmitter  610 . The wireless device  102  can also include an additional transceiver  110  as discussed above. However, the receiver  608 /transmitter  610  can also provide the functionality of the transceiver  110  discussed above. The wireless device  102  also includes volatile memory  112  and non-volatile storage memory  614 . Either of these memories  112 ,  114  can include the emergency alert manager  108  and the software components of user interface  112 . Each of these components has been discussed above in greater detail. 
         [0047]    Information Processing System 
         [0048]      FIG. 7  is a block diagram illustrating a detailed view of an information processing system  700  such as the EAD  120  system  116  discussed above. The information processing system  700  includes a computer  732 . The computer  732  has a processor  734  that is connected to a main memory  736 , a transceiver  730 , a mass storage interface  738 , and network adapter hardware  740 . A system bus  742  interconnects these system components. The mass storage interface  738  is used to connect mass storage devices, such as a data storage device to the information processing system  700 . 
         [0049]    The main memory  736 , in one embodiment, includes an emergency monitor  722 , a device monitor  724 , routing information  726 , and a signal/message generator  728 , which have discussed above in greater detail. The network adapter hardware  740  is used to provide an interface to a network (not shown). Various embodiments of the present invention can be adapted to work with any data communications connections including present day analog and/or digital techniques or via a future networking mechanism. 
       NON-LIMITING EXAMPLES 
       [0050]    Although specific embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, those having ordinary skill in the art will understand that changes can be made to the specific embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is not to be restricted, therefore, to the specific embodiments, and it is intended that the appended claims cover any and all such applications, modifications, and embodiments within the scope of the present invention.

Technology Category: 5