Patent Document

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application takes benefit of U.S. Prov. App. 62/161,906 filed 15 May 2015 which is hereby incorporated in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates generally to mobile personal emergency response systems (MPERS), and more particularly to an improved MPERS with enhanced in-building locating and user audibility. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    MPERS are very common. Generally, examples in the prior art comprise a GPS device comprising: 1) A GPS receiver; 2) A cellular transceiver (GSM, CDMA, etc.); 3) A battery; 4) A speaker and microphone for two-way communication; and, 5) A “Help” pushbutton used to request help from a monitoring dispatch center, or, answer an incoming personal or dispatcher call. 
         [0004]    Other examples of the prior art further comprise a small RF (usually 433 Mhz or Bluetooth) wearable personal transmitter and a GPS device further comprising an RF receiver such that the wearable personal transmitter and GPS device are in wireless communication. By this means, the GPS device may be activated by actuating a switch on the wearable personal transmitter. Average transmitter range is +/−600 feet. 
         [0005]    One problem of this example of the prior art is that many GPS devices, have a small speaker (due to their compact size) such that when the user is not near the GPS device, and it is activated via the wearable personal transmitter, the user may not hear dispatch personnel trying to communicate with them. Whether or not the user actually hears dispatch personnel is irrelevant to whether help is dispatched or not. But, the human and industry expectations are that the user must be able to hear dispatch personnel whether they can hear the user or not. 
         [0006]    Accordingly, more recent examples of the prior art additionally comprise a standalone base station unit with its own two-way communication with a dispatch center by means of a cellular transceiver or wireline connection. The base station further comprises a “help” pushbutton, etc., like a GPS device, but, because the base station is ordinarily installed inside a building where GPS is of limited or no utility, a GPS receiver is not included. Also, the base station may, or may not, include a charging dock for a GPS device. More importantly however, base stations all include a large speaker for powerful speech reproduction when dispatcher calls are received. These systems have various methods of orchestrating the interactions between the GPS device, the wearable personal transmitter, and the base station, but in all cases, systems like these have the major disadvantage of requiring two separate telecommunications links, one for the GPS device and one for the base station. 
         [0007]    What is needed, therefore, is an MPERs system that requires only one telecommunications link (in the GPS device); no traditional base station with its separate communications link; and a charging station with a large speaker for powerful speech reproduction selectively couplable to the GPS device. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    It is an object of the present invention to provide an MPERS system comprising a GPS device itself comprising at least: 1) A GPS receiver; 2) A cellular transceiver (GSM, CDMA, etc.); 3) A battery; 4) A speaker and microphone for two-way communication; 5) An RF receiver in communication with a wearable personal transmitter; 6) An electrical connection port allowing: a) The speaker output of the GPS device to be coupled to an amplified speaker in the charging base station; and, b) The battery of the GPS device to be recharged when connected to a charging circuit in the charging base station; and, 7) A “Help” pushbutton used to request help from a dispatch center, or, answer an incoming dispatcher call. 
         [0009]    The present MPERS system further comprises a wearable personal transmitter itself comprising at least: 1) A battery; 2) An RF transmitter in communication with a GPS device; and, 3) A “Help” pushbutton used to request help from a dispatch center, by means of the GPS device. This wearable personal transmitter may exist in a variety of forms, e.g. a bracelet, a pendant, a waist band or belt mounted unit, a unit carried in a pocket, and so on; or, alternately, may be fashioned into another object worn or carried by the user, e.g. a pair of glasses, a cell phone, a tablet computer, etc. It will be readily apparent to those having skill in the art that the RF transmitter and receiver referred to in [¶0008] above and this paragraph may instead both be RF transceivers, such that the communication link between the wearable personal transmitter and the GPS device is bidirectional. One having skill in the art would recognize that this would enable an artisan in the field to construct a wearable personal transmitter capable of receiving data from the GPS device and potentially annunciating it via a speaker or displaying it via a display or other visual indicator. 
         [0010]    The present MPERS system further comprises a charging base station itself comprising at least: 1) An amplified speaker; 2) A charging circuit with connection to mains power; and, 3) An electrical connection port allowing: a) The speaker output of the GPS device to be coupled to the amplified speaker in the charging base station; and, b) The battery of the GPS device to recharge when connected to the charging circuit in the charging base station. 
         [0011]    The present MPERS system is used in two basic ways: 1) With the GPS device undocked from the charging base station; and, 2) With the GPS device docked in the charging base station. Undocked mode is the mode mobile users would employ, while docked mode would be used in the home, where the GPS device is charging in the charging base station. 
         [0012]    If the GPS device is to be used undocked from the charging base station, the user affixes the GPS device to his or her person (or carries it) as they go about their routine daily activities. Simultaneously, the user also affixes the wearable personal transmitter to his or her person (or carries it). Next, to summon aid the user presses the “Help” button on either the GPS device or the wearable personal transmitter. If the user presses the “Help” button on the wearable personal transmitter, the wearable personal transmitter transmits an activation signal to the GPS device causing it to initiate a wireless voice call to the dispatch center and simultaneously transmit the current geographic coordinates derived from the GPS receiver to the dispatch center. If the user is within several feet of the GPS device, the user and dispatcher can converse as on a conventional speaker phone. If the user is not close enough to converse, but only nearby, the user can still hear the dispatcher via the speaker in the GPS device. If the user presses the “Help” button on the GPS device, the GPS device initiates a wireless voice call to the dispatch center and simultaneously transmits the current geographic coordinates derived from the GPS receiver to the dispatch center. Since the user would necessarily be in close proximity to the GPS device, the user and dispatcher can converse as on a conventional speaker phone. In either case, the dispatcher will dispatch assistance to the location derived from the GPS receiver. 
         [0013]    If the GPS device is to be used docked in the charging base station, the user affixes only the wearable personal transmitter to his or her person (or carries it) as they go about their routine daily activities. Next, to summon aid the user presses the “Help” button on either the docked GPS device or the wearable personal transmitter. If the user presses the “Help” button on the wearable personal transmitter, the wearable personal transmitter transmits an activation signal to the docked GPS device causing it to initiate a wireless voice call to the dispatch center and simultaneously transmit a unique charging base station ID and “code/zone” (identifying the preset geographic location of the charging base station within the home and the code (reason) for the call (that the “Help” button has been depressed)) to the dispatch center. The GPS device does this because GPS signals are unreliable indoors where the charging base station will invariably be deployed. If the user is within several feet of the GPS device, the user and dispatcher can converse as on a conventional speaker phone. If the user is not close enough to converse, but in the same house or dwelling as the GPS device, the user can still hear the dispatcher via the amplified speaker in the charging base station. Alternately, if the user presses the “Help” button on the GPS device, the GPS device initiates a wireless voice call to the dispatch center and simultaneously transmits a unique charging base station ID and “code/zone” (identifying the preset geographic location of the charging base station within the home and the code (reason) for the call (that the “Help” button has been depressed)) to the dispatch center. As above, the GPS device does this because GPS signals are unreliable indoors where the charging base station will invariably be deployed. Since the user would necessarily be in close proximity to the GPS device, the user and dispatcher can converse as on a conventional speaker phone. In either case, the dispatcher will dispatch assistance to the location associated with the unique charging base station ID and zone supplied by the GPS receiver. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a depiction of a GPS device, a charging base station, and a wearable personal transmitter according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a GPS device, a charging base station, and a wearable personal transmitter according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is flowchart showing a method of using one embodiment of the present invention in undocked mode where the user activates the system by pressing a button on the wearable personal transmitter. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is flowchart showing a method of using one embodiment of the present invention in undocked mode where the user activates the system by pressing a button on the GPS device. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is flowchart showing a method of using one embodiment of the present invention in docked mode where the user activates the system by pressing a button on the wearable personal transmitter. 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is flowchart showing a method of using one embodiment of the present invention in docked mode where the user activates the system by pressing a button on GPS device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0020]    The present invention improves over the prior art by providing an improved MPERS with enhanced in-building locating functionality and audible perceptibility. 
         [0021]    In the following description, numerous specific details regarding possible componentry are set forth (e.g., switches, speakers, RF transmitters, receivers, transceivers, GPS receivers, antennas, batteries, charging circuitry, etc.) in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. Those skilled in the art will recognize, however, that the invention may be practiced apart from these specific details. In other instances, details well known and widely used in the process of manufacturing consumer electronic devices (e.g., plastic injection molding, techniques for assembling electronic components, etc.) and miscellaneous components have been omitted, so as not to unnecessarily obscure the present invention. 
         [0022]    Turning now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , one embodiment of the present invention is disclosed, comprising: 1) GPS device  100 ; 2) Charging base station  200 ; and, 3) Wearable personal transmitter  300 . 
         [0023]    One embodiment of GPS device  100  comprises a compact housing externally presenting help button  101 , cancel button  102 , programmable function button  103 , volume up button  104 , volume down button  105 , speaker  106 , microphone  107 , and interface port  112 . Internally, GPS device  100  comprises GPS receiver/cellular transceiver module  108  and its associated GPS antenna  110  and cellular transceiver antenna  109 . GPS device  100  further comprises RF receiver  113  and its associated RF antenna  114 . RF receiver  113  is electrically coupled to GPS receiver/cellular transceiver module  108  by signaling link  115 . GPS device  100  is powered by battery  111 . 
         [0024]    GPS receiver/cellular transceiver module  108  further comprises a cellular transceiver. The cellular transceiver is of the type well known in the field and may conform to any one or more of the prevailing cellular transmission standards (CDMA, GSM, GPRS, UMTS, etc.) used in cellular telephones to make and receive voice calls and send and receive data. Software provided with GPS receiver/cellular transceiver module  108  typically will support various messaging formats such as text messages, multimedia messages (MMS), and the like. GPS receiver/cellular transceiver module  108  is coupled to cellular transceiver antenna  109 . GPS receiver/cellular transceiver module  108  typically also comprises circuitry to control the charging of battery  111  when GPS device  100  is placed in charging base station  200 . 
         [0025]    GPS receiver/cellular transceiver module  108  further comprises a GPS receiver. It will be understood by one having skill in the art that other receivers designed for other satellite-based geolocation systems may be freely substituted (GLONASS, Galileo, COMPASS, etc.). GPS receiver/cellular transceiver module  108  is coupled to GPS antenna  110 . 
         [0026]    GPS device  100  further comprises RF receiver  113  and its associated RF antenna  114 . RF receiver  113  is also powered by battery  111 . RF receiver  113  may be any type commonly used for short distance RF communication (such as at 433 MHz) or to implement personal area networks (PANS) (e.g. Bluetooth). RF receiver  113  is electrically coupled to GPS receiver/cellular transceiver module  108  by signaling link  115 . When help button  301  on wearable personal transmitter  300  is pressed it causes RF transmitter  302  to emit an RF signal that is received by RF receiver  113  in GPS device  100 . RF receiver  113  communicates this to GPS receiver/cellular transceiver module  108  by means of signaling link  115  causing GPS receiver/cellular transceiver module  108  to initiate a call for help to the dispatch center. 
         [0027]    GPS receiver/cellular transceiver module  108  is electrically coupled to help button  101 , cancel button  102 , programmable function button  103 , volume up button  104 , volume down button  105 , speaker  106 , microphone  107 , and interface port  112 . GPS receiver/cellular transceiver module  108  is also electrically coupled to microphone  107  and speaker  106  as would be used when making or receiving voice calls. Interface port  112  provides access to audio output from GPS receiver/cellular transceiver module  108  and access to power circuitry to charge battery  111 . Battery  111  may be semi-permanently mounted inside GPS device  100  or may be user accessible. 
         [0028]    One embodiment of charging base station  200  comprises a housing with docking port  201  providing a physically secure mounting such that GPS device  100  can be inserted in charging base station  200  such that interface port  112  of GPS device  100  can be mated to interface port  202  of charging base station  200 . Charging base station  200  further comprises speaker  203  coupled to amplifier  204 . Charging base station  200  also comprises battery  205  and charging port  206  to provide mains power to charging base station  200  and charge battery  205 . Ordinarily, an externally mounted mains voltage to low voltage transformer or adapter may be connected to charging port  206 . Battery  205  is provided to power charging base station  200  when power is unavailable via charging port  206 . When GPS device  100  is docked in charging base station  200  the audio output of GPS receiver/cellular transceiver module  108  is connected to amplifier  204  (and thence to speaker  203 ) in charging base station  200 . Simultaneously, power is supplied to GPS receiver/cellular transceiver module  108  in GPS device  100  to charge battery  111 . 
         [0029]    One embodiment of wearable personal transmitter  300  comprises RF transmitter  302  and its associated RF antenna  303 . RF transmitter  302  is powered by battery  304 . RF transmitter  302  may be any type commonly used for short distance RF communication (such as at 433 MHz) or to implement personal area networks (PANS) (e.g. Bluetooth). RF transmitter  302  is electrically coupled to help button  301 . When help button  301  on wearable personal transmitter  300  is pressed it causes RF transmitter  302  to emit an RF signal that when received by RF receiver  113  in GPS device  100  causes GPS receiver/cellular transceiver module  108  to initiate a call for help to the dispatch center. Although wearable personal transmitter  300  is depicted in the drawings in the form of a watch those having skill in the art will readily appreciate that wearable personal transmitter  300  can be fashioned into a number of forms, including but not limited to, a pendant, a bracelet, and a clip. 
         [0030]    Ordinarily, the improved MPERS of the present invention is provisioned for use in the following manner. First, the unique phone number associated with GPS receiver/cellular transceiver module  108  in GPS device  100  is stored in the dispatch center&#39;s database along with the identity of the user, the user&#39;s contact information, and the user&#39;s account number and account and billing information. Next, the charging base station ID of charging base station  200  and the address where charging base station  200  is physically located are stored in the dispatch center&#39;s database along with the identity of the room, apartment, or suite of the building at the supplied address where charging base station  200  is installed. These form the zone of the code/zone that is created by the system when a message is received from GPS device  100  when GPS device  100  and charging base station  200  are operating in docked mode. The code of the code/zone is transmitted by GPS device  100  and signifies the reason the message was sent. Ordinarily this would signify that either help button  101  or  301  was depressed when operating in docked mode, but those having skill in the art will recognize that other codes are conceivable, including but not limited to codes signifying status regarding batteries  111 ,  205 , and  304 , etc. To not detract from the essential elements of the present inventions, this amalgam of information, some sent by GPS device  100  and some automatically retrieved from the dispatch center&#39;s database will be referred to as the “charging base station ID-code/zone.” 
         [0031]    Ordinarily, GPS receiver/cellular transceiver module  108  is preprogrammed to make and receive calls to and from, respectively, one dispatch number or one dispatch number in a bank of similarly functioning dispatch numbers. Thus, when the user actuates help button  101  on GPS device  100 , GPS receiver/cellular transceiver module  108  initiates a call to a preprogrammed dispatch number. Next, after the dispatch center answers, one of two sets of actions occur: First, if GPS device  100  is undocked from charging base station  200  (ostensibly outside) GPS receiver/cellular transceiver module  108  annunciates the user&#39;s GPS derived lat/long location to the called dispatch number. This may be done using synthetic speech, but ordinarily the user&#39;s GPS derived lat/long location would be provided via a text message or data transmission simultaneously sent to the called dispatch number. The identity of the subscriber is known from the unique phone number and/or account number associated with GPS receiver/cellular transceiver module  108  in GPS device  100 . Alternately, if GPS device  100  is docked in charging base station  200  (ostensibly inside) GPS receiver/cellular transceiver module  108  annunciates the user&#39;s unique charging base station ID-code/zone to the called dispatch number. This may be done using synthetic speech, but ordinarily the user&#39;s unique charging base station ID-code/zone would be provided via a text message or data transmission simultaneously sent to the called dispatch number. As above, the identity of the subscriber is known from the unique phone number and/or account number associated with GPS receiver/cellular transceiver module  108  in GPS device  100 . In both of the above modes, cancel button  102 , programmable function button  103 , volume up button  104 , volume down button  105  function to terminate the call, invoke a user programmed special function, raise the volume, and lower the volume, respectively. 
         [0032]    If the dispatch center calls the user, the call is automatically terminated on GPS device  100  without intervention from the user. Next, after GPS device  100  answers, one of two sets of actions occur: First, if GPS device  100  is undocked from charging base station  200  (ostensibly outside) GPS receiver/cellular transceiver module  108  annunciates the user&#39;s GPS location to the calling dispatch number. This may be done using synthetic speech, but ordinarily the user&#39;s GPS location would be provided via a text message simultaneously sent to the calling dispatch number. Alternately, if GPS device  100  is docked in charging base station  200  (ostensibly inside) GPS receiver/cellular transceiver module  108  annunciates the user&#39;s preset unique charging base station ID-code/zone to the calling dispatch number. This may be done using synthetic speech, but ordinarily the user&#39;s unique charging base station ID-code/zone would be provided via a text message or data transmission simultaneously sent to the calling dispatch number. In both these modes the cancel button  102 , programmable function button  103 , volume up button  104 , volume down button  105  function to terminate the call, invoke a user programmed special function, raise the volume, and lower the volume, respectively. 
         [0033]    Since speaker  203  and amplifier  204  in charging base station  200  are activated when GPS device  100  is inserted into charging base station  200  via docking port  201  (such that amplified speech from the dispatch center is emitted from speaker  203 ) the user and dispatch center may converse as normal if the user is near enough to docked GPS device  100  to be detected by microphone  107 . If the user is not near enough to docked GPS device  100  to be heard, the dispatch center can verbally assure the user via amplifier  204  and attached speaker  203 . This allows the user to at least hear the dispatch center even if the user is not near enough to docked GPS device  100  to converse with the dispatcher. This is most useful when the user initiates a call for help by means of the help button  301  on wearable personal transmitter  300  at some distance (i.e. in another room) from docked GPS device  100 . 
         [0034]    The present MPERS system is used in two basic ways: 1) With GPS device  100  undocked from charging base station  200 ; and, 2) With GPS device  100  docked in charging base station  200 . Undocked mode is the mode mobile users would employ, while docked mode would be used in the home, where the GPS device is charging in charging base station  200 . 
         [0035]    If GPS device  100  is used undocked from charging base station  200 , the user affixes GPS device  100  to his or her person (or carries it) as they go about their routine daily activities. Simultaneously, the user may also affix wearable personal transmitter  300  to his or her person (or carries it). Next, to summon aid the user presses help button  101  on the GPS device or help button  301  on wearable personal transmitter  300 . 
         [0036]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1 through 3 , if the user presses help button  301  on wearable personal transmitter  300 , wearable personal transmitter  300  transmits an activation signal by means of RF transmitter  302  to GPS device  100  by means of RF receiver  113  ( 401 ,  402 ). RF receiver  113  communicates this event to GPS receiver/cellular transceiver module  108  by means of signaling link  115  causing GPS receiver/cellular transceiver module  108  to initiate a wireless voice call to the dispatch center and simultaneously transmit the current geographic coordinates derived from GPS receiver/cellular transceiver module  108  to the dispatch center. The identity of the subscriber is known from the unique phone number and/or account number associated with GPS receiver/cellular transceiver module  108  in GPS device  100  ( 403 ). Next, the dispatch center automatically sends help to the geographic coordinates derived from GPS receiver/cellular transceiver module  108  ( 404 ). If the user is within several feet of GPS device  100 , the user and dispatcher can converse as on a conventional speaker phone ( 405 ,  406 ). If the user is not close enough to converse, but only nearby, GPS device  100  the user can still hear the dispatcher via speaker  106  in GPS device  100  ( 405 ,  407 ). 
         [0037]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1, 2, and 4 , alternately, If the user presses help button  101  on GPS device  100 , GPS device  100  causes GPS receiver/cellular transceiver module  108  to initiate a wireless voice call to the dispatch center and simultaneously transmits the current geographic coordinates derived from GPS receiver/cellular transceiver module  108  to the dispatch center. The identity of the subscriber is known from the unique phone number and/or account number associated with GPS receiver/cellular transceiver module  108  in GPS device  100  ( 410 ,  411 ). The dispatch center automatically sends help to the geographic coordinates derived from GPS receiver/cellular transceiver module  108  ( 412 ). Since the user would necessarily be in close proximity to GPS device  100 , the user and dispatcher can converse as on a conventional speaker phone ( 413 ). 
         [0038]    In either case described above, the dispatcher will automatically dispatch assistance to the location derived from GPS receiver/cellular transceiver module  108  whether the user can converse or not. 
         [0039]    If GPS device  100  is to be used docked in charging base station  200  the user affixes only wearable personal transmitter  300  to his or her person (or carries it) as they go about their routine daily activities. Next, to summon aid the user presses help button  101  on the GPS device (if near it) or help button  301  on wearable personal transmitter  300 . 
         [0040]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1, 2, and 5 , if the user presses help button  301  on wearable personal transmitter  300 , wearable personal transmitter  300  transmits an activation signal by means of RF transmitter  302  to docked GPS device  100  by means of RF receiver  113  ( 420 ,  421 ). RF receiver  113  communicates this event to GPS receiver/cellular transceiver module  108  by means of signaling link  115  causing GPS receiver/cellular transceiver module  108  to initiate a wireless voice call to the dispatch center. The identity of the subscriber is known from the unique phone number and/or account number associated with GPS receiver/cellular transceiver module  108  in GPS device  100 . In this case, docked GPS device  100  does not send current geographic coordinates derived from GPS receiver/cellular transceiver module  108 . Rather, when this occurs, the database maintained at the dispatch center is accessed using the charging base station ID-code/zone to retrieve the geographic location (address) and zone (kitchen, bath, bedroom) associated with GPS receiver/cellular transceiver module  108  ( 422 ). This information is displayed to the dispatcher who then dispatches help to the displayed address referencing the displayed room ( 423 ). If the user is within several feet of GPS device  100 , the user and dispatcher can converse as on a conventional speaker phone ( 424 ,  425 ). If the user is not close enough to converse, the user can hear the dispatcher via amplified speaker  203  in charging base station  200  ( 424 ,  426 ). 
         [0041]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1, 2, and 6 , alternately, if the user presses help button  101  on docked GPS device  100 , docked GPS device  100  causes GPS receiver/cellular transceiver module  108  to initiate a wireless voice call to the dispatch center. The identity of the subscriber is known from the unique phone number and/or account number associated with GPS receiver/cellular transceiver module  108  in GPS device  100 . In this case, docked GPS device  100  does not send current geographic coordinates derived from GPS receiver/cellular transceiver module  108 . Rather, when this occurs, the database maintained at the dispatch center is accessed using the charging base station ID-code/zone to retrieve the geographic location (address) and zone (kitchen, bath, bedroom) associated with GPS receiver/cellular transceiver module  108  ( 430 ,  431 ). This information is displayed to the dispatcher who then dispatches help to the displayed address referencing the displayed room ( 432 ). Since the user would necessarily be in close proximity to GPS device  100 , the user and dispatcher can converse as on a conventional speaker phone ( 433 ). 
         [0042]    In both of the cases described above, the dispatcher will automatically dispatch assistance to the geographic location (address) and zone (kitchen, bath, bedroom, etc.) associated with the phone number associated with GPS receiver/cellular transceiver module  108  whether the user can converse or not. 
         [0043]    The forgoing disclosure countenances that the system is used in two basic modes: Where the GPS device  100  and charging base station  200  are docked, or physically connected, and undocked, or physically disconnected. Those having skill in the art will readily appreciate that some characteristics of the operation of the system in the docked mode may be implemented in the undocked mode. For example, if GPS device  100  and charging base station  200  are undocked but close enough so that a wireless connection exists between them, then audio that would ordinarily be reproduced by GPS device  100  when help button  101  or  301  is depressed may be relayed for enhanced volume reproduction to charging base station  200 . Of course, in view of the foregoing disclosure GPS device  100  would not be charged by charging base station  200  in this instance. However, one having skill in the art will readily recognize that GPS device  100  and charging base station  200  may incorporate inductive charging circuitry/antennas such that the recharging of GPS device  100  may be effectuated at a distance from charging base station  200 . 
         [0044]    The foregoing disclosure countenances that a cellular wireless telephony system will provide the communications medium whereby GPS device  100  communicates with the dispatch center. This is not perceived as a limitation, however, and any suitable wired or wireless communications network may be substituted, including, but not limited to, Wi-Fi, or any other pico- and micro-cellular data communication system may be employed. Similarly, satellite data communications systems are equally useful. 
         [0045]    The foregoing disclosure countenances that the code portion of the zone/code transmitted when the system is used in docked mode will ordinarily indicate that help button  101  on GPS device  100  or wearable personal transmitter  300  has been actuated. It will be readily apparent to those having skill in the art that other codes may be transmitted. For example one, or multiple, codes may indicate battery condition or level in and or all of GPS device  100 , charging base station  200 , or wearable personal transmitter  300 . Similarly, GPS device  100  may transmit codes indicating other button actuations. Similarly GPS device  100  may transmit codes indicating that GPS device  100  has been docked or undocked from charging base station  200 . Similarly, GPS device  100  may transmit codes indicating that signals have been received from ancillary wireless devices, such as, but not limited to: fire alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, flood alarms, power loss alarms, motion sensors, glass breaks, door, window breaks, etc. 
         [0046]    The foregoing invention may also include other functionality. For example, a fall or impact detector may be included in GPS device  100  or wearable personal transmitter  300 . Such an implementation of the invention would work the same way as if the user pressed help button  101  or  301  on GPS device  100  or wearable personal transmitter  300 , respectively, if a preset level of impact occurred. Similarly, GPS device  100  or wearable personal transmitter  300  may include a user display capable of displaying a variety of information including: 1) The mode the system is in; 2) The signal strength of the cellular system; 3) The status of battery  111  or  304  powering the device; or, 4) Messages sent by the dispatch center.

Technology Category: 3