WO1997022200A1

WO1997022200A1 - Device at alarm system

Info

Publication number: WO1997022200A1
Application number: PCT/SE1996/001443
Authority: WO
Inventors: Per Green
Original assignee: Telia Ab
Priority date: 1995-12-14
Filing date: 1996-11-11
Publication date: 1997-06-19
Also published as: SE9504479L; SE9504479D0

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device at alarm system relating to a safety alarm system where mobile units are arranged to transmit radio signals with short intervals. The radio signals are received by a central unit. The mobile units are carried or applied to a person who shall be controlled as a consequence of illness. If the person moves out of an area which is not receivable for the centre, the centre initiates an alarm call to an alarm centre and/or a receiver for measures to be taken. Transmission of the alarm can be made via the public telecommunication network and/or over a mobile telecommunication network.

Description

TITLE OF THE INVENTION

Device at alarm system.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to alarm system, preferably safety alarm system, m connection with controlling of persons who as a consequence of illness should not stay outside certain specified areas.

PRIOR ART

Safety alarm systems are known since previously. These systems include a central unit which is activated via alarm sensors arranged m a person's apartment The sensors can consist of active and/or passive alarm contacts. Examples of active contacts are buttons which at action initiates an alarm if a person is for instance m an emergency where help is needed. Passive alarms consist of contacts which sense if a person has moved within for instance the compartment and utilized certain indicated functions within certain periods of time If such indication has been received, alarm is transmitted to an alarm centre for measures to be taken. Further there are functions for sensing of medical parameters in the human body, an which alarm is transmitted if any of these parameters is not within specified limits. In this case the alarm transmitter can, if desired, be localized by the reciever to make it possible to send aid to the right area.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION TECHNICAL PROBLEM

Some people suffer from diseases, for instance dementia, where the person in question is not allowed or should not move outside a defined area. The area can consist of the habitation- aπ-tel—its immediate surroundings, or other area which is familiar to the person. In the case that the person moves outside said area, direct danger to life may arise for the person. There consequently exists a strong need that alarm is transmitted as soon as the person crosses the borderlines of the area in which he/she should stay .

THE SOLUTION

The present invention relates to a device at alarm system relating to a safety alarm system where mobile units are arranged to transmit radio signals with short intervals. The radio signals are received by a central unit. The mobile units are carried or applied to a person which shall be controlled as a consequence of illness. If the person moves outside a certain area which is not receivable for the centre, the centre initiates an alarm call to an alarm centre and/or a receiver for measures to be taken.

Transmission of the alarm can be made via the public telephone network and/or over a mobile telecommunication network. The invention consequently relates to a device at alarm system which includes mobile units and fixed receiving units. The fixed units receive a signal from the mobile units for initiation of call to an alarm receiving centre and/or other receiver. From the mobile units are with short intervals transmitted a signal which is received by the receiving unit . An absence of signal from the mobile unit initiates that an alarm call to the alarm centre/receiver is established. The communication between the mobile unit and the receiver unit is made by radio signals, infrared transmission, or other suitably chosen transmission. Selection of form of transmission is related to which area that shall be controlled and/or the individual . Each mobile unit is further allocated individual identity codes which are identified by the receiver unit . The receiver unit further includes registers over different alarm centres/receivers which shall be called. In the alarm equipment there are further means for transmission of information regarding which type of alarm that is related to, and identification of the alarming person. The mobile unit is intended to be carried by the user. The coverage of the transmitter is further restricted to a geographically defined area, such as the place to live and its immediate surroundings.

The mobile unit further includes a button or the like which can be activated by the person in an emergency. In this case is, as in the previous case, a call transmitted to the alarm centre/receiver. Also m this case, the receiver/alarm centre is informed about the reason for the alarm and who has initiated the alarm. ADVANTAGES

With the present invention a solution is specified where for instance persons suffering from dementia, or persons with other medical problems, can be controlled m an efficient way.

DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

Figure 1 shows a system according to the invention connected to the public telecommunication network. Figure 2 shows a system according to the invention, where alarm is transmitted via radio to alarm receivers .

DETAILED EMBODIMENT

In the following the invention is described on the basis of the figures and the terms therein

A mobile unit, M, is carried or brought along by a user. The mobile unit can for instance be carried round the neck, as a necklace or the like The alarm transmitter further includes means for communication with an alarm receiver, LM.

The communication between them is allowed to be peiformed m a number of ways The communication is preferably made wireless via radio, infrared transmission etc Transmissions of these kinds are since previously well known for the expert in the field, so any detailed description in this regard is not necessary The communication between the mobile unit and the alarm receiver is made by that the mobile unit transmits identity signals with short intervals The identity signals are received by the alarm receiver In the alarm receiver the received signal is decoded and compared with one in the alarm receiver arranged register over mobile units which shall be controlled. After identification is noted when the signal was received, alternatively that a counter is set to zero. In the alarm receiver is after that calculated within which interval the mobile unit shall be listened to. The signalling between the mobile unit and the alarm receiver after that proceeds according to what has been described, as long as the units are within communication distance from each othei . In the case the mobile unit leaves the communicative area, the alarm receiver does not any longer receives the expected signal. The alarm receiver m this case notes that the communication with the mobile unit has been broken. The alarm receiver after that establishes a communication towards a public telecommunication network according to Figure 1, or via a mobile telecommunication network according to Figure 2. In the alarm receiver a register is arranged with information about who (one or more) shall be informed. Call is after that made sequentially and/or parallelly to one or more alarm centres/receivers, LC/MO Connection m respective network is made according to current methods . In the alarm receiver arranged register indicates for instance to where call shall be made with regard to day of the week, season, time m the twenty four hours etc. When contact with the alarm centre/receiver has been established, a message is transmitted The alarm centre/receiver in this case receives a message that the person which is associated to the mobile unit in question has left the area within which he/she is expected to stay.

Measures can after that immediately be taken for bringing the person back to the specified area before the person in question have had time to move too far.

By the invention an efficient control of persons who for medical reasons have difficulties to look after themselves is obtained. The mobile unit is further equipped with functions which can be activated by the user. In an emergency he/she activates the mobile unit which again activates the alarm receiver for transmission of alarm. In this case, however, an alternative message is transmitted to the alarm centre, LC/receiver. The message in this case indicates that alarm has been triggered actively by the person in question.

Measures are after that taken to relieve the person in question .

In a further development of the invention, the mobile unit is equipped with communication means which can be utilized for communication with the person, for instance via geographical determination of position, or the kind of emergency, if any.

The present invention is not restricted to the above described or to below indicated patent claims, but can be subject to modifications within the frame of the idea of invention .

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. Device at alarm system, which alarm system includes mobile units and fixed receiver units, which fixed receiver units are arranged to receive a signal from the mobile units for initiation of call to an alarm centre and/or other receiver, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the mobile units are arranged to with short intervals transmit a signal, that the receiver unit is arranged to receive the signal, and that an absent signal from one of the mobile units results in that the receiver unit makes a call to the alarm centre/receiver.

2. Device according to patent claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d m that the mobile units are equipped with radio transmitters, and the receiving units with radio receivers.

3. Device according to patent claim 1 or 2 , c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the signal from the mobile units is arranged to include an individual identity code, which can be identified by the receiver unit.

4. Device according to patent claim 1,2 or 3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d m that the receiver unit is arranged to individually call different alarm receiving centres/receivers .

5. Device according to any of the previous patent claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the receiver equipment is arranged to transmit individual messages to the alarm receiver centre/receiver for identification of the mobile unit which has initiated the alarm.

6. Device according to any of the previous patent claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d m that the mobile umt is arranged to be carried by a person who need to be controlled, for instance as a consequence of illness.

7. Device according to any of the previous patent claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the signals from the mobile units are arranged to cover a restriced area within which the person normally is moving.

8. Device according to any of the previous patent claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the mobile unit is arranged with an alarm device which when necessary initiates an alarm call from the receiver unit to the alarm centre and/or receiver, and that the reason for the call is transmitted to the alarm centre/receiver.

9. Device according to any of the previous patent claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d m that the alarm system is arranged to consist of a safety alarm system.

10. Device according to any of the previous patent claims, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the receiver unit is arranged to contact the alarm centre/receiver via the public telecommunication network and/or the mobile telecommunication network.