WO2000033274A1

WO2000033274A1 - Improvements in or relating to a reminder alarm

Info

Publication number: WO2000033274A1
Application number: PCT/SE1999/002105
Authority: WO
Inventors: Marcus HÄGER
Original assignee: Haeger Marcus
Priority date: 1998-11-27
Filing date: 1999-11-17
Publication date: 2000-06-08
Also published as: AU1437900A; SE513128C2; SE9900880L; SE9900880D0

Abstract

The invention relates to a reminder alarm system (2) for primarily senior persons in their homes and comprising a central (1) with a real time clock or the like for indication of correct time, correct date and correct year. Connected to the central (1) is a connection (6) from the front door (3), which via e.g. a magnetic switch (7), an optical or some other sensor device establishes whether the door (3) is being opened, in which case the central (1) draws the attention of a person to the actual time and, e.g. by sound, light or text messages on a display (4) alarms about the actual time and about the impropriety of leaving the house in case that time falls within a predetermined time interval, the message being deactivated upon actuation of an acknowledgement switch (5), if the door (3) is closed or after a predetermined time duration.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO A REMINDER ALARM

The present invention relates to a reminder alarm system, adapted for use by especially senior persons and comprising a central which houses a real time clock to get access to correct time, meaning hour, date, and year.

Many persons, especially seniors, do today experience problems with managing themselves in their homes without the aid of special auxiliary means, particularly in connection with the necessity of remembering when medicines are to be taken and the propriety of opening the front door to let in persons activating the outdoor bell. Also, in many cases senior persons find it difficult to keep track of the correct time and to realize that it is not recommendable in the middle of the night to leave the house or to use the telephone. Further, it could be diffi- cult for seniors to prevent unauthorized persons from sneaking into the apartment by using the door bell and claiming a false identity.

On the market there are today available a number of diffe- rent types of alarm systems or the like which sound when unauthorized persons do themselves open an unlocked door and enter the apartment, as well as assistance equipment indicating at which time the person in question is supposed to take his medicine. There do also exist alarm systems which, when a person passes out through the front door, alerts him if he has forgotten to bring the keys to that door .

The object of the present invention is to solve the pro- blems to which especially such senior persons are subjected who chose to keep and stay in their homes. The features characterizing the invention are set out in the accompanying claims.

Thanks to the invention there has now been provided a reminder alarm system which in an excellent way satisfies its purposes and which at the same time is also cheap to acquire, simple to install and to handle. By way of example, an alarm system according to the invention can remind persons, especially dement individuals, that it is untimely to leave the house in the middle of the night, the corresponding alarm signal being supplied by the central in the shape of a light signal, a sound signal and/or a text message when the front door is opened at night. If this occurs, an alarm signal can also be trans- mitted to an external alarm central or to relatives.

Further, the central emits an alarm signal if the person uses his telephone by night. There is also a function reminding about at which times, one or more per day, medicines are to be taken. When the alarm function has been activated it is possible to acknowledge it by actuating an acknowledgement switch. If such acknowledgement is not made, a corresponding message can be sent to the external alarm central or to the relatives. Also, the alarm central comprises a function activating the door bell only when its button has been actuated according to a combination selected and programmed in advance. This makes it difficult for unauthorized persons to sneak in by using the door bell and claim a false identity. In this way one does also avoid getting disturbed by door-to-door salesmen using the door bell. The central cannot only be programmed to wake up a person at predetermined times, it can also serve as an electronic log book recording for instance how long a social assistant has been inside the apartment in question. The log book can also be programmed to admit remote reading by authorized individuals. The central can be connected with a fire-alarm system so that it does not prevent the person in question from opening the door in case of a fire; about which also the external alarm central and the neighbours can be informed.

Some preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described, reference being made to the drawing.

Fig. 1 does diagrammatically illustrate the installation of a reminder alarm system according to the invention, the central of which is located close to the front door and coupled to a connection with the front door, to a telephone jack via an adapter and to a bell, a fire-watch, a movement detector, an alarm signal transmitter.

Fig. 2 illustrates a central according to the invention close to the telephone only, when making night calls is a great problem.

Fig. 3 shows a reminder alarm system according to the invention where the central is located adjacent to the front door and connected thereto.

As appears from Fig. 1, the central 1 for the reminder alarm system 2 according to the invention is mounted close to a front door 3. Central 1 comprises a display 4 dis- tinctly indicating the time and date. Central 1 also has a function making it possible to program it to play back certain sound messages recorded on different occasions. The central 1 can also be programmed to indicate various text messages on the display 4 or to send information in the shape of different light signals. It also has an acknowledgement key 5, by means of which it is possible in a simple way to cancel all messages. In the central 1 there is a real time clock indicating correct time, correct date and correct year.

By use of the integrated functions I-VI it is possible by means of central 1 according to the invention to remind, especially senior persons, about different items. By way of example, one function is to remind dement persons about the impropriety of leaving the house in the middle of the night. This can be achieved in the way that central 1 is located e.g. in the hall next to the front door 3. There is a connection 6 between central 1 and the front door which connection does, with the aid of e.g. a magnetic switch 7 or optical means, establish if the door 3 is being opened. In case such an opening movement of the door 3 takes place within a predetermined time interval, e.g. in the middle of the night, central 1 can draw the attention of the person in question to the impropriety of leaving the house at that time. This can be made e.g. with the aid of a sound message, a light message and/or a text message. The central can also be programmed to indicate e.g. the message "Night" twinkling on the display in order to make the person conscious of the time so as to prevent him from leaving the house. This alarm signal can also be transmitted to an external alarm central or to relatives, for instance if door 3 is opened in the middle of the night or if the person inside does not acknowledge receipt of a presence control or if a movement detector 22, communicating with the central, records that the person did not remain in his apartment after opening of the door. If the door is opened in night-time an alarm signal can be emitted to an alarm central. The central staff, or another authorized person, can then speak with the person in a two-way communication through the central . Central 1 can also be programmed to emit a sound signal when somebody opens the door 3 which can be suitable to reduce the risk of the person getting scared by finding a stranger standing in the hall without his having heard him enter.

Central 1 can also have a connection 19, or communicate in some other way, with a fire-watch 18 or some other fire- alarm equipment so that the senior is not by the central 1 prevented from leaving in a fire situation. In case of fire an alarm signal can also be transmitted to the external alarm central or to the neighbours . The central can be programmed so that no alarm signal is triggered, even if the door is opened in the middle of the night, provided that the correct code has been used in connection with somebody leaving the apartment. The same applies if the correct code has been used for the door bell in connection with somebody entering the apartment.

Central 1 also comprises a function II reminding especially dement persons about the impropriety of making phone calls in the middle of the night. There is a wire or wireless connection 8 from the central 1 to a telephone jack 9 connected by means of a sensor device 17, e.g. in the shape of an adaptor 10, and then to a telephone set 16. With the aid of the adaptor 10 the central 1 will receive information, on the one hand if the receiver 12 has been lifted e.g. because the person intends to place a call, and on the other hand if the telephone set 16 receives a ring signal. If the receiver 12 is kept unhooked during a predetermined time interval, e.g. in the middle of the night and the telephone set 16 has not been ringing at the same time or just before, the attention of the person is drawn to the fact that it is not reco - mendable to use the phone at that time. This can be made by means of a sound message or a light message and/or a text message. It goes without saying that the person can use the telephone, if such use is important, and he can then first disconnect the alarm function by depressing the acknowledgement key 5. Also, the alarm functions can be interrupted when one hangs up the receiver or after a predetermined time interval . The central 1 does not emit any alarm signal when the person unhooks the receiver 12 in order to reply to an incoming call.

According to function III one can also with the aid of the central 1 according to the invention remind persons about the proper time to take the medicines on one or more occasions daily. When, at a predetermined time, the central initiates e.g. the message "take your medicine" or some other type of message, the person in question approaches the central 1 and acknowledges the alarm signal. The person does then take his medicine which suitably could be placed close to the central 1. According to a function VI the central 1 can also be programmed to wake up the person in question. In this way many problems are avoided thanks to the fact that the person gets used to a normal daily rythm.

The central 1 of the reminder alarm system 2 according to the invention can also be programmed according to function IV in such a way that only authorized persons can use the door bell 11 in a way triggering a ring signal in the apartment. A cable 13 from the central provides connection thereto via a junction box 14 whereby the conductor from the door button 15 to the door bell 11 actually passes through central 1 before continuing to the door bell 11 proper. The purpose of this is that button 15 must be used according to the correct combination in order to generate a ring signal from bell 11. Such a combination can e.g. consist of two depressions of button 15, a ten seconds waiting time and thereafter three depressions. Not until then does the door bell 11 generate a ring signal. This combination can conveniently be programmed into the central 1 and then be used by relatives and by authorized persons. In this way it is made difficult for unauthorized persons to sneak into the apartment by using the door bell and claiming a false identity. This is today a great problem, since senior persons are often deceived to let in unauthorized individuals who can then steal things in the apartment. Also, in this way the inconvenience of contact with door-to-door salesmen is avoided. If the equipment does not include an electric door bell 11, a door bell button 15 can be mounted outside the door 3 and in wire- less communication with the central 1. When the correct code is used, central 1 generates a sound similar to that from a door bell. It is also possible to use a card reader, a finger-print reader, a key set/code lock or other means permitting only authorized persons to use the door bell.

Central 1 can also comprise a function V like an electronic log book making it possible to check e.g. when a social assistant is inside and for what length of time. This function works as a time-clock for the staff. The staff will press a button that is marked e.g. "arriving" when they come and "leaving" when they are departing. Thanks to the fact that the central 1 has an integrated real time clock the arrival and departure times are correctly recorded in the electronic log book of the central. This makes it possible for relatives in a simple way to check the log book of the central for the purpose of finding out when e.g. such staff arrived and left. The central may also include a key set 20 on which they must feed in their civic registration numbers before activating the "arrived" or "left" keys. The purpose of this is to make it possible to check the identities of the visitors. Alternatively, a card-reader can be used for checking such time data. In contrast to a conventional log book the electronic one cannot be altered afterwards and it is neither possible to record a later time than that of actual departure. Moreover, the central triggers an alarm if the visitor in question forgets to log out. The log book can also be read remotely by authorized persons such as relatives or a boss of the service staff. The central can also send an alarm signal to the service centre or to other authorized individuals if the person in question has not received the care agreed upon which has been pro- grammed into the central. It is also possible to feed into the log book of the central data about the type of care and the medicines. This can be carried out phonetically or e.g. from a portable computer. Relatives and other authorized persons can then read the log book in situ or remotely. The log book of the central does also record the time of receipt of the information. An alarm transmitter 21, which can be attached to the person, may also be connected to the central which can pass on that alarm signal.

The central in the reminder alarm system according to the invention makes it possible to select the functions suitable for different situations. By way of example, one can install functions I and II, i.e. reminder about the impropriety of, in the middle of the night to leave the house or to use the telephone, and functions III, VI and V, i.e. reminder about time for medication, when to wake up and electronic log book. If the above-mentioned functions are selected a reminder alarm system of the type concerned is very easy to install. It is also simple to install function IV, i.e. when only authorized persons are permitted to use the door bell 11. In some cases one can initially install only a central 1 close to the telephone to realize function II, i.e. the one informing about the impropriety of using the phone in the middle of the night. The other functions can be added to the central 1 on later occasions and as needed. Another alternative is the installation according to Fig. 3, comprising only a central 1 and e.g. a magnetic switch 7 to get functions I, III, VI and V.

Claims

1. A reminder alarm system, adapted for use by especially senior persons and comprising a central (1) which houses a real time clock or communicates with another clock or the like to get access to correct time, meaning hour, date, and year, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that to the central (1) there is coupled a connection (6) from the front door (3) , which via e.g. a magnetic switch (7) , an optical or other sensor device determines whether the door (3) is being opened, said central (1) then drawing a person's attention to the prevailing time and, e.g. by sound, light and/or text messages on a display (4) indicates said time and the impropriety of leaving the house, if the time indicated falls within a predetermined time interval, said message being then deactivated upon actuation of an acknowledgement switch (5) , either in response to the door (3) getting closed or after the elapse of a predetermined time interval.

2. Alarm system as claimed in Claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the central (1) can be programmed to transmit an alarm signal to an alarm central or to relatives informing them that the person has left his apartment at a time within the predetermined time interval, e.g. the middle of the night.

3. Alarm system as claimed in Claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the central (1) is also connected to a wire or wireless connection (8) from a telephone set (16) which via a sensor device (17) establishes if the telephone receiver (12) has been unhooked and whether the telephone (16) rings, the central (1) giving an alarm signal informing about the correct time and about the impropriety of using the phone during the night and, if the telephone (16) does not ring, said alarm being deactivated after actuation of an acknowledgement switch (5) if the receiver (12) is hung up, or after a predetermined period of time.

4. Alarm system as claimed in any of Claims 1-3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the central (1) comprises a function admitting playback of previously recorded sound messages and/or that the central (1) can be programmed with various text messages presented by the display (4) on predetermined time occasions or in response to other occurences, with or without combination with light indications.

5. Alarm system as claimed in Claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the central (1) is programmed to emit a sound signal when somebody opens the front door (3) within a predetermined time interval .

6. Alarm system as claimed in Claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the central (1) can be programmed to remind a person about taking medicine at one or more times per day.

7. Alarm system as claimed in Claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the central (1) can be programmed to waken up a person at predetermined times per day.

8. Alarm system as claimed in Claim 1, c h a r a c - t e r i z e d i n that the central (1) can be programmed to permit a door bell (11) at the door (3) to ring, or to generate a message similar to the sound of a door bell only when predetermined and programmed combinations of actuating the door bell button (15) have been executed or a code has been supplied in another way.

9. Alarm system as claimed in Claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the central (1) serves as an electronic log book indicating e.g. that the social service has made a visit and the duration thereof, the registration in the central (1) taking place e.g. upon actuation of an arrival switch and a subsequent actuation of e.g. a departure switch which can be read in situ or remotely by authorized persons.

10. Alarm system as claimed in Claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the central (1) communicates with a fire-watch (18) or another fire-alarm equipment via a connection (19) or in some other way identifying the presence of a fire, the other functions being automatical- ly disconnected except the function alarming an alarm central, neighbours or relatives.

11. Alarm system as claimed in Claims 1, 3, 6 or 7 , c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the central (1) can be programmed to send alarm signals to an external alarm central, relatives or neighbours, if a message from the central (1) is not acknowledged.

12. Alarm system as claimed in Claim 1, c h a r a c - t e r i z e d i n that the central (1) communicates with a movement detector (22) .

13. Alarm system as claimed in Claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the central (1) can be programmed to call up e.g. the social service in the absence of visit/care.

14. Alarm system as claimed in Claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the central (1) comprises a function establishing two-way communication between the person and an authorized person.

15. Alarm system as claimed in Claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the central (1) can in a wireless way communicate with a portable alarm transmitter (21) which then passes on the alarm signal.

16. Alarm system as claimed in Claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d i n that the central (1) can be programmed for recording data about care and medication, which can be read in situ or remotely by authorized persons.