WO2003010730A1

WO2003010730A1 - Arrangement for giving alarm

Info

Publication number: WO2003010730A1
Application number: PCT/FI2002/000600
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pasi Arvonen; Ari HYVÖNEN
Original assignee: Greensun Oy
Priority date: 2001-07-06
Filing date: 2002-07-03
Publication date: 2003-02-06
Also published as: FI110389B; FI20011490A0

Abstract

The invention relates to an arrangement for giving alarm in a working community, from a first workplace over an employed workstation via a local area network to an employed workstation of at least a second workplace in case of a threat or a dangerous situation. In that case the alarm is transmitted to said second workplace that is located only at a short distance from said first workplace.

Description

Arrangement for giving alarm.

The invention relates to an arrangement for giving alarm in a work community, from a first workplace over an employed workstation via a local area network to an employed workstation of at least a second workplace in case of a threat or a dangerous situation, according to the preamble ofthe independent claim 1.

In customer service facilities, where an office employee or similar customer service employee or any one employee in general deals with the business of only one client, alone together with the client in a separate room, in an area provided with high walls in a so-called open-plan office or in any other similar place, said employee may experience threat or danger, because some of the clients may be unpredictable in their behavior and their actions. A special situation may arise for instance in a case where the client thinks that the social subsistence allowance granted by the employee is too low. For these situations, there are already designed some alarm arrangements by which the employee can give an alarm to get help. This can be a guard, a caretaker, the foreman of said employee or even a police officer. There are several different devices for giving the alarm: press buttons on or underneath the desk, buttons or plates to be pressed by the foot, press buttons carried around the neck etc. Generally the drawback of these arrangements is that the client usually knows ofthe existence of an alarm button or the like, and when he realizes that the employee is pressing the alarm button, the situation may become dramatically more serious as the client gets even angrier and/or begins to use a tool or another weapon that he has taken along for hurting the employee. Often said alarm is also sent too far away, so that it may take tens of seconds or even several minutes before help arrives on the scene. Another drawback is that a cleaning person may cause a false alarm if he does not know the devices and their operation.

There are also known alarm-like reporting procedures transmitted through a data network. In the publication WO 99/28824, there is introduced a method according to which alerts of defects, reporting various operational defects of machinery and other similar incidents, are transmitted to computers located in groups in a data network.

The object of the invention is to present an arrangement by means of which the employees of customer service facilities or the like can, via the computers of their workstation, give an alarm for help, particularly from nearby, in order to calm down or even pacify a difficult or defying of even dangerously behaving client, and also in order to get statements. An object ofthe invention is also to present an arrangement wherein the client would probably not even immediately notice that an alarm has been given thereby. Yet a further object ofthe invention is to present an arrangement including at least one but preferably several alarm levels, among which the employee can choose the suitable according to the situation. An object of the invention is also to present an arrangement where the receiver of the alarm can observe, on the basis of an image and/or sound sample, what is going on in the workplace of the person who gave the alarm. Yet a further object of the invention is to immediately inform the workstations in case the arrangement has a defect that prevents it from working.

The object of the invention is achieved according to what is set forth in claim 1 and other claims. According to the invention, the arrangement for giving alarm in a work community from a first workplace over an employed workstation via a local area network to an employed workstation of at least a second workplace in case of a threat or a dangerous situation. If the alarm is transmitted to said second workplace, which is located only at a short distance from the first workplace, the employee being there probably detects the alarm very soon and can, owing to the short distance, to rush to help for the employee having made the alarm, even in a few seconds, for example on the basis of an excuse. Often a defiantly behaving client gives up most defiance when he notices that a new person has come to observe the situation.

If the alarm given in said situation from said first workplace is transmitted via a local area network to several employed workstations of workplaces, servers, printers and/or to other active devices in the data network that enable the observation of the desired alarm information, located -in the near distance, several employees that are nearby can rush to support and safeguard the employee who needs help. Because the alarm is transmitted to nearby workstations, the arrival of help is usually a matter of a few seconds only. If for instance 3 - 6 persons from the office arrive, the situation is most probably calmed down immediately.

If the received alarm is visible on the screen of the workstation of the receiving workplace, the employee detects the incident at once, because he is usually continuously using the workstation, which means that the alarm delay is generally extremely short. If said received alarm indicates the workplace from which the alarm was given, as well as who gave the alarm and when, the person who received the alarm can rush immediately and without delay to the right location. Thus the person who rushes to the location already has some kind of basic information of the situation, obtained by the arrangement.

If the workstation gives, when the alarm is received, a sound signal typical of a computer - in addition to an alarm message containing image and/or text - the receiver of the alarm is immediately alerted by the sound, even if he were for instance looking in another direction.

If the workplaces are provided with microphones and video cameras, through which said devices arranged in the workstation giving the alarm start transmitting sound and image to workstations and other devices connected to the arrangement, the incident can be observed in the workstations of those that receive the alarm, and the necessary measures can be taken. Simultaneously there is documented relevant evidence of the proceeding of the incident.

If the first workplace is provided with more than one different ways to give the alarm, the person who gives the alarm may choose a method that is suitable for the situation in order to prevent the client from noticing that an alarm is being given.

If the employee in the first workplace has at least two alternatives for selecting the coverage ofthe alarm, the employee does not usually feel that the threshold for the alarm is a limiting factor. Therefore it is recommended that in a case where the threat is slight, there can be given a local alarm, and in the case of a more serious threat, there can be given a more extensive local alarm.

If the employee in the first workplace can, in addition to the first alarm, give at least one additional alarm when the situation changes, the receiver of the alarm may deduce that the situation in the first workplace has changed in a direction where the second alarm is necessary. The arrangement can also include a DANGER OVER notification.

If the extensive alarm is transmitted, in addition to the nearby workplaces, to a guard and/or a police officer, and if the occurrence of a remarkable threat is possible in the workplace, it is recommended that the arrangement includes a third alarm level that brings a guard and/or police to the site, but also, as rapid first aid, the employees ofthe nearest workstations belonging to the lower alarm level. If the alarm is transmitted by using an USB bus, an LPT gate, a com gate, a w-lan network card, a cable, an ir link, a radio link or a bluetooth link or the like, it is possible to choose the most suitable alarm transmission bus for each purpose and target of usage.

If in a case of defect, on the screen of the workstation and/or in another device enabling the observation ofthe information ofthe defect ofthe same data network, irrespective of the way in which the device is connected to the network, there is arranged an alert of a defect owing to which the alarm arrangement does not work and information where to report and/or how to repair the defect, an employee can immediately after seeing it call for repair staff to come and repair the defect, or he can himself perform the necessary measures. If a defect alert is not seen on the screen, the employee can rest assured that the arrangement is probably ready for operation.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the appended drawing, where

- Figure 1 schematically illustrates an arrangement according to the invention, comprising a number of workstations and auxiliary devices in a work community,

- Figure 2 schematically illustrates a workstation according to figure 1, used for customer services and provided with appropriate facilities and auxiliary devices, and

- Figure 3 schematically illustrates the arrangement to be presented on the screen ofthe workstation.

In figure 1 of the drawing, the reference number 1 indicates an arrangement according to the invention, comprising a number of workstations 2a - 2j, the PC:s of which are interconnected by means of a local area network 3. Among said workstations, the workstations 2a, 2b, 2c and 2d are stations where the persons using them receive clients. The workstation 2e belongs to the customer service supervisor, and the workstation 2f belongs to the department manager. The workstation 2g belongs to the caretaking supervisor, and the workstation 2h to a guard and normally also the workstations 2i and 2j are occupied. The workstations 2a - 2d are provided with the alarm arrangement according to the invention, so that first of all, an alarm can be given to the physically nearest employed workstation. For instance, when the employee of the workstation 2a feels himself threatened due to the client's behavior or actions, the employee can give alarm via the network 3, in which case the arrangement checks whether a person is logged in to the physically nearest workstation 2b at that particular moment. If said workstation is occupied, the alarm comes to said workstation. It is recommended that the arrangement gives alarm also to another workstation, in this case 2c, that is logged in to the network and is located nearest but one. If it is necessary on a given site, all workstations 2 ofthe local area network can be provided with the possibility to give alarm. The local area network 3 is not described in more detail here, because it represents some generally known structure.

If the situation has already developed to a more serious level as regards the user of the workstation 2a, he can give a more extensive alarm that is sent to all such workstations of the local area network that are logged in to the network and are situated near the workstation 2a. In that case, the alarm is sent to all workstations 2b - 2f, if an employee is logged in there. In the arrangement according to the invention, it is recommended to use also an additional third-level alarm that alerts all employees of the working community. It is also possible to use an extensive alarm icon in which case it has already become apparent that the client carries an edged weapon, a firearm, explosives or other means that cause a truly serious danger. Such an alarm is always sent also to the caretaking supervisor, to the guard and to the police, who take immediate measures in order to solve the situation. It is possible to decide in advance, for example in the form of alarm regulations, what kind of acts each employee does in different cases. The arrangement also comprises a file that records in a memory file incidents, as well as other information that is explained herein below. It is recommended that in connection with the arrangement, there is used a printer 4, a workstation 5 that is in connection via the network 3 and with another network, which workstation 5 can be located for instance in another site of the same company, or for example at police quarters and/or in the monitoring room of a security company as well as a remote workstation 6 operated by a wireless connection.

Figure 2 illustrates a workstation 2a that is used for customer services, provided with equipment and auxiliary devices. The employee uses primarily the mouse 7 for selecting the alarm icon on the screen; there can be for example three different icons to be selected according to the nature ofthe imminent threat or danger. One alternative is a press button 8 that can be located under the desk surface, in a location that the employee easily reaches. The number of impressions on the press button indicates the extent of the alarm: one impression means local alarm, two impressions mean a more extensive alarm and three impressions mean the most extensive alarm including authorities. The top part of the space where the employee keeps his feet can be provided with a device 9 that reacts to interrupting the beam or to motion - for instance a light curtain, infrared alarm or the like - that gives alarm if the employee raises his feet high enough in the foot space. This naturally requires that the workstation is provided with a foot space closed in its front. Other possible devices for giving an alarm are a touch plate 10 and a object detector 11 that detects an object, such as a piece of paper or the like, placed thereupon. When the employee triggers the alarm by using any of the devices for giving an alarm, the arrangement starts a video camera 12 and a microphone 13, both of which need to be camouflaged for instance in the ceiling, behind a sparse fake fan arrangement, in a camouflaged file placed on an archive shelf, or the like, so that the client does not easily notice them.

Figure 3 illustrates the arrangement represented on the screen 14 of the workstation, in which arrangement the reference number 15 refers to the settings menu, in which the settings are made in the arrangement. The settings menu 15 is visible only when making the settings. On the screen 14, there is always visible an icon 16 that is provided for giving the alarm. When a threatening situation arises, the employee clicks said icon with the mouse. In figure 3, only one icon is illustrated, but as was already explained above, it is recommendable to have several different icons, preferably three icons for alarms of different levels. It is also recommended that a DANGER OVER icon should be used. The reference number 17 refers to an information box that indicates whether the arrangement is in operational or respectively defective. The actual alarm alert properly comes to the box marked with the reference number 18, which box includes all essential information of the incident of alarm. Said alert box can include buttons, and by clicking these buttons, there is obtained image ofthe target, transmitted through a video camera, and sound transmitted through a microphone, as well as other corresponding information or features. The alert box 18 may also include continuously updated data on the development ofthe situation and how it is taken care of. If the names ofthe employees who are already coming to rescue appear in the alert box 18, the threatened employee can apparently see the information on the screen and be relieved, because help is soon arriving. Obviously the alert box 18 always comes on top, i.e. is visible. Likewise it is necessary to always keep the alarm icons 16 visible.

When an alarm is given, the arrangement starts to record image and sound through a video camera and a microphone in the arrangement memory, for instance in a log file, including the point of time. The alarm is initiated in the workstation 2a and transmitted to the close vicinity or further on, depending on the alarm level selected by the employee. Other workstations of the arrangement show which alarm level the employee has chosen. The employee also has a chance to cancel the alarm, if the client has for example suddenly left through the door, calmed down or started to behave in a relatively normal manner. In that case the employee can press the "DANGER OVER" icon. However, it is necessary to inform the working community immediately after the incident by explaining what the situation was and whether for example some follow-up is to be expected for the same client. This may take place for instance by group messages to workstations 2. The security chief or corresponding employee of the company may analyze the incidents for instance by means of his portable computer 6 via a GSM network or the like, in principle in any location.

The arrangement may utilize the features of local area networks and other data transmission networks in order to transmit the alarm information to the disposal of necessary parties. Said features are not explained in more detail here, because they represent known technology. The essential feature is that the arrangement works in real-time, i.e. the interval between the transmission and reception of the alarm is minimized. The task ofthe arrangement supervisor is to write in the program used in the arrangement all details and measures to be taken, in order to describe how the arrangement works with each occurred alarm. Of the arrangement files, there can be copied the essential case information, as well as the video camera and microphone records, for instance for the purposes of police investigation and legal proceedings. Naturally the information can also be used when training new staff for using the arrangement.

The invention is not restricted to the above-described embodiment, but various modifications thereof can be conceived within the scope ofthe appended claims.

Claims

1. An arrangement for giving alarm in a working community from a first workplace over an employed workstation to an employed workstation of at least a second workplace, which workstations are connected with each other via a local area network, in case of a threat or a dangerous situation, characterized in that the alarm is transmitted via said local area network to said second workplace that is located only at a short distance from said first workplace.

2. An arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the alarm given from said first workplace in said situation is transmitted through the local area network to several employed workstations of the workplaces, servers, printers and/or other active devices of the data network that enable the observation of the desired alarm information, in the close vicinity.

3. An arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the received alarm is visible on the screen of the workstation of the workplace that received said alarm.

4. An arrangement according to claim 3, characterized in that in said received alarm, it is visible from which workplace the alarm has come, and also from whom and at which point of time the alarm has come.

5. An arrangement according to claim 4, characterized in that in connection with receiving the alarm, the workstation gives a sound signal typical of the computer in addition to an alarm message containing image and/or text.

6. An arrangement according to claim 5, characterized in that the workplaces are provided with microphones and video cameras, through which said devices, provided in the workstation giving the alarm start sending sound and image to the workstations and other devices connected to the arrangement.

7. An arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first workplace is provided with more than one possibility to start the alarm.

8. An arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the first workplace, the employee can select the extent ofthe alarm between at least two alternatives.

9. An arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the first workplace, the employee can, in addition to the first alarm, perform at least one additional alarm when the situation changes.

10. An arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that an extensive alarm is transmitted, in addition to the nearby workstations, to a guard and/or to the police.

11. An arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that in order to transmit the alarm, there is used an USB bus, an LPT gate, a com- gate, a w-lan network card, a cable, an ir link, a radio link or a bluetooth link, or the like.

12. An arrangement according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that in case of a defect, to the screen of the workstation and/or to other devices of the same data network that enable the observation of the desired defect information, irrespective of how the device is connected to the network, there is sent an alert of the defect owing to which the alarm arrangement does not work, and information where to report the defect and/or how to repair it.