AU2016100148A4 - Panic Alarm System - Google Patents

Abstract

Abstract A system to activate an independent alarm unit and, or alert a remote user when fear is experienced. The system provides a small alert unit that may be placed on the person, such as on clothing incorporating a button and radio which may send a signal to a mobile computing device and, or independent alarm unit. The mobile computing device may send an alert to a remote mobile computing device with a user who can help. The independent alarm unit may make a loud noise to deter the source of fear, such as an attacker. A time delay for activation of an alert may be provided during which time the alert may be cancelled I C(9

Description

PANIC ALARM SYSTEM TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The subject matter disclosed herein generally relates to provision of a panic button which triggers a local siren and also contacting a remote person. Specifically, the present disclosure addresses systems and methods to trigger a local siren and also contact a remote person. SUMMARY [0002] A system to activate independent alarm unit and, or alert a remote user when fear is experienced. The system provides a small alert unit that may be placed on the person, such as on clothing incorporating a button and radio which may send a signal to a mobile computing device and, or independent alarm unit. The mobile computing device may send an alert to a remote mobile computing device with a user who can help. The independent alarm unit may make a loud noise to deter the source of fear, such as an attacker. A time delay for activation of an alert may be provided during which time the alert may be cancelled. ADVANTAGES / DISADVANTAGES [0003] The provision of a separate alarm unit with an audio or light output that draws people's attention provides an immediate deterrent to surprise attacks and unnerve the attacker from continuing the attack as attention is drawn to the crime scene. [0004] The integration of a parallel alerting system where an alert signal is sent to both a remote person who can, given a location of the user from the GPS on the mobile computing device come and help as well as a localised audio alert to immediate deter an attacker provides coverage from immediate attack through to arrival of a assistance. Further, this same integrated system provides a mechanism for 1 the simultaneous cancellation of both remote user and alarm unit alarms either after activation or before activation during a countdown phase before alerts are sent. [0005] The alarm unit may accept a panic alert activation system from a mobile computing device and so enhance existing mobile computing device panic alert applications. [0006] A sequence can be specified for the one or more button or other interface elements on the panic alert device so that only the user, knowing the pattern to trigger the alert signal, to be sent to the alarm device or cancel the alert during countdown or after activation of alert can initiate commands to the alert unit. These sequences can be defined on the rich mobile computing device interface and then communicated / uploaded to the panic alarm device. [0007] The alarm device generating and panic alert device may receive location updates from the mobile computing device which has access to GPS, radio triangulation, wifi, BLUETOOTH and other location detection methods. Depending on the location the rate of checking, or whether the alarm is in sleep mode to conserve battery waking up only at set times to see if the location has changed and so should now wake up. In this way the battery in conserved. [0008] If the alan device detects movement such as from a from an accelerometer or other movement sensor coupled to the alarm device then this may be used to wake up the alarm device to be ready to listen and receive signals from the panic button device. In this way the battery in conserved. DETAILED ) DESCRIPTION [0009] An independent alarm unit using low power radio frequency communication such as BLUETOOTH receives a panic alert signal and generates an audio alert to raise the attention people nearby and deter an attacker. The panic alert signal may be sent from a panic alert device or a mobile computing device. The panic button device send a signal to the alarm device which may either directly or after a countdown cause the generation of an audio alert. The alarm device may be sent a signal from the panic button device or the mobile computing device to turn on at certain times, to turn on because the mobile computing device has detected a 2 particular location which is for example a higher risk, or to check with varying frequency depending on the risk of the location or whether from movement inputs such as GPS, radio triangulation or radio the person is moving. [0010] Zones may be defined wherein risk is different. For example, when the person is at home it may be undesirable for the alarm to be listening for a panic signal in a safe place or for the loud alarm to activate. The mobile computing device may have access to a location risk profile database containing location polygons or other definitions of area with associate risk levels. When the mobile computing device detects movement between locations with risk levels, for example from low to high risk it sends a signal to the alarm device to turn on listening for a panic alert signal and vice versa when transitioning from high to low risk the mobile computing device may send a signal to tell the alarm device to return to the original checking mode in which at a frequency perhaps each 1, 5, 10 minutes it checks signals informing it to check continually or with a higher frequency. [0011] In order to be able to receive signals to turn on listening the alarm device may employ an occasional listening action at set times and / or frequencies. [0012] A series of ordered zones can be defined as a trip for which monitoring should occur the whole trip. Once the mobile computing device detects the location at the start of the trip, while the mobile computing detects movement along the trip or path the alarm device is sent a signal to remain on. [0013] Alternatively the alarm device may have a larger battery and not be concerned about battery usage but rather not allow the accidental pressing of the panic button in areas of low risk zones such as safe building like home or during a church service, school classroom where it would be undesirable for the panic alarm to go off. [0014] The alarm device may also turn on when moved as detected by movement sensors coupled to the alarm device indicating that the device is being moved and so the user is travelling around. [0015] An accelerometer and or inertial position system and or compass and or combination can be used to determine the amount / direction of movement and whether it sufficient movement and or with direction to constitute movement such as 3 walking and or travelling and or movement which matches for example movement on a train or bus or car as some non limiting examples. [0016] The Alarm device may be in the sleep mode until woken up by a sensor such as accelerometer, generating an electrical hardware interrupt. In this way the alarm device may conserve battery until movement and so monitoring is required. [0017] The panic button device may remain in a sleep mode until woken up by the pressing of a button generating an electrical hardware interrupt. Alternatively the pressing of the button may cause the application of power and so turning on the device. [0018] In this way the alarm device may conserve battery until movement and so monitoring is required. [0019] By tailoring the time when the alarm device is turned on, the battery consumption of the alarm device may be reduced allowing less frequent recharging and or smaller devices. [0020] The provision of a separate alarm unit with an audio or light output that draws people's attention provides an immediate deterrent to surprise attacks and unnerve the attacker from continuing the attack as attention is drawn to the crime scene. [0021] The integration of a parallel alerting system where an alert signal is sent to both a remote person who can, given a location of the user from the GPS on the mobile computing device come and help as well as a localised audio alert to immediate deter an attacker provides coverage from immediate attack through to arrival of a assistance. Further this same integrated system provides a mechanism for the simultaneous cancellation of both remote user and alarm unit alarms either after activation or before activation during a countdown phase before alerts are sent. [0022] The alarm unit may be accept a panic alert activation system from a mobile computing device and so enhance existing mobile computing device panic alert applications. [0023] A sequence can be specified for the one or more button or other interface elements on the panic button device so that only the user, knowing the pattern to trigger the alert signal, to be sent to the alarm device or cancel the alert during countdown or after activation of alert can initiate commands to the alert unit. These sequences can be defined on the rich mobile computing device interface and 4 then communicated / uploaded to the panic alarm device. There may be a difference between the alert panic activation sequence and the cancellation sequence. [0024] The cancellation sequence may be more complex so that an attacker cannot cancel it. [0025] The cancellation sequence may cancel the local alarm unit not the remote alarn. [0026] One or more buttons on the panic button device, alarm device and / or mobile computing device may cancel and or activate all or some or the alarms. [0027] As one non limiting example, Morse code like sequences could be used to communicate different sequences of pressing a single button on the panic button device to activate or cancel an alarm. [0028] The alarm device generating and panic alert device may receive location updates from the mobile computing device which has access to GPS, radio triangulation, wifi, BLUETOOTH and other location detection methods. [0029] Depending on the location the rate of checking, or whether the alarm is in sleep mode to conserve battery waking up only at set times to see if the location has changed and so should now wake up. In this way the battery in conserved. [0030] If the alan device detects movement such as from a from an accelerometer or other movement sensor coupled to the alarm device then this may be used to wake up the alarm device to be ready to listen and receive signals from the panic button device. In this way the battery in conserved. [0031] The mobile computing device may be used to upload different alarm sounds to the alarm device. These different sounds may be specified according to different locations. [0032] The panic button device and the alarm device may also be combined in one unit in which case some radio communications links are replaced with direct electrical coupling of components. The system is described as follows. 5 [0033] Referring to figure 1, [0034] The Alarm Device 100 consists of a processor 102 with software 103 which can run programs, including but limited to monitoring inputs, aggregation, storage and communication of measures and receiving of status to display visually 108 or audibly with an alarm or sound generator 109 (such as, but not limited to a piezo electric device) as well as communicate using lower power RF Bluetooth, and Bluetooth Low Energy (Bluetooth 4) using an antenna 106 and powered by a battery 101 that is often but not limited to being a range of sizes from small such as a coin battery, AAA or AA, C or D size batteries or batteries of other varying sizes being both rechargeable and non rechargeable including by also solar panels which may be additionally connected to the device 100 . The sensor device has any of the following sensors including an accelerometer 104 and / or one or more switches (such as electrical contact switch or other inputs to allow the selection of a panic event or cancellation of a panic event or alarm ) , output ports 105 for interfacing to an external alarm or light source. Components of the entity detection device 100 are wired to the processor 102 by the electrical contact wire 198. Any number and type of sensors can be connected to the sensor device. The entity detection device 100 may also include an analogue to digital converter which may be interfaced to read sensor values. These can be used to provide a signal that wakes up the processor to avoid the processor needing to wake up periodic to check these sensor devices. [0035] The entity device is equipped with a processor which can use different amounts of power depending on whether it is in the listening for devices, receiving, transmitting, sustaining a pairing or bonded connection, or sleeping. When the device is in sleep mode it uses limited power and can be "woken" from the sleep state by a timer or accelerometer 104 which can be used to tailor the frequency with which the device wakes up and so uses more energy based on the circumstance, risk level and so reasonable frequency or amount of time to wait between each time the processor wakes ups and listens or transmits. In the case of the Entity Detection Device 100 it is optimal to choose a monitoring mode wherein the Entity Detection Device 100 minimized transmissions and performs listening in by polling at a certain frequency 6 between which the processor sleeps and in this configuration only transmit when an event occurs. When the processor wakes up the sensor value can be checked and transmitted if desired to the mobile computing device. [0036] Typically, for an entity detection device using low power RF such as Bluetooth 4, to transmit takes most power, to be listening or receiving less power and to sleep till woken up by sensors such as contact switch accelerometer 104, still less power including the accelerometer 104 or other such input / output devices power needs, while sleeping and awaking on a timer the least. Transmitting with Pairing or bonding typically has a bonding time of at least ten seconds and so uses more energy and is to be avoided if one of the other strategies can be utilized [0037] The Strategy is to reduce the time awake (not in sleep mode), limit receiving, polling for listening time, really reduce transmission time which uses the most power including a higher peak load. Accelerometers 104 described include one dimensional axis, two dimensional axis or three dimensional axis. [0038] Referring to figure 2, [0039] A mobile computing device 200 consisting of a processor and radio 201, software 202, display 203, keyboard 204, antenna 205 and accelerometer / gyroscope 206. Functions described in this disclosure involve information being sent, received or processed may be implemented by the software 202. The processor and radio and antenna shall be able to communicate in or by, but not limited to, low power RF such as Bluetooth, and Bluetooth Low Energy (Bluetooth 4) as well as be able to communicate using other forms of WiFi, mobile network communication, internet, SMS, and wire and cable as some non limiting examples. The Mobile Computing Device 200 also includes a battery. Example mobile computing devices 200 can include but are not limited to iPhone, Android, Smart Watches, Tablets, laptops and the like. [0040] Functions described in this disclosure involve information being sent, received or processed may be implemented by the software 202. The processor and radio and antenna shall be able to communicate in but not limited to low power RF 7 such as Bluetooth, and Bluetooth Low Energy (Bluetooth 4). The Mobile Computing Device 200 also includes a battery. Example mobile computing devices 200 can include but are not limited to iPhone, Android, smart watches, tablets, laptops and the like. [0041] The mobile computing device 102 can also be iWatch, smart watch, iPhone, iPod, iPod, tablet, Android, Windows or other operating system based device or other such devices. [0042] Referring to figure 3, [0043] The panic button device 300 consists of a processor 302 with software 303 which can run programs, including but limited to monitoring one or more switch inputs of various types including a contact switch 330 with a conductor as a lever 307 that closes an electrical circuit between two terminals 308. Each of the two terminals 308 is connected by electrical connections 398 to the processor 302. When the one or more switch inputs 330 are selected, a panic alert signal to activate an alarm on an alarm device 100, and or mobile computing device 200, and or a cancel panic alert signal to cancel an alarm on an alarm device 100 or mobile computing device 200 is sent. The signal is sent, communicated using lower power RF Bluetooth, and Bluetooth Low Energy (Bluetooth 4) using an antenna 306 and powered by a battery 301 that is often but not limited to being small and non-rechargeable such as a coin battery. A movement detector such as but not limited to an accelerometer 304 is connected to the processor 302. An audio alarm 305 or interface 309 for an external alarm is also connected by 398 to 302. When the panic button 330 is pressed then in addition to a signal to the mobile computing device, either directly or via a countdown, the internal alarm 305 or an external alarm 309 may be activated. [0044] The input 330 may also be implemented as any other form of input including pressure switch, capacitive switch. [0045] As an alternative to activate the panic signal instead of the selection of the input switch system the complete or partial cessation of the movement of the accelerometer between a time period indicating that a user for example has stopped 8 walking or moving may indicate that a journey has been interrupted, if the panic button was not cancelled or used during the time of the journey. In one example, the panic button device may be dropped resulting in no or little accelerometer, whereas whilst on the journey it is expected that the person should keep moving uninterrupted. The lack of movement from the accelerometer may indicate that an unexpected event - being the stopping of movement of the person on a journey has occurred. [0046] The input switch system could use in place of the contact switch a pressure switch, capacitive switch or other forms of input recognition connected to the processor. [0047] In a similar fashion the detection of the lack of accelerometer movements from the mobile computing device 200 may be used. [0048] Components of the entity detection device 300 are wired to the processor 302 by the electrical contact wire 398. Any number and type of sensors can be connected to the sensor device. The entity detection device 100 may also include an analogue to digital converter which may be interfaced to read sensor values. [0049] The contact switch system 330 ( for example by open / closing of an electrical circuit) can be used to provide a signal that wakes up the processor to avoid the processor needing to wake up periodic to check these sensor devices so that minimum battery is used. The contact switch may also initiate the powering on mechanism and subsequent sending of panic signal sequence. [0050] The entity device is equipped with a processor which can use different amounts of power depending on whether it is in the listening for devices, receiving, transmitting, sustaining a pairing or bonded connection, or sleeping. When the device is in sleep mode it uses limited power and can be "woken" from the sleep state by a timer or accelerometer which can be used to tailor the frequency with which the device wakes up and so uses more energy based on the circumstance, risk level and so reasonable frequency or amount of time to wait between each time the processor wakes ups and listens or transmits. In the case of the Entity Detection Device 110 it is optimal to choose a monitoring mode wherein the Entity Detection Device 110 minimized transmissions and performs listening in by polling at a certain frequency between which the processor sleeps and in this configuration only transmit when an event occurs. When the processor wakes up the sensor value can be checked and transmitted if desired to the mobile computing device. 9 [0051] Typically, for an entity detection device using low power RF such as Bluetooth 4, to transmit takes most power, to be listening or receiving less power and to sleep till woken up by sensors such as contact switch accelerometer 304, still less power including the accelerometer 304 or other such input / output devices power needs, while sleeping and awaking on a timer the least. Transmitting with Pairing or bonding typically has a bonding time of at least ten seconds and so uses more energy and is to be avoided if one of the other strategies can be utilized [0052] The Strategy is to reduce the time awake (not in sleep mode), limit receiving, polling for listening time, really reduce transmission time which uses the most power including a higher peak load. Accelerometers 304 described include one dimensional axis, two dimensional axis or three dimensional axis. [0053] Referring to Figure 4, [0054] The panic button device 402 is an instance of device 300 described in Figure 3. One or more switches 403 are instances of 330. [0055] The alarm device 405 is an instance of device 100 described in Figure 1. [0056] A person needing protection (protected person) 400 has a panic button device 402 including at least one button or switch 403 on, or close to, their person to press if they are experiencing fear and need to contact a remote person 498 via a mobile computing device 415 (of the device type 200) they have with them. The activation of the panic button device 402 by pressing the button 403 can also cause a loud alarm 307 to be sounded. The signal to a remote person or sounding of the alarm may also be delayed to allow an opportunity for the protected person 400 to cancel the alarm from the same panic button device 402 or from the alarm device 405 ( which has a button 306 which may directly activate or cancel an alarm, including after a countdown the alarm 407) or from the mobile computing device 415. Signals sent between the devices 402, 407 and 401 included low power Radio Frequency signals such as BLUETOOTH TM and BLUETOOTH TM low energy. Signals sent between 401 and 415 include mechanism for wireless internet, low power Radio Frequency 10 signals such as BLUETOOTH TM and BLUETOOTH TM low energy, WiFi, 3G/4G as some non limiting examples. [0057] When the protected person 400 presses the button 403 on the panic button device 402 a low power Radio Signal 409 including BLUETOOTH TM low energy is sent to the alarm device 405 which either immediately or after a set countdown generates an loud noise 408 via the alarm 407. A second signal 410 is concurrently sent to mobile computing device 401 ( of type 200 ). The mobile computing device 401 may display a message indicating that the alarm is counting down or activated to which the user 400 may respond by cancelling the alarm 412 which cancels the alarm from making a noise or the countdown in device 405 from continuing as well as from a message being sent to alert 411 to a remote user 498 with mobile computing device 415 (of type 200). [0058] The alarm 407 is connected to the interface 309 on the alarm device 405. [0059] Following the sending of a signal 409 to the begin a countdown (the countdown implemented by including by hardware or software on device 405 ), when the count down expires and no cancellation signal 412 has been received then the alarm 407 will generate a loud noise 408 as activated by device 405. [0060] Following the sending of a signal 410 to the begin a countdown (the countdown implemented by including by hardware or software on mobile computing device 401 ), when the count down expires and no cancellation made by user from the display of the mobile computing device 401, nor cancellation signal 455 from device 405 or cancellation signal 410 from device 402 has been received then an alarm 411 will be sent to mobile computing device 415 to a remote user 460. [0061] In some embodiments, one or all of the device 402, 405 or 401 may consist of a vibration actuation which vibrates when the panic button have been pressed and the countdown is underway, or also in the case of a signal 411 sent to mobile computing device 415. 11 [0062] In some embodiments, a count down may also be made on the device 402 before sending the signals 409, 410. [0063] In some embodiments, a button 406 on the alarm device 405 can sound an alarm 407 by selecting of one or more buttons 406 directly. The selection of the button 406 may directly sound the alarm or trigger a count down after which the alarm 407 will sound. A signal indicating activation of the panic alarm may also be sent to device 402 and or 401 from which they can cancel the alarm before or after the alarm begins. [0064] In one instance the panic button device 402 may be incorporated into clothing 499. [0065] The panic button device 402 may be incorporated into jewellery with a button selectable from some part of the jewellery. The panic button device 402 may also be fitted or attached to items commonly with the person 400 including medicine packets, wallets, purses, bags, bag handles, brassarie or clothing. [0066] Multiple panic button devices 402 may be used by a person 400. The activation of any of them will can trigger the system. [0067] The protected person 400 can use the mobile computing device 401 to program the countdown time, noise 408 volume and sound by radio signal 412. The sequence of a single or multiplicity of button presses in terms of number and length of selection required to cause a panic selection and cancellation can be configured on the mobile computing device 401 and downloaded to the device 402. [0068] The areas in which the alarm or remote signal are to be sent or not sent can all be programmed on device corresponding to locations detected by global positioning systems, WiFi radio triangulation, Bluetooth as some non limiting examples. When a panic signal 410 is sent to mobile computing device 401, if it 12 determines that panic signal 410 should not be sent to a remote user 498 based on the location then it will not send the signal 311. When a panic signal 410 is sent to mobile computing device 401, if it determines alarm should not sounded based on the location then it will send a signal 412 to cancel the alarm. [0069] Varying alarm values and noises and countdown may all be downloaded from the mobile computing device to the device 405. They may be determined based on location. In some locations, the noises and can be muted and only a remote signal 411 sent. [0070] The accelerometer reading coupled to the panic button device 402 can be sent via the signal 410 and 411 to a remote mobile computing device 415 who can monitor where there is ongoing movement after the [0071] The pressing of the button 403 on panic detection device 402 communicated as an event signal 410 can trigger the information collected or known about the circumstance including movement, audio, photo, video and location to be sent back to the remote user. [0072] The sequences of accelerations to be considered to be movement (such as walking or running), the cessation of which is to be reported may be recorded on device 402 by selection of the user to record a form of movement. [0073] With the panic device easily accessible, it may also be accidentally triggered. Location detection methods including Global positioning Systems (GPS), Wifi, Bluetooth Tm, Radio signal beacons and signals, radio triangulation methods on the mobile computing device 200 can detect zones or areas that the audio alarm 407 or alert 410 should not be activated. [0074] In some embodiments, the panic button device 402 may be a smart watch or other similar device with BLUETOOTH Tm low energy ( BLUETOOTH Tm 13 smart) the function similar to pressing one or more buttons may be performed by one or more physical buttons or buttons activated through software and displayed on a touch display or similar interactive display. [0075] In some embodiments, for periods of time determined by the mobile computing device 400, for example between location zones or areas when no acceleration is measured, or patterns of acceleration such as indicating jogging or walk are not measured indicating that a journey has been interrupted, then the alert signals 409 and or 410 can be generated. A signal 413 can be sent from the mobile computing device 401 to device 402 or 405 to indicate to report periods where no/minimal acceleration, unexpected acceleration or acceleration that is not occurring is experienced. Alternatively all acceleration can be reported from device 402 or 405 to device 401 from where the described processing of acceleration can be performed during the described periods on device 401. [0076] In some embodiments, the described cessation of movement as measured by an accelerometer on the mobile computing device 401 may be used to generate an alert signal 412 to be sent to 405 to activate an audio alarm 407. [0077] The system may operate with the panic button device 402 and alarm device 405 coupled to alarm 407 only, without the mobile computing device 401. When the button 403 on the panic button device 402 is pressed a signal 409 is sent to alarm device 405 with alarm 407. [0078] The signal 409 may also be received by alarm device 405 coupled to an alarm 407 as well as a light 442 which can in addition or in place of the audio alarm display a strong light 441 which are mounted in a permanent position such as on a street or walk way poll. [0079] The alarm device 405 may also communicate using wifi, internet or 3G / 4G or similar to a remote user 460 on device 415 as shown by 450. 14 [0080] The panic button device 402 or mobile computing device 401 may also transmit user specific information such as an identification, including name appearance, kin contact information by 410, 411 or 450 to a remote user's 460 mobile computing device 415. The location of the user as determined from device 401 may be used to consult a local or remote database of locations matched to remote users who will respond to the alert, for example, at the location of the train station the local train authority will respond but on a public street a private security company will respond. In the case of the private security company, billing information associated with the user identification communicated may be used to bill a payment to the customer or check if the customer is subscribed to a service or to verify that the user is authentic. [0081] The devices 402, 405 or 401 may also communicate audio or accelerometer information via 411 to a mobile computing device 415 or a user 460. [0082] Multiple panic button devices 402 or alarm device 405 may be used in conjunction with each other. [0083] The term alarm device may be used to refer to either a device 405 when an internal audio alarm is fitted or may refer to the combination of 405 with an externally fitted alarm (usually where a louder noise is required) . The combination of 405 and 407 is shown as 467 and is also referred to as an alarm device. [0084] Referring to Figure 5, [0085] The software 500 executes on the panic button device 402. The software 520 executes on the alarm device 405. The software 540 executes on the mobile computing device 401. [0086] The software 500 executing on the panic button device 401, begins in the start instruction 501, then checks for the button 403 to be pressed 502, at 503 if the button was not pressed then the cycle repeats returning to 502 else if pressed to decode 504 the button press information including one of a possible multiple of buttons or sequences of button pressing including long and short presses. At 505 if the 15 button press is to generate an alert then at 506 a signal 511 is sent to the alarm and at 507 a signal 412 is sent to the mobile computing device. At 508, if the button press is to generate 509 a cancel alert then a signal 513 is sent to the alarm device and a signal 514 is sent 510 to the mobile computing device. [0087] The software 520 executing on the alarm device 520, begins in the start instruction 521, and then proceeds to waiting to check 522 for an alarm signal 511 from the panic button device. At 523, until an alarm 511 is received execution loops to 522 but when an alarm is received a count down time is initialised 524 and the decremented with a time wait 525, then a check is made for cancellation of the alarm 526 which may be received from the panic button device 401 by 513 or received from the mobile computing device 401 by 545. At 527, if a cancellation signal is received then execution ends 528 otherwise a check is made to see if the time has been decremented to zero at 529 and if 530 zero then the alarm is sounded at 531, otherwise execution returned to decrement the count at 525. [0088] The software 540 executing on the mobile computing device 401 begins execution 541, and then checks for an panic alert signal 512 at 522, and at 543 returns to 542 until no signal is detected. When a signal 512 is detected, a count down time is initialized 544 and then at 545 it is decremented with a time wait. At 546 the user is asked if they want to cancel the panic alert and at 547 a cancel signal 554 is sent to 526 (will cause the noise alarm to be cancelled) and execution ends 550. At 548 a check is made to see if a cancel request from 546 or from 514 is received to cancel the countdown for sending of an alert to a remote user. At 549 if a cancel has been received then the execution is cancelled, otherwise a check 551 is made to see if the count down has reached zero and so expired, at 552 if the count down has not expired then the loop returns to 546, if it has then a signal is sent to the remote user's mobile computing device 540. [0089] Referring to Figure 6, 16 [0090] The panic button device 402 generates an alarm signal 409 when the panic button 403 is pressed. An alarm device 601 ( of type 100 ) as described by Figure 1 with an output electrical terminals 105 are connected by electrical connections 602 to terminals 603 on an external existing alarm system 600. The existing alarm system 600 may include a home alarm system, office alarm system, car alarm system, building site system as some non limiting examples. [0091] The alarm device system consisting of a radio enabled processing unit 601, electrical connectors 601 joining 601 to 600 being attached to terminals 603 ( or communication links such as SPI, 12C, or fibre optic 604), and an audio alarm 606 and light 605 which may be of varying brightness to illuminate the area in which the protection is being provided). [0092] The alarm device system 610 in this way provides an interface between the panic button device 402 and the existing alarm system 600 in such a manner that the system 610 performs the same function as the combination of devices 405, 407 and 442. [0093] In addition to the system 610 receiving communications 409 from a panic button device 402 activated by a button or contact switch 403, a variety of one or more sensor 607 connected to 402 may also be used to trigger the sending of an alert signal 409 to trigger an audio or light alarm. These sensors 607 may include a passive infrared sensor (PIR), accelerometers, vibration detectors, tilt switches, internal position systems, contact switches, reed switch and magnetometers with corresponding magnet field source, pressure sensors, temperature sensors and light sensors as some non limiting examples of sensors that are used to detect anomalies that cause the device 402 to send an alert 409 to system 610 or alarm device 405. [0094] Such a system allows a user to attach devices 402 with an array of sensor 607 to a variety of objects and entities to monitor and protect and receive so that when one or more sensor values are detected an audio or light alarm is generated either directly with no countdown or after a countdown time during which the user may cancel the alarm from device 401. 17 [0095] An examples of places to attach the device 402 include with an accelerometer 607 to a gate or door to sense the opening of the same and activation of an audio or light after, giving the user a chance to respond by cancelling the alarm. [0096] An examples of places to attach the device 402 include with an light sensor 607 to the inside or outside a car or house to detect the light from an intruder's torch to sense the use of the torch and activation of an audio or light after, giving the user a chance to respond by cancelling the alarm [0097] An examples of places to attach the device 402 include an with an temperature or Passive infrared 607 to sense near a car ( because a person approaches or lights the types of a car ) or house ( because a person approaches or lights the fire) [0098] In some embodiments, the use of extra sensors can be used to augment the detections of an existing car or house alarm with movement, Passive infra red or temperature sensors that use the house or car's own alarm system or the alarm device to generate an audio alert or turn on a light to deter an intruder. [0099] Where an alarm cannot be installed by renters such as system may also be used. [00100] In some embodiments the radio communications links 409, 410, 411,412, 413 may be a BLUETOOTH m Low Energy, BLUETOOTH Tm, low power RF, WiFi, 3G / 4G or other such radio communications protocols. [00101] In some embodiments, a journey or trip consisting of a series of locations with a start and end location can be defined on the mobile computing device or downloaded from the internet. The mobile computing device will monitor when it is in the start location and then begins moving along the series of locations. It will be considered that a journey or trip has started and the mobile computing device will send a signal using the low power radio frequency communication link to audio alarm device to begin monitoring for the cessation of movement of the audio alarm device 18 as measured by an accelerometer or GPS incorporated in the mobile computing device in it up until a journey finished signal is sent by the mobile computing device when the last location of the journey is reached and so no alarms should subsequently be generated as the journey has been completed. If between the reception of the start and finished signals movement is not detected for a period of time by the audio alarm device or mobile computing device then the audio alarm is sounded optionally also after a message is first sent to the mobile computing device to give the user a chance to cancel. In some embodiments, after receiving the start signal the mobile computing device reports a deviation signal to trigger the audio alarm if along the journey it is not followed because a location given is off the journey up until the finish point of the journey is reached or there is a significant delay in reaching the next journey location point. The location can be determined using GPS, wi-fi or other forms of location detection. In some embodiments only a start and finish location are required. 19

Claims (14)

1. A panic alarm system consisting of: an audio alarm device consisting of an audio alarm, processor and a low power radio frequency receiver; a mobile computing device; a panic switch device consisting of a panic switch, processor and a low power radio frequency transmitter; a low power radio frequency communication link between said panic switch device and said audio alarm device; a low power radio frequency communication link between said panic switch device and said mobile computing device; a low power radio frequency communication link between said mobile computing device and said audio alarm device; wherein upon activation of said panic switch said panic switch device communicates a panic event to said audio alarm device and said mobile computing device using said low power radio frequency communication link, and wherein upon receipt of said panic event by said mobile computing device an option to send a cancellation event to said audio alarm device using said low power radio frequency communication link is presented, and wherein upon receipt of said panic event by said audio alarm device a time countdown is initiated, and 1 wherein upon time countdown reaching zero and no said cancellation event received by said audio alarm device said audio alarm is activated.

2. A panic alarm system consisting of . an audio alarm device consisting of an audio alarm, processor and a low power radio frequency receiver; a mobile computing device; a panic switch device consisting of a panic switch, processor and a low power radio frequency transmitter; a low power radio frequency communication link between said panic switch device and said mobile computing device; a low power radio frequency communication link between said mobile computing device and said audio alarm device; wherein upon activation of said panic switch said panic switch device communicates a panic event to mobile computing device using said low power radio frequency communication link, and wherein upon receipt of said panic event by said mobile computing device a time countdown is initiated and an option to send a cancellation event to said audio alarm device using said low power radio frequency communication link is presented, and wherein upon time countdown reaching zero a panic event is sent to said audio alarm device to activate said audio alarm. 2

3. A panic alarm system consisting of: an audio alarm device consisting of an audio alarm, processor and a low power radio frequency receiver; a panic switch device consisting of a panic switch, processor and a low power radio frequency transmitter incorporated into objects selected from the group consisting of jewellery, clothing, purse, wallet, umbrella and bags. a low power radio frequency communication link between said panic switch device and said audio alarm device; wherein upon activation of said panic switch said panic switch device communicates a panic event to said audio alarm device to activate said audio alarm.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said mobile computing device further consists of location acquisition components such as Global Positioning Systems and also a database of high risk locations and high risk paths consisting of multiple locations in sequence, and wherein panic events are sent to said audio alarm device using said low power radio frequency communication link from said mobile computing device when at the current location of said mobile computing device any of the conditions selected from the group consisting of diversion on high risk path sequence of locations, lack of movement detected by mobile computing device or audio alarm device and diversion from time required to reach at least one of said multiplicity of location on high risk path are satisfied. 3

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said audio alarm device may be configured with audio alarm settings communicated by a low power radio frequency communication link from said mobile computing device, and wherein said audio alarm settings are selected from the group consisting of said countdown time, audio alarm volume, audio alarm tone sequence, audio alarm music and audio alarm duration.

6. The system of claim 2 wherein said audio alarm device may be configured with audio alarm settings communicated by a low power radio frequency communication link from said mobile computing device, and wherein said audio alarm settings are selected from the group consisting of said countdown time, audio alarm volume, audio alarm tone sequence, audio alarm music and audio alarm duration.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said panic switch device is incorporated into objects selected from the group consisting of jewellery, clothing and bags.

8. The system of claim 2 wherein said panic switch device is incorporated into objects selected from the group consisting of jewellery, clothing and bags.

9. The system of claim 1 where said low power radio frequency communication link is a bluetooth low energy communication link.

10. The system of claim 1 where said low power radio frequency communication link is a bluetooth low energy communication link.

11. The system of claim 4 wherein further, upon detection of leaving a high risk location an audio alarm cancellation event is sent to prevent the audio alarm from being sounded. 4

12. The system of 1 wherein multiple panic switch devices may be employed.

13. The system of 2 wherein multiple panic switch devices may be employed.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein said mobile computing device further consists of location acquisition components such as Global Positioning Systems and also a database of high risk locations and high risk paths consisting of multiple locations in sequence, and wherein audio alarm activation events to turn on said audio alarm device to receive panic events sent to said audio alarm device using said low power radio frequency communication link from said mobile computing device when current location of said mobile computing device matches any of the conditions selected from the group consisting of entry into high risk location, diversion on high risk path sequence of locations and diversion from time required to reach at least one of said multiplicity of location on high risk path. 5