EP0631264A1 - Dispositif pour la surveillance de sécurité personnelle - Google Patents

Dispositif pour la surveillance de sécurité personnelle Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0631264A1
EP0631264A1 EP94304420A EP94304420A EP0631264A1 EP 0631264 A1 EP0631264 A1 EP 0631264A1 EP 94304420 A EP94304420 A EP 94304420A EP 94304420 A EP94304420 A EP 94304420A EP 0631264 A1 EP0631264 A1 EP 0631264A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
polling
call
person
voice message
response
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
EP94304420A
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German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Gordon-Leslie Scott
Noel Michael Matthews
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Multitone Electronics PLC
Original Assignee
Multitone Electronics PLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Multitone Electronics PLC filed Critical Multitone Electronics PLC
Publication of EP0631264A1 publication Critical patent/EP0631264A1/fr
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
    • G08B25/00—Alarm systems in which the location of the alarm condition is signalled to a central station, e.g. fire or police telegraphic systems
    • G08B25/01—Alarm systems in which the location of the alarm condition is signalled to a central station, e.g. fire or police telegraphic systems characterised by the transmission medium
    • G08B25/016—Personal emergency signalling and security systems
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G08—SIGNALLING
    • G08B—SIGNALLING OR CALLING SYSTEMS; ORDER TELEGRAPHS; ALARM SYSTEMS
    • G08B25/00—Alarm systems in which the location of the alarm condition is signalled to a central station, e.g. fire or police telegraphic systems
    • G08B25/005—Alarm destination chosen according to a hierarchy of available destinations, e.g. if hospital does not answer send to police station

Definitions

  • This invention relates to the monitoring of personal safety. More particularly, this invention relates to the monitoring of personal safety in situations where the persons concerned are widely dispersed.
  • Short range infra-red or radio detection and location beacons may be provided within a working site with associated transceivers carried by each person. This can provide an alarm signal from individuals and accurate and quick location of the personnel within the working site.
  • the installation of such infra-red or radio detection and location beacons requires many such beacons to be provided, particularly on large sites, and this can be prohibitively expensive.
  • Radio triangulation techniques may be based upon radio triangulation of the GPS, Decca, Loran etc. types that provide position location over large and very large areas.
  • these radio triangulation techniques tend to be expensive per individual due to the cost and complexity of the receivers involved and the commercially achievable positional accuracy of the location is often insufficient for the needs concerned.
  • Radio triangulation using direction finding techniques and multiple base stations e.g. multistation VDF
  • tends to be expensive, requires significant installation effort and frequently needs "tuning" to the individual installation.
  • a personal safety monitoring system based upon radio pager technology is described in European Published Patent Application EP-A-0 372 640 (Ericsson Paging Systems B.V.).
  • each person being protected carries a portable paging receiver.
  • a central base station periodically transmits to the paging receivers prompting the user to transmit a report signal indicative of the well being of the user. If no proper report signal is received, then the system generates an alarm signal.
  • this system has the advantage of the use of relatively low cost radio paging receivers for each person, it does not provide positional information as to where the person whose safety is being monitored is located. This is a significant disadvantage. Consider the situation of a night watchman of a large commercial site.
  • the present invention addresses the problem of providing a personal safety monitoring system of relatively low cost that is able to provide both alarm signals and an indication of the location of the person to whom the alarm relates.
  • this invention provides apparatus for monitoring personal safety comprising: a polling call generator for generating polling calls; a polling call transmitter for transmitting said polling calls to at least one person monitored; a polling response receiver for receiving at least voice message responses as polling responses from said at least one person; a voice message store for storing said voice message responses; an alarm call generator triggered when a polling response is not received from a given person to generate an alarm call including at least a latest voice message response from said given person stored within said voice message store; and an alarm call transmitter for transmitting said alarm call to a predetermined recipient.
  • the provision of the voice message store and the inclusion within the alarm call of at least a latest voice message from the person to whom the alarm relates affords the facility of positional location by allowing the person being monitored to record a message indicating their position.
  • the system can automatically generate polling calls and monitor for the occurrence or non-occurrence of polling call responses. Should a polling call not be received, then an alarm message is generated that includes the latest recorded message from the person concerned.
  • the automatic system need not itself have any ability to decode or understand the stored message. The requirement, in use, is that the person being monitored should include within their polling call response a voice message that will allow rescuers to find them should the need arise, e.g. their current location and their proposed next location at the time the next polling call will be due.
  • the stored voice message may be automatically replayed to the rescuer should an appropriate polling call response not be received and it is the task of the rescuer to understand and interpret the message.
  • This technique allows an automated personal safety monitoring system to be provided using well proven, reliable and inexpensive technology, such as two-way speech paging systems, and yet provides both alarm indication and positional information to the rescuers.
  • the polling call generator may generate polling calls in a number of forms, e.g. a characteristic sequence of tones.
  • the base requirement for the polling call is that it should be clearly and unambiguously recognised by the person being monitored and cause them to initiate the polling call response.
  • the polling call generator generates voice message calls.
  • voice message calls allows the polling call to be directly understood by the person being monitored without them having to interpret tone signals or have received any training.
  • the voice message call can include instructions as to how the person being monitored is to respond.
  • the manner in which the polling calls, polling responses and alarm calls are transmitted may vary between systems or within a system. Particularly suitable methods of transmission are via a radio paging system, a two-way radio system, an intercom and an installed telephone network (either through a private switchboard or over the public telephone system).
  • the polling call generator should generate polling calls at regular intervals. Accordingly, in preferred embodiments the polling call generator generates the polling calls at user definable periodic intervals.
  • the period may be varied by a system administrator who can set appropriate periods depending upon the person concerned and the nature of their duties/risks to which they are exposed.
  • the person being monitored may themselves define the period by using non-voice responses, e.g. a programming set of response tones.
  • the polling call transmitter and the polling call receiver act to transmit the polling call for a predetermined number of attempts prior to triggering the alarm call generator if a polling response is not received.
  • the alarm call generator and alarm call transmitter need to contact a rescuer as soon as possible. There will often be a compromise to be made between the proximity of the rescuer and the likelihood of being able to contact them e.g. a site manager or safety officer may usually be close to hand to give assistance to a person initiating an alarm call, but one could not guarantee their 100% availability; in contrast an alarm call made to one of the emergency services, such as the fire brigade, might be made over a longer distance but would have a much higher likelihood of being answered. In order to try and seek the best possible assistance the alarm call generator and the alarm call transmitter act to attempt to transmit the alarm call to a predetermined hierarchy of alarm call recipients until an alarm call acknowledgement is received.
  • the alarm call can first attempt to be made to a person close to hand, with the default being that another person, such as the emergency services, are called if no response is received from the first person.
  • a user of the system is aware that they will not be available to respond to their next scheduled polling call.
  • a next scheduled polling call to that person initiating the unsolicited polling response is deferred. It will be appreciated that an unsolicited polling response is not made in response to a polling call as such, but rather replaces a polling call response that should have been made.
  • a polling call includes a last received voice message response for that person, a non-voice message polling response to the polling call indicating the voice message response is to be maintained as current.
  • a user may be able to change the frequency at which they are called in preferred systems in which the polling call generator is responsive to a predetermined non-voice message response from a person monitored to alter polling call frequency for that person.
  • this invention provides a method of monitoring personal safety comprising the steps of: generating polling calls; transmitting said polling calls to at least one person monitored; receiving at least voice message responses as polling responses from said at least one person; storing said voice message responses; when a polling response is not received from a given person, generating an alarm call including at least a latest stored voice message response from said given person; and transmitting said alarm call to a predetermined recipient.
  • Figure 1 shows the overall configuration of a personal safety monitoring system.
  • a personal computer 2 having a digital voice processing capability using extension level access speech cards.
  • the personal computer system includes a voice store 4.
  • the voice store 4 may comprise the hard disc of the personal computer 2 or a separate device.
  • Control software running in the personal computer 2 serves to generate polling calls and alarm calls which are then transmitted by one of the devices attached to the personal computer.
  • the devices by which the polling calls may be transmitted include a two-way speech paging system (such as a Multitone Access 1000/3000 system) comprising a base station 6 and a plurality of pagers 8.
  • a two-way speech paging system such as a Multitone Access 1000/3000 system
  • Other possibilities include the use of an intercom system comprising an amplifier 10 and a remote speaker 12 for the polling calls with a telephone 14 and private exchange 16 being used for the polling responses.
  • the private exchange 16 may also be used to make polling calls and receive polling responses from a worker's fixed position via the worker's telephone 18 and to make alarm calls to alert a remotely located rescue service 20.
  • a two-way radio system may be used in the same way as the radio paging system illustrated if this is more appropriate.
  • the personal computer 2 initiates a polling call when the required point within the call period for a particular user is reached.
  • This polling call constitutes a voice message stored or which is able to be assembled from within the voice store 4.
  • This polling call voice message is transmitted to the user via one of the transmission mechanisms illustrated, e.g. the radio paging transmitter 6, the amplifier 10 and loudspeaker 12 comprising the intercom or the private exchange 16 and telephone 18. Having received the polling call, the person being monitored must then pass a polling response back to the personal computer 2 via the appropriate complementary channel. If no polling response is received after a given number of attempts, then the personal computer 2 initiates an alarm call via the private exchange 16 to the rescue services 20, the alarm call including at least the latest voice message response from the person concerned.
  • FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating the operation of the system of Figure 1.
  • the system checks to determine whether an emergency signal has been received from any of the persons being monitored.
  • the emergency signal effectively forms a panic button system for the person being monitored, whereby if they instigate an emergency signal, then an alarm call will immediately be made. If an emergency signal has been received, then the system moves to step 25 at which the alarm call procedure is initiated.
  • step 24 it is determined whether an unprompted response call has been made. If an unprompted response call has been made, then the system resets the time for which the next response call for that particular person being monitored is due and passes to step 26 at which the voice message is stored within the voice store 4.
  • step 28 it is determined whether a polling call is due for any of the persons being monitored. If no polling call is due, then the system returns to step 22. If a polling call is due, then the polling call is made at step 30. Steps 32 and 34 serve to repeat the polling call for a predetermined maximum number of attempts. If an answer is not received, then the system progresses to step 25 at which the alarm call is made.
  • the personal computer 2 stores a hierarchical list of persons to be contacted if an alarm occurs for each particular person being monitored.
  • the system first attempts to contact the person highest in the list and then progresses via steps 25 and 27 down the list until contact with someone is eventually made.
  • the system replays the latest voice message stored from the person concerned within the voice store 4 as part of a longer message including items such as an identification of the system, the time, an indication that this is the latest stored message from the person concerned and confirmation that they have not responded to the polling calls that have been made to them. This all occurs at step 29.
  • Figure 3 illustrates the flow of calls and responses in a system such as that illustrated in Figure 1.
  • voice messages from within the voice store 4 are routed to individuals 30 via either the private telephone exchange 16 or paging system 6.
  • Alarm calls and alarm responses are also routed via these paths.
  • a two-way dialogue may proceed via which voice messages and non-voice messages (such as keytones for resetting the period at which polling calls are made or instigating an emergency call) are passed.
  • Figure 4 illustrates a similar system to that in Figure 3 except that in this case all of the messages from the voice store 4 are routed through the private exchange 16 or public telephone network (not illustrated).
  • the radio paging transmitter 6 can be remote from the site being protected and may be part of the public radio paging network.
  • the behaviour of the system is controlled by the software running on the personal computer 2 and several data files containing information about both the system as a whole and about each individual being monitored.
  • the software program has the ability to transmit and receive messages via a variety of different communication devices and other ancillaries that are connected to the system.
  • the system control data includes:
  • the individual persons' control data includes:
  • Alarm control data for the system includes:
  • a polling call to the person is made via a communication path such as the telephone or a paging system.
  • This polling call includes a message requesting that the individual update their recorded status or location.
  • This message may be either spoken, displayed on a message pager or of a predefined meaning on a non-message and non-speech paging system.
  • the individual can hear a message of the form "polling call, please acknowledge” and the individual should then respond.
  • the system may demand an update to the status or location of the individual, or a spoken menu may offer various optional actions.
  • the individual When there is no immediate two-way speech connection, the individual should call the voice storage system via a private telephone network, the public telephone network, a paging system or the like and should then begin a dialogue with the voice storage system. Additionally, a connection with the system may be initiated either via a call-in procedure, or an emergency procedure instigated by either the individual person or using one of the established man-down sensors known in the public domain.
  • the system When the system has established a two-way speech path, it requests an acknowledgement as mentioned above. Depending on the particular user and options defined in the control data for that user, the system can detect an acknowledgement of a polling call by one or more methods including:
  • the system may have various defined options available depending upon the particular individual with whom the dialogue is taking place. These options may be combined and offered to the individual sequentially, or via a spoken menu and dialled select a code.
  • the options include:
  • the alarm procedure is initiated. External equipment, for example an alarm bell may be activated.
  • the system will also attempt to contact a first response location via one of the communication channels such as a radio paging call or telephone procedure.
  • the alarm call will include a message such as "alarm call, no response from user xxxx, last message reads ⁇ play-back message> dial 1 to acknowledge, 2 to repeat or 3 to hear the previous message". Normally the system will require an acknowledgement of this message, dialled by the recipient. Failure to get an acknowledgement as a result of that alarm attempt will trigger a further alarm call to be made to a second response location within a hierarchy of such response locations. This second alarm call repeats the above message. This process continues through a sequence of locations until an acknowledgement is finally obtained or all options are exhausted.
  • the recipient of an alarm call may request a repeat of the message, may request playback of earlier messages, or playback of other types of message, e.g. status messages where the prime message is location or vice versa.
  • a journal of transactions is maintained by the personal computer 2 giving the times of start-up, polling calls, polling call responses, alarm calls and alarm call acknowledgements.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
  • Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
  • Emergency Management (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Alarm Systems (AREA)
EP94304420A 1993-06-23 1994-06-17 Dispositif pour la surveillance de sécurité personnelle Ceased EP0631264A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9312987 1993-06-23
GB9312987A GB2279475B (en) 1993-06-23 1993-06-23 Monitoring personal safety

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0631264A1 true EP0631264A1 (fr) 1994-12-28

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EP94304420A Ceased EP0631264A1 (fr) 1993-06-23 1994-06-17 Dispositif pour la surveillance de sécurité personnelle

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EP (1) EP0631264A1 (fr)
GB (1) GB2279475B (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2000004699A1 (fr) * 1998-07-16 2000-01-27 Nokia Networks Oy Procede et systeme servant a executer une fonction d'alarme
RU2643448C1 (ru) * 2017-03-10 2018-02-01 Семен Николаевич Голодков Способ персонального мониторинга при возникновении опасной ситуации и система для его реализации

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2320599B (en) * 1996-12-18 2000-11-15 Yale Security Prod Ltd Alarm system automatic pager unit
GB2343975B (en) * 1998-11-17 2002-11-20 Anthony David Hayman A Security system
CA2778172A1 (fr) 2007-01-22 2008-07-31 Iam Technologies, Llc Systeme de reponse pour dispositif de reponse d'urgence et procedes associes

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2449934A1 (fr) * 1979-02-20 1980-09-19 Thomson Csf Systeme de transmission d'alarmes
US4330780A (en) * 1979-01-10 1982-05-18 Nippon Electric Co., Ltd. Radio paging receiver having pre-recorded voice messages which are selected by address codes and read out responsive to a suffix code
FR2598535A1 (fr) * 1985-12-06 1987-11-13 Laudren Cie Sa Ets M Systeme d'alarme destine a la protection des personnes handicapees ne pouvant directement acceder a leur telephone
US4906972A (en) * 1987-04-29 1990-03-06 The Boeing Company Communication system for hazardous areas
EP0372640A1 (fr) * 1988-12-05 1990-06-13 Ericsson Radio Systems B.V. Système d'appel de personne avec détermination de l'état d'une unité d'appel et d'un utilisateur du système
EP0586230A2 (fr) * 1992-08-31 1994-03-09 Peter A. Hochstein Système de surveillance de personnes supervisées

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4330780A (en) * 1979-01-10 1982-05-18 Nippon Electric Co., Ltd. Radio paging receiver having pre-recorded voice messages which are selected by address codes and read out responsive to a suffix code
FR2449934A1 (fr) * 1979-02-20 1980-09-19 Thomson Csf Systeme de transmission d'alarmes
FR2598535A1 (fr) * 1985-12-06 1987-11-13 Laudren Cie Sa Ets M Systeme d'alarme destine a la protection des personnes handicapees ne pouvant directement acceder a leur telephone
US4906972A (en) * 1987-04-29 1990-03-06 The Boeing Company Communication system for hazardous areas
EP0372640A1 (fr) * 1988-12-05 1990-06-13 Ericsson Radio Systems B.V. Système d'appel de personne avec détermination de l'état d'une unité d'appel et d'un utilisateur du système
EP0586230A2 (fr) * 1992-08-31 1994-03-09 Peter A. Hochstein Système de surveillance de personnes supervisées

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2000004699A1 (fr) * 1998-07-16 2000-01-27 Nokia Networks Oy Procede et systeme servant a executer une fonction d'alarme
US6430267B2 (en) 1998-07-16 2002-08-06 Nokia Networks Oy Procedure and system for executing an alarm function
RU2643448C1 (ru) * 2017-03-10 2018-02-01 Семен Николаевич Голодков Способ персонального мониторинга при возникновении опасной ситуации и система для его реализации

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2279475A (en) 1995-01-04
GB9312987D0 (en) 1993-08-04
GB2279475B (en) 1997-04-02

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