NL1019898C1 - Personal alarm for preventing e.g. assault or rape, generates audible and telephone alarms when activated - Google Patents

Abstract

The alarm includes a means for generating an alarm which is audible in the immediate vicinity, a means for generating a telephone alarm and a means (4) for simultaneously activating these two alarm generating means.

Description

Personal alarm device. I

The invention relates to a personal alarm device. It is primarily intended for use

outdoors and in (imminent) violence situations such as assault, rape, robbery or I

5 kidnapping. I

Such alarm devices are known per se. I

- One variant is the alarm device used mainly by the elderly that can be used in the home I

and remotely - by pressing a button - a telephone alarm I

10 is given to an alarm service. The main disadvantages of this variant are the limitation I

for home use, and the need for its wearer to still be able to push the button I

to press. I

- Another variant is described in publication number FR02767213 A1, This device is listed

in continuous wireless telephone connection with a monitoring center and gives signals over the I

Where the carrier is located, whether or not the carrier is moving and over its vertical I

or horizontal position. The device is primarily intended for remote monitoring of I

a person who must carry out an activity in dangerous circumstances. The main I

disadvantages are that it must be known in advance that a dangerous situation is being initiated, I

and having to open / maintain a continuous telephone connection. I

20 - Finally, of course, there is also the mobile GSM telephone. The main H

drawbacks of that device as an alarm device are the necessity of time and freedom of action for an I

emergency number and make the connection. I

25 Problem and research question: I

Many women feel unsafe - especially outdoors. A number of women indeed become H

assaulted or raped and sometimes killed. Such an occurrence is strikingly often in the first I

considered by the police as a loss and must first pass some time before I

adequate action is being taken. H

The invention is based on the task of realizing an alarm system or device H

that such incidents can occur, and if it does happen, it can help to increase the response time I

of adequate action and to give direction to action more efficiently and thus the perpetrator I

find out faster and thereby discourage such acts H

According to the invention, a personal alarm device is characterized for this purpose in that it comprises first means for audibly sounding an alarm in the immediate vicinity, second means for sounding a telephone alarm, and activation means for activating the first and second means substantially simultaneously.

It is intended that around the personal alarm device according to the invention, often referred to in the following as "mobile phone alarm", and an assistance system is organized. There is therefore a technical component, the mobile phone alarm, and an organizational component, which controls the response to the alarm and the initiation of assistance actions. For the sake of comprehension, the overall system concept is briefly described in this document, but from the point of view of patent granting, only the technical component is relevant.

I The invention relates to a type of GSM telephone call, I 1 that can only be switched off by entering a PIN code, I 2. the immediate environment alerts by means of a penetrating SO S. signal, and I 3. automatically a national emergency number calling.

I Activation can be done in 2 ways, I - manually, I - automatically.

I 20 I 1. Manual activation.

I The device must also be able to be activated very easily and blindly in acute emergency situations.

I On the other hand, activation may not easily happen by accident, for example because it is stuck in a crowded bag, or because it is bumped / pressed in a jacket pocket.

Numerous simple activation mechanisms are conceivable, Buttons or switches or I sliders in all shapes and sizes, bulging or sunken. The problem is the contrast between "blindly findable and easy to use" and "not easily activated by accident". Sliders and recessed buttons or switches then seem to be the most suitable.

I Of all conceivable solutions, a drawstring with round button at the end has been chosen.

I Such a cord can be felt blindly, there is no need to feel for a specific place on the device and for a specific (sunken) shape. The device does not have to be handled in a certain grip as is often necessary to press a button or one

switch or move a slider. One pull on the cord is enough to I

activate the alarm. Moreover, a drawstring offers cattle! flexibility in I

usage options. For example, one can put the device in the jacket pocket when cycling, the jacket pocket I

button or zip and only let the cord hang out. Does the bike become unexpected I

5 circumscribed then one can without searching and even lying on the ground with one yank at the I

turn on the alarm. The cord can be extended as required and possibly I

be tied to something, etc. etc. I

2. Automatic activation. fl

10 A time can be set on the device. If the device does not turn on again within that time I

is switched off, a warning signal first sounds and I does not get there within X seconds

If you responded by entering a PIN code, the alarm will sound. I

This option can be used, for example, if one leaves for a destination fl (eg from school or cycles home to a party) where one normally expects to arrive in 15 fl 15 minutes. fl

Effects: B

1 The noise is very disturbing for the perpetrator, the act may not be continued. The B

SOS. signal sounds similar to a series of elongated "hèèèlp" cries expressed by an H

20 female voice and is therefore easily recognized. It is also intended that general H

it becomes known what can be going on when you hear this signal. Given the nature of the H

subject seems to be the chance of a lot of publicity (eg via TV programs like "Search requested" H

and "Missing") certainly present. The S.O.S. signal must become an auditory trademark H

registered for this alarm device. I

25 2. By calling the emergency number (112), not only the emergency situation but also the H

GSM area from which the call is made immediately known. The search area is thus known H

and the perpetrator is given less time to perform the act and disappear unseen. H

3. The mobile phone number from which the call is made can be read off and on at the sale H

a name to register with and warning numbers comes directly information about the H

30 victims are available and can possibly. acquaintances are already called in to help H

in the investigation of the victim and perpetrator. H

Preconditions: H

1. You cannot make a normal call using the telephone, as all digits entered are H

35 are considered as PIN code entries or time settings. However, calls can be made (by H

n, ·· Π 2 eg), and even after an alarm signal, you can talk to 112 by telephone, because the connection is maintained after entering the PIN code (which turns off the alarm sound). It can now be told whether it was a false alarm or what really happened.

I The device is then turned off with the off button. Switching off is therefore pin code + I 5 off button.

I If it could be used as a telephone, there is a great risk that too much I will be "messed up" with it, it will be loaned, it will be stolen faster (now a thief has no use) and the battery will be used up earlier. There is a chance that the owner is on the phone if she is attacked and, due to inattention, does not get the chance to trigger the I 10 alarm.

I 2. The device may not be easily silenced. Switching off is not with one I button but with a pin code. It must be strong enough to survive a few big blows / kicks I, the sound must not be easily smothered, it must be able to work in water I for some time. Battery or chip cannot be taken out (just like that).

I 15 3. A separate organization is charged with the personal sale of the devices. The buyer I is registered (the device is always linked to a person), the buyer is informed I and instructed how to use the device, and I can practice / demonstrate / test (by plugging in an adapter the device does not call 112 I but the seller's number).

I 20 A video information and instruction video will be made that the customer can (must) view at the points of sale. The seller will then lose little or no time. If the customer then decides to buy, he / she fills in an (electronic) I form with the seller. The form is printed and signed (serves as a contract and I approve conditions). Then it is sent and registered in the DB.

I 25 4. False alarms will be penalized with shutdown. Every false alarm is registered in the DB and after X false alarms 112 will no longer be reacted. Reconnection I costs for example 50% of the original price.

An embodiment and the operating concept of the invention will be explained with reference to a drawing (figure 1) and a status table (table 1).

Figure 1 shows schematically a plan view of a personal alarm device with 11 a housing, 2 a keyboard, 3 a read-out screen and 4 a drawstring.

I 35

The housing must be strong enough to withstand a few blows and / or stairs, I

and it must be sufficiently watertight to, if thrown into the water, penetrate I

water for at least 30 minutes. The housing is fully welded I

and contains no lids and / or hatches that can be opened. I

The keyboard contains number keys numbered 0 to 9 and the function keys ON / OFF / OK, TUD I

and WIS. I

The numeric keys are used to enter the clock time, the alarm time and the pin code. I

The A AN / U1T / OK button is used to switch the device on and off and to confirm an I

10 keyed in value. H

The TIME key is used when setting the clock time or the alarm time. I

The WIS test serves to undo previous keystrokes of numbers or H

functions. H

The effect of keying is further described in Table 1. I

The readout screen is for showing the clock time and / or alarm time, the active function or the I

numbers entered when entering a value. I

The drawstring serves to activate the alarm. H

Table 1 describes the operation of the device schematically. The table H

describes the effect of pressing a button or another on the device H

relevant event. The effect depends on the status of the device. At H

every status belongs to a certain priority level and a limited series of events where, H

25 will be responded to in a predetermined manner. There are 3 l in total

priority levels, the highest priority has level 1, the lowest level 3. In the table under I

each status only called those events that have an effect on that status. Not mentioned I

events (eg pressing certain buttons) have none in the relevant status

single effect. There are 3 exceptions to this rule mentioned below. H

30 There are 3 events that always have an effect in every status of a lower priority. They are H

the drawstring and the automatic activation of the alarm, both of which have priority 1, and H

calling, which has priority 2. A pull on the drawstring or reaching the I

alarm time in all cases that the device is on with status level 2 or 3 the alarm in H

operation, the current status becomes "alarm" (level 1). H

I 6 I When a call is made to the telephone, the call is transferred if the telephone is not in alarm status I or is already busy, in other words, there is a call when the telephone is in a status level I 3, otherwise there is a callback to the caller. After the termination of the I call, the status that was before the call is restored is restored.

I 5 I 1 I 15 I 20 I 25 I 30 I 35

Claims (14)

A personal alarm device, characterized in that it comprises first means for sounding alarms in the immediate vicinity, second means for sounding telephone alarms, and activation means for activating the first and second means almost simultaneously. I Device according to claim 1, characterized in that a predetermined stakeout code must be entered for the device to be switched off. H Device according to claim 2, characterized in that it is provided with a keyboard for entering the predetermined stakeout code. I 4. Device as claimed in claim 2 or 3, characterized in that it is provided with an OFF button with which it can only be switched off after entering the predetermined stakeout code. I Device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it is arranged for the activation to take place by means of an action of the carrier. I Device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the activation means are provided with a pull cord. I Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the first means produce an SO signal I. I Device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the second means are adapted to connect by telephone to a mobile network. I 9. Device as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the second means are adapted to connect by telephone to a local or national emergency number. Device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it is arranged for the activation H to take place automatically after a predetermined period of time has elapsed. H I 8 Device as claimed in claim 10, characterized in that the activation means are provided with an alarm clock for setting a desired period of time. 12. Device as claimed in claim 11, characterized in that after the expiration of the preset time lapse and the alarm going off, switching off is only possible within an I predetermined time. Device according to claim 12, characterized in that a predetermined code must be entered for switching off within the predetermined time. I 10 Device according to claim 13, characterized in that the predetermined code is the same as the stakeout code mentioned in claim 2. Device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that it is arranged to activate the activation either by 15 an action of the carrier, or to take place automatically. I 20 I 25 I 30 I 35