WO2005057915A1

WO2005057915A1 - Device and method for notifying an emergency with a set-top box

Info

Publication number: WO2005057915A1
Application number: PCT/KR2004/003300
Authority: WO
Inventors: Kil-Su Ha
Original assignee: Alticast, Corp.
Priority date: 2003-12-15
Filing date: 2004-12-15
Publication date: 2005-06-23
Also published as: KR200343496Y1

Abstract

The present invention refers to a device for notifying an emergency comprising a creating device of an incoming emergency signal which creates the incoming emergency signal corresponding to an operation of a preset shortened button; a set-top box part which is coupled to said creating device of an incoming emergency signal, and which creates an outgoing emergency signal including an identifying factor of a set-top box when receiving said incoming emergency signal; an emergency headend part which is coupled to said set-top box part, which creates an SOS including address information corresponding to the identifying factor, and which transmits a rescue center part; and a database which includes said address information.

Description

Title of the Invention

DEVICE AND METHOD FOR NOTIFYING AN EMERGENCY WITH A

SET-TOP BOX

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a device for notifying an emergency using a

set-top box, more particularly to a device for notifying an emergency situation using a

creating device of an incoming emergency signal coupled to the set-top box enable to

transmit an SOS to a rescue center.

Background of the invention

Fig. 1 is a drawing which illustrates one of a previous emergency rescue system.

Referring to Fig.l, when an emergency was happened, a user attempts to call to a rescue

center like as a police station 110 using a portable telephone 100. Through a base

station 105, a controller of a base station 110 and a switchboard 115, the user can get

through to a rescue center of the police station 110 on the phone. Then a counselor in

the rescue center of the police station 100 answers the phone. .

However, when a user gets into an emergency which it is impossible to call up

on the phone, for example, facing with a crisis like as a crime or losing his/her consciousness by an accident, a problem of conventional technology is that the user

can't notify.

Fig. 2 is a drawing that illustrates another conventional emergency rescue

system.

Referring to Fig. 2, a conventional s emergency rescue system comprises

a portable telephone 100, a base station 105, a controller of base station 110, a

switchboard 115, an emergency rescue sever 120, and a rescue center 130 like

as police station. Then, when a user connects with the emergency rescue sever 100 by

operating a portable telephone 100, the emergency rescue sever 100 notifies an

emergency to one of plural rescue centers.

However, a system of using a mobile terminal like as the conventional

technology indispensably contains a procedure for identifying a terminal location using

a portable telephone. The method of location awareness according to the conventional

technology is GPS by artificial satellite or triangulation referring to locations of three

base stations which receive signals of user's terminal.

The conventional technologies as above mentioned including the awareness

process of the user location need a special module and process for the location

awareness, so they have problems not only to increase manufacturing cost, but also to

be added an extra load in the location awareness of user. In addition, according to the conventional technology, it is just useful on

condition that the power of the terminal is on, so if the power is off or a battery is not

enough, it's impossible to ask the emergency rescue.

Detailed description of the invention

Technical problem

The present invention was invented to overcome the defects of the above-

mentioned, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a device for

conveniently notifying an emergency using a set-top box in a store or a house. Besides,

the present invention uses prestored location information according to an installed site

of the set-top box, so that it can identify an emergency position without an extra process

of location awareness. Considering a lot of possibilities of an emergency on everyday

life, in store, in house, etc., it is convenient to notify an emergency using a digital

broadcasting system which is previously equipped, without an extra alarm system or a

special emergency rescue system.

And, it is another object of the present invention to provide a device and

method for conveniently notifying an emergency using a shortened button equipped on

a creating device of an incoming emergency signal, for example, a remote control.

Especially, the present invention can transmit an outgoing emergency signal even on condition that a television is off and a set-top box is on standby, so it can notify an

emergency without any display on a screen,

And, it is further another object of the present invention to notify a SOS to not

only a rescue center, but also another a preset set-top box when an emergency is

happened, That is, previously setting a group including a family, an intimate friend or

an emergency team of a company, the present invention can notify an emergency to set-

top boxes according to the above group when an emergency is happened.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a device for notifying an

emergency which can not only quickly notify an emergency by operating only once a

shortened button, but select the rescue center or a message corresponding to emergency

through various display menus of the set-top box

Technical solution

To obtain the above-mentioned purposes, the present invention can provide a

device and method for notifying an emergency comprising a creating device of an

incoming emergency signal which creates the incoming emergency signal

corresponding to an operation of a preset shortened button; a set-top box part which is

coupled to the creating device of an incoming emergency signal, and which creates an

outgoing emergency signal including an identifying factor of a set-top box when

receiving the incoming emergency signal; an emergency headend part which is coupled to the set-top box part, which creates an SOS including address information

corresponding to the identifying factor, and which transmits a rescue center part; and a

database which includes the address information.

Here, the creating device of an incoming emergency signal can comprise an

inputting key part which includes a preset shortened button, and which senses an input

of button by switching of on/off button; a creating part of an incoming emergency

signal which creates the incoming emergency signal corresponding to the shortened

button; a transmitting part of an incoming emergency signal which transmits the

incoming emergency signal to the emergency headend part; and a controlling part for

the creating device of an incoming emergency signal which organically controls the

creating part of an incoming emergency signal and the transmitting part of an incoming

emergency signal, corresponding to a sense of an operation of the shortened button.

And, the upper part of the inputting key part can be surrounded by a cover to

prevent from mis-operation associated with frequent uses of the creating device of an

incoming emergency signal. And the shortened button can be comprised of a plural

number corresponding to a preset emergency.

The set-top box part can comprise a receiving part of an incoming emergency

signal to receive the incoming emergency signal; a creating part of an outgoing

emergency signal which is coupled to the receiving part of an incoming emergency

signal, and which creates the outgoing emergency signal which includes an identifying factor of the set-top box corresponding to the set-top box part; a transmitting part of an

outgoing emergency signal which is coupled to the creating part of an outgoing

emergency signal, and which transmits the created outgoing emergency signal to the

emergency headend part; and a controlling part for the set-top box which organically

controls the receiving part of an incoming emergency signal, the creating part of an

outgoing emergency signal and the transmitting part of an outgoing emergency signal,

corresponding to reception of the incoming emergency signal.

Here, the set-top box part can include further an offering part of emergency

menu to offer at least one menu chosen from an input message menu and designated

menu of rescue center which is input or selected by user.

And, the emergency headend part can comprise a receiving part of an outgoing

emergency signal which receives said outgoing emergency signal; an identifying part of

an outgoing emergency signal which is coupled to the receiving part of an outgoing

emergency signal, and which identifies the set-top box part corresponding to the

outgoing emergency signal; a creating part of a SOS which extracts address information

corresponding to the set-top box part from the database according to the identified result

of the identifying part of an outgoing emergency signal, and which creates the SOS

including the address infomiation; a transmitting part of a SOS to transmit the created

SOS to the rescue center part; and a controlling part for headend which organically

controls the receiving part of an outgoing emergency signal, the creating part of a SOS and the transmitting part of a SOS, corresponding to reception of the outgoing

emergency signal.

Here, when a preset group information is designated corresponding to the set-

top box part, wherein the creating part of a SOS extracts the group information from the

database and makes the group information include said SOS; wherein the transmitting

part of an outgoing emergency signal transmits the SOS to the set-top box part

corresponding to the group information.

Brief description of the drawings Fig 1 is a configuration view illustrating one conventional emergency rescue

system.

Fig 2 is a configuration view illustrating another conventional emergency

rescue system.

Fig. 3 is a configuration view illustrating a device for notifying an emergency

using a set-top box according to a desirable embodiment of the present invention

Fig. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a method for notifying an emergency

according to a desirable embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 5 is a configuration view illustrating a remote controlling part according to

a desirable embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 6 is a configuration view illustrating emergency button according to a

desirable embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 7 is a configuration view illustrating a set-top box part according to a

desirable embodiment of the present invention.

Fig. 8 is a configuration view illustrating an emergency headend part according

to a desirable embodiment of the present invention..

Embodiments

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the device and method for notifying an

emergency according to the present invention will be described in more detail with

reference to the accompanying drawings. In describing with reference to the

accompanying drawings, regardless a drawing number, an identical or corresponded

component has a same reference numeral and an repetitive explanation about this will

be omitted.

Fig. 3 is a configuration view illustrating a device for notifying an emergency

Referring to Fig 3, the device for notifying an emergency according to the

present invention can comprise a creating device of a incoming emergency signal 200

having a preset shortened button, a set-top box part 230, an emergency headend part 250, and a rescue center part 270. Here, the device for notifying an emergency according to

the present invention can further comprise another set-top box part 230 which can

receive an emergency signal, and an emergency database 260 coupled to the emergency

headend part 250. In addition, the rescue center part 270 can include a preset police

station, fire office, rescue center and the like.

The creating device of an incoming emergency signal 200 designates a terminal

which can be coupled to the set-top box by wire or wireless, for example, a remote

control, keyboard. If a user presses a shortened button 202 of the creating device of an

incoming emergency signal 200 having the shortened button 202, when a user is faced

with an emergency, a signal corresponding to the emergency is transmitted to the rescue

center part 270 or another the set-top box part 280 through the set-top box part 230 and

the emergency headend part 250.

Here, signals according to the present invention include an incoming

emergency signal 700, outgoing emergency signal 710 and SOS. Referring to the

following table 1, each signal is clearly summarized.

[Table 1]

The incoming emergency signal 700 is a signal transmitted from the creating

device of an incoming emergency signal to the set-top box part 230, and it can be

included an emergency identifying factor corresponding to the shortened button, if the

creating device of an incoming emergency signal has plural shortened buttons

The outgoing emergency signal 710 is a signal transmitted from the set-top box

part 230 to the emergency headend part 250, and it basically includes an identifying

factor of the set-top box. Here, it can include further an identifying factor for a rescue

center which designates one rescue center among many rescue centers, a group

identifying factor to send the outgoing emergency signal 710 to a previously designated

group, and messages which can particularly inform an emergency. The SOS 720 is a

signal transmitted from the emergency headend part 250 to the rescue center part or

another set-top box part 230, and can include user information about a case history, sex,

age and etc_y address information and messages corresponding to the installed location of the set-top box part. In the case that the rescue center and another set-top box part 230

receive the SOS, not only received user information, address information and messages,

but also alarm signal is sent out, so an emergency is notified.

Fig. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a method for notifying an emergency

according to a desirable embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, a method for notifying an emergency is described with reference to

Fig. 4. First, in step S2O0, in the case a user operates the shortened button 202 equipped

on the creating device of an incoming emergency signal 200 when an emergency is

happened. In step S2O5, the creating device of an incoming emergency signal 200

notifies this, creates a preset 700 corresponding to the operation of the shortened button

202, and transmits the incoming emergency signal to the set-top box part 230. Here, if

plural shortened buttons are equipped, it is possible to create the incoming emergency

signal 700 which includes an emergency identifying factor corresponding to each

shortened button.

In step S210, the set-top box part 230 creates an outgoing emergency signal 710

corresponding to the incoming emergency signal 700, and transmits the outgoing

emergency signal 710 created in step S215 to the emergency headend part 250.

Generally, since the set-top box part 230 is continuously supplied with the power, the

set-top box part 230 operates even on standby. And, the outgoing emergency signal 710 includes an identifying factor for the set-top box, and can includes further an emergency

identifying factor received from the creating device of an incoming emergency signal,

identifying factor for a rescue center corresponding an emergency designated in the set-

top box part 230, or messages which are read in or prestored by user. In step S217, the emergency headend part 250 identifies the set-top box part

230 using an identifying factor for the set-top box included in the outgoing emergency

signal 710. In step S219, address information corresponding to the set-top box part 230

is extracted. Here, when a SOS is created, user information corresponding to the

identifying factor for the set-top box from a database coupled to the emergency headend

part 250 is extracted further. The user information includes one or more of a case

history, sex, age, and etc. corresponding to the set-top box part 230.

And, in step S220, the emergency headend part 250 determines whether a group

is designated or not. In the case of the group is designated, in step S225, group

information included in the database can be extracted further. In step S230, the emergency headend part 250 creates a SOS 720 including the

extracted information. And, in step S225, the emergency headend part 250 transmits the

created SOS 720 to a rescue center part. Here, the SOS 720 can be transmitted further to

another preset set-top box part 230. For example, in the case a mother lives in A district,

her son lives in B district, and they were set for one group, the SOS 720 about mother in A district can be transmitted to not only the rescue center, but also the set-top box 280

of her son in B district.

a desirable embodiment of the present invention, and Fig. 6 is a configuration view

illustrating emergency button according to a desirable embodiment of the present

invention.

Referring to Fig. 5, the creating device of an incoming emergency signal 200

according to the present invention comprises the inputting key part 201, the controlling

part for creating device of an incoming emergency signal 203, the creating part of an

incoming emergency signal 205 and transmitting part 207, and can further comprise a

power part which is not illustrated.

The inputting key part 201 senses an input of button by switching of on/off

button, and includes further the shortened button 202. The controlling part for the

creating device of an incoming emergency signal 203 senses operation of the shortened

button 202, controls the creating part of an incoming emergency signal, creates the

incoming emergency signal 700 corresponding to the shortened button 202, and

transmits the created incoming emergency signal 700 through the transmitting part of an

incoming emergency signal 207. Here, the incoming emergency signal 700 can be

created using NEC format. The transmitting part of an incoming emergency signal 640 transmits the

created incoming emergency signal 700 to the set-top box part 230, and according to an

embodiment of the present invention, it can transmit data by IR modulation using

38KHz carrier frequency. Referring to Fig. 6, the exterior of shortened button 202 is illustrated according

to an embodiment of the present invention. The shortened button 202 according to the

present invention can be composed of either one button 300 or plural buttons 310

corresponding to type of shortened button. For example, each of shortened buttons 202

corresponding to a fire, a robber, an emergency can be equipped. Here, the shortened button is coupled to a preventing part from mis-operation

and a preventing module from mis-operation to prevent from mis-operation associated

with frequent uses of the creating device of an incoming emergency signal.

The preventing part from mis-operation is comprised with a cover, or it is

sunken as depth as wanted to prevent the shortened button from undesirable operation.

For example, to prevent from incorrect operation of the shortened button 202 associated

with frequent uses of the creating device of an incoming emergency signal 200, the

upper of the shortened button can be comprised with a cover 350.

And the preventing module from mis-operation is comprised with the case of

the button being pressed over preset time, an emergency signal is created. Fig. 7 is a configuration view illustrating a set-top box part according to a

desirable embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Fig. 7, the set-top box part 230 according to the present invention

is comprised with a receiving part of an incoming emergency signal 231, a controlling

part forset-top box 233 and a creating part of an outgoing emergency signal 237, and it

can include further a providing part of an emergency menu and a power part which is

not illustrated on the drawing.

When the receiving part of an incoming emergency signal 231 receives the

incoming emergency signal 700, the controlling part for a set-top box 233 controls to

create the outgoing emergency signal 710 corresponding to the incoming emergency

signal 700 in the creating part of an outgoing emergency signal 237.

According to the present invention, if a user presses a preset shortened button

202 without extra operation, the outgoing emergency signal 710 is created and

transmitted to the emergency headend part 250. Moreover, a special menu

corresponding to operation of the shortened button 202 can be provided. For example, if

a user presses the shortened button 202, the providing part of an emergency menu 235

can display a menu which is able to choose type of an emergency rescue center, for

example, fire office, hospital, police station and etc. a user can preset the rescue center

corresponding to a happened emergency and notifies an emergency. Here, it can be also

composed to further provide a menu which is able to choose or write another message. And the transmitting part of an outgoing emergency signal 239 transmits the

created outgoing emergency signal 710 to the emergency headend part 250.

Fig. 8 is a configuration view illustrating an emergency headend part according

to a desirable embodiment of the present invention..

The headend part designates a system which is able to receive a video signal

from a satellite or a transmitting station of the broadcast through cablesuch as a live

spindle cable or an optical cable and then convert and create it according to a viewer's

circumstance. The headend part according to the present invention can further include

an emergency headend part 270 to create the SOS 720 according to outgoing emergency

signal.

Referring to Fig. 8, the emergency headend part 270 according to the present

invention is composed of a receiving part of an outgoing emergency signal 271, a

controlling part for headend 273, an identifying part of an outgoing emergency signal

275, a creating part of a SOS 277 and a transmitting part of a SOS 279. It can further

include a power part which is not illustrated on the drawing.

In the case the receiving part of an outgoing emergency signal 271 receives the

outgoing emergency signal 710, the controlling part for headend 273 controls to identify the set-top box in the identifying part of an outgoing emergency signal 275 and to create

the SOS in the creating part of a SOS 277 using the identified result.

Here, the creating part of SOS 277 extracts the information, which is address

information according to the identified result, a preset emergency patient, whether a

group is designated, whether any message is included, and the like, from the database

260 or received outgoing emergency signal and creates the SOS 720 including such

information according to a preset format.

According to the present invention, in the case the outgoing emergency signal is

composed of plural types, the controlling part for headend 273 firstly identifies type of

an outgoing emergency signal in the identifying part of an outgoing emergency signal

275 and controls the creating part of SOS 277 to creates the SOS according to said

identified result.

And the transmitting part of SOS 279 transmits the created like this SOS to the

rescue center.

Industrial availability

As the above-mentioned, the device for notifying an emergency according to

the present invention can conveniently notify an emergency using a set-top box in a

store or a house. That is, the present invention uses prestored location information according to an installed site of the set-top box, so that it can identify an emergency

position without an extra process for location awareness.

And, the present invention can provide a device for conveniently notifying an

emergency using a shortened button equipped a creating device of an incoming

emergency signal. Especially, the present invention can transmit an outgoing emergency

signal on condition that a set-top box is on standby, so it can notify an emergency

without any display on a screen,

The present invention can also notify a SOS to not only a rescue center, but also

another preset set-top box when an emergency is happened, so an emergency

communication group can be composed. That is, previously setting a group including a

family, an intimate friend or an emergency team of a company, the present invention

can notify an emergency to set-top boxes of each group member when an emergency is

happened.

The present invention can also quickly notify an emergency by only operating

once of a shortened button, and select the rescue center or messages corresponding to an

emergency through various display menus of the set-top box

Although the present invention has been described referring to a desirable

embodiment, it is not intended that the invention be limited to these embodiments.

Modification within the spirit of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A device for notifying an emergency comprising: a creating device of an incoming emergency signal which creates the incoming

emergency signal corresponding to an operation of a preset shortened button; a set-top box part which is coupled to said creating device of an incoming

emergency signal and creates an outgoing emergency signal including an identifying

factor of a set-top box when receiving said incoming emergency signal; an emergency headend part which is coupled to said set-top box part and

creates an SOS including address information corresponding to the identifying factor

and transmits a rescue center part; and a database which includes said address information.

2. The device for notifying an emergency of claim 1, wherein said creating

device of an incoming emergency signal comprising: an inputting key part which includes a preset shortened button and senses an

input of button by switching of on/off button; a creating part of an incoming emergency signal which creates the incoming

emergency signal corresponding to said shortened button; a transmitting part of an incoming emergency signal which transmits said

incoming emergency signal to said emergency headend part; and a controlling part for the creating device of an incoming emergency signal

which organically controls the creating part of an incoming emergency signal and the

transmitting part of an incoming emergency signal, conesponding to a sense of an

operation of said shortened button.

3. The device for notifying an emergency of claim 2, wherein said inputting key

part is coupled to a preventing part and a preventing module from mis-operation to

prevent from mis-operation associated with frequent uses of the device for notifying an

emergency.

4. The device for notifying an emergency of claim 2, wherein said shortened

button comprises plural buttons conesponding to a preset emergency.

5. The device for notifying an emergency of claim 1, wherein said set-top box

part comprising: a receiving part of an incoming emergency signal to receive said incoming

emergency signal; a creating part of an outgoing emergency signal which is coupled to said

receiving part of an incommg emergency signal and creates the outgoing emergency signal which includes an identifying factor of the set-top box conesponding to said set-

top box part; a transmitting part of an outgoing emergency signal which is coupled to

said creating part of an outgoing emergency signal and transmits said created outgoing

emergency signal to said emergency headend part; and a controlling part for the set-top box which organically controls said receiving

part of an incoming emergency signal, said creating part of an outgoing emergency

signal and said transmitting part of an outgoing emergency signal, conesponding to

reception of an incoming emergency signal.

6. The device for notifying an emergency of claim 5, wherein said set-top box

part further comprises an offering part of an emergency menu to offer at least one menu

chosen from an input message menu and a designated menu of a rescue center which is

input or selected by user.

7. The device for notifying an emergency of claim 1, wherein said emergency

headend part comprising: a receiving part of an outgoing emergency signal which receives said outgoing

emergency signal; an identifying part of an outgoing emergency signal which is coupled to

said receiving part of an outgoing emergency signal and identifies the set-top box part

conesponding to the outgoing emergency signal; a creating part of a SOS which extracts address information conesponding to

said set-top box part from said database according to the identified result of

said identifying part of an outgoing emergency signal and creates a SOS including said

address information; a transmitting part of a SOS which transmits said created SOS to said rescue

center part; and a controlling part for headend which organically controls said receiving part of

an outgoing emergency signal, said creating part of a SOS and said transmitting part of

a SOS, conesponding to reception of said outgoing emergency signal.

8. The device for notifying an emergency of claim 7, when a preset group

information is designated conesponding to said set-top box part, wherein said creatmg part of a SOS extracts said group information from said

database and makes the group information include said SOS; wherein said transmitting part of an outgoing emergency signal transmits said

SOS to the set-top box part conesponding to said group information.

9. A method for notifying an emergency comprising the steps of:

(a) creating an incoming emergency signal conesponding to an operation of a

preset shortened button;

(b) creating an outgoing emergency signal including an identifying factor of a

set-top box when the incoming emergency signal is sensed; and

(c) creating a SOS including address information conesponding to said

identifying factor of the set-top box, and transmitting the SOS to a rescue center part.