System And Method Of Providing Emergency Response To A User Carrying A User Device

Abstract

The subject invention provides a system and method of providing emergency response to a user carrying a user device ( 32 ). The method establishes a monitoring database ( 34 ) including identifications for a plurality of user devices ( 32 ) and user information associated with each of the user devices ( 32 ). An internet protocol (IP) address is established for the monitoring database ( 34 ) and for each user device ( 32 ). The monitoring database ( 34 ) includes contacts to be contacted in an emergency for each user of each user device ( 32 ) and receives priority information for notifying the contacts. Communication is established between one of the user devices ( 32 ) and the monitoring database ( 34 ) and the monitoring database ( 34 ) automatically processes the priority information to notify the contact using either internet protocols or public-switched telephone networks.

1 . A method of providing emergency response to a user carrying a user device ( 32 ), said method comprising the steps of: 
 establishing a monitoring database ( 34 ) including identifications for a plurality of user devices ( 32 ) and user information associated with each of the user devices ( 32 ) including contacts to be contacted in an emergency for each user of each user device ( 32 );    receiving priority information for the contacts and methods of notifying the contacts;    establishing an internet protocol (IP) address for the monitoring database ( 34 );    establishing an IP address for each user device ( 32 );    establishing communication over the Internet ( 36 ) between the monitoring database ( 34 ) and one of the user devices ( 32 );    retrieving the priority information associated with the one of the user devices ( 32 ) in response to establishing communication; and    automatically processing the priority information upon receipt to notify the contact of the emergency through the monitoring database ( 34 ) using either internet protocols or public-switched telephone networks.    
     
     
         2 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising the steps of receiving one of an accepted, a not accepted, or an unresponsive response electronically to the monitoring database ( 34 ) from the contact and continuing to process the priority information to notify additional contacts through the monitoring database ( 34 ) until the accepted response is received.  
     
     
         3 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the step of establishing communication over the Internet ( 36 ) between the monitoring database ( 34 ) and one of the user devices ( 32 ) is further defined as using voice-over internet protocols.  
     
     
         4 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising the step of bypassing the priority information and contacting emergency personnel in response to a predetermined condition being received by the monitoring database ( 34 ).  
     
     
         5 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising the step of notifying the contact via at least one of internet protocols or public switched telephone networks as indicated in the priority information.  
     
     
         6 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising the step of establishing bidirectional audio communication between the monitoring database ( 34 ) and the user device ( 32 ) utilizing voice-over internet protocols.  
     
     
         7 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising the step of transmitting a message recorded by the user from the monitoring database ( 34 ) and storing the message on the user device ( 32 ) for playback by emergency personnel.  
     
     
         8 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising the step of transmitting medication reminders from the monitoring database ( 34 ) to alert the user to take medication.  
     
     
         9 . A method as set forth in  claim 1  further comprising the step of electronically receiving biometric data about the user with the monitoring database ( 34 ) from biometric equipment ( 44 ) communicating with the user device ( 32 ).  
     
     
         10 . A method as set forth in  claim 9  further comprising the step of storing the biometric data in the monitoring database ( 34 ) for compiling medical reports about the user.  
     
     
         11 . A method as set forth in  claim 9  wherein the step of automatically processing the priority information is in response to receiving the biometric data from the biometric equipment ( 44 ).  
     
     
         12 . An emergency alert system ( 30 ) comprising: 
 a user device ( 32 ) carried by a user having a housing ( 112 ), a processor ( 74 ) communicating via internet protocols (IP), a memory source ( 82 ) storing an IP address for said user device ( 32 ) and an IP address for a monitoring database ( 34 ), a global positioning system (GPS) receiver ( 38 ) in communication with said processor ( 74 ), a radio frequency (RF) module ( 42 ) in communication with said processor ( 74 ) for transmitting and receiving RF signals, a cellular modem ( 40 ) in communication with said processor ( 74 ) for establishing a cellular connection, a speaker ( 78 ), and a microphone ( 80 ); and    a monitoring database ( 34 ) having an internet protocol address and including identifications for a plurality of user devices ( 32 ) and user information associated with each of said user devices ( 32 ) including priority information identifying an order of contacts to be contacted and method of contacting the same in an emergency for each user of each user device ( 32 )    wherein said monitoring database ( 34 ) automatically processes the priority information in response to establishing communication with the user device ( 32 ) and notifies contacts of the emergency through the monitoring database ( 34 ).    
     
     
         13 . A system as set forth in  claim 12  wherein said monitoring database ( 34 ) automatically continues to process the priority information and to notify additional contacts until a response is accepted by one of the contacts.  
     
     
         14 . A system as set forth in  claim 12  further comprising biometric equipment ( 44 ) of the user communicating with the user device ( 32 ).  
     
     
         15 . A system as set forth in  claim 14  wherein said monitoring database ( 34 ) electronically receives biometric data about the user from the biometric equipment ( 44 ) transmitted from through the user device ( 32 ).  
     
     
         16 . A system as set forth in  claim 15  wherein said monitoring database ( 34 ) automatically processes the priority information is in response to receiving the biometric data from the biometric equipment ( 44 )  
     
     
         17 . A system as set forth in  claim 12  wherein said user information includes at least one of user address, allergies, medical history information, medical treatment information, and medical prescription information.