Speakerphone control techniques and emergency call systems

Abstract

Emergency call system which enables an individual to summon assistance includes an emergency call unit connectable to a telephone line, at least one remote speakerphone unit having a speakerphone and connectable to the same telephone line as the emergency call unit, and at least one pendant adapted to be worn by the individual and including a button. The emergency call unit is arranged to determine whether any remote speakerphone units are off-hook when the button on the pendant is actuated and if so, send a signal to each remote speakerphone unit to disconnect from the telephone line. If one of the remote speakerphone units is off-hook, it will not interfere with the functioning of the emergency call unit. The emergency call unit is also arranged to dial a predetermined emergency telephone number when the button on the pendant is actuated and the telephone line is available for an outbound call.

1 . A speakerphone control system, comprising:
 a pendant adapted to be worn by the individual and including response means for responding to a user's action; and   a plurality of speakerphone units coupled to a common telephone line and adapted to be arranged throughout a structure with partially overlapping or non-overlapping listening and talking ranges,   said response means being arranged to convert the user's action into signals receivable by at least one of said speakerphone units to cause said speakerphone units to activate their speakerphones such that when said speakerphone units are activated and a call is in progress on the telephone line, the user can interact with different ones of said speakerphone units.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said response means comprise at least one depressible button. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said response means comprise a microphone and a voice-recognition circuit coupled to said microphone. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said response means are further arranged to answer an incoming call or initiate an outgoing call based on the user's action. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said speakerphone units are usable as an intercom system in which said speakerphone units are caused to activate their speakerphones upon receipt of signals from said response means bypassing the telephone line and thereby enable the user to interact with different ones of said speakerphone units. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said speakerphone units includes activation means for activating said response means on said pendant such that activation of one of said speakerphone units enables activation of other of said speakerphone units via activation of said response means on said pendant. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said pendant includes first and second buttons, said first button being arranged to direct said response means to generate signals receivable by said speakerphone units to cause said speakerphone units to activate their speakerphones and said second button being arranged to direct said response means to generate signals receivable by said speakerphone units to cause said speakerphone units to deactivate their speakerphones. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein one of said speakerphone units is designated a master speakerphone unit and other of said speakerphone units are designated slave speakerphone units, only said master speakerphone unit being arranged to receive signals from said response means and activate or deactivate said speakerphones of said slave speakerphone units based on said signals.