Coordinated communications in emergency

Abstract

A system is provided for coordinated communication between various campus personnel and administrators, so that timely responses and effective actions are taken during times of emergency to provide reduced risk of injury or death to persons affected by the emergency is provided. The coordinated communication system includes a group of communication alert devices and at least one administrator alert device for sending and receiving alert indicators throughout a campus or location.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method for coordinated communication within a specified location, the method comprising:
 activating an alert input of an alert device;   upon receiving the alert input at the alert device, determining whether the alert input corresponds to a high priority alert;   upon determination that the alert is not high priority, sending an alert signal to a central authority;   upon determination that the alert is high priority, further sending an alert signal to a plurality of alert devices, and to at least one administration device;   upon receiving the alert signal at an administration device, determining a further action corresponding to a level of alert corresponding to the alert signal.   
     
     
         2 . A computer-implemented method for coordinated communication within a specified location, the method comprising:
 receiving at an administrative alert device, a first alert signal from a specified alert device;   upon receiving the first alert input at the alert device, determining whether the alert input corresponds to a high priority alert;   upon determination the alert is high priority, sending a high priority alert to all devices throughout the specified location;   receiving at an administrative alert device, a second alert signal from the specified alert device;   upon receiving the second alert input at the alert device, determining whether the second alert input corresponds to an all clear alert; and   upon determination the alert is an all clear alert, sending an all clear alert to all devices throughout the specified location.   
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 2 , further comprising
 upon determination that the alert is not high priority, determining whether the alert is a communication request; and   upon determination that the alert is a communication request, enabling a communication channel corresponding to the specified alert device.   
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 2 , further comprising
 upon determination that the alert is not high priority, determining whether the alert is an assistance request;   upon determination that the alert is an assistance request, recording and saving a location corresponding to the specified alert device; and   providing requested assistance according to a specified procedure corresponding to a type of assistance requested.   
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 2 , further comprising: upon determination that the alert is not high priority, determining whether the alert is an updated environment status; upon determination that the alert is an updated environment status, transmitting the updated environment status to at least one alert device. 
     
     
         6 . A system for coordinated communication within a specified location, the system comprising:
 a monitoring station for coordinating alert status among wireless network devices within the specified location, the monitoring station providing for:
 wirelessly transmitting alerts that specify an environment status; 
 wirelessly receiving alerts that specify an updated environment status; and 
 wirelessly updating the environment status among the network devices according to received alerts; 
   a plurality of indicators, each indicator configured to wirelessly receive the alerts, and to display the corresponding environment status for viewability within a specified physical area within the specified location;   a plurality of alert devices, each alert device configured to wirelessly receive the alerts, each alert device further including a plurality of selectable alert indicators to display the environment status corresponding to the received alert, and each selectable alert indicator further configured for receiving a user input to provide a new alert, and each alert device further configured to wirelessly transmit the new alert to the monitoring station; and   at least one admin device, each at least one admin device configurable to wirelessly receive the alerts, each admin device further including a plurality of selectable alert indicators to display the environment status corresponding to the received alert, and each selectable alert indicator further configured for receiving an admin input to provide a new environment status, and each admin device further configured to wirelessly transmit the new environment status to the monitoring station, to the alert devices, and to the plurality of indicators,   whereby each alert device and each admin device provide new alerts according to the environment status of the specified physical area corresponding to the respective device, and whereby each admin device further provides for updating the environment status of the specified location that includes each specified physical area.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the network devices include at least one of the following:
 indicator;   alert device; and   admin device.   
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein wirelessly updating the environment status applies to one or more of the network devices. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein each indicator is located remotely from at least one alert device and at least one admin device. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein each indicator is one of the following: a color coded light;
 an LED display; and   an e-paper display.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the selectable indicators include at least one of the following:
 a button;   an illuminable button;   a touch screen device;   a buzzer; and   a pull-ring.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the environment status is displayed at an indicator until a new environment status is received at the indicator. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein each alert device is further configured to transmit the new alert to at least one admin device. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein each alert device is further configured to transmit the new alert to at least one indicator. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein each alert device and each admin device are uniquely identifiable within the system. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the monitoring station further provides a text communication channel between the monitoring station and one of the following:
 an alert device; and   an admin device.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein each admin device includes a text module for text communication. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein each alert device includes a text module for receiving text communications. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the monitoring station further provides a voice communication channel between the monitoring station and one of the following:
 an alert device; and   an admin device.   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the monitoring station further provides a voice communication channel between an admin device and one of the following:
 an alert device; and   an admin device.