Personal emergency communication system

Abstract

A personal emergency communication system includes a user-carried portable communication unit having a single button, which when depressed by the user, wirelessly sends a call request signal to a base unit. The base unit initiates a telephone call through a dial-up network to an emergency response center responder and places an operator at the emergency center the emergency responder in wireless voice communication with the portable unit when the call is connected. A speech synthesizer operating in combination with automated voice messages stored in the base unit system memory are used to advise the user of the status of the call, and to provide the user with verbal confirmation that functional systems of the base unit are the system is functionally operating properly.

What is claimed:  
     
       1. A personal emergency response communications system comprising:
 a portable communications unit intended to be carried by a user who may require emergency attention, including: 
 (1) a wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver for respectively transmitting and receiving communication signals,  
 (2) a call button actuatable by the user to initiate a call request signal that will result in placing the user in voice communication with an emergency response center; and  
 
 a base communications unit coupled with a dial-up telephone system for establishing voice communication between the user and the emergency response center, the base unit including 
 (3) a wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver for respectively transmitting and receiving communication signals,  
 (4) a memory for storing a telephone number of the emergency response center,  
 (5) a dialer for dialing the emergency response center telephone number,  
 (6) a controller responsive to the call request signal for controlling the dialer to dial the emergency response center telephone number,  
 
 wherein the base unit includes a speech synthesizer for producing preselected voice messages indicative of the status of the call request, and the controller is operative to deliver the preselected voice messages to the portable unit; and  
 wherein the preselected voice messages include a first voice message indicating that the emergency response center number is being dialed, and a second voice message indicating that the call to the center is being terminated.  
 
     
     
       2. The communications system of  claim 1 , wherein the portable unit includes an acoustic transducer for converting the user's speech into electrical signals, and for converting electrical signals received from the base unit into audible speech. 
     
     
       3. The communications system  claim 1 , wherein the portable unit includes a portable unit controller, and a test button actuatable by the user, the portable unit controller being responsive to the actuation of the test button to transmit a test request signal to the base unit, the base unit being responsive to the test request signal to perform a test of certain functions of the base unit and transmit a synthesized voice message to the portable unit announcing the results of the test. 
     
     
       4. The communications system of  claim 1 , wherein the portable unit includes a battery power source, and a battery test button actuatable by the user to initiate a test of the battery power source. 
     
     
       5. The communications system of  claim 1 , wherein the portable unit includes a lamp for indicating the operational status of the portable unit. 
     
     
       6. The communications system of  claim 1 , wherein the portable unit includes a portable unit controller operative to terminate communications between the base unit and the portable unit if the portable unit does not detect the voice of the user during a preselected time period. 
     
     
       7. The communications system of  claim 1 , wherein the portable unit includes a housing having an opening within which the call button is mounted, and a raised ring circumscribing the call button and extending outwardly from the surface of the housing to provide the user with a tactile guide for locating the call button. 
     
     
       8. The communications system of  claim 7 , wherein the call button is recessed within the housing opening. 
     
     
       9. The communications system of  claim 1 , wherein the portable unit includes means for removably attaching the portable unit to the user's body. 
     
     
       10. A personal emergency response communications system comprising:
 a portable communications unit intended to be carried by a user who may require emergency attention, the portable unit including a call button actuatable by the user to transmit a call request signal; and  
 a base communications unit for wirelessly communicating with the portable unit, the base unit being coupled with a dial-up telephone system and responsive to the call request signal for establishing voice communications between the user and the emergency response center, the base unit including at least one stored voice message indicating the status of the communications with the emergency response center and a controller for controlling the transmission of the voice message to the portable unit in order to advise the user of the communications status;  
 wherein the base unit includes two stored voice messages respectively indicating the status of the communications with the emergency response center when the base unit begins dialing a telephone number of the center, and when the base unit terminates communications with the emergency response center.  
 
     
     
       11. The communications system of  claim 10 , wherein the base unit includes a speech synthesizer for generating the stored voice message. 
     
     
       12. The communications system of  claim 10 , wherein the base unit includes a further stored voice message indicating the status of an operational test performed on the base unit. 
     
     
       13. The communications system  claim 10 , wherein the portable unit includes a portable unit controller, and a test button actuatable by the user, the portable unit controller being responsive to the actuation of the test button to transmit a test request signal to the base unit, the base unit being responsive to the test request signal to perform a test of certain functions of the base unit and transmit a synthesized voice message to the portable unit announcing the results of the test. 
     
     
       14. The communications system of  claim 10 , wherein the portable unit includes a battery power source, and a battery test button actuatable by the user to initiate a test of the battery power source. 
     
     
       15. The communications system of  claim 10 , wherein the portable unit includes a portable unit controller operative to terminate communications between the base unit and the portable unit if the portable unit does not detect the voice of the user during a preselected time period. 
     
     
       16. A method of calling an emergency response center from a user-carried, portable communication unit, comprising the steps of:
 (A) transmitting a call request signal from the portable unit to a base unit;  
 (B) receiving the call request signal at the base unit;  
 (C) using the base unit to place a call to a telephone number of the emergency response center in response the call request signal;  
 (D) storing at least a first voice message at the base unit indicating the status of the call placed in step (C);  
 (E) transmitting the first voice message from the base unit to the portable unit to advise the user of the call status;  
 wherein the first voice message notifies the user that the call is being placed.  
 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , including the step of placing the portable unit in voice communication with the emergency response center when the center answers the call dialed in step (C). 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 16 , wherein step (D) includes storing a second voice message at the base unit, the second message notifying the user that the call to the emergency response center is being terminated, and the method further includes transmitting the second voice message from the base unit to the portable unit. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 16 , including the steps of:
 (F) performing a functional test of the operating systems of the base unit;  
 (G) storing a second voice message at the base unit advising the user that the test performed in step (F) was successful; and,  
 (H) transmitting the second voice message from the base unit to the portable unit to alert the user that the functional test was successful.  
 
     
     
       20. A personal emergency response communications system, comprising:
   a portable communications unit intended to be carried by a user who may require emergency attention, including    (   1   )  a wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver for respectively transmitting and receiving communication signals,      (   2   )  a call button actuatable by the user to initiate a call request signal that will result in placing the user in voice communication with an emergency response provider, and      (   3   )  a speaker for playing first and second voice messages to the user;          a base communications unit coupled with a communication system for establishing voice communication between the user and the emergency response provider, the base unit including    (   1   )  a wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver for respectively transmitting and receiving communication signals, and      (   2   )  a device for initiating a communication to an emergency response provider upon receiving a call request signal from the portable communications unit,          memory for storing electrical signals convertible into first and second voice messages, wherein the first voice message indicating that communication with the emergency response provider is being initiated, and the second voice message indicating that the communication with the emergency response provider is being terminated;        a controller responsive to a call request signal for controlling the communication to the emergency response provider; and        sound reproducing circuitry for reproducing the first and second voice messages.     
     
     
       21. The communications system of  claim 20 , wherein the portable unit includes an acoustic transducer for converting the user's speech into electrical signals and for converting electrical signals received from the base unit into audible speech. 
     
     
       22. The communications system of  claim 20 , wherein the portable unit includes a portable unit controller, and a test button actuatable by the user, the portable unit controller being responsive to the actuation of the test button to transmit a test request signal to the base unit, the base unit being responsive to the test request signal to perform a test of certain functions of the base unit and in response by the speaker plays a voice message announcing the results of the test. 
     
     
       23. The communications system of  claim 20 , wherein the portable unit includes a battery power source, and a battery test button actuatable by the user to initiate a test of the battery power source. 
     
     
       24. The communications system of  claim 20 , wherein the portable unit includes lighting for indicating the operational status of the portable unit. 
     
     
       25. The communications system of  claim 20 , wherein the portable unit includes a portable unit controller operative to terminate communications between the base unit and the portable unit if the portable unit does not detect the voice of the user during a preselected time period. 
     
     
       26. The communications system of  claim 20 , wherein the portable unit includes a housing having an opening within which the call button is mounted, and a raised ring circumscribing the call button and extending outwardly from the surface of the housing to provide the user with a tactile guide for locating the call button. 
     
     
       27. The communications system of  claim 26 , wherein the call button is recessed within the housing opening. 
     
     
       28. The communications system of  claim 20 , wherein the portable unit includes an attachment for removably attaching the portable unit to the user. 
     
     
       29. A personal emergency response communications system, comprising:
   a portable, wireless communications unit intended to be carried by a user who may require emergency attention, the portable unit including a call button actuatable by the user to transmit a call request signal, and a speaker for playing first and second voice message to the user; and        a base communications unit for wirelessly communicating with the portable unit, the base unit being coupled with a communication system and responsive to a call request signal for establishing voice communications between the user and an emergency response provider, memory in said system including first and second voice messages, wherein the first and second voice messages, respectively, indicate the status of the communications with the emergency response provider when the base unit initiates communication with the emergency response provider, and when the base unit terminates communications with the emergency response provider; and        a controller for playing the first and second voice messages to a user through the speaker.     
     
     
       30. The communications system of  claim 29 , including a speech synthesizer for generating the first and second voice messages. 
     
     
       31. The communications system of  claim 29 , wherein the memory includes a third voice message indicating the status of an operational test performed on the base unit. 
     
     
       32. The communications system  claim 29 , wherein the portable unit includes a portable unit controller, and a test button actuatable by the user, the portable unit controller being responsive to the actuation of the test button to transmit a test request signal to the base unit, the base unit being responsive to a test request signal to perform a test of certain functions of the base unit and said memory including a third voice message for announcing to the user the results of the test. 
     
     
       33. The communications system of  claim 29 , wherein the portable unit includes a battery power source, and a battery test button actuatable by the user to initiate a test of the battery power source. 
     
     
       34. The communications system of  claim 29 , wherein the portable unit includes a portable unit controller operative to terminate communications between the base unit and the portable unit if the portable unit does not detect the voice of a user during a preselected time period. 
     
     
       35. A method of calling an emergency response provider from a user- carried, portable communication unit, comprising the steps of:    ( A )  receiving at a base unit a call request signal initiated from a user - carried, portable communication unit;      ( B )  initiating communication from the base unit via a stored reference to an emergency response provider in response to the base unit receiving a call request signal;      ( C )  playing to the user via a speaker at least a first voice message stored in a memory advising the user that the communication is being initiated; and      ( D )  playing to the user via the speaker a second voice message, the second message notifying the user that the communication with the emergency response provider is being terminated.     
     
     
       36. The method of  claim 35 , including the step of placing the portable unit in voice communication with an emergency response provider after having initiated the communication via the stored reference of the emergency response provider. 
     
     
       37. The method of  claim 35 , including the further steps of:
 ( D )  performing a functional test of the operating systems of the base unit; and      ( E )  playing a voice message advising the user that the functional test performed in step  ( D )  was successful.     
     
     
       38. The method of  claim 35 , including the further steps of:
 ( F )  performing a functional test of a battery power source contained in the user - carried, portable communication unit responsive to a battery test button being actuated; and      ( G )  playing a voice message advising the user of the condition of the battery power source.     
     
     
       39. A personal emergency response communications system for calling a  911  emergency response center, comprising:
   A. a portable communications unit intended to be carried by a user who may require  911  emergency attention, including    (   1   )  a first wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver for respectively transmitting and receiving communication signals to a base communications unit,      (   2   )  a call button actuatable by the user to initiate a call request signal to a base unit that will result in placing the user in direct voice communication with a  911  operator in a  911  emergency response center, and      (   3   )  a speaker for playing a voice message to the user;      
   B. a base communications unit coupled with a communication system for establishing direct voice communication between the user and an operator of a  911  emergency response center, the base communication unit including    (   1   )  a second wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver for respectively transmitting and receiving communication signals to place the user in direct two - way voice communication with a  911  operator, and      (   2   )  a device for initiating a communication to a  911  emergency response center upon receiving a call request signal from the portable communications unit,      
   C. memory for storing electrical signals convertible into two voice messages, wherein one voice message indicates that communication with a  911  emergency response center is being initiated, and the second voice message indicates that the communication with the  911  emergency response center is being terminated;    
   D. a controller responsive to a call request signal for controlling the communication to a  911  emergency response center;    
   E. sound reproducing circuitry for reproducing the voice messages and for playing the reproduced voice messages through the speaker in the portable unit.   
 
     
     
       40. A method of calling a  911  emergency response center from a user- carried, portable communication unit, comprising the steps of:  
 ( A )  receiving at a base unit a call request signal initiated from a user - carried, portable communication unit;    
 ( B )  initiating direct two - way voice communication from the base unit via a stored reference to a  911  emergency response center in response to the base unit receiving a call request signal;    
 ( C )  playing to the user via a speaker at least a first voice message stored in a memory advising the user that the communication with is being initiated; and    
 ( D )  playing to the user via the speaker a second voice message, the second message notifying the user that the direct two - way voice communication with the  911  emergency response center is terminated.   
 
     
     
       41. The method of  claim 40 , including the further steps of:
 ( D )  performing a functional test of the operating systems of the base unit; and      ( E )  playing a voice message advising the user that the functional test performed in step  ( D )  was successful.     
     
     
       42. The method of  claim 40 , including the further steps of:
 ( F )  performing a functional test of a battery power source contained in the user - carried, portable communication unit responsive to a battery test button being actuated; and      ( G )  playing a voice message advising the user of the condition of the battery power source.