US4524243A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Personal alarm system
Assignee: Lifeline Systems Inc
•
Filing: 1983-07-07
•
Granted: 1985-06-18
•
Expires: 2003-07-07
Abstract
Abstract A personal alarm system operative to provide a warning at a central monitoring station indicative of subscriber inactivity. The system comprises a subscriber station which interfaces to a communications link and a remote central monitoring station also interfaced to the link and operative to receive and analyze messages transmitted to the monitoring station by the subscriber station. The subscriber station transmits an alert message to the monitoring station over the communication link if the subscriber fails to reset clock logic via a reset switch or activity sensor within a predetermined time interval. An annunciator may be activated at the subscriber station coincident with transmission of the alert message. If the subscriber fails to activate a reset switch or a selected activity sensor within a predetermined period, the monitoring station provides an inactivity alarm indication to an operator who will take appropriate action. The system is primarily intended for the elderly, infirm, or incapacitated who are living alone and who, in event of illness or injury, might be unable to summon assistance and thereby suffer further harm as a result of inattention. The availability of this system will permit the aging and infirm to live independently without this fear.
Inventors
- 👤 L. Dennis Shapiro
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 09:45
CPC Classifications
G; G08; G08B; G08B21/00; G08B21/02; G08B21/04; G08B21/0407; G08B21/0415; G08B21/0438; G08B21/0484; H; H04; H04M; H04M11/00; H04M11/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 45
Claim 1
Independent Claim
91 words
A subscriber station for transmission of information over a a communications link to a central monitoring station and indicative of subscriber inactivity comprising: means operative to provide an alert signal at predetermined time intervals; switch means; means operative to transmit a first message over said communications link to said central monitoring station in response to said alert signal; means operative to transmit a second message over said communications link to said central monitoring station within a selected period following the occurence of said alert signal upon activation of said switch means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
91 words
A subscriber station for transmission of information over a a communications link to a central monitoring station and indicative of subscriber inactivity comprising: means operative to provide an alert signal at predetermined time intervals; switch means; means operative to transmit a first message over said communications link to said central monitoring station in response to said alert signal; means operative to transmit a second message over said communications link to said central monitoring station within a selected period following the occurence of said alert signal upon activation of said switch means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The subscriber station of claim 1 including means operative to delay the occurrence of said alert signal in response to subscriber actuation of said switch means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The subscriber station of claim 2 wherein said alert signal is indicative of subscriber inactivity corresponding to the failure by the subscriber to activate said switch means within a predetermined time interval prior to generation of said alert signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
44 words
The subscriber station of claim 3 wherein said first message is an "inactivity alert message" which indicates to the central monitoring station that the subscriber has failed to actuate said switch means within a predetermined time interval prior to generation of said alert signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The subscriber station of claim 4 wherein said first and second messages are digitally coded and serially transmitted over said communications link to said central monitoring station.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The subscriber station of claim 4 wherein said first message includes subscriber identification and message identification information.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The subscriber station of claim 4 wherein said second message includes at least subscriber identification information.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
The subscriber station of claim 2 wherein said switch means comprises a reset switch.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
The subscriber station of claim 2 wherein said switch means includes a reset switch and at least one activity sensor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The subscriber station of claim 2 wherein said switch means includes a sensor operative to sense the lifting of a telephone handset.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
The subscriber station of claim 2 wherein said communications link is a telephone line communications link and said subscriber station includes an automatic telephone dialer operative to dial the central monitoring station at a specified telephone number to effectuate transmission of each of said messages.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The subscriber station of claim 2 further including an annunciator activated in response to said alert signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
The subscriber station of claim 12 wherein said annunciator is a visual annunciator.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The subscriber station of claim 12 wherein aid annunciator is an audible annunciator.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
13 words
The subscriber station of claim 12 wherein said annunciator is a verbal annunciator.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The subscriber station of claim 15 wherein said verbal annunciator is a speech synthesizer.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
112 words
A subscriber station for transmission of information over a communications link to a central monitoring station and indicative of subscriber inactivity comprising: means operative to provide an alert signal at predetermined time intervals; switch means actuatable by a subscriber; means operative to transmit a first message over said communication link to said central monitoring station in response to said alert signal; timer means activated in response to said alert signal and operative to produce a timer output signal defining a timer period of predetermined duration; means operative to transmit a second message over said communications link to said central monitoring station upon subscriber activation of said switch means during said timer period.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
112 words
A subscriber station for transmission of information over a communications link to a central monitoring station and indicative of subscriber inactivity comprising: means operative to provide an alert signal at predetermined time intervals; switch means actuatable by a subscriber; means operative to transmit a first message over said communication link to said central monitoring station in response to said alert signal; timer means activated in response to said alert signal and operative to produce a timer output signal defining a timer period of predetermined duration; means operative to transmit a second message over said communications link to said central monitoring station upon subscriber activation of said switch means during said timer period.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The subscriber station of claim 17 including means operative to delay the occurrence of said alert signal in response to subscriber actuation of said switch means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
37 words
The subscriber station of claim 18 including means operative to transmit a third message over said communications link to said central monitoring station upon actuation of said switch means within a defined interval after said timer period.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The subscriber station of claim 19 wherein said third message is indicative to the central monitoring station of activity at the subscriber station.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
27 words
The subscriber station of claim 17 wherein said first and second messages are digitally coded and serially transmitted over said communications link to said central monitoring station.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
The subscriber station of claim 17 wherein said first message includes subscriber identification and message identification information.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
The subscriber station of claim 17 wherein said second message includes at least subscriber identification information.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
14 words
The subscriber station of claim 17 wherein said switch means comprises a reset switch.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
The subscriber station of claim 17 wherein said switch means comprises a reset switch and at least one activity sensor.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
The subscriber station of claim 24 wherein said switch means includes a sensor operative to sense the lifting of a telephone handset.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
46 words
The subscriber station of claim 17 wherein said communications link comprises a telephone line communications link and said subscriber station further includes an automatic telephone dialer operative to dial the central monitoring station at a specified telephone number to effectuate transmission of each of said messages.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
17 words
The subscriber station of claim 17 further including an annunciator activated in response to said alert signal.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
18 words
The subscriber station of claim 28 wherein said annunciator is operative for the duration of said timer period.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
13 words
The subscriber station of claim 28 wherein said annunciator is a visual annunciator.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
13 words
The subscriber station of claim 28 wherein said annunciator is an audible annunciator.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
13 words
The subscriber station of claim 28 wherein said annunciator is a verbal annunciator.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
14 words
The subscriber station of claim 32 wherein said verbal annunciator is a speech synthesizer.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
172 words
A personal alarm system for transmittal of information indicative of subscriber inactivity over a communications link, comprising: a central monitoring station coupleable to the communications link and comprising: alarm indicating means; central processing means; and monitor timing means operative to provide a predetermined interval, said monitor timing means activated upon receipt by said central monitoring station of a first message over said communications link; a subscriber station coupleable to the communications link and comprising: means operative to provide an alert signal at predetermined time intervals; switch means actuatable by a subscriber; means, responsive to said alert signal, operative to transmit said first message over said communications link to said central monitoring station; and means operative to transmit a second message over said communications link to said central monitoring station upon subscriber activation of said switch means after activation of said alert signal; said central monitoring station operative to activate said alarm indicating means if a second message is not received by said central monitoring station during said monitor timing means predetermined interval.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
172 words
A personal alarm system for transmittal of information indicative of subscriber inactivity over a communications link, comprising: a central monitoring station coupleable to the communications link and comprising: alarm indicating means; central processing means; and monitor timing means operative to provide a predetermined interval, said monitor timing means activated upon receipt by said central monitoring station of a first message over said communications link; a subscriber station coupleable to the communications link and comprising: means operative to provide an alert signal at predetermined time intervals; switch means actuatable by a subscriber; means, responsive to said alert signal, operative to transmit said first message over said communications link to said central monitoring station; and means operative to transmit a second message over said communications link to said central monitoring station upon subscriber activation of said switch means after activation of said alert signal; said central monitoring station operative to activate said alarm indicating means if a second message is not received by said central monitoring station during said monitor timing means predetermined interval.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 34 wherein the subscriber station includes means operative to delay the occurrence of said alert signal for a predetermined time period in response to subscriber actuation of said switch means.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 34 wherein said communications link comprises a telephone line communications link.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
30 words
The system of claim 36 wherein said subscriber station includes an automatic telephone dialer operative to automatically dial a predetermined telephone number to effectuate transmission of each of said messages.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 34 wherein said communications link comprises a cable television communications link.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system of claim 34 wherein said subscriber station includes a radio frequency transmitter, said central monitoring station includes a radio frequency receiver and said communications link comprises a wireless radio frequency communications link.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of claim 34 wherein said means for providing said alert signals includes a resettable timer.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
92 words
The system of claim 34 wherein the subscriber station includes: timer means, activated in response to said alert signal and operative to produce a timer output signal defining a timer period of predetermined duration; said means operative to transmit a second message being operative upon subscriber activation of said switch means during said timer period; said central monitoring station alarm indicating means being activated by said central processing means if said second message is not received from said subscriber station by said central monitoring station during said monitor timing means predetermined interval.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
41 words
The system of claim 41 wherein the subscriber station includes means operative to transmit a message over said communications link to said central monitoring station upon actuation of said switch means within a defined period after expiration of said timer period.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-06-17 | 1988-12-17 | 1989-06-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-06-17 | 1992-12-17 | 1993-06-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-06-17 | 1996-12-17 | 1997-06-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |