GB2394101A - A personal safety system - Google Patents

Abstract

A central computer (10) is capable of communicating with multiple users by mobile (16) or landline (20) telephone via public communications networks. A user who is facing an emergency situation calls the central computer (10) which identifies the particular user by a characteristic of the user device (e.g. by caller identification) or by other means (e.g. voice recognition). When the emergency call is first received, an audio and/or video recording is made by a recording device (12) controlled by the computer (10). This recording may be forwarded to a predetermined assistance location, for example a telephone line (18) of the user's employer.

Description

1 "Personal safety system" 3 This invention relates to a system and

associated 4 methods and apparatus for monitoring personal 5 safety. The system is particularly useful for 6 monitoring the safety of persons employed in 7 positions where they must travel and visit premises 8 remote from their organization, such as house 9 professionals, service engineers, and estate agency 10 staff.

12 Systems of this general type are disclosed in the 13 present applicant's co-pending International Patent 14 Publication No WO01/60037. In the systems disclosed 15 therein, registered users log locations and end 16 times of forthcoming events, such as visits to 17 particular locations, on a central host system. The 18 user communicates with the host system to confirm 19 that the event has been concluded safely or to 20 change the end time, etc. If no such update is 21 received by a predetermined time, the host system 22 attempts to contact the user to verify their safety.

23 If no such verification is obtained, the system 24 initiates a prearranged plan, such as notifying one 25 or more predetermined parties that there is a 26 potential problem. The system may involve any of a 27 variety of suitable communication devices and 28 networks to enable communications between users and 29 the host system and between the host system and

1 other parties. In the system as disclosed in 2 WO01/60037, when the host system contacts the user 3 to verify the user's safety, the user has an option 4 to reply in a manner (e.g. by transmitting an 5 emergency code number) that will activate an 6 emergency response by the host system.

8 The present invention relates to an additional 9 function that can be incorporated into systems of 10 this general type, or that can be implemented 11 independently of any other safety monitoring 12 functions, wherein a user initiates an emergency 13 response by establishing an audio communications 14 link with the host system and the host system 15 automatically records the audio and or video signal 16 received from the user's communication device, which 17 can then be relayed to other parties responsible for 18 delivering assistance.

1 9 20 According to a first aspect of the present 21 invention, there is provided a personal safety 22 system comprising a central computer system having 23 interface means for communicating with a public 24 communications network and being provided with means 25 for recording and reproducing audio and or video 26 data; the computer being arranged to store details 27 of individual users and to receive assistance 28 requests from such users via users' communications 29 devices and, in the event that an assistance request 30 is received from a user, to record audio and or 31 video data from the user's communications device.

1 According to a second aspect of the present 2 invention, there is provided a method for providing 3 emergency assistance to individuals comprising the 4 steps of: 5 storing details of individual users at a 6 central location; 7 receiving assistance requests from said users 8 via users' communication devices and a public 9 communications network; 10 establishing whether there exists a unique 11 relationship with a user's communication device; 12 identifying the user requesting assistance; 13 and 14 recording audio and or video data transmitted 15 through the user's communications device.

17 Preferred features of the first and second aspects 18 of the invention include: 1 9 20 In the event that an assistance request is received, 21 action is initiated in accordance with a prearranged 22 plan. 24 Said public communications network may be a 25 mobile/cellular telephone network. Alternatively or 26 additionally a fixed line telephone network, email 27 or the Internet may be used.

29 Preferably, each user is automatically identified in 30 the case of a pre-existing relationship between the 31 computer system and the user's device.

1 Preferably users are identified by way of uniquely 2 identifying the device they are operating. This may 3 be by caller identification from the user's personal 4 mobile/cell phone, or by a device network address or 5 other digital identification signature.

7 In the event that there is no pre-existing 8 relationship between the user's communication device 9 and the computer system, a user may be identified by 10 other means such as biometrics (e.g. speaker 11 recognition), spoken password, or key press codes 12 entered through a telephone keypad.

14 Preferably the assistance request is transmitted 15 from the user to the system by a single pre 16 programmed key press on said device. Alternatively 17 or additionally assistance requests may be 18 transmitted by any suitable method of activation 19 such as a spoken command.

21 The system preferably begins recording audio and or 22 video data immediately upon receipt of the 23 assistance request; said data may be relayed to 24 other response parties along with detail regarding 25 the identity and/or location of the user. Such 26 other parties may include the emergency services 27 and/or other predetermined parties responsible for 28 delivering assistance. The other party may be 29 required to acknowledge receipt of the assistance 30 request.

32 In particularly preferred embodiments, the

1 functionality of the first and second aspects of the 2 invention is combined with safety monitoring 3 functions as claimed and disclosed in WO01/60037.

5 The invention further embraces computers, computer 6 systems, computer programs and communications 7 devices adapted for use in implementing the first 8 and second aspects of the invention.

10 Embodiments of the new invention will now be 11 described, by way of example only, with reference to 12 the following drawings in which: 13 Fig.1 is a schematic overview of one system in 14 accordance with the intention; and 15 Fig.2 is a flow chart illustrating the operation of 16 the system of Fig.1.

18 Referring to Fig.l, one example of the system 19 incorporating the present invention is based upon a 20 central computer 10 which is provided with a 21 recording means 12 for recording and reproducing 22 messages, particularly audio data, and with a 23 message interface 14. Each person using the system 24 does so by means of communication device such as a 25 mobile phone 16 communicating with the interface via 26 the public telephone network.

28 The user uses his/her mobile phone or other 29 communications device 16 to transmit an assistance 30 request to the central computer. Upon receipt of 31 this request the system begins to record audio data 32 received from the communication device. When

1 assistance is requested the system automatically 2 contacts one or more response parties. These can be 3 the user's designated assistance providers, for 4 example, a colleague, a parent, or the emergency 5 services. Once contact has been established the 6 system will give detail regarding the identity of 7 the user and replay the recorded audio data.

9 The operation of the invention will now be described 10 in more detail with reference to Fig. 2. To 11 subscribe to the service a client or organization 12 establishes an account with the operator, which 13 defines the number of users, relevant contact 14 details, etc. 16 Thereafter, each user becomes registered with the 17 service, typically by using their personal telephone 18 and dialling in to the service. The central 19 computer 10 by using caller line identity or digital 20 signature establishes whether or not this is a 21 registered user of the system. Unregistered users 22 will be given the opportunity to enter a 23 registration process. The user will then use a 24 combination of key presses and voice to enter data 25 requested by the system.

26 This could include: 27 (a) Verification of the user's right to access the 28 system, achieved by the user entering a supplied 29 digit sequence.

30 (b) The individual's name, given verbally or as 31 text.

32 (c) The individual's telephone number or

1 identification captured automatically by Caller line 2 identity or entered manually as a sequence of 3 digits.

4 (d) A security PIN number entered by key press.

5 (e) Detection of a unique user identification 6 number supplied to each user.

9 When the registration process has been successfully 10 completed, the central computer 10 stores the user's 11 data in the database. The next time the user 12 connects the central computer will recognise them as 13 a registered user.

15 In use, registered users can request assistance by 16 any suitable activation method such as pressing a 17 designated key ("speed-dial") or a spoken voice 18 command. This dials the telephone number of the 19 system, which may have been pre-programmed into the 20 user's mobile phone. Once the requesting device 21 (i.e. the mobile phone) has established contact with 22 the central computing system, the system performs 23 some processing to identify the device and the user 24 who is seeking assistance.

26 Where a one-to-one relationship exists between the 27 device and the user, the system may use caller line 28 identification or the device network address etc. as 29 a means of identification.

31 In cases where there is no pre-existing relationship 32 between the user and the device, for example, where

1 several users share a phone, the system attempts to 2 identify the user by other means. Such means may 3 include, for example, a biometric method such as 4 identification of the user through their voice 5 (speaker recognition), a spoken password, or entry 6 of a key press code.

7 Once the user has been identified, the system 8 acknowledges their request for assistance, and 9 begins to record audio from the user's phone.

1 0 11 Upon receipt of the assistance request, the computer 12 system automatically contacts one or more response 13 parties. These are the user's designated assistance 14 providers, for example, a work colleague, a parent 15 or the emergency services. Once contact has been 16 established with a response party, the system will 17 give detail regarding the identity of the assistance 18 requester (the user), and replay the recorded audio 19 data to provide insight into the situation in which 20 the user has requested assistance. The system may 21 then require the response party to acknowledge the 22 execution of the assistance request.

24 Should the user be unable to use their normal 25 communication device, they can use any third party 26 communication device to connect with the service.

27 The system will recognise that this is a non 28 registered device but can accept a combination of 29 code and/or PIN number and/or voice recognition 30 etc., to allow communication from any unregistered 31 device such as a fixed line phone.

1 The present invention is suitable for use in any 2 situation where assistance is requested, for example 3 dispersed personnel such as house professionals, or 4 indeed persons with illnesses, which require 5 assistance, or persons being held against their 6 will. It will be readily understood that the 7 central computer 10 may be any suitable general 8 purpose computer system and, given the foregoing 9 description of the operation and requirements of the

10 system, suitable programmed can be generated by 11 those skilled in the art, by way of example the 12 system may use a number of PENTIUM III servers 13 running Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 as the 14 operating system. The servers are fitted with 15 conventional communication interfaces capable of 16 effecting communication with remote devices. The 17 databases can be operated in any conventional 18 database programme such as Microsoft Access or 19 Microsoft SQL Server. The software specific to the 20 system may be for example in Visual Basic 6 and 21 Visual VoicePro 5.

23 It will be understood that the functionality 24 provided by the invention as described herein may be 25 incorporated into or combined with the functions of 26 other safety monitoring systems, particularly and 27 preferably with those disclosed in WO01/60037.

29 Modifications and improvements may be made to the 30 foregoing examples within scope of the present 31 invention. For example, the inputting of data by 32 users by keystroke may be reduced or eliminated by

1 0 1 use of voice recognition techniques. Communications 2 (other than those specifically requiring audio data) 3 may be by means other than voice telephone or other 4 audio communication channels, such as a short text 5 message (SMS) via mobile phone, by Internet or by 6 other electronic means.

Claims (33)

1 CLAIMS

3 1. A method for providing emergency assistance to 4 individuals comprising the steps of: 5 storing details of individual users at a 6 central location; 7 receiving assistance requests from said users 8 via users' communication devices and a public 9 communications network; 10 establishing whether there exists a unique 11 relationship with a user's communication device; 12 identifying the user requesting assistance; 13 and 14 recording audio and or video data transmitted 15 through the user's communications device.

17

2. The method of claim 1 in which, in the event 18 that an assistance request is received, action is 19 initiated in accordance with a prearranged plan.

21

3. The method of claim 1 or claim 2, in which said 22 public communications network is a mobile/cellular 23 telephone network.

25

4. The method of claim 1 or claim 2, in which said 26 public communications network is a fixed line 27 telephone network.

29

5. The method of claim 1 or claim 2, in which said 30 public communications network is an email system.

32

6. The method of claim 1 or claim 2, in which said

1 public communications network is the Internet.

3

7. The method of any preceding claim, in which 4 each user is automatically identified by a pre 5 existing relationship between the computer system 6 and the user's device.

8

8. The method of claim 7, in which users are 9 identified by way of uniquely identifying the device 10 they are operating.

1 1 12

9. The method of claim 8, in which users are 13 identified by caller identification from the user's 14 personal mobile/cell phone, or by a device network 15 address or other digital identification signature.

17

10. The method of any of claims 1 to 6, in which a 18 user is identified by means other than a pre 19 existing relationship between the computer system 20 and the user's device; such as biometrics (e.g. 21 speaker recognition), spoken password, or key press 22 codes entered through a telephone keypad.

24

11. The method of claim 10, in which the assistance 25 request is transmitted from the user to the system 26 by a single pre-programmed key press on said device.

28

12. the method of claim 10 or claim 11, in which 29 assistance requests are transmitted by a spoken 30 command. 32

13. The method of any preceding claim, in which

1 recording of audio and or video data begins 2 immediately on receipt of the assistance request.

4

14. The method of claim 13, in which said data is 5 relayed to other response parties along with detail 6 regarding the identity and/or location of the user.

8

15. The method of any preceding claim in 9 combination with safety monitoring functions as 10 claimed in WO01/60037.

1 1 12

16. A personal safety system comprising a central 13 computer system having interface means for 14 communicating with a public communications network 15 and being provided with means for recording and 16 reproducing audio and or video data; the computer 17 being arranged to store details of individual users 18 and to receive assistance requests from such users 19 via users' communications devices and, in the event 20 that an assistance request is received from a user, 21 to record audio and or video data from the user's 22 communications device.

24

17. The system of claim 16 in which, in the event 25 that an assistance request is received, the computer 26 initiates action in accordance with a prearranged 27 plan stored therein.

29

18. The system of claim 16 or claim 17, in which 30 said public communications network is a 31 mobile/cellular telephone network.

1

19. The system of claim 16 or claim 17, in which 2 said public communications network is a fixed line 3 telephone network.

5

20. The system of claim 16 or claim 17, in which 6 said public communications network is an email 7 system. 9

21. The system of claim 16 or claim 17, in which 10 said public communications network is the Internet.

1 1 12

22. The system of any of claims 16 to 21, in which 13 each user is automatically identified by a pre 14 existing relationship between the computer system 15 and the user's device.

17

23. The system of claim 22, in which users are 18 identified by way of uniquely identifying the device 19 they are operating.

21

24. The system of claim 23, in which users are 22 identified by caller identification from the user's 23 personal mobile/cell phone, or by a device network 24 address or other digital identification signature.

26

25. The system of any of claims 16 to 21, in which 27 a user is identified by means other than a pre 28 existing relationship between the computer system 29 and the user's device; such as biometrics (e.g. 30 speaker recognition), spoken password, or key press 31 codes entered through a telephone keypad.

1

26. The system of claim 25, in which the assistance 2 request is transmitted from the user to the system 3 by a single pre-programmed key press on said device.

5

27. The system of claim 25 or claim 26, in which 6 assistance requests are transmitted by a spoken 7 command. 9

28. The system of any of claims 16 to 27, in which 10 said recording and reproducing means is activated to 11 record audio and or video data immediately on 12 receipt of the assistance request.

14

29. The system of claim 28, in which the computer 15 relays said data to other response parties along 16 with detail regarding the identity and/or location 17 of the user.

19

30. The system of any of claims 16 to 29 in 20 combination with safety monitoring functions as 21 claimed in WO01/60037.

23

31. A computer program adapted to control a 24 computer to perform the method of any of claims 1 to 25 15.

27

32. A communications device adapted to form part of 28 a system according to any of claims 16 to 30.

30

33. A communications device according to claim 32, 31 being a mobile/cellular telephone.