Patent Grant
7308246
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an emergency notification system and an emergency notification device. More particularly, the invention relates to an emergency notification system and an emergency notification device to be employed therein, which can perform processes from registration to the emergency notification system to transmission of emergency notice without using voice.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the recent years, owing to spreading of cellular telephone, it becomes possible to send emergency notification of fire dispatch, calling for ambulance and so forth immediately on site. However, it is frequency happen that communicants does not know the site of emergency state to take relatively long period to go into action. On the other hand, when nonperson, such as person with impaired hearing, subjecting to disaster has to do emergency notification, such person cannot inform the content of the emergency state and the own position for difficulty in normal telephone communication using voice. Concerning the emergency notification system, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2001-8265 discloses a personal security system using a cellular telephone terminal with GPS (Global Positioning System). In the disclosed personal security system, the emergency notification system is connected to a preliminarily registered management center by depressing an emergency button and a position information measured by using GPS is displayed on the management center.
However, the foregoing personal security system is premised that communication between the cellular telephone terminal and the management center is performed by using voice. Therefore, unless communication with voice is performed, after operation of emergency button, kind of emergency cannot be identified. In this point, the disclosed system cannot be said to be adapted to nonperson subjecting to disaster. On the other hand, the conventional emergency notification system employs dedicated terminal therefor. Such emergency notification system cannot be said to be easily used for high cost to purchase and necessity of carrying the dedicated terminal only for emergency notification.
An object of the present invention is to provide an emergency notification system which can perform emergency notification by using a normal cellular telephone terminal instead of a dedicated terminal without requiring communication using a voice.
In order to accomplish the above-mentioned objects, an emergency notification system, according to the present invention, comprises:
The emergency notification system according to the present invention displays a menu for identifying kind of emergency notification on the display screen of the cellular telephone terminal to enable to easily notify the content of emergency happening even for nonperson of disaster.
On the other hand, the emergency notification system includes the emergency notification device connected with the mobile communication network including the cellular telephone terminal via the communication line. In the emergency notification device, when access is made from the cellular telephone terminal via the mobile communication network, the screen image for displaying the menu for identifying kind of the emergency notification on the display screen of the cellular telephone terminal is transmitted.
In the emergency notification device of the present invention, when access is made from the cellular telephone terminal. Therefore, by selecting one of items in the menu, kind of the emergency happening can be identified, nonperson of disaster can easily notify the content of the emergency happening.
In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the emergency notification system and the emergency notification device may include means responsive to reception of emergency notification from the cellular telephone terminal through the mobile communication network for checking whether the cellular telephone terminal is registered in the emergency notification system.
By providing the emergency notification service for the registrant of this system, emergency notification business can be established. On the other hand, by making reference to the registered information, the user of the cellular telephone terminal can be identified to provide an appropriate service.
In the preferred construction, the cellular telephone terminal may include position measuring means, the emergency notification device may include means for demanding transmission of position information of the cellular telephone terminal upon receipt of the emergency notification from the cellular telephone terminal.
By identifying the position of the cellular telephone terminal, the information of the position can be dominant information upon emergency notification. On the other hand, the communicant may notify own position without requiring voice communication.
In the preferred construction, the cellular telephone terminal may include means for displaying a menu for selecting whether transmission of position information is permitted or not, on the screen of the cellular telephone terminal, in response to the demand for transmission of position information from the emergency notification device.
In case of the position information, it can be considered that the user does not want to notify the position in view point of privacy protection. Upon permitting transmission of the position information displayed on the cellular telephone terminal, the position information will not be transmitted when permission is not given.
In the preferred construction, the emergency notification device may include means for transmitting a reception information indicative of reception of the emergency notification from the cellular telephone terminal, and the cellular telephone terminal includes means for generating vibration in response to reception of the reception information.
In order to notify that the emergency notification is normally received, the function of generating vibration in the cellular telephone terminal is used. By this, the communicant can confirm that notification is received.
Preferably, the cellular telephone terminal may include a camera for transmitting image information to the emergency notification device.
By transmitting image using camera, it becomes possible to transmit information such as environmental information where the communicant is placed, presence or absence and/or degree of injury and so forth, to the emergency notification device.
In the preferred construction, the emergency notification device may include means responsive to the emergency notification from the cellular telephone for transmitting a message indicative of occurrence of received emergency notification to at least one telephone registered in relation to the cellular telephone terminal.
By transmitting the notification not only to the relevant office by also to the registered person having close connection or personal physician, more subtle treatment becomes possible.
In the preferred construction, the emergency notification device may include means responsive to the emergency notification calling ambulance from the cellular telephone terminal, for obtaining health data of registrant registered in relation to the cellular telephone terminal from a hospital.
By connecting the emergency notification device and a server in the hospital in on-line manner, point to keep in mind in view point of held can be seen at early timing from clinical history, medication history and so forth to permit appropriate treatment.
In the preferred construction, the emergency notification device includes a database storing a registration information including an ID number of the cellular telephone terminal and a personal information of registrant.
From the cellular telephone terminal, personal information of the registrant and the ID number of the cellular telephone terminal are transmitted to the emergency notification device through the mobile communication network.
It is also the preferred feature of the present invention that the cellular telephone terminal includes means for transmitting a personal information on the basis of screen information for registration received from the emergency notification device.
By transmitting the matters necessary for registration from the emergency notification device as character information, the person who desired to be registered, it can be done only by inputting necessary information according to the guidance on the screen image. Particularly, such system is friendly to nonperson in disaster.
It is further preferred that a channel connecting the mobile communication network and the emergency notification system is a dedicated line.
By constantly connecting the mobile communication network and the emergency notification device by dedicated line, quick response to emergency happening can be enabled.
It is also the preferred feature of the present invention that a screen information for displaying a menu for identifying kind of emergency disaster is transmitted from the emergency notification device.
Upon emergency notification by selecting item in the menu transmitted from the emergency notification device, the communicant may easily notify the content of emergency happening.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, a broad area emergency notification system includes a plurality of emergency notification systems respectively connected to a plurality of mobile communication networks,
By connecting a plurality of emergency notification systems through dedicated line, emergency notification service can be provided in boarder area. Similarly to the normal user of the mobile communication network who does not care difference of service area, the user of the emergency notification system may perform emergency notification with paying attention to difference of the service area.
According to the third aspect of the present invention, an emergency notification device connected to a mobile communication network including a cellular telephone terminal through a communication line, comprises:
The emergency notification device may further comprise means, responsive to reception of emergency notification from the cellular telephone terminal through the mobile communication network, for making judgment whether the cellular telephone terminal is registered in the emergency notification network. The emergency notification device may further comprises means, responsive to reception of the emergency notification from the cellular telephone terminal, for transmitting a message for announcing received emergency notification to at least one telephone registered in relation to the cellular telephone terminal.
The present invention will be understood more fully from the detailed description given hereinafter and from the accompanying drawings of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, which, however, should not be taken to be limitative to the invention, but are for explanation and understanding only.
In the drawings:
The present invention will be discussed hereinafter in detail in terms of the preferred embodiments of emergency notification system according to the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be obvious, however, to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details.
It should be noted that while the following disclosure of the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be given under the premise that a user of the emergency notification system is a man with impaired hearing, application of the present invention is not limited to this.
First Embodiment
The emergency notification device 9 is connected to the mobile communication network 2 via a dedicated line 8 and has a function for transmitting and receiving data with the cellular phone terminal 1. The emergency notification device 9 is constructed with a sign-upserver 3, a content server 4, a database 5, a management server 6 and a concentrated monitoring board 7. The sign-up server 3 has a function for correcting personal information of the user using the cellular telephone terminal 1 and a personal authentication function. The database 5 has a function for reading out information from the sign-up server 3 and accumulating registered information including personal information of registrants and ID numbers of the telephone 5 terminals. The content server 4 has a function for receiving a signal from the cellular telephone terminal 1 and transmitting browser information required for the cellular telephone terminal 1. The management server 6 has a function for accumulating personal information and position information and a function 10 for transferring those information to the concentrated monitoring board 7. The management server 6 also has a function for relaying and transferring a signal from the concentrated monitoring board 7 to the content server 4.
Flow of registering operation will be discussed with reference to
When “Registration” is selected from the menu in the emergency notification service menu screen image A2, registration operation is initiated between the cellular telephone terminal 1 and the sign-up server 3. Then, from the cellular telephone terminal, an authentication demand for the emergency notification service, a Sub ID as ID information unique to the cellular telephone terminal 1 are transmitted to the sign-up server 3 (step S3). The sign-up server 3 transmits screen image information necessary for initial registration to the cellular telephone terminal 1 (step S4). When the screen image information is received, the cellular telephone terminal 1 displays a registration screen image A3. A person desiring registration inputs necessary information, such as name, telephone number and so forth according to guidance on the screen image, to transmit to the sign-up server (step S5). The information transmitted to the sign-up server 3 is directly accumulated in the database 5. On the side of the emergency notification device 9, since all of these series of operation is performed by the sign-up server 3, registration can be performed without requiring manual operation. After completion of the registration, the emergency notification system can be available by the cellular telephone terminal.
Next, as an example, a case where the user desires to perform emergency notification relating to occurrence of fire to a fire station, will be discussed. At the occurrence of happening requiring emergency notice, the user establishes connection with the WAP server 10 from the cellular telephone terminal 1 (step S6). Then, the user opens the menu screen image A1. Among items in the menu screen image A1, the screen notification service menu screen image A2 is recalled (step S7). When “Fire” is selected among items in the emergency notification service menu screen image A2, a packet signal containing the emergency notification reception demand, Sub ID and emergency classification, is transmitted to the content server 4 (step S8). The content server 4 issues the authentication demand based on transmitted Sub ID with the sign-up server 3. When authentication is completed, an individual information is identified.
The content server 4 transmits a position measurement demand to the cellular telephone terminal 1 (step S10). In the cellular telephone terminal 1, a position measurement verification screen image A4 for selecting whether position measurement is accept or not, is displayed. It should be noted that this screen image can be eliminated by setting. When “YES” is selected, position measurement of the user is initiated between the position measuring server 11 and the cellular telephone terminal 1 (step S1). In practice, GPS is used. The position measuring server 11 transmits information designating satellite available to the cellular telephone terminal, to the cellular telephone terminal 1. Utilizing the satellite designated by the information transmitted from the position measuring server 11, the cellular telephone terminal 1 derives latitude and longitude of own position to transmit to the position measuring server 11 as temporary position information. In the information of latitude and longitude, error can be contained. The position measuring server compares information transmitted from the cellular telephone terminal 1 on the basis of already known latitude and longitude of the own position and an orbit information of GPS for performing correction. The position measuring server 11 transmits information containing corrected latitude and longitude and error to the cellular telephone terminal 1. By this information, the position of the cellular telephone terminal 1 can be identified more accurately. The cellular telephone terminal 1 transmits the information containing latitude, longitude and error to the content server 4 (step S12).
The position information, personal information and information of emergency classification and so forth are transferred to the concentrated monitoring board 7 from the content server 4 (step S13), and displayed on a monitoring screen of the concentrated monitoring board 7. When reception of emergency notification is confirmed, the concentrated monitoring board 7 returns a reception signal to the content server 4. Upon confirmation of the reception signal, the content server 4 transmits a reception information to the cellar telephone terminal 1. The cellular telephone terminal 1 then notifies that the emergency notification is normally received, to the user by reception display A5 and vibration of the main body of the cellular telephone terminal (step S14). On the other hand, on the basis of the information on the display screen of the concentrated monitoring board 7, an operator calls out associated offices, for example, fire engine, ambulance and so forth.
In the shown embodiment of the emergency notification system according to the present invention, man of impaired hearing can perform emergency notification identifying a position and kind of emergency notification using only normal cellular telephone terminal without using a voice even when own position is not known at a visited place. On the other hand, using the message and vibration, reception verification is performed. Therefore, completion of the notification can be conformed.
Second Embodiment
The cellular telephone terminal 1 has a function of feeding an image picked-up using the camera, a position measuring function, a data transmitting and receiving function and function providing vibration to the main body. The image server 12 arranged in the emergency notification device 9 has a function for receiving image from the cellular telephone terminal and image data management function. The emergency notification device 9 is connected to the hospital 13 via the dedicated line 8 and can receive the personal data 14 in the hospital.
Hereinafter, discussion will be given for the case where the user performs emergency notification. When the user registered in the emergency notification device 9 performs emergency notification using the cellular telephone terminal 1, peripheral information, accident information, fault information picked-up by the camera is accumulated in the image server 12 of the emergency notification device 9. Classification of fire dispatch or ambulance, Sub ID, position information and picked-up image information are transferred to the concentrated monitoring board 7. Upon notification calling ambulance, information of medical history of the communicant can be immediately corrected by retrieving personal data 14 in the hospital 13. As required, the image data from the cellular telephone terminal 1 is transmitted to the hospital 13 to permit early medication in remote by showing the image data to the doctor.
In the second embodiment, by utilizing the camera of the cellular telephone terminal 1, the emergency notification device 9 can be visually check environmental and peripheral condition where the communicant is placed, by the image. On the other hand, by establishing connection with the hospital 13 via the dedicated line 8, by making reference to personal data, such as medical history of the communicant, it can be used for emergency operation. By further transferring the image to the hospital 13, instruction from the hospital can be received.
Third Embodiment
The shown embodiment of the emergency notification system is differentiated from other embodiment in that the emergency notification device 9 performs automatic notice to the preliminarily registered recipient 15 when the user performs emergency notification. As the registered recipient 15, a personal physician, family person, rellie, care giver and so forth are considered. By preliminarily registering the recipient, simultaneously with emergency notification, notice can be given for a person having close connection with the communicant. Thus, more suitable service can be provided to the user.
Fourth Embodiment
The mobile communication networks 32 and 42 having different service areas are connected to a gateway 40. Using this gateway 40, the user of the mobile communication network 32 of the service area A may receive service in the mobile communication network 42 in the service area B. The users of the cellular telephone terminals 31 and 41 may communicate either in the service areas A and B. Namely, the user may use the cellular telephone terminal without considering, to which of the mobile communication networks, the own terminal is communicating.
Discussion will be given for an example where user of the emergency notification system using the mobile communication network 32 of the service area A and registered in the emergency notification device 39, are present. The user using the emergency notification system in the mobile communication network 32 purchases the cellular telephone terminal 21 with position measuring function and makes initial registration. This initial registration is completed by receiving personal information in the sign-up server 35 of the emergency notification device 39 connected to the mobile communication network 32 through the private network 38 and registering the personal information to the database 36. When the user desire to perform emergency notification to a fire station in the service area A, similarly to the examples of the first to third embodiments, the emergency notification device 39 receives the emergency notification to take necessary action. The personal information of the user is stored in the database 36. Thus, personal information necessary for authentication or so forth is read out from the database 36.
It is assumed that the user in possession of the cellular telephone terminal 31 moves from the service area A to the service area B. While the service area A and the service area B are constructed with different mobile communication networks, the user may use the normal cellular telephone terminal 31 through the mobile communication network 42 without requiring user's attention by operation of the gateway 40. When emergency notification is made using the cellular telephone terminal 31 from the service area B, the authentication demand is transmitted to the sign-up server 45 through the mobile communication network 42. The sign-up server 45 makes reference to a relationship between the Sub ID and the registered area of the registrant registered in all of service areas stored in the database, to recognize that the user in possession of the cellular telephone terminal 31 is registered in the service area A.
When recognition is made that the information of the user is registered in the service area A, the emergency notification device 49 inquires information of the user for the emergency notification device 39 in the service area A connected through the dedicated line 58. The information of the user using the cellular telephone 31 is copied from the personal information in the database 36 in the emergency notification device 39 of the service area A. The copied personal information is temporarily accumulated in the database 46. Then, on the basis of the copied personal information, authentication is performed. Then, the user may receive service similar to that can receive in the service area A where the user is registered, even in the service area B. In this period, the user does not pay any attention for difference of the service area and is not required any special operation.
Although the present invention has been illustrated and described with respect to exemplary embodiment thereof, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and various other changes, omission and additions may be made therein and thereto, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention should not be understood as limited to the specific embodiment set out above but to include all possible embodiments which can be embodied within a scope encompassed and equivalent thereof with respect to the feature set out in the appended claims.
For instance, the emergency notification system and the emergency notification device according to the present invention is not particularly applicable for calling fire engine and ambulance but can be applicable for emergency notification for other purpose. Furthermore, it is possible to transmit screen image information requiring information of degree of injury, presence or absence of external injury to the cellular telephone terminal for collecting more information.
As set forth above, the emergency notification system and emergency notification device can perform emergency notification using only normal cellular telephone terminal and without speaking in voice.
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