Patent Application
20070013476
This invention pertains to building monitoring systems. More particularly, it pertains to such systems which incorporate door unlocking circuitry.
It has been recognized that members of an aging population scattered throughout the United States do best when they can continue to live in their homes or residences. Monitoring systems can be used to support such individuals in their normal and customary lifestyle at home. One such monitoring system has been disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,402,691 entitled “In-Home Patient Monitoring System”. Another has been disclosed in pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/956,681, filed Oct. 1, 2004 and entitled “Mobile Telephonic Device and Base Station”. The '681 application has been assigned to the assignee hereof and incorporated herein by reference.
One aspect of residential living involves the presence of doors which at times may be locked. The presence of locked doors may impede the resident or residents exiting the residence in the event of an emergency. Alternately, locked doors may impede neighbors, friends, relatives or professional care givers who may be trying to assist a respective resident in case of a health or other type of emergency if the resident is unable to unlock the door or doors of the residence.
There is a need for systems which can provide a door unlocking function in the event of a medical or other emergency. It would be preferable if such systems could be coupled to a local residential monitoring system and/or a building security system if one is present. It would also be preferable if such unlocking systems could be controlled from one or more displaced monitoring sites.
While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there are shown in the drawing and will be described herein in detail specific embodiments thereof with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated.
In accordance with the invention, a door locking system can be coupled to a local residential monitoring system. In the event that the monitoring system detects a condition at the residence which may require external follow up or intervention, it can notify a remote monitoring agency, or neighbor or relatives that the resident may need help. The same determination and signals can be simultaneously communicated to the door locking system which can in turn unlock one or more respective doors so as to provide easier access to the individual at the residence.
In one aspect of the invention, the monitoring system and the door locking system can be linked using either a wired or wireless medium. For example, conventional electrical wiring can be used. Alternately, the two systems can communicate wirelessly by RF, infrared or ultrasound.
Door locking mechanisms are known and can be coupled to the door locking system. They could, for example, be similar to door locking systems which are known and used in connection with hotels or motels. Alternately, an electromechanical device such as a solenoid driven locking mechanism can be attached to one or more of the doors of the residence. Such electromechanical mechanisms could then replace the original door locking mechanism. A local monitoring system can provide control signals to the door locking mechanism when the door is to be released or unlocked.
The electromechanical mechanisms can be energized using utilities supplied electrical energy or it can be battery operated. Where utility supplied power is primarily used, batter backup can be provided.
In one embodiment of the invention, selected individuals can be provided with a wireless, for example, RF responsive, key which can be used to activate the door locking system or the lock mechanism directly so as to unlock the door or doors from outside of the residence. Such keys could be used by persons having an interest in the resident's health such as relatives, friends, neighbors or agents of the monitoring agency. The keys can be overridden where the resident wishes to maintain privacy.
In another aspect of the invention, the door locking system could also be coupled to both building security and/or a fire protection system, if both are present at the residence. One or more doors can be automatically unlocked in the event of fire or other emergency not necessarily related directly to the resident. Such configurations would make it easier for first responders such as firemen, police, or emergency medical services to gain access to the residence if needed.
The system 10 incorporates a monitoring apparatus 12 of a type which would be known to those of skill in the art for monitoring one or more physiological parameters via sensors S1 . . . Sm of an individual who resides in the region R. The monitored parameters could include, but are not limited to, heart rate, blood pressure, temperature, respiratory rate, or any other physiological parameter of interest.
The sensors could, for example, be worn by the respective individual. The signals from the sensors S1 . . . Sm can be coupled, via a wired or wireless medium, to the apparatus 12.
The system 10 also incorporates a plurality 16 of door locking/unlocking devices such as 16a, 16b . . . 16l. The devices 16a, 16 . . . 16l are coupled to and associated with respective doors. These include rotatable doors A . . . l as well as sliding door B.
The door locking/unlocking devices 16a, 16b . . . 16l can be in wired or wireless communication with apparatus 12, indicated by a plurality of bidirectional signals Da . . . Dl. The devices 16a, 16 . . . 16l can be energized off of adjacent utility supply power, 110 volt ac with or without battery back-up, or, can be solely battery powered.
The physiological sensors indicated generally as S1 . . . Sm can couple values of selected physiological parameters to the apparatus 12 which in turn can carry out a variety of monitoring functions relative thereto. It will be understood that the particular monitoring functions which might be carried out are not limitations of the present invention.
Additionally, the interfaces 22 enable processor 20a to communicate, bidirectionally if desired, with the door locking/unlocking mechanisms such as 16a, 16b . . . 16l. Further, if desired the apparatus 12 could also be coupled to a fire alarm system 26a, a local building security system 26b, or building controls such as heating/AC or illumination 26c.
In the event of a condition developing where the resident might need assistance, whether based on physiologically measured parameters, signals from the fire alarm system, the building security system or building controls, the apparatus 12 can cause the respective door locking/unlocking mechanisms, such as the mechanism 16i, to unlatch the respective door or doors thereby providing access to assist the resident. In addition, if the resident is trying to leave the region R, the unlocked doors minimize any delays in this regard.
Unit 12, which could be a regional physiological monitoring system having the known capabilities of such systems, as for example in the '681 application incorporated by reference herein, could also include a communications port 28 for wired or wireless communication with a displaced location. Locations could include residences or offices of other family members, or, neighbors, or a remote monitoring location. Communications could be via one or more computer networks such as the Internet.
The latch mechanism 30 can be implemented, for example, with the types of mechanisms used to provide key card access to rooms in hotels and motels. Alternately a solenoid-type latch release mechanism, battery or utility powered, can be used.
The unit 16i can also incorporate control circuitry 34 and a wired or wireless input/output interface 36. The control circuits 34 could also include a programmable processor and local control software. The unit 16i could be carried in a wall mountable housing 40.
In response to signals from apparatus 12, the respective door locking/unlocking units 16, such as unit 16i, can automatically unlatch the respective door such that the resident can easily leave the area. Alternately, a remote wireless key 42 could be provided to enable someone outside of the locked doors in the region R to quickly unlock the respective door or doors to assist the resident.
It will be understood the door locking/unlocking units 16, such as the unit 16i, could be disabled by apparatus 12 such that the wireless key entry device 42 is inoperative. In this way, during normal daylight hours, the resident could ensure his/her privacy. At night, the wireless keys such as 42 could be enabled to provide additional security for the resident.
Keys, such as key 42, could be equipped with one of a plurality of authorization codes. Such codes, which could be entered via unit 12, could provide varying degrees of access. For example, some codes could provide access only during predefined time periods or days. Alternately, some codes might unlatch only certain predefined doors. Others could provide unlimited access.
From the above, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific apparatus illustrated herein is intended, or should be inferred. It is, of course, intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the spirit and scope of the those claims.
