James Roy Knox

US Patent:

20040207523, Oct 21, 2004

Filed:

Apr 18, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/418788

Inventors:

Robert Powell - Austin TX, US
James Knox - Austin TX, US

Assignee:

SA Corporation, a Texas Corporation - Austin TX

International Classification:

G08B001/08

US Classification:

340/539130, 340/539210, 340/573100

Abstract:

Individuals who carry personal transmitters in a particular area are remotely monitored so that such individuals may indicate an emergency. In the event of an emergency (or other event), the individual may activate his or her personal transmitter. The signal sent by the transmitter is then detected by an array of sensors. The sensors are capable of determining a signal strength of the signal from the personal transmitter. A computer console is coupled to the sensors to receive the signal strength indications. The computer console is capable of calculating a location (e.g., within an area of uncertainty around a point location) of the transmitter based on the received signal strengths determined by one or more of the sensors. Emergency services may then be contacted and dispatched automatically or depending on a set of expert rules or depending on user input. Any emergency situation may be constantly monitored so that multiple emergency locations may be indicated and even tracked as the locations of personal transmitters change in response to a dynamically developing emergency.