Speakerphone control techniques and emergency call systems

Abstract

Emergency call system which enables an individual to summon assistance includes an emergency call unit connectable to a telephone line, at least one remote speakerphone unit having a speakerphone and connectable to the same telephone line as the emergency call unit, and at least one pendant adapted to be worn by the individual and including a button. The emergency call unit is arranged to determine whether any remote speakerphone units are off-hook when the button on the pendant is actuated and if so, send a signal to each remote speakerphone unit to disconnect from the telephone line. If one of the remote speakerphone units is off-hook, it will not interfere with the functioning of the emergency call unit. The emergency call unit is also arranged to dial a predetermined emergency telephone number when the button on the pendant is actuated and the telephone line is available for an outbound call.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]The present application is a Divisional Application of U.S. application Ser. No. 11 / 423,872 filed Jun. 13, 2006, which is incorporated herein by reference.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The present invention relates generally to arrangements and methods for controlling and using speakerphones associated with telephones.[0003]The present invention also relates generally to emergency call systems, and in particular, to emergency call systems for aiding persons in distress, for example, due to medical, fire, burglary or other emergencies.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0004]Nowadays, a vast majority of telephones include a speakerphone which allows for hands-free use of the telephone. When the speakerphone is activated, e.g., by pressing a button on the telephone, a user can talk and listen over the telephone line so long as the user remains within the reception or talking range of a microphone associated with the telephone and within the listening...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0016]Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide emergency call systems that eliminate deficiencies of prior art emergency call systems described above.

[0017]It is another object of the present invention to provide new and improved emergency call units which permit communication between the called party and the person placing the emergency call.

[0018]It is still another object of the present invention is to provide new and improved emergency call units which allow emergency calls to be placed even when an extension telephone is off-hook.

[0019]It is yet another object of the present invention to provide new and improved techniques to control speakerphones associated with telephones. One such technique allows simultaneous activation of the speakerphone of multiple telephones situated throughout a home or office so that a user can walk throughout the home or office and use the closest speakerphone to participate in the telephonic conversation.

[0020]In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a speakerphone control system includes a pendant adapted to be worn by the individual and including one or more response mechanisms for responding to a user's action and a plurality of speakerphone units coupled to a common telephone line and adapted to be arranged throughout a structure with partially overlapping or non-overlapping listening and talking ranges. Each response mechanism is arranged to convert the user's action into signals receivable by the speakerphone units to cause selected ones of the speakerphone units to activate their speakerphones such that when the speakerphone units are activated and a call is in progress on the telephone line, the user can interact with different speakerphone units.

[0023]The emergency call unit may be arranged to send a signal to each remote speakerphone unit to activate its speakerphone while or after it dials the predetermined emergency telephone number. This allows the individual to hear the outbound dialing and communicate with the called party once the call is answered from any of the remote speakerphone units.

Problems solved by technology

If the user moves out of the reception range, although they can speak, the other party to the call will not be able to hear the user.

Similarly, if the user moves out of the listening range, the user will not be able to hear the other party to the call.

However, such an arrangement is relatively complicated and costly.

Specifically, such an arrangement operates in a similar manner to a central burglar or fire alarm in a house, and requires a separate, complicated wiring assembly for the house, at a considerable cost.

Also, such a system requires that a central station be provided, and therefore, the subscriber to such a system must pay a monthly fee for such service, adding further to the cost of the system.

Also, a problem with known systems is that if a central station, upon calling a telephone number for aid, continuously receives a busy signal, the central station may stop calling after a number of attempts, so that the person in distress does not receive aid.

However, note that use of the speakerphone is only possible when the person in the emergency situation is in the same room or in the general vicinity of the emergency dialer.

So while aid can be summoned from a greater distance using the remote emergency pendant, the person summoning help will not be able to converse with a called party from such a distance.

Further if an extension telephone is off-hook, the emergency call unit will not be able to place any emergency calls since it cannot gain control of the telephone line.

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