11516 results about "Alarm signal" patented technology

A redundant temperature monitoring system and method for an electrosurgical system are provided. The temperature monitoring circuit includes at least one temperature sensor for sensing a temperature at a measuring point, a first temperature measurement circuit coupled to the at least one temperature sensor for generating a first temperature value, a second temperature measurement circuit coupled to the at least one temperature sensor for generating a second temperature value, and a control circuit for determining a difference between the first and second temperature values and for comparing the difference to a first predetermined threshold. If the difference is greater than the first predetermined threshold, the control circuit generates a warning signal. If the difference is greater than a second predetermined threshold, the control circuit generates an alarm signal and / or shuts down a power source of the electrosurgical system.

A tamper-proof electronic security seal which includes a bolt and a locking element and an electronic seal element. The bolt has a head and a hollow shank extending therefrom having a longitudinal bore formed therein. The shank is dimensioned to pass through a lock hasp and has a free end formed for locking engagement with the locking element. The electronic seal element is formed for mechanical connection to the bolt head, and includes an electrical power source, a control unit, communications means responsive to the control unit and a sensor adapted for insertion into the longitudinal bore of the shank, and connected to the control unit. In response to a severing of the shank and the sensor inserted therein, the control unit is operative to activate the communications means to emit an alarm signal.

A robust alarm system has an alarm controller adapted to input an alarm trigger and to generate at least one alarm drive signal in response. Alarm subsystems input the alarm drive signal and activate one or more of multiple alarms accordingly. A subsystem function signal provides feedback to the alarm controller as to alarm subsystem integrity. A malfunction indicator is output from the alarm controller in response to a failure within the alarm subsystems.

The present invention relates to a device for augmenting an alarm signal generated by an analyte monitoring device, e.g., the GlucoWatch(R) (Cygnus, Inc., Redwood City, Calif.) biographer glucose monitoring device, for improving the alarm signal's effectiveness in alerting the user, and / or for communicating the signal to a person or person(s) other than the user, or to a trained assistance animal.

An apparatus for assisting safe operation of a vehicle includes an environment sensor system detecting hazards within the vehicle environment, a driver monitor providing driver awareness data (such as a gaze track), and an attention-evaluation module identifying hazards as sufficiently or insufficiently sensed by the driver by comparing the hazard data and the gaze track. An alert signal relating to the unperceived hazards can be provided.

The present invention relates to a device for augmenting an alarm signal generated by an analyte monitoring device, e.g., the GlucoWatch(R) (Cygnus, Inc., Redwood City, Calif.) biographer glucose monitoring device, for improving the alarm signal's effectiveness in alerting the user, and / or for communicating the signal to a person or person(s) other than the user, or to a trained assistance animal.

An alarm system (100), including ease of programming of a family or group of interoperating alarm devices (102) via a learn mode that detects new devices and provides reliable accounting of the group via state dumps to an external system (104). Reliable communications with the external system (104) are provided via a set of protocols. Disabling of the alarm system is prevented, by transmitting a pre-alarm signal prior to expiration of an entry delay, and by verifying communications with an external device, prior to an alarm-triggering event. Multi-priority message code assignment, including error tolerance, employs n-bit codes with maximized error tolerance. Message transmissions include multiple levels of error protection. The group of monitored alarm devices (102) can be easily set up, purchased and activated by a consumer, and do not become permanent fixtures.

A drowning or asphyxiation prevention system and methods are set forth, for facilitating drowning prevention of swimmers in bodies of water, such as pools, lakes or the like. The drowning prevention safety system comprises a wearable article worn by a swimmer, an alarm indicator for transmitting an alarm condition. The system may further include an alarm receiving system for receiving the alarm signal from the alarm transmitting device. The invention also relates to a heart rate monitoring system comprising a patch type portion to be adhesively applied to the skin of a user to monitor the electrical activity of the heart and generate heart rate information that is communicated to a separate wearable device, such as a wrist worn device.

A system apparatus and method of monitoring in a secured fashion the access, storage and retrieval of information, using a networked modular wireless device. The system may include a network of wireless, Wi-Fi devices (or any other wireless communication mechanism such as GPRS, GSM, iDen), or Nodes, each one of them possibly controlling the access to a medically sensitive object, such as a drawer (or cabinet) or to a medical device, or to another information source, item of equipment, drug, etc as well as tracking via RFid readers the access to the records or information contained in it. In the case of a physical file, each file has an RFid tag on it that is being read when removed or returned to the cabinet. Access to the cabinet and physical records, or to the medical device is monitored by reading the RFiD identity card of personnel accessing the cabinet or medical devices. In addition to controlling the access to the cabinet or medical device by controlling the cabinet lock (or in the case of a small medical device, the lock of an IV, injection device, specimen collection unit, or of a large medical device such as a defibrillator), the node can alert electronically by sending a message to the controlling unit, or by sending a physical alert (such as an alarm signal), when unauthorized personnel is attempting to access the cabinet, the files or devices. The system is useful in the context of monitoring the information contained in physical files, such as medical information, and can be used for access to medical devices, in order to better monitor the authorization rights of personnel participating in processes such as drug delivery or specimen collection. A control unit monitors activity at a plurality of nodes, and assists in storing the list of authorized personnel and files, and can store electronically captured information regarding the physical files (for example, the reason for accessing the file and reasons for changes in it) or medical device. The system can communicate with other information management systems.

A subscriber control circuit adapted to be incorporated in an united home security system is disclosed. The control circuit includes a plurality of client-side monitor / control servers, each serving to detect and control the situation at the subscriber and connected to a remote administrating and monitoring device via a public telephone network. The remote administrating and monitoring device is capable of transmitting alarm signal to an alarm transmitting network. The client-side monitor / control server also includes a central processing unit, a radio frequency receiver for receiving a detection signal from wireless sensing elements and an encoder for receiving and processing a detection signal from cabled sensing element. A DTMF based receiver connects the central processing unit to the remote administrating and monitoring device to receive a DTMF signal transmitted through the telephone line and transmit the received DTMF signal to the central processing unit. A dialer circuit is coupled to the central processing unit for performing automatic dialing operation.

A video security system for the remote verification and monitoring of conditions surrounding an alarm signal. A security gateway at the monitored premises detects alarm conditions and transmits information and video relating to the alarm condition to personnel at a central monitoring station in substantially real time for verification. Various embodiments of the system transmit alarm information to the central monitoring station through hybrid-fiber coaxial, DSL, fiber-optic, high-speed fixed wireless and mobile communications networks. The security system may include secondary alarm notification from the security gateway to the central monitoring station via a second network, such as IP, Ethernet, Internet, frame relay, public switched telephone, wireless, and mobile communications networks.

An alarm system, including ease of programming of a family or group of interoperating alarm devices via a learn mode that detects new devices and provides reliable accounting of the group via state dumps to an external system. Reliable communications with the external system are provided via a set of protocols. Disabling of the alarm system is prevented, by transmitting a pre-alarm signal prior to expiration of an entry delay, and by verifying communications with an external device, prior to an alarm-triggering event. Multi-priority message code assignment, including error tolerance, employs n-bit codes with maximized error tolerance. Message transmissions include multiple levels of error protection. The group of monitored alarm devices can be easily set up, purchased and activated by a consumer, and do not become permanent fixtures.

Methods and systems for remotely configuring and monitoring a communication device are provided, especially useful in a computer network environment such as the Internet. A communication device or network appliance compares communications entering the communication device to a list of communication types established as known security risks, for example hacker attacks, unauthorized attempted access to network resources, or similar network security threats. If the received communication corresponds to a known security risk, the communication is classified as either a high security risk or low security risk, and an alert signal is transmitted to a remote monitoring center. Upon receiving the alert signal, the remote monitoring center assigns a priority to the alert signal based upon the type of the communication that triggered the transmission of the alert signal. Based on the assigned priority, the prioritized alert signal is then forwarded to a remote monitoring agent for resolution. The remote monitoring agent may then analyze the communication, contact the end user of the communication device with an appropriate resolution, or take other appropriate action in response to the received communication. The communication device may also be remotely configured.

The present invention provides a device for administering an injectable product in doses, the device including a casing, a container accommodated by the casing, a delivering appliance for delivering the product from the container, a drive for the delivering appliance, and a means for determining a malfunction of the device, wherein a vibrator motor is accommodated by the casing, the vibrator motor being triggered by the means for determining a malfunction such that it generates a vibrating alarm signal when a malfunction is determined.

A tamper-proof electronic security seal which includes a bolt and a locking element and an electronic seal element. The bolt has a head and a hollow shank extending therefrom having a longitudinal bore formed therein. The shank is dimensioned to pass through a lock hasp and has a free end formed for locking engagement with the locking element. The electronic seal element is formed for mechanical connection to the bolt head, and includes an electrical power source, a control unit, communications means responsive to the control unit and a sensor adapted for insertion into the longitudinal bore of the shank, and connected to the control unit. In response to a severing of the shank and the sensor inserted therein, the control unit is operative to activate the communications means to emit an alarm signal.

The personal security and tracking system that enables an individual in distress to initiate an alarm to alert appropriate personnel combined with a locating and tracking system that enables the alerted personnel to monitor the location of the individual in distress. The system comprises a portable signaling unit includes a locating system and a manual trigger switch to provide the priority alarm levels. The central processing station receiving signals from the portable signaling unit to process and analyze the signal of interpreting the geographical location and the priority alarm signal.

A video monitoring system for a plurality of sites. A site security system is located at each site and includes one or more video cameras each outputting a video signal and a processor configured to receive a video signal from each camera, detect predetermined events based on the video signal, generate a video alarm signal upon the detection of an event, transmit the video alarm signal to a central station, and establish a video signal link either with the central station or one of a plurality of satellite stations according to a predetermined protocol upon the transmission of a video alarm signal. A central station includes a router for routing any received video signal to one or more workstations and for routing the video alarm signal to a server configured to associate the video alarm signal with a particular satellite station and to forward the video alarm signal to that satellite station. The satellite station includes a workstation configured to receive the video alarm signal from the central station and to receive the video signal from the site security system.

A system for managing and securing product and deterring theft in a retail setting includes a system that resides either on a standard retailer shelf or may be a stand-alone system. In an embodiment, the system includes a plurality of shelves and product dividers positioned between the shelves and extending from the front edges of the shelves toward the rear of the shelves. Front retaining walls are positioned at the front edges of the shelves and are configured to have a height that inhibits access to products on the shelves. Individual retaining tabs of varying height may be added in front of rows of taller product to inhibit access to these products. In an embodiment, rigid or moveable barriers may be positioned above retaining walls that further restrict access to the products. With the invention, the “sweeping” of numerous products by a thief is deterred. In another embodiment, an alert device may be configured to detect and monitor movement of the moveable barriers and may provide an alert signal corresponding to the management of product on the shelf or corresponding to a potential theft situation. In an embodiment, the alert device may communicate with a security camera to monitor the vicinity and provide a notification to the potential thief that his actions are being monitored and recorded, or provide a notification to store computer, pager, cellular telephone, or the like. In yet another embodiment, lock mechanisms may be used to further secure high-risk theft items. Also, clips or clip members may be incorporated to further secure the product dividers to the shelves. In addition, an adjustable power bar may be included that is adjustable to accommodate the height adjustments made to the shelves.

A method and apparatus for rapidly soliciting the help of nearby people in a crisis situation such as a kidnapping is disclosed. The invention allows a person such as a parent to alert people who are within a specified radius of the person to voluntarily assist in looking for a missing child, pet, elderly person or other party in the area immediately surrounding the site where the party was last seen. The system allows for this assistance to be solicited within seconds of recognition of the fact that the party is missing. The system operates over the public mobile phone network using available location based services (LBS) technology such as those mandated by the FCC for enhanced 911 mobile emergency calls. Users, once notified of the missing child, could log their locations into the system if they spot the child at a specific time after they receive the alert. The resultant child tracking record is reported to the initial caller periodically by mobile. In addition, local “hot spot” wireless networks based at retail stores, museums, amusement parks etc can also be used to specify the users' location. The alert signal received from a particular wireless hot point in a retail store, for example, would initiate a request for help in searching for the missing person to be broadcast to the same hot point in the same retail store or nearby hotspots over a network managed by a wireless hot spot aggregator or a wireless carrier.

An alert system and apparatus for an emergency alert system is provided to disseminate emergency information to the public utilizing a universal paging system through a personal alert device such as a cellular telephone, pager, PDA or E-FOB. The alert system utilizes an emergency alert system signal from the NOAA alert system to broadcast the alert message to cellular devices in a specified alert area. The broadcast message provides information related to the alert level. The E-FOB may be a passive device which is activated by a NOAA alert signal and then listens for a cellular message. If the E-FOB is within the alert area, the E-FOB provides information to the user. If the E-FOB is not within the alert area, the E-FOB returns to a passive state.

A system (100) is provided for processing status information of a medical device (020-023). The medical device performs a medical function at a bedside of a patient and is arranged for generating an alarm signal (030) to alert a caregiver of the patient to an occurrence of an event which is associated with the performing of the medical function. A status interface (120) acquires a device signal (024) of the medical device, the device signal comprising status information which is indicative of a current status of the performing of the medical function. Moreover, an analysis subsystem (140) analyzes the status information to estimate an imminent occurrence of the event based on said current status, and a notification subsystem notifies the caregiver of the imminent occurrence away from the bedside of the patient of the event by a generating a notification signal (162) for a notification device (060-064). The priority of notifying the caregiver is based on an estimate of whether the patient is asleep. The system enables the caregiver to be notified about the event ahead of time, i.e., before the event occurs and thus before the medical device generates an alarm signal. Advantageously, the patient is less disturbed by alarm signals during sleep.

A wireless device (100) having an optimum alert sequence definition analyzes its environment, including time and type of incoming call, and selects an appropriate alert signal sequence. A central processing unit (114) included within the device (100) is responsive to a transmitted signal from an external communications device to generate active and passive sonic sensing. The reflected signal received through the microphone (110) and a predetermined set of values or ranges stored in a memory (102) coupled to the central processing unit (114) are used as input for a program of instructions tangibly embodied in a programmable storage device executable by the central processing unit (114). Based upon processing of this reflected signal, the central processing unit (114) determines which alert signal is optimum given the environment.The device (100) may further include characterization of the environment based on processing of the ambient noise within the environment and several inputs including: manual inputs (user indication / selection), real time clock (including date), light sensing, temperature sensing, cellular receiver indications (RSSI and local network ID), motion sensing, caller identification, global positioning system data, and radio link reception (i.e. Bluetooth: office / home network, etc.).

A security system to create and maintain a secure communication link between a remote secure storage site and a law enforcement office using a continuous prearranged encrypted signal on the communication link. The authenticity of the encrypted signal is validated at the law enforcement office. Interruption of the encrypted signal is treated as an alarm that must be investigated. Sensors at the remote secure storage site detect intrusions and trigger the transmission of an alarm signal from the site to the law enforcement office on the communication link. The law enforcement office may enable video cameras or containment devices in the event of an intrusion.

The loss prevention system is a system to prevent articles from becoming lost, misplaced, or stolen. The articles are tagged with, or contain, an identifying device such as an RFID tag or a wireless network interface. The identifying device allows the articles to be monitored by a monitor. The monitor periodically interrogates each identifying device with a transmitted RF signal, and generates an alarm signal if an interrogated identifying device does not reply or is out of range. The identifying devices can be acquired by the monitor and associated with an alias that can be used to associate the identifying device with its associated article.

A weather alert system to warn a user when an emergency signal has been broadcast and to simultaneously activate a television or other visual information source and to select a predetermined informational channel. The weather alert system includes a signal detector for detecting a broadcast alarm signal and for generating an activation signal upon detection of the alarm signal. A remote controller is operatively connected to the signal detector for producing a remote control signal in response to said activation signal. The remote control signal is utilized to trigger the activation of a visual information source such as a television or a computer to provide visual information relating to the hazardous condition.

A personnel accountability and situational awareness monitoring communications system for emergency personnel that comprises wireless network-adaptable monitoring devices, peripherals and base station console software for telemetry monitoring of real-time information at a plurality of personnel accountability and situational awareness parameters of critical data about the safety, health and whereabouts of first responders deployed in typically hazardous environments. Exterior incident command, including fire, rescue, safety and other emergency agencies achieve real-time command view and control over a variety of personnel accountability and safety parameters during emergency response activities of personnel wearing the system of the present invention portable device while operating within the wireless network of an emergency incident scene. Configured to be carried by emergency services personnel while deployed on scene, the portable device is a multi-functional sensing and communicating integration of accountability and situational awareness technologies consolidated into one portable, telemetry device. The portable device's multifunctional integrated technology includes the monitoring, telemetry and alert notification of accountability identification, location, assignment notification, vital signs, ambient vicinity temperature, SCBA status, combustible gas sensing, video streaming, “evacuation” recall signaling, signal tracking and multi-alarm signaling if the wearer has either low remaining air pressure / time, impending thermal breakthrough, low battery power, exceeds the safety threshold for safe heart rate or external body temperature readings, or becomes motionless for a predetermined time period.