Master-Slave PERS Speakerphone with Shared Line Autodialer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Personal emergency response systems (PERS) face challenges in ensuring subscribers can hear and be heard from all areas of their living space due to limitations of a single base unit, and multiple units can interfere when trying to dial a call center concurrently, leading to potential failures in reaching the call center.
Innovation Solution
A PERS system comprising a base unit and extension units with a master/slave relationship, where the base unit includes an autodialer and the extension unit does not, allowing concurrent communication over a shared telephone line without interference, with adjustable microphone and speaker gains to ensure effective communication across the living space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple base units are provided in different areas of the living space, then the subscriber can hear and be heard from all portions of the living space, but multiple base units require multiple telephone lines and may interfere with each other when dialing the call center concurrently
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the PERS into a base unit and one or more extension speakerphone units. The base unit contains the autodialer and initiates calls, while extension units provide additional coverage areas without requiring separate telephone lines. This segmentation allows multiple units to share a single telephone line through coordinated master/slave operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The base unit acts as an intermediary between the telephone line and extension units. It manages the calling sequence by dialing first and then enabling extension units to join the call. This intermediary role prevents call interference by ensuring only one unit actively dials at a time while others can still communicate through the shared line.
2Device complexity
If a single base unit is used, then the system is simple and requires only one telephone line, but the subscriber cannot hear or be heard sufficiently from all areas of the living space
Solution Approach 1:
The base unit serves multiple functions: it acts as both a standalone speakerphone and as a controller for extension units. The extension units inherit calling capability from the base unit through the shared telephone line, allowing them to function as full speakerphones without requiring independent dialing hardware. This multi-functionality provides extended coverage while maintaining system simplicity.
3Reliability
If multiple base units with autodialers are provided, then each unit can independently call the call center, but concurrent dialing attempts can interfere and result in failure to reach the call center
Solution Approach 1:
The base unit performs the dialing action preliminarily before extension units attempt to communicate. When help mode is activated, the base unit dials the call center first, establishes the connection, and then enables extension units to join the call. This preliminary action ensures the telephone line is secured before other units attempt to use it, preventing call interference and ensuring reliable connection to the call center.
Data Source
AI summary
A personal emergency response system (PERS) includes a base unit (16) and one or more extension units (20). The base unit includes a speaker (64), a microphone (72), a telephone interface circuit (40), a microcontroller (46), and an autodialer (48). Each extension unit includes a speaker (164), a microphone (172), a telephone interface circuit (140), and a controller (146) without an autodialer. The base unit controller (46) and the extension unit controller (146) are programmed such that in a help mode, the base unit controller and the extension unit controller assume a master/slave relationship.