IT201800009680A1 - SYSTEM FOR SENDING, RECEIVING AND MANAGING REQUESTS FOR AID OR HELP IN REAL TIME, BASED ON A CLIENT-SERVER ARCHITECTURE CONNECTED VIA THE INTERNET - Google Patents

Description

Description of the industrial invention with TITLE:

SYSTEM FOR SENDING, RECEIVING AND MANAGING REQUESTS FOR AID OR HELP IN REAL TIME, BASED ON A CLIENT-SERVER ARCHITECTURE CONNECTED VIA THE INTERNET.

DESCRIPTION

The use of emergency call devices is known. These devices base their operation mainly on connections to GSM networks to send assistance requests to other GSM terminals or fixed telephones. In fact, they are telephones equipped with a SIM card, or devices that connect to telephones, for sending requests for help or help. These devices realize a one-way point-to-point connection, from the applicant to the requested one. Such devices do not handle requests for distress or help, but only send distress or help requests. This is one of the limitations to be overcome with the present invention.

Another limitation of these devices lies in the duration of their battery, which in fact, by powering a mobile telephone device, does not guarantee a long life. Therefore the user must recharge or replace the battery. This mandatory management for the operation of the device is often inconvenient because it is too frequent. Furthermore, such devices usually do not provide information to users on the state of charge of the battery with the risk of having the device discharged in time of need. In addition, users must manage the SIM card of the device (eg top up the credit needed to use the telephone network to which they are connected). The configuration of these devices for the definition of the list of recipients of requests for help or help, is most of the time difficult and complicated. These are other limits which are to be overcome with the present invention.

Other devices base their operation on Bluetooth communication between themselves and the user's mobile phone. In these cases, the coverage of the Bluetooth signal is not always sufficient to cover the movements that the user can make with respect to the position of his telephone and in any case obliges the user to carry the telephone with him which at this point could be directly used for send a distress or help request. In other cases, the telephone to be used requires the installation of a software (application) to connect the device that sends the emergency requests, and also all the receiving telephones must be equipped with this software, which therefore must necessarily be smartphones and cannot be landline phones. These are other limits which are to be overcome with the present invention.

Often these devices send requests for help or help only by pressing buttons by the user and do not cover cases in which the user may be unable to send such requests. Sometimes these buttons are hard to press and in uncomfortable positions, especially for elderly people, who often have malformations or difficulties in the joints. Such devices do not take into account that if a person is unwell and needs help, he cannot force himself to activate the alarm, or he does not have the possibility to activate it at all (think of the case of a person passed out on the ground). Moreover, many of the devices present today are neither waterproof nor wearable and therefore uncomfortable to carry with you.

The invention proposed here overcomes all these drawbacks and provides many new functions with respect to what is provided by the products present on the market.

Its main novelty is based on the creation of a client-server architecture, which communicates via the Internet (Fig. 1), and which carries out a complete management of the request for help or help.

Another purpose of the present invention is to be simple to use, reliable, easy to manage and effective.

To obviate the drawbacks of the known art and to obtain these and further advantages, the Applicant has studied, tested and implemented the present invention.

The present invention is expressed and characterized in the independent claim. The dependent claims disclose other features of the present invention or variants of the main solution idea.

The invention makes it possible to send, receive and manage requests for help or assistance in real time. It is based on a client-server architecture that exchanges data via the Internet in a bi-directional manner.

The invention is a complex system consisting of:

1) A client-server architecture connected via the Internet

2) A mobile device connected via radio with a base station, making up the client

3) A base station that connects the mobile device to the Internet

4) A server for managing requests for help or assistance, for managing the client (base station mobile device) and for providing services to users The mobile device is wearable and waterproof, equipped with buttons and / or sensors to activate the request for help or voluntarily deactivate it.

The mobile device activates the sending of the request for help both manually and automatically. The mobile device deactivates the sending of the help request only in manual.

When the request is sent, the mobile device emits luminous and / or acoustic and / or mechanical signals, which inform that the request for help has been sent. The request is forwarded to the server which in turn sends, to a list of predefined people, both a telephone call, an SMS (short text message), and an email to inform about the request for help.

The emails sent contain a link to a web page on the Internet. Through this web page, the people contacted can send a message to the mobile device which, once received, changes its status by emitting light and / or acoustic and / or mechanical signals, different from the previous ones, to inform that the request for help was collected. Furthermore, always through the web page opened via the link in the email, the invention can provide a series of services relating to the request for help or help.

When the request is voluntarily deactivated, the mobile device emits luminous and / or acoustic and / or mechanical signals, other than those issued for the request for help or assistance, which inform that the request has been voluntarily deactivated. The recipients are informed by email and SMS of the voluntary cancellation of the request.

The mobile device is battery powered. The mobile device, in its nominal operation, puts itself in a state of low consumption to preserve battery life and is activated only when strictly necessary. When the battery is about to run out, the user (and the recipients of requests for help or assistance) are notified by email and SMS of the need to replace it. In addition, the client periodically sends signals to the server to ensure that the alarm device is functioning properly. In the event that the periodic information does not arrive, the server sends the user (and the recipients of requests for help or assistance) an email and an SMS to inform that the device is not working correctly. All information to and from the client is handled by the server on the Internet.

The client of the invention consists of the mobile device and a base connected to the Internet (Fig. 2). A radio connection is established between the mobile device and the base station. The base device has a double interface, one radio frequency to connect with the mobile device and the other to connect to the Internet.

The server receives and manages, via the Internet, all requests for help coming from mobile devices and makes telephone calls, and sends SMS and emails (Fig. 3). In forwarded emails, the server provides links to web pages that provide additional services relating to the request for help or help. Furthermore, the server provides the user with a web page (with personal access by the user, via a password chosen by the user himself) to configure the alarm service (e.g. telephone numbers to call, email list to contact), to verify the correct functioning of the client (check the battery level of the mobile device, check the Internet connection) and provide other services relating to the request for help or assistance (Fig. 4).

In other embodiments, it is possible to provide for the use of a system to transmit, receive and manage in real time, requests for assistance or help for urgent interventions of various kinds.

ILLUSTRATION OF DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become clearer from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the device according to the present invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 schematically illustrates the client-server architecture on which the invention is based. As can be seen from the drawing, the Internet acts as a bi-directional communication channel between the client and the server;

Figure 2 illustrates in the form of a block diagram the mobile device and the base station, constituting the client of Figure 1, which are connected to each other via bi-directional radio frequency communication. In turn, the radio station connects via WiFi connection to the router / modem which in turn is connected to the Internet;

Figure 3 illustrates in the form of a block diagram the WiFi router / modem that connects the client via the Internet network to the Server of the invention, which provides the services to the users;

Figure 4 illustrates the discovery server, which provides n-users with, among other services, client alarms and statuses in the form of telephone calls, SMS (short text messages) and emails, the ability to configure the client and of the help or rescue request service, access to further services relating to the request for help or assistance.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERENTIAL FORM OF PRODUCTION

In the following embodiments, single characteristics, reported in relation to specific examples, can be interchanged with other different characteristics, existing in other embodiments.

Furthermore, it should be noted that everything that in the course of the procedure for obtaining the patent turns out to be already known, is intended not to be claimed and the subject of an excerpt from the claims.

As is well known, there are many people who live alone or who have disabilities, such as elderly people, deaf and dumb people, disabled people in wheelchairs, and who may need to ask for help but who are unable to do so in time of need.

The invention is intended as a solution to such problems.

It is a system based on:

1) A client-server architecture connected via the Internet

2) A mobile device connected via radio with a base station, making up the client

3) A base station that connects the mobile device to the Internet

4) A server for managing requests for help or assistance, for managing the client (base station mobile device) and for providing services to users The mobile device is wearable and waterproof, equipped with buttons and / or sensors to activate the request for help.

By pressing a button or by putting a hand close to a specific area of the mobile device, where a proximity sensor is present, the manual request for help is activated. The pressure of the button or the presence of the hand in the proximity area must be maintained for a few seconds before being able to activate the rescue or help dispatch. This is to reduce the likelihood of false alarms. Other sensors (e.g. a gyroscope), allow the automatic sending of the request for help in case they detect, for example, the falls of the subject wearing the device or situations of danger to health (e.g. high heart rate, high temperature corporeal).

When the alarm is sent, the mobile device emits light and / or acoustic and / or mechanical (vibration) signals, which inform the person in difficulty that the request for help has been sent. The request is forwarded to the server which in turn sends, to a list of predefined people, both a telephone call and an email to inform about the request for help or assistance.

The request for help or assistance can be voluntarily canceled by the wearer of the mobile device. In this case the server informs (via SMS and email) the recipients of the distress or help request that the initial request has been voluntarily canceled. The ability to voluntarily cancel requests allows you to reduce false alarms due, for example, to incorrect pressing of the button used to send requests. When the request has been voluntarily canceled, the status of the mobile device returns to its nominal condition and no longer emits light and / or acoustic and / or mechanical (vibration) signals.

The mobile device is battery powered. The radiofrequency connection between the mobile device and the base station is made with a protocol that allows low consumption. In addition, the mobile device goes into a low-power state to preserve battery life and is activated only when strictly necessary. When the battery is about to run out, the user (and the recipients of distress or help requests) are notified by email that it needs to be replaced. In addition, both the mobile device and the base station periodically send information to the server to ensure that the client is functioning properly. In the event that the periodic information does not arrive, an email will be sent from the server to the users to inform that the client is not functioning correctly.

All information to and from the client is managed by the server on the Internet.

The client of the invention consists of the mobile device and a base station. The base station has a double radio frequency interface, one to connect with the mobile device and the other WiFi to connect with the network that allows access to the Internet (for example via a WiFi router / modem). A radio connection other than WiFi is established between the mobile device and the base station. This radio connection allows a reduced consumption of the battery installed in the mobile device. The base station is powered by a 220V mains socket.

The server receives, via the Internet, all requests for help coming from mobile devices. The server manages requests for help or assistance and routes telephone calls, emails and SMS to the recipients. The server also automatically sends, via email and SMS, information regarding the non-nominal operation of the client and those regarding the electrical voltage of the battery when the voltage drops below the predefined threshold levels and such as to compromise the correct functioning of the mobile device. .

The emails sent by the server in cases of requests for help or help, contain a link to a web page on the Internet. Through this web page, the people contacted can send a message to the mobile device which, once received, changes its status by emitting light and / or acoustic and / or mechanical signals (vibrations), different from the previous ones, to inform the person. in trouble that his request for help was answered. Another possibility envisaged by the invention is that of being able to view, for example, always through the link received in the email, the images of a video surveillance system installed in the premises where the person in difficulty is present. Through the images it is therefore possible to verify the actual seriousness of the request for help.

The server also provides the user with a web page (with personal access by the user, via a password chosen by the user himself) to configure the alarm service (e.g. telephone numbers to call, email list to contact) and check the operating status of the mobile device (check the battery level of the mobile device, check the Internet connection).

It is noted that other embodiments provide for the use of a system to transmit, receive and manage in real time, requests for assistance or help for urgent interventions of various kinds.

From the previous description, it can be seen that the system according to the present invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects, since it fully allows requesting, receiving and managing requests for help or assistance via an Internet connection.

The device thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept.

The materials used and the constituent dimensions, the individual elements of the invention may of course be more pertinent according to specific requirements.

The different means to perform certain different functions must certainly not coexist only in the illustrated embodiment, but may be present in themselves in many embodiments, even not illustrated, without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention.

The characteristics indicated as advantageous, suitable or similar, may also be missing or be replaced by equivalents.

The invention therefore makes it possible to safeguard the safety of all those people who would not have the means to request help or assistance. It is simple to use, very low maintenance (only the battery of the mobile device is changed), easy to install, with a comfortable and easy to wear mobile device, waterproof and automated in its functions and operation.

It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person skilled in the art will certainly be able to realize many other equivalent shapes, having the characteristics expressed in the claims and therefore all falling within the scope of protection. defined by them.

Claims (6)

CLAIMS of the industrial invention having the TITLE: SYSTEM FOR SENDING, RECEIVING AND MANAGING REQUESTS FOR AID OR HELP IN REAL TIME, BASED ON A CLIENT-SERVER ARCHITECTURE CONNECTED VIA THE INTERNET. CLAIMS 1. System for sending, receiving and managing in real time requests for help or help, based on a client-server architecture connected via the Internet, with bi-directional data exchange, consisting of a mobile device connected via radio with a base station (making up the client), a base station that connects the mobile device to the Internet, a server for managing requests for help or assistance, for managing the client and for providing users with services related to requests for relief or help. 2. System for sending, receiving and managing in real time requests for help or help, based on a client-server architecture connected via the Internet, as in claim 1, characterized by the fact that the client consists of a mobile device and a base station connected to each other via radio frequency, which exchange data, in a bi-directional manner, relating to requests for assistance or help, to the status information of the mobile device, to the configuration commands of the mobile device, providing users , through the server, periodic indications on their functional status, in particular in relation to their power supply levels, their operating status, the status of their sensors, the status of their radio frequency communication channels, for the correct maintenance of the client by the user, such as to guarantee the integrity of the client in its essential functionalities for its correct functioning at the moment of need. 3. System for sending, receiving and managing in real time requests for help or help, based on a client-server architecture connected via the Internet, as in the previous claims, characterized by the fact that the mobile device belonging to the client , is battery powered, waterproof and wearable, periodically provides the server with information on its operating status, is equipped with keys and / or sensors to activate the request for help or assistance, with the characteristic of being able to send requests either manually by the subject who wears the mobile device, both automatically by the device itself based on the measurements made by its sensors, with the characteristic of changing its state both when the alarm is activated, emitting light and / or acoustic signals and / or mechanical nature (vibrations), which inform that the request for help or assistance has been sent, both when it receives the information from the server on the Internet that the distress or help request has been correctly received and read, emitting light and / or acoustic and / or mechanical signals (vibrations) that differ from the previous ones, both when the distress or help request is voluntarily deactivated by the user, changing his status to inform of the deactivation. 4. System for sending, receiving and managing in real time requests for help or help, based on a client-server architecture connected via the Internet, as in the previous claims, characterized by the fact that the base station connects simultaneously to the mobile device via radio, and to the Internet, exchanging data with them in a bi-directional manner, thus acting as a communication bridge between the server and the mobile device, which advantageously automatically and periodically sends information on its status to the server operation and the status of communication via the Internet. 5. System for sending, receiving and managing in real time requests for help or help, based on a client-server architecture connected via the Internet, as in the previous claims, characterized by the fact that the server on the Internet receives and manages all requests for help or assistance from active clients and redirects them in the form of a telephone call (both for fixed and mobile numbers), emails and SMS (short text messages) to a predefined but configurable list of people, sends the client the confirms that the distress or help request has been correctly received and read by at least one of the recipients, provides services in relation to the configuration, management and verification of distress or help requests, manages the configuration of the client and the verification of its status via connection to the Internet, a server that advantageously sends users maintenance requests automatically from the client, when necessary, based on information periodic received by the client itself, a server which also advantageously provides services for configuring the lists of recipients of requests for help or help, which informs users on the operating status of both the mobile device and the base station, server that offers individual users, personal web pages, whose access is protected by a password chosen by the user himself, for the management of system configuration services for the request for assistance or help via Internet connection, server that offers additional services such as viewing the location from which request for help or help was made in the event that this place is equipped with a video surveillance system connected to the Internet, the biometric information and the measurement of the vital parameters of the person wearing the mobile device. 6. System for sending, receiving and managing in real time requests for help or help, based on a client-server architecture connected via the Internet, as in the previous claims, characterized by the fact that the user, for the through the server on the Internet, as per claim 5, it receives information on requests for help or assistance, sends confirmations of correct receipt of requests for help or assistance, receives information on the status of the client for its correct maintenance in order to keep it intact in its functionality essential and such as to guarantee its correct functioning in the moment of need, as per claim 2, it receives services related to the request for help or help such as viewing images from a video surveillance system, or as the biometric data and vital parameters of the subject who wears the mobile device, the user also via web pages dedicated to him and protected by a personal password, configur a the client and displays its status, and configures the distress or help request service.