US-12626583-B1 - Methods and systems for controlling an emergency response device

US12626583B1US 12626583 B1US12626583 B1US 12626583B1US-12626583-B1

Abstract

One example system includes an alerting device and a second portable communication device. The alerting device may include a docking station and a first portable communication device removably secured to the docking station. The alerting device may output an alert including an audible alert, a visible alert, or both the audible alert and the visible alert in response to determining that the first portable communication device has been removed from the docking station. The second portable communication device may be configured to transmit, in response to activating a silent emergency report based on a user input, a signal to cause the alerting device to operate in a stealth mode in which the alerting device is configured to refrain from outputting the alert in response to determining that the first portable communication device has been removed from the docking station.

Inventors

Woei Chyuan TAN
Chung Yong Chong
Sowmya Gendehally Ramegowda
Lakshmi Yuvaraj

Assignees

MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS, INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20250106

Claims (20)

1 . A system comprising: an alerting device including: a docking station secured to a surface within a building and including a first electronic processor, and a first portable communication device removably secured to the docking station, the first portable communication device including a first camera and a first microphone for capturing first input data, and a second electronic processor for streaming the first input data to a remote location via a first network interface; wherein the alerting device is configured to: determine that the first portable communication device has been removed from the docking station, and control the docking station, the first portable communication device, or both the docking station and the first portable communication device to output an alert including an audible alert, a visible alert, or both the audible alert and the visible alert in response to determining that the first portable communication device has been removed from the docking station; and a second portable communication device including: a user interface, a second network interface, and a third electronic processor coupled to the user interface and the second network interface, wherein the third electronic processor is configured to: receive, via the user interface, a user input activating a silent emergency report at the second portable communication device, and transmit, via the second network interface and in response to activating the silent emergency report, a signal to cause the alerting device to operate in a stealth mode in which the docking station and the first portable communication device are configured to refrain from outputting the alert in response to determining that the first portable communication device has been removed from the docking station.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the docking station includes a second camera and a second microphone for capturing second input data, and wherein the first electronic processor is configured to stream the second input data to the remote location via a third network interface of the docking station.
3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the signal from the second portable communication device is configured to trigger the alerting device to begin capturing and streaming the first input data, the second input data, or both the first input data and the second input data.
4 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the alerting device, when operating in the stealth mode, is configured to begin capturing and streaming the first input data and the second input data in response to determining that the first portable communication device has been removed from the docking station.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the signal transmitted by the second portable communication device includes a wireless beacon signal, and wherein the third electronic processor is configured to broadcast the wireless beacon signal for direct receipt by the alerting device, wherein the alerting device is located within a direct communication range of the second portable communication device with respect to the wireless beacon signal.
6 . The system of claim 5 , further comprising one or more additional alerting devices respectively secured to additional surfaces within the building, wherein the one or more additional alerting devices are configured to directly receive the wireless beacon signal from the second portable communication device and operate in the stealth mode in response to receiving the wireless beacon signal.
7 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the third electronic processor is configured to: broadcast the wireless beacon signal for a predetermined period of time; and cease broadcasting the wireless beacon signal in response to the predetermined period of time elapsing.
8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the third electronic processor is configured to: determine a location of the second portable communication device in response to activating the silent emergency report; determine that the alerting device is located within a predetermined proximity of the location of the second portable communication device; and transmit the signal to the alerting device in response to activating the silent emergency report and in response to determining that the alerting device is located within the predetermined proximity of the location of the second portable communication device, wherein the signal transmitted by the second portable communication device is addressed to the alerting device in response to determining that the alerting device is located within the predetermined proximity of the location of the second portable communication device.
9 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising an external device configured to communicate with the second portable communication device and the alerting device; wherein the third electronic processor is configured to: determine a location of the second portable communication device in response to activating the silent emergency report, and transmit the signal to the external device, wherein the signal indicates that the silent emergency report has been activated, and wherein the signal indicates the location of the second portable communication device, wherein the external device is configured to: receive the signal, determine that the alerting device is located within a predetermined proximity of the location of the second portable communication device, and transmit a second signal to the alerting device in response to determining that the alerting device is located within the predetermined proximity of the location of the second portable communication device, wherein the second signal transmitted by the external device is addressed to the alerting device in response to determining that the alerting device is located within the predetermined proximity of the location of the second portable communication device.
10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the docking station is electrically coupled to an electrical system of the building.
11 . A method of operating an alerting device, the method comprising: determining, with the alerting device, that a first portable communication device of the alerting device has been removed from a docking station of the alerting device, wherein the docking station is secured to a surface within a building and includes a first electronic processor, and wherein the first portable communication device is removably secured to the docking station, and the first portable communication device includes: a first camera and a first microphone for capturing first input data, and a second electronic processor for streaming the first input data to a remote location via a first network interface; controlling, with the alerting device, the docking station, the first portable communication device, or both the docking station and the first portable communication device to output an alert including an audible alert, a visible alert, or both the audible alert and the visible alert in response to determining that the first portable communication device has been removed from the docking station; receiving, with a third electronic processor of a second portable communication device and via a user interface of the second portable communication device, a user input activating a silent emergency report at the second portable communication device; and transmitting, with the third electronic processor and via a second network interface of the second portable communication device and in response to activating the silent emergency report, a signal to cause the alerting device to operate in a stealth mode in which the docking station and the first portable communication device are configured to refrain from outputting the alert in response to determining that the first portable communication device has been removed from the docking station.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the docking station includes a second camera and a second microphone for capturing second input data, and wherein the first electronic processor is configured to stream the second input data to the remote location via a third network interface of the docking station.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the signal from the second portable communication device triggers the alerting device to begin capturing and streaming the first input data, the second input data, or both the first input data and the second input data.
14 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising beginning, with the alerting device and when operating in the stealth mode, capturing and streaming the first input data and the second input data in response to determining that the first portable communication device has been removed from the docking station.
15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the signal transmitted by the second portable communication device includes a wireless beacon signal, and further comprising broadcasting, with the third electronic processor and via the second network interface, the wireless beacon signal for direct receipt by the alerting device, wherein the alerting device is located within a direct communication range of the second portable communication device with respect to the wireless beacon signal.
16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising: directly receiving, with one or more additional alerting devices respectively secured to additional surfaces within the building, the wireless beacon signal from the second portable communication device; and operating the one or more additional alerting devices in the stealth mode in response to receiving the wireless beacon signal.
17 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising: broadcasting, with the third electronic processor, the wireless beacon signal for a predetermined period of time; and ceasing, with the third electronic processor, broadcasting the wireless beacon signal in response to the predetermined period of time elapsing.
18 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising: determining, with the third electronic processor, a location of the second portable communication device in response to activating the silent emergency report; determining, with the third electronic processor, that the alerting device is located within a predetermined proximity of the location of the second portable communication device; and transmitting, with the third electronic processor and via the second network interface, the signal to the alerting device in response to activating the silent emergency report and in response to determining that the alerting device is located within the predetermined proximity of the location of the second portable communication device, wherein the signal transmitted by the second portable communication device is addressed to the alerting device in response to determining that the alerting device is located within the predetermined proximity of the location of the second portable communication device.
19 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising: determining, with the third electronic processor, a location of the second portable communication device in response to activating the silent emergency report; transmitting, with the third electronic processor and via the second network interface, the signal to an external device configured to communicate with the second portable communication device and the alerting device, wherein the signal indicates that the silent emergency report has been activated, and wherein the signal indicates the location of the second portable communication device; receiving, with the external device, the signal; determining, with the external device, that the alerting device is located within a predetermined proximity of the location of the second portable communication device; and transmitting, with the external device, a second signal to the alerting device in response to determining that the alerting device is located within the predetermined proximity of the location of the second portable communication device, wherein the second signal transmitted by the external device is addressed to the alerting device in response to determining that the alerting device is located within the predetermined proximity of the location of the second portable communication device.
20 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the docking station is electrically coupled to an electrical system of the building.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Alerting devices such as emergency response devices may be located in areas that an emergency situation may occur to provide assistance to victims, witnesses, etc. during the emergency situation. For example, the alerting device may provide communication capabilities, audio and/or video monitoring, location awareness for public safety personnel aiding with the emergency situation, and/or the like. One or more alerting devices may be located in a school, on a campus, at a shopping mall, etc. A victim, witness, etc. of an emergency situation (e.g., a fire, an active shooter situation, a medical emergency, etc.) may use the alerting device to request help (e.g., from a public safety agency such as a police department, fire department, hospital/medical treatment center, etc.), alert other people around the area of the emergency situation, and/or the like. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying figures similar or the same reference numerals may be repeated to indicate corresponding or analogous elements. These figures, together with the detailed description, below are incorporated in and form part of the specification and serve to further illustrate various embodiments, examples, aspects, and features of concepts that include the claimed subject matter, and to explain various principles and advantages of those embodiments, examples, aspects, and features. FIG. 1 is a diagram of a communication system according to one example embodiment. FIG. 2A illustrates a docking station of an alerting device included in the communication system of FIG. 1 according to one example embodiment. FIG. 2B illustrates the alerting device of FIGS. 1 and 2A with a first portable communication device removed from the docking station according to one example embodiment. FIG. 3A is a block diagram of the first portable communication device of the alerting device of FIGS. 1-2B according to one example embodiment. FIG. 3B is a block diagram of the docking station of the alerting device of FIGS. 1-2B according to one example embodiment. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a method of controlling the alerting device of FIGS. 1-2B to operate in different alarm modes, according to one example embodiment. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of another method of controlling the alerting device of FIGS. 1-2B to operate in different alarm modes, according to one example embodiment. Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help improve understanding of the examples, aspects, and features presented in this disclosure. The system, apparatus, and method components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding of the various embodiments, examples, aspects, and features of the present disclosure so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION As noted, a victim, witness, etc. of an emergency situation (e.g., a fire, an active shooter situation, a medical emergency, etc.) may use an alerting device (e.g., an emergency response device) to request help (e.g., from a public safety agency such as a police department, fire department, hospital/medical treatment center, etc.), alert others around the area of the emergency situation, and/or the like. Some alerting devices include a docking station that is configured to removably receive a portable communication device. To initiate an emergency report at the alerting device, a user may remove the portable communication device from the docking station and may use the portable communication device to communicate information about an emergency situation being experienced. In response to the portable communication device being removed from the docking station, the alerting device may automatically complete one or more actions. For example, the alerting device may automatically provide (e.g., via wired and/or wireless communication) a notification to a public safety agency, a security supervisor, and/or another designated entity/person associated with the alerting device and/or a property at which the alerting device is located. Additionally or alternatively, the alerting device may begin recording audio and/or video in response to the portable communication device being removed from the docking station. Additionally or alternatively, the alerting device may output an alert including an audible alert, a visible alert, or both the audible alert and the visible alert to alert others nearby the alerting device that the portable communication device has been removed from the docking station to initiate an