Information transmission system

The invention relates to a message transmission system for sending a status message, for example an emergency call, from at least one status reporting unit to at least one subscriber of an existing telephone network registered as a condition receiving unit, with a voice memory for the transfer of stored voice information to the at least one condition receiving subscriber via the existing telephone network, in which a predeterminable number of condition receiving subscribers via a central Switching center can be connected to the voice mailbox, wherein a central computer is connected to a telephone number memory, so that the incoming, addressed status messages can be assigned one or more predeterminable status receiving subscribers and, if necessary, substitute condition receiving subscribers and the associated telephone number can be called up, and the central computer at its output via a dialing device with an analog or digital Subscriber line is connected, which can be connected to the status reception subscribers via the central exchange, and the voice memory can be activated via the central computer upon receipt of a status message that fulfills a predeterminable transmission criterion and the voice information assigned to one or more status reception subscribers can be transmitted to them.

A system of this type is known from US Pat. No. 5,195,126, which causes the automatic dialing of an emergency number by radio when an alarm button on a device or directly on the body of a person is pressed. This number is evaluated in the relevant exchange and, in the case of one or more subscribers, certain language information is output one after the other via a voice memory that is part of the exchange.

The disadvantage of such a system can be demonstrated using an example in which several medical parameters are to be monitored on a patient. Changing or exceeding the blood pressure, pulse rate, EKG signal or the like may require a specific type of reaction, for example the nurse responsible is called into the hospital room to determine the patient's condition. The simultaneous occurrence of exceeding two threshold values ​​that are dangerous for the patient, such as for the pulse rate and for the EKG signal, can sometimes require a completely different reaction, for example that an intensive care unit should be notified immediately and the doctor performing night duty should be woken up. Another disadvantage is that the connection to the notified persons can only be established in one direction.

It is similar with fire alarms in a hotel. If only one fire detector sends the status of a spreading fire, it is sufficient to send a fire service vehicle there to control a room fire. If, for example, ten or more fire detectors sound the alarm at the same time, a much higher alarm level must be passed on immediately in order to save the hotel from complete destruction. Furthermore, further status messages, e.g. a burglar alarm unit, cannot be processed by the known systems at the same time, which means that the police cannot be notified, who otherwise could immediately pursue a possible arsonist, completely separated from the fire brigade's extinguishing work.

US Pat. No. 4,692,742 describes a security system with a plurality of sensors, e.g. Smoke or fire sensors, the measured values ​​of which are coded and transmitted by means of an automatic dialing device via a telephone line or by radio to a central control device, which contains a computer that decodes the signals reported and connects them to information stored in it, which is used to forward the alarm initiates an automatically dialed telephone connection and transmission facilities to so-called satellite stations, which the latter represent the receiving stations of the people to be contacted in the event of an alarm. A satellite station can accordingly be formed from a terminal connected to a subscriber line. The alarm conditions can be fire, smoke, burglary or a medical condition. The computer can also activate a speech synthesizer, which forwards the alarm signals to a receiver using artificial speech. The disadvantage of this alarm system is that a separate telephone line or radio link must be provided for each sensor, which reduces the number of

AT 406 813 B sensors that can be used are severely restricted.

DE-A1-41 19 556 shows an extension communication system with access to the public switching network to which several terminals are connected. A central system control takes over all switching and control tasks, with a coupling network connected to the public network being responsible for the transmission of voice signals to and from the terminals. All units provided in the private branch exchange, including sensors, consumers and a voice memory module, are connected to the system control via an address and data bus. The system control can receive information from the sensors via interfaces and control loads, but the status of an alarm contact can also be scanned. When a certain state occurs, an action list with appropriately stored activities can be processed via an alarm manager. A multiplexer is used to actively connect several sensors to the individual outputs. When a certain sensor output status occurs, the automatic dialing of a specified phone number can be activated. When the call is accepted, a text contained in the voice memory module can then be imported. The constant and direct connection of several sensors or actuators to a central computer is not shown in this publication.

JP-A-5-216494 relates to a voice reproduction unit for telephone exchanges and warning systems, which is formed from a voice data memory and a voice output unit and a subscriber interface. In order to be able to output a large amount of voice data continuously without requiring a large memory capacity for the memory, a computer with an additional memory is provided which is connected to a further input of the voice output unit. After the voice output has taken place, additional voice information is retrieved from the memory and sent via this additional memory. Sensors or actuators connected to a central computer via a bus line, with which alarm messages can be triggered or states can be changed, are not disclosed in this publication.

EP-A2-0 342 859 discloses an interactive patient assistance system which includes a speech synthesizer coupled to a computer. The computer can diagnose the patient and monitor the administration of medication, with the system being able to communicate with the patient by voice. This offers a connection to the public telephone network in order to be able to meet the wishes of patients more easily. For this purpose a modem is provided which can be used in connection with an automatic dialing unit and via which a connection to a remote medical center can be established for analysis. Based on the analysis results, the automatic drug delivery can be changed as required. Blood pressure measurement, pulse rate measurement or the like are named as selectable functions of the diagnosis. The block diagram of a central computer is shown, the address and data bus of which is connected to a large number of input / output units. Among these units is the modem with its automatic dialing and answering unit and the voice channel for acoustic communication with the patient. This provides an arrangement of sensors and actuators that are connected to a central computer via a bus. However, the sensors and actuators are housed in one housing. There is therefore no suggestion for the arrangement of spatially separated sensors or actuators to be found in this publication. There is also no provision for a status to be forwarded by transmitting voice information.

Furthermore, in FR-A1-2 717 332 an auxiliary and monitoring system is described in which a server computer is connected to one or more lines of a regional or national data network, which can be formed by the usual telephone network. Via this network, the server can be connected to the data terminals of doctors and specialists, but also to measuring devices, which can be used to measure physiological parameters such as blood pressure, sugar content, an electrocardiogram, etc. in patients at home. The server is in turn connected via the telephone network and lines to a coordination center which has administrative tasks. Each measuring apparatus includes an interface between the sensors and the telephone network. Each interface contains a modern and integrated circuit, via which the values ​​recorded by the sensors are read in and stored

AT 406 813 B and then automatically transmitted to the server, where they are further processed and, if necessary, transmitted to medical personnel. This is a computer system that records certain data and transmits it to a central computer, but in which several sensors are not connected to a central computer via a bus line.

FR-A1-2 675 288 is also concerned with the medical monitoring of patients, which is carried out with a transmission terminal which is able to process and record numerical values ​​and to issue an alarm. The patient data is entered via the keyboard of a portable computer, which is equipped with a modem, which can be used to establish a connection with the control center. Furthermore, when an alarm button is pressed, an automatic connection and alarm transmission to the control center is carried out. The alarm message from a medical device can also be passed on via external alarm inputs. For this purpose, a serial interface of the computer is also provided for use in the transmission of device information. Sensors and actuators for the acquisition of state variables or the initiation of activities are not provided.

WO-A-94/24630 only discloses a computer server system with a patient database which can be accessed at any time over the telephone network. However, sensor application cannot be found in this publication.

The object of the invention is to specify a message transmission system of the type mentioned above, with which several status messages can be processed at the same time and also passed on to several receiving participants in parallel and the reported statuses can be influenced.

A further object of the invention is, in addition to the actual status report, to also pass on further information about the level of a status measurement variable to the receiving subscriber in a voice-automated manner.

According to the invention, this is achieved in that the central computer is connected at its output via the selection device to a large number of analog or digital subscriber lines, and that two or more status reporting units and possibly at least one actuator for influencing the reported status via a serial or parallel bus line, e.g. RS 232, USB or similar, are connected to the data input of the central computer, with the at least one actuator optionally being able to influence the reported state, preferably by the connected state receiving participant.

This makes it possible to process the information from several status reporting units simultaneously or almost simultaneously in the central computer, so that different notification strategies can be carried out depending on any combination effects that may occur, i.e. when critical status reports from two or more status reporting units are present. Furthermore, the connected receiving participant can actively influence the state that has occurred. For example, an informed doctor can immediately indicate the dose of the vaccine to be administered over the telephone, the central computer converts this order into a corresponding data word with the respective address and executes the order via the appropriate actuator. Due to the large number of parallel, discrete subscriber lines, various subscribers can be communicated at the same time and there is no need to wait for one communication to take place after the other.

In a further embodiment of the invention it can be provided that the central switching point is formed by a private branch exchange with which preferably functions such as call waiting, intrusion, ring call, serialization, rerouting, group call, caller identification, paging or the like can be activated and executed .

In this way, various status reporting units, for example in a hospital, a nursing home, a hotel, or a company building, can be combined centrally and the various status reports can also be suitably passed on to several status receiving participants at the same time. The various functions of the private branch exchange offer, for example, the possibility of appropriately distributing the incoming status messages or intruding into other calls. Practically all options of the private branch exchange can be used to forward the status message.

AT 406 813 B

According to another variant of the invention it can be provided that the central switching center is formed by the network of telephone exchanges of the public telephone network.

As a result, any telephone subscriber in the public telephone network can be selected as a status receiver and notified accordingly if one or more statuses are present.

Another feature of the invention can consist in that the status reporting unit by an analog or digital measuring device for the detection of physical or medical-technical variables, for example Temperature, humidity, thermal radiation, particle density, pulse frequency, blood pressure is formed, which outputs the measured variable at its output constantly or periodically with the address assigned to the status reporting unit at the output connected to the bus line and, if necessary, the exceeding or falling below of a threshold value through the additional output a threshold signal which fulfills the transmission criterion of the central computer.

The status reporting units can therefore be quite intelligent measuring transducers, which can take over and pass on a variety of tasks, such as the analysis of measured values ​​and the determination of the rise and level of the measured value over time.

In a further development of the invention it can be provided that the central computer temporarily stores the values ​​occurring at its data inputs and compares them with a predeterminable threshold value assigned to the respective status reporting unit. and that the central computer detects the presence of the transmission criterion when the assigned threshold value is exceeded or not reached and establishes a connection with the assigned status receiving participant and changes the assigned voice information from the voice memory in accordance with the status messages from the status reporting unit.

In this embodiment variant, in addition to its notification and assignment function for the voice information, the central computer also takes on the analysis of measured values ​​from the measured values ​​present at its data inputs.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the central computer applies the address of the respective status reporting unit to the telephone number memory and reads the telephone number (s) of the associated status receiving subscriber (s) and dials one or more subscriber lines via the dialing device and a connection with establishes the associated state reception participant, and that the central computer reads out the associated language information from the voice memory and transmits it.

This enables a simple type of selection of the various status reception participants.

According to another feature of the invention, it can be provided that when the status receiving subscriber is busy, an automatic connection to this subscriber takes place via the central exchange.

As a result, the special functions of a modern private branch exchange, for example, are fully utilized, which means that in an emergency, the receiving subscriber responsible can also be notified during an otherwise long call.

According to another variant of the invention, the status receiving subscriber may have an acknowledgment unit with which the status message can be confirmed within a predeterminable time span after the connection to the central computer has been established.

By acknowledging the status transfer, an automatic control of the actual arrival and the trouble-free communication with the receiving participant can be carried out.

In a further embodiment of the invention it can be provided that when the predeterminable time span for the actuation of the acknowledgment unit has elapsed, the central computer selects a substitute status receiving subscriber and establishes a connection with this subscriber for the transmission of the voice information.

This backup call can be very helpful if the connection is made with the intended

Status receiving participant is disturbed or cannot be addressed, or no reasonable reactions can be expected from him.

According to a further embodiment of the invention, the central computer can if present

AT 406 813 B of the transmission criterion establish a connection to several status reception participants at the same time and carry out a parallel transmission of the voice information.

Finally, it can be provided that the central computer converts the status message from the central computer which fulfills the transmission criterion into status language information and appends it to the associated language information and transmits it together.

As a result, the type or the level of the measured value is also communicated to the status receiving participant when the status is reported.

The invention is explained in detail below with reference to the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings. It shows

1 shows an embodiment of a message transmission system according to the invention and

2 and 3 each show a further embodiment of a message transmission system according to the invention.

1 shows a message transmission system for sending a status message from several status message units A1, ... An to several subscribers S1, ..., Sm of an existing telephone network registered as status receiver units.

The status report can have the most varied of contents, for example in the form of an emergency call, preference is given to the status reporting units A1, ... , Pulse rate, blood pressure formed. However, other measured variables, such as the position of a switch or button, can also be defined as a state. The place of installation and the number of reporting units can be adapted as required.

To forward the status message, a voice memory 3 is provided, which enables the transfer of stored voice information to the status receiving subscribers S1, ..., Sm via the existing telephone network, in which the status receiving subscribers S1, ..., Sm via a central switching center 2 can be connected to the voice memory 3. In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1, the voice memory 3 is attached in the immediate vicinity of the central computer 1 or in it.

The further embodiment according to FIG. 2 differs from that according to FIG. 1 in that the voice memory 3 is located in the central exchange 2 and that, in addition to the status reporting units A1 ... An, actuators for influencing the reported status (B1,. .., B1) are provided. In this way, bidirectional communication can take place between the central computer 1 and the status reporting units and the actuators. This makes it possible, for example, to react to the status message room key and the light in the hotel room in question is switched on, in that the actuator automatically switches off the light in the room in question in order to save electricity.

As can be seen from FIG. 1, the central switching center 2 can be formed by a private branch exchange (PABX) or by the network of telephone exchanges of the public telephone network PSTN (Public Switch Telephone Network). The message transmission system according to the invention can thus be used both in a local telephone system, for example in a hotel, a hospital or the like, and in the public telephone network.

According to Fig. 1 it is now provided that the status reporting units A1, ..., An are connected via a serial or parallel bus line 4 to the data input of a central computer 1, so that each status reporting unit A1, ..., An its status messages independently of the others can pass on to the central computer 1. By connecting the status reporting units A1,..., An by means of bus line 4, a very large number of status reporting units A1,. The bus line 4 can be implemented, for example, by an RS232, USB or the like.

Furthermore, the central computer 1 is connected to a telephone number memory 5 in which the status reception subscribers S1, ..., Sm are entered with their respective telephone numbers. This memory 5 can also be integrated in the central computer 1. Via these status reception subscribers S1, ..., Sm, people can be reached who can positively evaluate the status report, such as the porter in a hotel, the nurse in a hospital, etc. If, for example, an emergency call arrives at a hotel porter, he will notify him

AT 406 813 B corresponding service that can remedy the reported damage or avert the reported danger. For this purpose, various status reporting units A1,.

If a status message now arrives in the central computer 1 via the bus line 4, it is temporarily stored and compared with a transmission criterion corresponding to the respective measured value. If it fulfills this criterion, the central computer 1 assigns one or more predeterminable status receiving subscribers S1, ..., Sm to this addressed status message and retrieves the associated telephone number (s) from the number memory 5. The transfer criterion can be met, for example, by exceeding or falling below the threshold of the measured value of the state measured variable.

Then the central computer establishes the connection with the assigned receiver S1 ... Sm of the status message, and activates - as soon as the corresponding participant picks up - the voice memory 3, from which the voice information corresponding to the criterion and the status reporting unit is read out and sent to the respective status receiving participant S1, ..., Sm is transmitted.

To select the corresponding subscribers S1, ..., Sm, the central computer 1 is connected at its output via a dialing device 6 to a multiplicity of subscriber lines L1, ..., Lk, which in turn connect via the central exchange 2 to the status receiving subscribers S1 ,. .., Sm are connectable.

For each status receiving user S1,.. The language information is then passed on to the substitute participants.

The status reporting units A1,. The exceeding or undershooting of a threshold value can already be determined in the status reporting unit A1, ..., An and indicated by the additional output of a threshold value reporting signal, so that the transfer criterion of the central computer is met and the central computer no longer has to analyze the measured value. Of course, in addition to determining whether a threshold value has been exceeded, the rise or curvature of the measured value function can also be determined as a function of time, and if a threshold value has been exceeded, it can be output. Numerous other possibilities for measured value analysis are conceivable.

The connection to the various status reception participants S1, ..., Sm is achieved by the central computer 1 by applying the address of the respective status reporting unit A1,. ", An" to the telephone number memory 5 and the telephone number (s) of the or reads out the associated status reception subscriber (s) S1, ..., Sm and dials them via the dialing device 6 via one or more subscriber lines L1, ..., Lk, which can be either analog or digital subscriber lines. The content of the voice memory 3 is changed by the computer in accordance with the status messages from the respective status unit.

When the system according to the invention is implemented with digital subscriber lines, there is the possibility that the central computer 1 has an additional function which allows it to easily signal a fault that has occurred in its area or in the status reporting units. This function is implemented by mutual short-circuiting of the lines or by opening the subscriber line. In this case, for example the private branch exchange the reported malfunction and can activate a corresponding signal from which it can be seen that the computer is indicating a malfunction. Such an error display or notification function can also be used in other applications independently of the present invention.

After changing the memory content, the central computer 1 reads the associated

Voice information from the voice memory 3 and transfers it to the selected one or more

AT 406 813 B

Participant (s) S1, ..., Sm as soon as they take off. The subscriber user listens to the voice information and can initiate the necessary actions to remedy the emergency situation or another condition.

Each status receiving subscriber S1, ..., Sm additionally has an acknowledgment unit Ql, ..., Qm, with which it must confirm the status message within a predeterminable period of time after the connection to the central computer has been established, otherwise the central computer 1 will of its own accord selects the respectively registered substitute status reception subscriber and transmits the status message to this in the form of voice information. The acknowledgment can also be fulfilled by entering a number code on the telephone keypad.

In the embodiment variant according to FIG. 2, the actuators B1, ..., B1 can influence the reported state via the connected state receiving subscriber Sl, ..., Sm. This makes it possible for the status receiving subscriber to directly influence the status reported to him without being present at the scene of the event by submitting a request to speak that is converted by the central computer 1 into digital information and passed on to the actuators or by For example , he enters a corresponding code via a key combination on the keyboard of his telephone set, which is then also converted and passed on by the central computer. The actuators can also be operated using DTMF (multi-frequency code) signals.

Actuators can be activated or queried either on the basis of a status report or on the basis of a registered participant's request, which is not associated with any of the status reporting units, to change the operating status of the actuators or to obtain information about it. This can for example This is done by dialing the central computer 1 via an extension and informing it of the desired actuator change via a code, via voice information or via DTMF signals, whereupon it realizes it via its bus connection or queries the operating status of the actuators.

Furthermore, it can be provided that the central computer 1, when the transmission criterion is present, establishes a connection to several status reception subscribers S1,..., Sm at the same time and carries out a parallel transmission of the voice information. This means that several subscribers can be notified at the same time, which can reduce the risk of an emergency call not being forwarded.

In addition, the central computer can convert the status message into status language information and attach it to the associated language information in a suitable manner, so that both the message of the status itself and, for example, the level of the measured value are communicated verbally to the status receiving subscriber. In this way, for example, an informed doctor can already take the necessary medical treatment devices or pharmaceuticals with him to the patient.

In order to make the best possible use of the possibilities of modern private branch exchanges, when the status receiving subscriber S1, ..., Sm is busy, a connection can be made to this via the central exchange 2, so that a conversation that has just been conducted is interrupted.

Furthermore, other functions of the private branch exchange such as call waiting, ring call, serialization, rerouting, group call, identification, paging or the like can be activated and executed so that it is possible to dial several people at the same time, to divert a status message from an occupied subscriber or to to knock this by telephone. This results in a connection effect from the measures according to the invention and the already known functions of a modern private branch exchange.

The central computer 1 can be implemented, for example, by a personal computer of known design. Depending on how the PC can be plugged in, multi-channel, e.g. four- or eight-channel line cards can be installed. With a four-channel card, for example, two subscribers can be called at the same time. The capacity of this configuration can be expanded to up to fourteen participants through additional hardware expenditure. With a four-channel card, the first channel is used to monitor alarm contacts and the serial bus interface, for example. The second and third channels are used to communicate with the receiving participants. The fourth channel can be used to transmit false positives. A file for

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All processes are logged.

In the variant embodiment according to FIG. 3, the central computer 1 together with the dialing device 6, the voice memory 3 and the telephone number memory 5 are integrated in the private branch exchange 2 '. As can be seen from FIG. 3, both extension subscribers S1 and subscribers Sm of the public network can be entered via the telephone exchanges 2 as status receiving subscribers. A subscriber T of the private branch exchange 2 ', for example a room telephone in a hotel serves in this exemplary embodiment as an interface between the preferably serial bus 4 and the digital subscriber line LT. In this example, too, any actuators can be connected to the bus 4 if required. An open window can be reported by a status reporting unit A1 in the form of a contact, and the overflow of a bathtub by a reporting unit A2 in the form of a level sensor. Automatic window closers or solenoid valves could be provided as actuators to influence the reported states. The interface to the serial or parallel bus is integrated in the subscriber terminal so that the subscriber terminal converts the data from the serial or parallel bus to the subscriber line. The interface management takes place in the subscriber set T, the further processing of the status messages in the central computer 1 in the private branch exchange 2 '.