METHOD FOR PROVIDING A DIGITAL EMERGENCY CARD

Abstract

A method is disclosed for providing a digital emergency card, the method including a user creating (S1) the digital emergency card for a building (2) and storing (S2) the created emergency card in a storage medium (4) of the building (2). In addition, the method includes reading (S3) the stored emergency card from the storage medium (4) and transmitting (4) the emergency card, once read. Furthermore, a system is disclosed which consists of a storage medium (4), a terminal (6), and a transmission and receptions device (8), the system being designed to carry out steps of such a method.

Claims

1-14. (canceled)

15. A method for providing a digital emergency card, comprising: creating (S1) a digital emergency card for a building by a user of the digital emergency card; storing (S2) the emergency card in a storage medium (4) of the building (2); reading (S3) the stored emergency card from the storage medium (4); and transmitting (S4), after reading, the stored emergency card.

16. Method according to claim 15, comprising: updating (S5) the read emergency card, resulting in an updated emergency card; and storing (S2.1) the updated emergency card in the storage medium (S4).

17. The method according to claim 16, comprising: sending to the user a reminder to update (S5) the digital emergency card after a predefined time limit has lapsed.

18. the method according to claim 15, comprising: validating (S6), after reading, the digital emergency card; and storing (S2.2) the validated emergency card in the storage medium (4); wherein transmitting the stored emergency card includes transmitting the validated emergency card.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein validating (S6) the digital emergency card is carried out by an external user.

20. The method according to either of claim 18, comprising: assigning a confidence level to the validated emergency card, wherein the confidence level decreases over time; sending (S5.0) to the user a reminder to update (S5) the digital emergency card when the confidence level has fallen below a predefined value; and increasing the confidence level after the updating (S5).

21. the method according to claim 15, wherein transmitting the stored emergency card (S4) takes place subject to receiving approval from the user.

22. The method according to claim 21, comprising: sending a current query (S7.1) to the user; receiving from the user an approval in response to the current query; and wherein transmitting (S4) the stored emergency card takes place after receiving the approval.

23. the method at least according to claim 22, wherein the current query is a subsequent query and the method further comprising: sending a previous query (S7.2) to the user; and receiving from the user a previous approval in response to the previous query; and wherein transmitting (S4) the stored emergency card takes place after receiving the previous approval.

24. The method according to claim 22, comprising: specifying (S8.1) a set of authorized receivers (12), wherein transmitting the stored emergency card (S4) is carried out to the set of authorized receivers.

25. The method according to claim 24, comprising: specifying (S8.2) a perimeter around the building (2), wherein transmitting (S4) the stored emergency card is carried out to receivers (12) within the specified perimeter.

26. The method according to claim 15, wherein transmitting (S4) the stored emergency card is carried out in response to an alarm.

27. The method according to claim 15, wherein transmitting (S4) the emergency card is carried out to a central emergency service (10).

28. A system consisting of a storage medium (4), a terminal (6), and a transmission and receptions device (8), the system being configured to carry out steps of the method according to claim 15.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0036] FIG. 1: A schematic diagram showing the steps of a method for creating a digital emergency card.

[0037] FIG. 2: A schematic diagram showing the elements of a system for carrying out the method shown schematically in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0038] FIG. 1 shows schematically the steps of a method for creating a digital emergency card. FIG. 2 shows a system consisting of a storage medium 4, a terminal 6, and a transmission and reception device 8. In addition, the system shown in FIG. 2 includes a central emergency service 10, a receiver 12 which is an emergency team, and a validation point 14. The system is designed to carry out the steps of the method shown schematically in FIG. 1. The storage medium 4, the terminal 6, and the transmission and reception device 8 are part of a building 2. The system includes further receivers (not shown).

[0039] A user creates S1 a digital emergency card for the building 2. The user is a resident of the building 2. The creation S1 takes place by way of an application of the terminal 6, which is a Smartphone. In addition, the emergency card created is stored S2 in the storage medium 4 of the building 2. For that purpose, the terminal 6 is connected so as to communicate with the storage medium 4. The creation S1 and the storing S2 of the emergency card take place before any emergency and in a situation in which there is no emergency.

[0040] When an emergency occurs, the stored emergency card is read S3 from the storage medium 4. Furthermore, the emergency card, once read, is transmitted S4 by means of the transmission and reception device 8. The transmission takes place to the central emergency service 10, which is outside the building 2. The emergency card transmitted and read is passed on by the central emergency service 10 to the receiver 12.

[0041] When a situation of the building 2 changes, for example because a layout of the building has changed or a new hazard source has been added, the read emergency card is updated S5. The updating S5 is carried out by the user with the application by means of the terminal 6. In addition, the updated emergency card is stored S2.1 in the storage medium. The previously stored emergency card is overwritten. When a certain time since the last updating S5 has lapsed, a reminder S5.0 is sent to the user to update S5. The reminder is sent S5.0 by the application. This ensures that the stored emergency card is always updated.

[0042] Furthermore, after being read the emergency card is validated S6. Validation S6 takes place by way of the validation point 14 and earlier in time than an emergency. The validation point 14 in this case is an operative force of the firefighting system. This validates the fact that the information in the emergency card created and stored corresponds to the actual condition of the building 2. The validated emergency card is then stored S2.2 in the storage medium 4. During transmission it is the validated emergency card which is sent. Thus, the emergency forces can be sure that the emergency card they have received also actually corresponds to the condition of the building, since it is validated. Validation S6 is carried out not by the user himself, in this case the resident of the building 2, but by an external user such as the emergency force described earlier.

[0043] The validated emergency card is assigned a confidence level. Thus, when it is validated the emergency card is given a particular confidence level. If the external user, in this case the emergency force, validates the emergency card, the emergency card is given a higher confidence level than if only the user, as a resident of the building 2, validates the emergency card as happens in another embodiment. The confidence level decreases over time. This takes place in a linear manner. The change is sent to the user for the updating operation S5 when the confidence level has fallen below a particular value. The particular value is previously defined by the user or specified by the external user. After updating S5, the confidence level increases. With this updating S5 a user specifies a changed condition of the building 2 by inputting it into the application of the terminal 6. In an embodiment not described further, instead of the updating S5, a validation is carried out by the user if the condition of the building 2 has not changed. In that way the user ensures that the information already stored in the emergency card corresponds to the current condition of the building.

[0044] Transmission S4 takes place subject to the user's approval. No transmission takes place if a user has not given approval. In an emergency one of the following scenarios occurs. A first situation concerns the case when the user is inside the building 2. A current query S7.1 to the user is sent by the central emergency service 10. The current query 7.1 is sent after an alarm. Transmission S4 only takes place if the user approves the transmission S4 in reaction to the current query S7.1. Thus, at the time of the emergency the user approves the transmission S4 in reaction to the current query S7.1. Then, the information on the emergency card that has been read is sent to the central emergency service 10 and on to the receiver 12.

[0045] A second situation describes the case when at the time of the emergency the user is not in the building 2. In that case an earlier query S7.2 to the user takes place. This earlier query S7.2 is sent to the user by the application of the terminal 6. Transmission S4 then takes place when the user approves the transmission S4 in reaction to the earlier query S7.2. Thus, shortly before creating S1 the emergency card in reaction to the earlier query S7.2 the user approves the later transmission S4. Subsequently, at the time of an alarm and an emergency, transmission S4 takes place in reaction to the earlier query S7.2 and in reaction to the approval. In that way a data approval can be stored already before an emergency and the earlier query S7.2 can take place before the alarm and the emergency.

[0046] In a third situation, the user is again not in the building 2 at the time of the emergency. A set of authorized receivers 12 is specified S8.1. This specification S8.1 is done by the user by means of the application. The specification S8.1 takes place before an emergency. For that purpose, the central emergency station 10 sends the user knowledge of the receivers 12 before the emergency. The user then specifies the set of authorized receivers 12. Later, after an alarm and an emergency, transmission S4 takes place to the set so specified. Thus, only receivers 12 who have been specified in advance as authorized by the user of the building 2 receive the emergency card via the transmission S4.

[0047] Furthermore, a perimeter is defined S8.2, such that the perimeter is a boundary around the building 2. The user defines S8.2 the perimeter by means of the application. Thus, the perimeter includes certain locations around the building 2. Transmission S4 takes place to receivers 12 within the defined perimeter. In an embodiment transmission S4 takes place to previously specified authorized receivers 12 who are within the perimeter. Thus, there is no transmission S4 to authorized receivers 12 who are not within the perimeter, or to receivers 12 who, although they are authorized, are not authorized.

[0048] Transmission S4 always takes place in reaction to an alarm which is activated in reaction to an emergency. The alarm is activated by the central emergency station 10.

INDEXES

[0049] 2 Building [0050] 4 Storage medium [0051] 6 Terminal [0052] 8 Transmission and reception device [0053] 10 Central emergency service [0054] 12 Receiver [0055] 14 Validation point [0056] S1 Creation of a digital emergency card [0057] S2 Storing of the emergency card created [0058] S2.1 Storing of an updated emergency card [0059] S2.2 Storing of a validated emergency card [0060] S3 Reading of the stored emergency card [0061] S4 Transmission of the emergency card that has been read [0062] S5.0 Sending of a reminder [0063] S5 Updating of the emergency card that has been read [0064] S6 Validation of the emergency card [0065] S7.1 Current query [0066] S7.2 Earlier query [0067] S8.1 Specification of a set of authorized receivers [0068] S8.2 Specification of a perimeter around the building