US 10380873B1

US patent 10380873B1, titled "Interactive wireless life safety communications system," was invented by Michael Halverson. The current assignee of the patent is Ricmic LLC. The patent was filed on April 16, 2019, and issued on August 13, 2019.

Abstract:
The patent describes an interactive wireless life safety communications system. This system features a central coordination server connected to a first network, which links to at least one resident life safety device (e.g., a device at a specific location or for a specific resident in an assisted care facility). When an alarm condition is detected, the resident life safety device generates an alarm signal and transmits it to the central server. Caregiver communications devices, connected to the central server over a second, different network, receive an alarm notification generated by the server in response to the alarm signal. Caregivers can then provide user input to their devices, generating an action status response (e.g., accepting the alarm) which is transmitted back to the central server.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Claim 1 (System): This claim describes a comprehensive interactive wireless life safety communication system. It includes a central server that communicates with resident life safety devices (such as pull cords, motion detectors, or fall detectors) over a first network. Separately, the central server connects to multiple caregiver communication devices (like tablets or smartphones) over a second, distinct wireless network. When a resident device triggers an alarm, the central server sends an alert notification to the caregiver devices. Caregivers can use their devices to send an "acceptance" response, indicating they are addressing the alarm. This acceptance is then automatically broadcast to all other caregiver devices, so everyone knows who is responding, and the alarm notification remains active. Once the alarm condition is physically resolved or "cleared" at the resident's location, the central server updates all caregiver devices to reflect that the alarm is cleared. The system also records all acceptance responses, linking them to the responding caregiver and the specific alarm.

• Claim 14 (System): Similar to Claim 1, this claim describes an interactive wireless life safety communication system. It focuses on the central coordination server's ability to receive alarm signals from resident life safety devices and transmit alarm notifications to caregiver communications devices. Each caregiver device is configured to receive these notifications and accept caregiver input. When a caregiver accepts an alarm, this response (including the caregiver's identity) is sent to the central server. The system then automatically updates all caregiver devices to show that a specific caregiver is responding, and the original alarm notification stays active. The central server also updates all caregiver devices when the alarm condition is cleared at the resident device. All acceptance responses are recorded by the central server, associated with the caregiver and the pertinent alarm.

• Claim 15 (Method): This claim details a method for managing caregiver responses to alert events within an assisted care facility. The method involves the central server receiving an alarm signal from a resident life safety device. In response, an alarm notification is sent to all caregiver communications devices. Upon a caregiver entering an "acceptance" response via their device, this response, along with their identity, is received by the central server. The system then updates all caregiver devices to indicate that this particular caregiver is responding, leaving the original alarm notification active for others to see. When the alarm condition is resolved at the source, the central server updates all caregiver devices to show the alarm is cleared. Finally, the central server records the received caregiver acceptance response, linking it to the caregiver and the specific alarm.

Regarding litigation, the patent information indicates that the patent family has active litigation in various US District Courts, specifically in the Texas Eastern District Court, Florida Middle District Court, and California Southern District Court. There is also mention of "First worldwide family litigation filed." However, a direct search for "US10380873B1" within CAFC 2026 dockets did not return specific case results. Therefore, while litigation is ongoing at the District Court level, authoritative information regarding specific CAFC dockets for this patent number in 2026 is not available from the performed search.