US 9305450B2

US Patent 9305450B2: Interactive Wireless Life Safety Communications System

Title: Interactive wireless life safety communications system
Assignee: Ricmic LLC
Inventors: Michael Halverson, Richard E. Knecht
Filing Date: August 26, 2014
Issue Date: April 5, 2016

Abstract:
The patent describes an interactive wireless life safety communications system. This system includes a central coordination server connected to a first network, which in turn is connected to at least one resident life safety device. This device is associated with a specific location in an assisted care facility or a specific resident. When an alarm condition is detected, the resident life safety device generates and transmits an alarm signal to the central coordination server. A caregiver communications device, connected to the server via a different second network, receives an alarm notification from the server. This caregiver device also accepts user input, generating an action status response that is sent back to the central coordination server.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Independent Claim 1 (System Claim): This claim describes an interactive wireless life safety communications system. It comprises a central coordination server linked to two different communication networks: a first network connected to at least one resident life safety device (e.g., motion detector, pull cord, smoke detector) and a second network connected to at least one caregiver communications device (e.g., tablet, smartphone). When a resident life safety device detects an alarm condition, it sends an alarm signal to the central server via the first network. The server then generates an alarm notification and sends it to the caregiver's device over the second network. The caregiver's device allows for user input to generate an "action status response," which can indicate acknowledgment and response, acknowledgment but inability to respond, or no acknowledgment/no response yet. A key feature is that all caregiver communications devices on the second network are automatically updated based on this action status response. Furthermore, the system emphasizes that the resetting of the resident life safety device to stop the alarm signal is independent of the action status response and the two communication networks. The alarm signal continues with progressive status escalation to all caregiver devices until the resident life safety device is cleared, stopped, or reset.

• Independent Claim 11 (Method Claim for Caregiver Responses): This claim outlines a method for coordinating caregiver responses in an assisted care facility. The method starts with a resident life safety device detecting an alert event and generating an alarm signal, which is then transmitted to a central coordination server over a first communications network. The server generates an alarm notification in response and sends it to at least one caregiver communications device via a second, different network. A caregiver provides input on their device, which forms an "action status response" indicating their acknowledgment and whether they are responding, are unable to respond, or have not yet responded. This action status response is then transmitted back to the central server, which in turn updates all other caregiver communications devices. Similar to the system claim, resetting the resident life safety device to stop the alarm signal is independent of the action status response and the two networks, with the alarm signal progressively escalating status until the device is stopped, cleared, or reset.

• Independent Claim 14 (Method Claim for Central Server Coordination): This claim focuses on the method from the perspective of the central coordination server. It involves the central server receiving an alarm signal from a resident life safety device, which corresponds to an alert event. The server then generates and transmits an alarm notification to at least one caregiver communications device. Upon receiving an "action status response" from a caregiver device (again, indicating acknowledgment and response status), the central server updates all other caregiver communications devices based on this response. This claim also stipulates that the resetting of the resident life safety device to stop the alarm signal and notification is independent of the action status response and the communications networks, and the alarm signal continues with progressive status escalation until the resident life safety device is stopped, cleared, or reset.

CAFC 2026 Dockets:
No specific litigation mentioning US patent 9305450B2 was found in the CAFC 2026 dockets.## US Patent 9305450B2: Interactive Wireless Life Safety Communications System

Title: Interactive wireless life safety communications system
Assignee: Ricmic LLC
Inventors: Michael Halverson, Richard E. Knecht
Filing Date: August 26, 2014
Issue Date: April 5, 2016

Abstract:
The patent describes an interactive wireless life safety communications system. This system includes a central coordination server connected to a first network, which in turn is connected to at least one resident life safety device. This device is associated with a specific location in an assisted care facility or a specific resident. When an alarm condition is detected, the resident life safety device generates and transmits an alarm signal to the central coordination server. A caregiver communications device, connected to the server via a different second network, receives an alarm notification from the server. This caregiver device also accepts user input, generating an action status response that is sent back to the central coordination server.

Plain-Language Overview of Independent Claims:

• Independent Claim 1 (System Claim): This claim describes an interactive wireless life safety communications system. It comprises a central coordination server linked to two different communication networks: a first network connected to at least one resident life safety device (e.g., motion detector, pull cord, smoke detector) and a second network connected to at least one caregiver communications device (e.g., tablet, smartphone). When a resident life safety device detects an alarm condition, it sends an alarm signal to the central server via the first network. The server then generates an alarm notification and sends it to the caregiver's device over the second network. The caregiver's device allows for user input to generate an "action status response," which can indicate acknowledgment and response, acknowledgment but inability to respond, or no acknowledgment/no response yet. A key feature is that all caregiver communications devices on the second network are automatically updated based on this action status response. Furthermore, the system emphasizes that the resetting of the resident life safety device to stop the alarm signal is independent of the action status response and the two communication networks. The alarm signal continues with progressive status escalation to all caregiver devices until the resident life safety device is cleared, stopped, or reset.

• Independent Claim 11 (Method Claim for Caregiver Responses): This claim outlines a method for coordinating caregiver responses in an assisted care facility. The method starts with a resident life safety device detecting an alert event and generating an alarm signal, which is then transmitted to a central coordination server over a first communications network. The server generates an alarm notification in response and sends it to at least one caregiver communications device via a second, different network. A caregiver provides input on their device, which forms an "action status response" indicating their acknowledgment and whether they are responding, are unable to respond, or have not yet responded. This action status response is then transmitted back to the central server, which in turn updates all other caregiver communications devices. Similar to the system claim, resetting the resident life safety device to stop the alarm signal is independent of the action status response and the two networks, with the alarm signal progressively escalating status until the device is stopped, cleared, or reset.

• Independent Claim 14 (Method Claim for Central Server Coordination): This claim focuses on the method from the perspective of the central coordination server. It involves the central server receiving an alarm signal from a resident life safety device, which corresponds to an alert event. The server then generates and transmits an alarm notification to at least one caregiver communications device. Upon receiving an "action status response" from a caregiver device (again, indicating acknowledgment and response status), the central server updates all other caregiver communications devices based on this response. This claim also stipulates that the resetting of the resident life safety device to stop the alarm signal and notification is independent of the action status response and the communications networks, and the alarm signal continues with progressive status escalation until the resident life safety device is stopped, cleared, or reset.

CAFC 2026 Dockets:
No specific litigation mentioning US patent 9305450B2 was found in the CAFC 2026 dockets.