Personal security and tracking system

A personal security and tracking system that provides a reliable personal alarm system for an individual to be monitored, the system comprising:

• (a) a portable signaling unit capable of generating one or more priority levels of alarm signal data,
• (b) a remote alarm switch unit functionally related to the portable signaling unit such that the remote alarm switch unit transmits a periodic signal to the portable signaling unit and such that, when the remote alarm switch unit is in a non-triggered state, it does not cause alarm signal data to be generated by the portable signaling unit and, when the remote alarm switch unit is in a triggered state, it does cause the alarm signal data to be generated by the portable signaling unit, the triggered state being caused by a triggering condition,
• (c) means for the portable signaling unit to identify its geographical location,
• (d) a central dispatch station capable of receiving and interpreting the alarm signal data generated by the portable signaling unit and having
• (i) a human operator, capable of determining by analyzing the data received from the portable signaling unit to determine the priority level of the alarm signal data and the location of the individual being monitored,
• (ii) a computer system capable of interpreting, validating, and storing all the alarm signal data received from the portable signaling unit at the central dispatch station and account data entered into the system,
• (iii) means to enable the central dispatch station operator to identify the origination location of the alarm signal data,
• (iv) means to make available to the dispatch operator all validated data received at the central dispatch station together with any stored information, and
• (v) means for displaying the type of alarm and the location of the individual in a convenient format, part of which will display the individual's location on a digitized map, all of which will allow efficient dispatching of appropriate emergency assistance to the exact location of the individual in distress in possession of the signaling unit,
• (e) means for data and voice communications between the portable signaling unit and the central dispatch station,
• wherein the triggering condition causes the remote alarm switch unit to instruct the portable signaling unit to generate an alarm signal that will be transmitted to the central dispatch station by the data and voice communications means.