Panic button phone

A portable emergency communication apparatus for contacting a public emergency response center and establishing full duplex voice communication between an operator of the apparatus and emergency personnel at the public emergency response center, comprising:

• a rigid protective housing;
• a single button mounted on the housing that, when pressed, causes activation of the emergency communication apparatus to establish full duplex cellular voice communication with the public emergency response center;
• a cellular transmitter contained within the rigid housing for transmitting cellular phone signals, the transmitter operable to establish communication with only the public emergency response center when the single button is pressed, thereby reducing or eliminating costs associated with nonemergency cellular phone service;
• a cellular receiver for receiving voice message signals from the emergency response center and for conditioning the voice message signals to produce conditioned signals;
• a speaker for receiving the conditioned signals and producing audible sound based on the voice message signals from the public emergency response center;
• a microphone for producing electrical signals based on audible speech of the operator whereby the operator may respond to the voice message signals from the public emergency response center;
• the cellular transmitter further for receiving the electrical signals and generating cellular phone signals based on the electrical signals for broadcast to the public emergency response center substantially simultaneously with the production of the electrical signals by the microphone;
• the cellular transmitter being operable to transmit cellular phone signals as the receiver simultaneously receives voice message signals from the public emergency response center, and the receiver being operable to receive voice message signals as the transmitter simultaneously transmits cellular phone signals, whereby the operator of the emergency communication apparatus and personnel at the public emergency response center may engage in verbal communications;
• and
• locator means disposed within the housing for providing the location of the emergency communication apparatus to the emergency response center when the single button is pressed and the emergency response center is contacted.

A security system for summoning assistance in an emergency situation, the security system comprising;

• a home security system for producing alarms in response to a variety of emergency situations;
• and
• a portable personal security device comprising:
• a rigid protective housing;
• a radio frequency transmitter disposed within the housing for activating the home security system if the portable personal security device is within communications range of the home security system when the radio frequency transceiver is activated;
• a home security alarm button mounted on the housing that activates the radio frequency transmitter and causes the portable personal security device to activate the home security system;
• an emergency response button mounted on the housing that, when pressed, activates the portable device to establish full duplex cellular voice communications with a public emergency response center;
• a cellular transmitter disposed within the housing for transmitting cellular phone signals, the transmitter operable to establish communication with only the public emergency response center when the single button is pressed, thereby reducing or eliminating costs associated with nonemergency cellular phone service;
• a cellular receiver for receiving voice message signals from the emergency response center and for conditioning the voice message signals to produce conditioned signals;
• a speaker for receiving the conditioned signals and producing audible sound based on the voice message signals from the public emergency response center;
• a microphone for producing electrical signals based on audible speech of the operator whereby the operator may respond to the voice message signals from the public emergency response center;
• the cellular transmitter further for receiving the electrical signals and generating cellular phone signals based on the electrical signals for broadcast to the public emergency response center substantially simultaneously with the production of the electrical signals by the microphone;
• the cellular transmitter being operable to transmit cellular phone signals as the receiver simultaneously receives voice message signals from the public emergency response center, and the receiver being operable to receive voice message signals as the transmitter simultaneously transmits cellular phone signals, whereby the operator of the emergency communication apparatus and personnel at the public emergency response center may engage in verbal communications;
• and
• an audible alarm disposed within the housing for causing a noise to emanate from the portable personal security device for alerting individuals within audible range of the audible alarm that an emergency situation exists;
• and
• an audible alarm button mounted on the housing that activates the audible alarm and causes the noise to emanate from the portable personal security device.

A portable cellular device for contacting a public emergency response center, the device comprising:

• a rigid housing for containing the portable cellular device;
• a single large button mounted on the rigid housing that causes the portable cellular device to establish full duplex voice communication with the public emergency response center when pressed;
• a flip top cover mounted on the rigid housing that covers the single large button and reduces the possibility of accidentally activating the portable cellular device;
• a radio transmitter disposed within the housing for contacting a home security system of a user of the portable cellular device if the portable cellular device is near the home security system when it is activated;
• an audible alarm disposed within the housing for producing noise to alert individuals in the immediate area surrounding the cellular device that an emergency situation exists;
• a first and a second small button located on the flip top cover wherein the first small button activates the audible alarm and the second small button activates the user's home security system;
• a retractable antenna mounted on the housing for receiving and transmitting electronic signals to and from the emergency response center;
• a cellular receiver disposed within the housing for receiving electronic voice message signals from the retractable antenna and for conditioning the voice message signals to produce conditioned signals;
• a cellular transmitter disposed within the housing for sending electronic cellular phone signals to the retractable antenna, the transmitter operable to establish communication with only the public emergency response center when the single large button is pressed, thereby reducing or eliminating costs associated with nonemergency cellular phone service;
• a microprocessor control circuit disposed within the housing for controlling the functioning of the portable cellular device;
• a memory device for providing storage space for storing information;
• an automatic dialer operable to dial only a phone number of the public emergency response center;
• a set of indicator lights mounted on the housing for indicating that the portable cellular device is in cellular communications range with a cellular network, that the portable cellular device has been activated or that the power supply in the portable cellular device needs replacing;
• a clip mounted on the housing that allows the portable cellular device to be removably attached to an object such as a belt or purse strap;
• a power supply disposed within the housing for providing power to the portable cellular device;
• a speaker disposed within the housing for receiving the conditioned signals and for producing audible sound based on the voice message signals received from the public emergency response center;
• and
• a microphone disposed within the housing for receiving verbal inputs from the user of the portable cellular device and converting the verbal inputs into electrical signals;
• the cellular transmitter further for receiving the electrical signals from the microphone and generating cellular phone signals based on the electrical signals for broadcast to the public emergency response center substantially simultaneously with the production of the electrical signals by the microphone;
• and
• the cellular transmitter being operable to transmit cellular phone signals as the receiver simultaneously receives voice message signals from the emergency response center, and the receiver being operable to receive voice message signals as the transmitter simultaneously transmits cellular phone signals, whereby the operator of the emergency communication apparatus and personnel at the public emergency response center may engage in verbal communications.