Combination emergency phone and personal audio device

An apparatus for providing a user with personal audio entertainment and wireless communication with an emergency response service, comprising:

• a rigid housing constructed from lightweight materials;
• an audio information access device disposed within the housing for accessing audio information from an audio information source, and for producing an electrical audio information signal based on the audio information;
• a transmitter disposed within the housing for producing outgoing communication signals capable of reaching and being received by a private emergency response service and a public emergency response service, the transmitter, when activated, for producing a first outgoing communication signal containing information for the private emergency response service, and immediately after completion of communication with the private emergency response service, automatically producing a second outgoing communication signal to communicate with the public emergency response service;
• a receiver disposed within the housing for receiving an incoming communication signal from the public emergency response service, and for generating an audio communication signal based upon the incoming communication signal;
• an audio amplifier disposed within the housing for receiving and amplifying the electrical audio information signal and the audio communication signal to produce an amplified electrical audio information signal and an amplified audio communication signal;
• and
• a sound production device electrically connected to the audio amplifier, for converting the amplified electrical audio information signal and the amplified audio communication signal into acoustical sound waves capable of being aurally perceived by the user.

An electronic apparatus for providing a user access to audio information stored on a digital audio disc, and for providing wireless telephone communication with a public emergency response service and with a private emergency response service, the apparatus comprising:

• a rigid housing constructed from lightweight materials;
• a digital audio disc player disposed within the housing for accessing the audio information stored on the digital audio disc, and for generating an electrical audio information signal based upon the audio information;
• only one large emergency response button disposed on the rigid housing, the emergency response button being the user's sole means for activating the apparatus to initiate wireless telephone communication with the public or private emergency response services, there being no control buttons for activating the apparatus to initiate wireless telephone communication other than the one emergency response button;
• a single emergency response switch disposed within the rigid housing, a state of which is changed by pressing the one large emergency response button;
• a controller for monitoring the state of the single emergency response switch, and for executing a plurality of emergency operations in response to a change in the state of the emergency response switch, the emergency operations including activating a transmitter to place an emergency telephone call to the one or more emergency response services;
• a radio-frequency cellular telephone transmitter which, when activated by the controller, produces outgoing radio cellular signals, including a first outgoing cellular radio signal containing information for the private emergency response service, and immediately after completion of communication with the private emergency response service, automatically producing a second outgoing cellular radio signal to communicate with the public emergency response service,
• a radio-frequency cellular telephone receiver disposed within the housing for receiving an incoming cellular telephone signal from the public emergency response service, and for generating an audio communication signal based upon the incoming cellular telephone signal;
• an audio amplifier disposed within the housing and electrically connected to the digital audio disc player, for receiving and amplifying the electrical audio information signal and the audio communication signal to produce an amplified electrical audio information and an amplified audio communication signal;
• and
• an earphone for receiving and converting the amplified electrical audio information signal and the amplified audio communication signal into acoustical sound waves capable of being aurally perceived by the user.