Methods and systems for controlling an emergency response device
One example system includes an alerting device and a second portable communication device. The alerting device may include a docking station and a first portable communication device removably secured to the docking station. The alerting device may output an alert including an audible alert, a visible alert, or both the audible alert and the visible alert in response to determining that the first portable communication device has been removed from the docking station. The second portable communication device may be configured to transmit, in response to activating a silent emergency report based on a user input, a signal to cause the alerting device to operate in a stealth mode in which the alerting device is configured to refrain from outputting the alert in response to determining that the first portable communication device has been removed from the docking station.
1 . A system comprising:
an alerting device including:
a docking station secured to a surface within a building and including a first electronic processor, and
a first portable communication device removably secured to the docking station, the first portable communication device including a first camera and a first microphone for capturing first input data, and a second electronic processor for streaming the first input data to a remote location via a first network interface;
wherein the alerting device is configured to:
determine that the first portable communication device has been removed from the docking station, and
control the docking station, the first portable communication device, or both the docking station and the first portable communication device to output an alert including an audible alert, a visible alert, or both the audible alert and the visible alert in response to determining that the first portable communication device has been removed from the docking station; and
a second portable communication device including:
a user interface,
a second network interface, and
a third electronic processor coupled to the user interface and the second network interface, wherein the third electronic processor is configured to:
receive, via the user interface, a user input activating a silent emergency report at the second portable communication device, and
transmit, via the second network interface and in response to activating the silent emergency report, a signal to cause the alerting device to operate in a stealth mode in which the docking station and the first portable communication device are configured to refrain from outputting the alert in response to determining that the first portable communication device has been removed from the docking station.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the docking station includes a second camera and a second microphone for capturing second input data, and wherein the first electronic processor is configured to stream the second input data to the remote location via a third network interface of the docking station.
3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the signal from the second portable communication device is configured to trigger the alerting device to begin capturing and streaming the first input data, the second input data, or both the first input data and the second input data.
4 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the alerting device, when operating in the stealth mode, is configured to begin capturing and streaming the first input data and the second input data in response to determining that the first portable communication device has been removed from the docking station.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the signal transmitted by the second portable communication device includes a wireless beacon signal, and wherein the third electronic processor is configured to broadcast the wireless beacon signal for direct receipt by the alerting device, wherein the alerting device is located within a direct communication range of the second portable communication device with respect to the wireless beacon signal.
6 . The system of claim 5 , further comprising one or more additional alerting devices respectively secured to additional surfaces within the building, wherein the one or more additional alerting devices are configured to directly receive the wireless beacon signal from the second portable communication device and operate in the stealth mode in response to receiving the wireless beacon signal.
7 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the third electronic processor is configured to:
broadcast the wireless beacon signal for a predetermined period of time; and
cease broadcasting the wireless beacon signal in response to the predetermined period of time elapsing.
8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the third electronic processor is configured to:
determine a location of the second portable communication device in response to activating the silent emergency report;
determine that the alerting device is located within a predetermined proximity of the location of the second portable communication device; and
transmit the signal to the alerting device in response to activating the silent emergency report and in response to determining that the alerting device is located within the predetermined proximity of the location of the second portable communication device, wherein the signal transmitted by the second portable communication device is addressed to the alerting device in response to determining that the alerting device is located within the predetermined proximity of the location of the second portable communication device.
9 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising an external device configured to communicate with the second portable communication device and the alerting device;
wherein the third electronic processor is configured to:
determine a location of the second portable communication device in response to activating the silent emergency report, and
transmit the signal to the external device, wherein the signal indicates that the silent emergency report has been activated, and wherein the signal indicates the location of the second portable communication device,
wherein the external device is configured to:
receive the signal,
determine that the alerting device is located within a predetermined proximity of the location of the second portable communication device, and
transmit a second signal to the alerting device in response to determining that the alerting device is located within the predetermined proximity of the location of the second portable communication device, wherein the second signal transmitted by the external device is addressed to the alerting device in response to determining that the alerting device is located within the predetermined proximity of the location of the second portable communication device.
10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the docking station is electrically coupled to an electrical system of the building.
11 . A method of operating an alerting device, the method comprising:
determining, with the alerting device, that a first portable communication device of the alerting device has been removed from a docking station of the alerting device, wherein the docking station is secured to a surface within a building and includes a first electronic processor, and wherein the first portable communication device is removably secured to the docking station, and the first portable communication device includes:
a first camera and a first microphone for capturing first input data, and
a second electronic processor for streaming the first input data to a remote location via a first network interface;
controlling, with the alerting device, the docking station, the first portable communication device, or both the docking station and the first portable communication device to output an alert including an audible alert, a visible alert, or both the audible alert and the visible alert in response to determining that the first portable communication device has been removed from the docking station;
receiving, with a third electronic processor of a second portable communication device and via a user interface of the second portable communication device, a user input activating a silent emergency report at the second portable communication device; and
transmitting, with the third electronic processor and via a second network interface of the second portable communication device and in response to activating the silent emergency report, a signal to cause the alerting device to operate in a stealth mode in which the docking station and the first portable communication device are configured to refrain from outputting the alert in response to determining that the first portable communication device has been removed from the docking station.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the docking station includes a second camera and a second microphone for capturing second input data, and wherein the first electronic processor is configured to stream the second input data to the remote location via a third network interface of the docking station.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the signal from the second portable communication device triggers the alerting device to begin capturing and streaming the first input data, the second input data, or both the first input data and the second input data.
14 . The method of claim 12 , further comprising beginning, with the alerting device and when operating in the stealth mode, capturing and streaming the first input data and the second input data in response to determining that the first portable communication device has been removed from the docking station.
15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the signal transmitted by the second portable communication device includes a wireless beacon signal, and further comprising broadcasting, with the third electronic processor and via the second network interface, the wireless beacon signal for direct receipt by the alerting device, wherein the alerting device is located within a direct communication range of the second portable communication device with respect to the wireless beacon signal.
16 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
directly receiving, with one or more additional alerting devices respectively secured to additional surfaces within the building, the wireless beacon signal from the second portable communication device; and
operating the one or more additional alerting devices in the stealth mode in response to receiving the wireless beacon signal.
17 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
broadcasting, with the third electronic processor, the wireless beacon signal for a predetermined period of time; and
ceasing, with the third electronic processor, broadcasting the wireless beacon signal in response to the predetermined period of time elapsing.
18 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
determining, with the third electronic processor, a location of the second portable communication device in response to activating the silent emergency report;
determining, with the third electronic processor, that the alerting device is located within a predetermined proximity of the location of the second portable communication device; and
transmitting, with the third electronic processor and via the second network interface, the signal to the alerting device in response to activating the silent emergency report and in response to determining that the alerting device is located within the predetermined proximity of the location of the second portable communication device, wherein the signal transmitted by the second portable communication device is addressed to the alerting device in response to determining that the alerting device is located within the predetermined proximity of the location of the second portable communication device.
19 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
determining, with the third electronic processor, a location of the second portable communication device in response to activating the silent emergency report;
transmitting, with the third electronic processor and via the second network interface, the signal to an external device configured to communicate with the second portable communication device and the alerting device, wherein the signal indicates that the silent emergency report has been activated, and wherein the signal indicates the location of the second portable communication device;
receiving, with the external device, the signal;
determining, with the external device, that the alerting device is located within a predetermined proximity of the location of the second portable communication device; and
transmitting, with the external device, a second signal to the alerting device in response to determining that the alerting device is located within the predetermined proximity of the location of the second portable communication device, wherein the second signal transmitted by the external device is addressed to the alerting device in response to determining that the alerting device is located within the predetermined proximity of the location of the second portable communication device.
20 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the docking station is electrically coupled to an electrical system of the building.