WO2007024187A1

WO2007024187A1 - A safety system, a safety terminal and an alarm system

Info

Publication number: WO2007024187A1
Application number: PCT/SE2006/050023
Authority: WO
Inventors: Erik Berggren; Stefan Andersson
Original assignee: Athena Nordic Ab
Priority date: 2005-08-26
Filing date: 2006-03-13
Publication date: 2007-03-01
Also published as: SE528992C2; SE0501899L; EP1941478A4; EP1941478A1; WO2007024187A8

Abstract

A safety system and a safety terminal (1), in particular for older users and/or users having cognitive functional impairments, which safety system comprises said safety terminal (1) intended to be used by said user. Said system comprises a service centre (2) for providing services to said user, and a control device (3) associated with the residence of the user, which control device is connected to at least the lock device of the outer door to the residence of the user. Said terminal (1) comprises at least one first and one second control button (6, 7), at least one loudspeaker (9) and at least one microphone (10) for communicating with the service centre (2), and transmitting and receiving means (4) by way of which the terminal (1) is connectable to a mobile communications network (5). The service centre (2) and the terminal (1) are arranged to communicate with each other by way of the mobile communications network (2), and the terminal (1) is arranged to call up the service centre (2) upon operation of the first control button (6) and arranged to control the control device (3) by way of at least the mobile communications network (2) for activating and inactivating, respectively, the residence of the user upon operation of the second control button (7). An alarm system, in particular for older users and/or users having cognitive functional impairments, where the alarm system comprises a detection unit (202, 203) for detecting the passage of the user through the outer door (207) of the residence of the user, detecting means (204, 205, 206, 302, 303, 304) for detecting if the user has brought a certain article (1, 305) when passing through the outer door (307), and an indication unit (208) which indicates to the user if said article (1, 305) is not brought along, whereby the user is notified that the article (1, 305) is left behind.

Description

A SAFETY SYSTEM, ASAFETYTERMINAL AND AN ALARM SYSTEM

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a safety system, in particular for older users and/or users having cognitive functional impairments, such as users with de- mentia, to a greater or less extent, or the like, which safety system comprises a mobile safety terminal intended to be used by said user. Further, the present invention relates to a safety terminal, in particular for older users and/or users having cognitive functional impairments, which, for the user, has a manageable size. The present invention also relates to an alarm system, in particular for older users and/or users having cognitive functional impairments.

Background of the Invention

Today, many elderly people and individuals having cognitive functional impairments are living in their home environment, sometimes alone and sometimes with a member of the family. There is a need for technical equipment which facili- tates and improves life for these individuals. Today, there are, for example, so called safety alarms provided with an alarm button which the user depresses when in need. However, this type of safety alarms is limited, since they are connected to a stationary telephone unit, which in turn is connected to the terrestrial telephone network, and has only a single function, i.e. alerting. JP2002300316 discloses an emergency contact system comprising a mobile communication terminal. Said terminal comprises a position recognition means, for example a GPS receiver, and a height position detection means for detecting if the user is standing or lying down. If a certain button on said terminal is depressed by the user in a standing state the police is called, and if the button is depressed in a lying state the fire department is called instead. ID information of the user of the terminal and the position information regarding the terminal are transmitted upon the call.

US 6,161 ,005 describes a system for locking and unlocking a door, or the like, from a remote location. The system can be activated by way of the mobile communications network by means of a mobile phone or by means of a radio frequency transmitter at short ranges.

EP 1 097 409 discloses an interconnection method for a system for remote control of apparatuses, for monitoring and controlling electrical utilities in a residence. By means of the system, a user can, for example, turn on electrical utilities in his residence via Internet. The system can communicate via the mobile communications network.

However, none of the above-mentioned solutions provides a system which facilitates the life and increases the safety of a user in an effective way, in particular for older users and/or users having cognitive functional impairments, such as users with dementia, to a greater or less extent, and improves the situation for the user's environment.

The Object of the Invention The object of the present invention is thus to provide a safety system, e safety terminal and an alarm system which to a greater extent facilitate the life and increase the safety of a user, in particular for older users, and/or users having cognitive functional impairments, such as users with dementia, to a greater or less extent, and improves the situation for the user's environment.

Summary of the Invention

The above mentioned objects are achieved by providing a safety system and a safety terminal, respectively, of the kind defined in the introductory part, which comprise the special features which are mentioned in the characterizing portion of claims 1 and 9, respectively. By the safety system and the safety terminal according to the present invention, the safety and life of the user is radically improved. The user only needs handle one unit, i.e. the terminal per se, and thus does not have to handle both keys to the residence and a separate alarm device. The terminal is user-friendly as it only comprises two control buttons which the user needs to operate. The first control button is operated by the user when he needs to get into contact with the service centre for assistance, after which the user can communicate with the service centre by means of the terminal per se. The service centre is preferably manned by staff which has access to a user profile with information about the user in question, for example contact information regarding the closest family members, medication etc. Several users are preferably registered with the same service centre. The second control button is operated by the user when he leaves and arrives, respectively, at his residence for unlocking and locking, respectively, of the outer door. It is also possible for the user to lock the outer door from a location re- mote from his residence. The control of the control device from the safety terminal is achieved by way of the mobile communications network, but can also be achieved by means of a short range transmitter provided in the terminal and a short range receiver connected to the control device, which can consist of RF or IR transmitters/receivers. Additional functions regarding the terminal are advantageously managed by the service centre. Advantageously, the service centre obtains an indication via the mobile communications network if the batteries of the terminal need to be recharged, after which the service centre calls up the user and asks the user to recharge the terminal in a charging device provided in the resi- dence, for example in an corresponding way as the recharging of a conventional cellular telephone, or the service centre indicates the need for recharging to the user by indication means provided in the terminal. These indication means can consist of vibration means, illuminating means or sound-alert means, or combinations thereof. The indication means can advantageously also be arranged to indi- cate to the user of the terminal when the terminal is being called up by the service centre, or any other external mobile terminal. Advantageously, the safety terminal is always active, i.e. turned on, and not possible to turn off by the user. By this, it is avoided that users with dementia turn off the terminal. Advantageously, the control buttons are different in design, for example with regard to colour and shape, such that the user easily can distinguish between them. Advantageously, the safety terminal is also arranged to be called up from other mobile terminals via the mobile communications network, whereby members of the family can call up the terminal.

According to an advantageous embodiment of the safety system according to the present invention, the terminal comprises a third control button, the ter- minal being arranged to call up a public emergency service centre, such as an emergency service centre for ambulance and fire department, upon operation of the third control button. When an accident occurs, the user can thus directly call the emergency service centre for transport by ambulance. Also the service centre has the possibility to call said emergency service centre, and indications show if this is necessary. Advantageously, the safety terminal comprises three control buttons as a maximum, but it can also be advantageously that the safety terminal comprises no more than two control buttons. The fact that the safety terminal is provided with such a limited amount of control buttons strongly promotes the user friendliness for a user with cognitive functional impairments, since said user only needs to learn the functions of these few control buttons, and if the user would operate wrong control button at the first try, the user will eventually find the correct control button by operating the other control buttons.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the safety system ac- cording to the present invention, the terminal comprises a GPS receiver, the system being arranged to determine the geographic position of the terminal by means of GPS. This makes it possible for the service centre, and also the emergency service centre, to position the user if the user is lost or had an accident, and thus cannot himself give his position. According to another advantageous embodiment of the safety system according to the present invention, the terminal comprises a radio transmitter for manual tracking of the terminal. Advantageously, this is activatable from the service centre or is arranged to be activated automatically when the GPS receiver of the terminal has no contact with the present GPS satellites. According to yet another advantageous embodiment of the safety system according to the present invention, the control device is connected to blocking means for the water supply and the current supply of the residence, said inactiva- tion comprising the blocking of the water and current supply by means of said blocking means, and said activation comprises the unblocking of the water and current supply. This further facilitates the life and increases the safety of the user. When the user leaves his residence he can thus inactivate the entire residence by means of the terminal, and thus block any running water taps and block the current to any electrical utilities left turned on. Advantageously, the control device is also connected to the burglar alarm of the residence, said inactivation comprising the inactivation of the burglar alarm, and said activation comprising the activation of the burglar alarm. According to an advantageous embodiment of the safety system according to the present invention, the control device is also arranged to be controlled by the service centre via the mobile communications network, whereby also the service centre can activate and inactivate the residence of the user according to the above.

According to still another advantageous embodiment of the safety system according to the present invention, the control device is arranged to inactivate the residence if the outer door is not opened within a certain time period after the operation of the second control button for activating the residence. If the user would depress the second control button, for example by accident or with the intention to inactivate the residence although the residence is already inactivated, and thereby activate the residence, the residence is inactivated automatically if the user does not open the outer door to his residence within a certain time period. This time pe- riod can, for example, be about one minute, or shorter or longer, depending on the type of residence and the mobility of the user etc.

Further advantageous embodiments of the safety system according to the present invention emerge from dependent claims.

Further, the above-mentioned objects are achieved by providing an alarm system of the kind defined in the introductory part, which comprises the features which are mentioned in the characterizing portion of claim 15. By this alarm system an effective system is achieved which helps the user in bringing his important articles when he leaves the residence. Said article can consist of the safety terminal according to the invention, or the keys, wallet, medicine or purse of the user. According to an advantageous embodiment of the alarm system according to the present invention, the detecting means comprise a stationary storage unit for storing the article, detection element for detecting the presence of the article in the storage unit, and transmitting and receiving means arranged to communicate with a transmitting means connected to the detection unit and a receiving means connected to the indication unit, where the transmitting means of the detection unit is arranged to send a message to the transmitting and receiving means of the detecting means when the detection unit is detecting the passage of the user through the outer door, and where the transmitting and receiving means of the detecting means is arranged to send a message to the a receiving means of the indication unit for activating the indication unit if the detection element of the detecting means detects the presence of the article. By this, the user is reminded that the article is left in the storage unit. Advantageously, the storage unit has such a design that it, for the user, becomes a natural repository for the article in question. When the article is in the form of a safety terminal, the storage unit can advanta- geously comprise recharging means for recharging the batteries of the safety terminal, and it is then advantageously connected to the supply mains. The storage unit can for example be placed on the user's bedside table. The transmitting and receiving means of the detecting means can advantageously be provided in the storage unit. The detection element of this embodiment can comprise a pressure sensor, an IR detector, a field break switch etc., or combinations thereof.

According to a further advantageous embodiment of the alarm system according to the present invention, the detecting means comprise a tag intended to be attached to said article, a detection element for detecting the tag at the outer door, and transmitting and receiving means arranged to communicate with a transmitting means connected to the detection unit and a receiving means connected to the indication unit, where the transmitting means of the detection unit is arranged to send a message to the transmitting and receiving means of the de- tecting means when the detection unit is detecting the passage of the user through the outer door, and where the transmitting and receiving means of the detecting means is arranged to send a message to the a receiving means of the indication unit for activating the indication unit if the detection element of the detecting means does not detect the presence of the article. The tag can comprise a chip, a magnetic strip, or a certain material, depending on what kind of detection element being used. If it relates to RFID, Radio Frequency Identification, the tag is in the form of a chip which is detectable by an RFID reader included in the detection element. The detection element may also comprise an IR detector, a field break switch etc., and the design of the tag is adapted accordingly. According to advantageous embodiments of the alarm system according to the present invention, the alarm system comprises a safety device of a manageable size intended to be worn by the user at all times, for example around the neck or the wrist of the user. This safety device can be in the form of a bracelet, a wrist-watch, or a necklace. It is important that the user always carries the safety device and in principle never takes it off. Advantageously, the detection unit is arranged to detect the presence of the safety device, whereby the passage of the user through the outer door is detected. For example, the detection unit can detect the safety device through the provision of a chip, a magnetic strip, or a certain material in the safety device, depending on what kind of detection unit being used. If it relates to RFID, Radio Frequency Identification, the safety device is provided with a chip which is detectable by an RFID reader included in the detection unit.

Alternatively, the detection unit can comprise an IR detector, a movement detector, a weight detecting mat for the detection of the weight of the user, a field break switch etc., and where the safety device is part of the function of the detection unit, the safety device is designed and adapted accordingly.

The indication unit can, for example, comprise sound-alert means and/or illuminating means which are stationary attached at the outer door, and/or com- prise vibration means, sound-alert means and/or illuminating means which are provided in the safety device itself.

In the embodiment of the alarm system where the detecting means comprise said tag, the safety device can advantageously comprise the detection element and the transmitting and receiving means of the detecting means. Alterna- tively, the detection element of the detecting means is attached at the outer door in connection with the detection unit, where applicable in connection with the RFID reader, the IR detector etc., included in the detection unit.

Advantageously, the safety system of the invention can be combined with the alarm system of the invention, and if so, the safety terminal of the safety sys- tern constitutes the article of the alarm system. In this case, the safety device can advantageously comprise an alarm button which upon operation activates the user's safety terminal in order to call the service centre, for example. If so, the safety device comprises transmitting means, for example an RF transmitter, for communication with the safety terminal. This is advantageous if the user needs assistance but cannot reach the safety terminal, for example due to a fall accident.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The present invention will now be described, for exemplary purposes, in more detail by way of embodiments and with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the safety system and the safety terminal, respectively, according to the present invention,

Fig. 2 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the alarm system and the safety device, respectively, according to the present invention, and Fig. 3 is a schematic view of a second embodiment of the alarm system and the safety device, respectively, according to the present invention. Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments

Fig. 1 schematically shows an embodiment the safety system and the safety terminal, respectively, where the safety system comprises a safety terminal 1 , a service centre 2 for providing services to said user, and a control device 3 as- sociated with the residence of the user. Herein, the service centre 2 comprises a switchboard operated by staff having access to user profiles of all the users connected to the system. The terminal 1 comprises transmitting and receiving means 4 by way of which the terminal 1 is connectable to a mobile communications network 5, such as GSM, 3G etc. The service centre 2 and the terminal 1 are ar- ranged to communicate with each other by way of the mobile communications network 5. The terminal 1 comprises a first, a second and a third control button 6, 7, 8, and a loudspeaker 9 and a microphone 10 for communicating with the service centre 2. The terminal 1 is arranged to call up the service centre 2 via the mobile communications network 5 upon operation of the first control button 6, whereby the user can receive services.

The control device 3 is connected to the lock device of the outer/front door to the user's residence, and to blocking means 11 for the water supply and the current supply of the residence. Further, the control device 3 comprises transmitting and receiving means 15 via which the control device 3 is connectable to the mobile communications network 5. The terminal 1 is arranged to control the control device 3 via the mobile communications network 5 for activating and inactivating, respectively, the user's residence, where the inactivation comprises the locking of the outer door of the residence and the activation comprises the unlocking of the same, upon operation of the second control button 7. Further, said inactivation comprises the blocking of the water and current supply by means of said blocking means 11 , and said activation comprises the unblocking of the water and current supply. Thus, the control device 3 has two states, an inactive state and an active state. In the active state, the control device 3 controls said blocking means 11 to activate certain facilities in the residence and keep them active, for example opening the water supply to the water taps, supplying current to outlets and electric appliances, and additionally the control device 3 controls the lock device of the outer door to unlock the outer door. In the inactive state, the control device 3 controls said blocking means 11 to inactivate the facilities in the residence and keep them inactive, for example stopping the water supply to the water taps, discon- necting the current supply to outlets and electric appliances, and additionally the control device 3 controls the lock device of the outer door to lock the outer door. When operating the second control button 7, the control device 3 switches from the inactive state to the active state, or from the active state to the inactive state. Further, the control device 3 is arranged to inactivate the residence if the front door is not opened within a certain time period after the operation of the second control button 7 for activation of the residence. Therefore, if the user controls the control device 3 to the active state without opening the front door within a certain time period, the control device 3 returns automatically to the inactive state. Said time period is adjustable depending on the type of residence and user. Further, the control device 3 is arranged to be controlled from the service centre 2 via the mobile communications network 5, whereby also the service centre 2 can activate and inactivate the residence of the user in accordance with the above.

The terminal 1 is arranged to call up a public emergency service centre 13 upon operation of the third control button 8. The terminal 1 also comprises a GPS receiver 12, the system being arranged to determine the geographic position of the terminal 1 by means of GPS, and radio transmitter 13 for manual tracking of the terminal via the radio signals originating from the radio transmitter 13, the radio transmitter 13 being possible to activate from the service centre 2. The terminal 1 comprises indication means 14 which are arranged to indicate to the user of the terminal 1 that the terminal is being called up by the service centre 2. The terminal 1 is always active and arranged to send a message, via the mobile communications network 5, to the service centre 2 when the batteries of the terminal 1 require charging, and the service centre 2 controls the indications means 14 provided in the terminal 1 , for example illuminating means, vibration means and/or sound-alert means, which indicate to the user that the terminal must be charged. Said indication means 14 can also be used to indicate an incoming phone call to the user, from the service centre 2, or another mobile terminal.

Further, the terminal 1 comprises second indication means 16, for exam- pie in the form of illuminating means, said second indication means 16 being arranged to indicate to the user of the terminal 1 that his residence is activated or inactivated. If said second indication means 16 are in the form of illuminating means, these can be arranged to illuminate if the residence is inactivated and arranged to not illuminate if the residence is activated, or vice versa. By means of said second indication means 16, the situation where two individuals are living in the same residence is facilitated, and both of them can inactivate and activate the residence, since the users of the terminal is receiving an indication when the residence is activated and inactivated, respectively, by the other individual. The same applies in a situation where the service centre 2 chooses to activate and inactivate, respectively, the residence of the user.

Between the control device 3 and the terminal 1 and the service centre 2, respectively, a two-way communication is provided. The service centre 2 and the terminal 1 send control messages to the control device 3, and the control device 3 sends data about its status to the terminal 1 and the service centre 2, respectively. This communication is accomplished via the mobile communications network 5 in accordance with above, for example in the form of text messages, such as SMS. Fig. 2 shows schematically an embodiment of the alarm system and the safety device 201 , respectively, according to the present invention. The alarm system comprises a detection unit 202, 203 for detecting the passage of the user through the outer door 207 of the user's residence. In this case, the detection unit 202, 203 comprises an RFID reader 202 arranged at the outer door 207 and a chip 203 which is provided in the safety device 201 , whereby the passage of the user through the outer door 207 is detected since the safety device 201 is always car- ried by the user. Further, the alarm system comprises detecting means 204, 205, 206 for detecting if the user has brought his safety terminal 1 , as described in connection with Fig. 1 , when passing through the outer door 207, and an indication unit 208, in the form of vibration means 208, which indicates to the user if the safety terminal 1 is not brought along, whereby the user is notified that the safety terminal 1 is left behind. The detecting means 204, 205, 206 comprise a stationary storage unit 204 for storing the safety terminal 1 , a detection element 205, herein in the form of a pressure sensor 205, for detecting the presence of the safety terminal 1 in the storage unit 204 and transmitting and receiving means 206 arranged to communicate with a transmitting means 209 connected to the detection unit 202, 203 and a receiving means 210 connected to the indication unit 208. The transmitting means 209 of the detection unit 202, 203 is arranged to send a message to the transmitting and receiving means 206 of the detecting means 204, 205, 206 when the detection unit 202, 203 is detecting the passage of the user through the outer door 207, the detection element 205 detecting if the safety ter- minal 1 is present or not. Further, the transmitting and receiving means 206 of the detecting means 204, 205, 206 is arranged to send a message to the a receiving means 210 of the indication unit 208 for activating the indication unit 208 if the detection element 205 of the detecting means 204, 205, 206 detects the presence of the safety terminal 1. The safety device 201 is arranged to be attached around the wrist by means of straps 211. These straps 211 are arranged such that the user himself cannot remove the safety device 201 from his wrist.

Fig. 3 shows schematically a second embodiment of the alarm system according to the present invention with the same safety device 201 as in Fig. 2. This alarm system comprises the same detection unit 202, 203 and indication unit 208 as the system of Fig 2, but other detecting means 302, 303, 304 for detecting if the user has brought his safety terminal 305 when passing through the outer door 207. These second detecting means 302, 303, 304 comprise a tag 302, herein in the form of a chip 302, which is provided in the safety terminal 305, which safety ter- minal 305, in addition to that, corresponds to the terminal of Figs. 1 and 2, a detection element 303 stationary arranged at the outer door 207, herein in the form of an RFID reader 303, for detecting the tag 302 at the outer door 207, and transmitting and receiving means 304 arranged to communicate with a transmitting means 209 connected to the detection unit 202, and a receiving means 210 con- nected to the indication unit 208. The transmitting means 209 of the detection unit 202, 203 is arranged to send a message to the transmitting and receiving means 304 of the detecting means 302, 303, 304 when the detection unit 202, 203 is detecting the passage of the user through the outer door 207, whereby the detection element 303 detects if the safety terminal 305 is present or not. This transmitting and receiving means 304 of the detecting means 302, 303, 304 is arranged to send a message to the a receiving means 210 of the indication unit 208 for activating the indication unit 208 if the detection element 303 of the detecting means 302, 303, 304 does not detect the presence of the safety terminal 305.

Alternatively, the detection element 303 and the transmitting and the receiving means 304 of the detecting means 302, 303, 304 can be arranged in the safety device 201 itself.

The communication between above-mentioned receiving means, transmitting means and transmitting and receiving means is advantageously wireless, for example by means of radio waves, IR etc., or it can be accomplished via cable, where suitable.

Claims

1. A safety system, in particular for older users and/or users having cognitive functional impairments, comprising a mobile safety terminal intended to be used by said user, characterized in that said system comprises a service centre for providing services to said user, and a control device associated with the residence of the user, which control device is connected to at least the lock device of the outer door to the residence of the user, in that said terminal comprises at least one first and one second control button, at least one loudspeaker and at least one mi- crophone for communicating with the service centre, and transmitting and receiving means by way of which the terminal is connectable to a mobile communications network, in that the service centre and the terminal are arranged to communicate with each other by way of the mobile communications network, and in that the terminal is arranged to call up the service centre upon operation of the first control button and arranged to control the control device by way of at least the mobile communications network for activating and inactivating, respectively, the residence of the user, where the inactivation comprises at least the locking of the outer door of the residence and the activation comprises at least the unlocking of the same, upon operation of the second control button.

2. A safety system according to claim 1 , characterized in that the terminal comprises a third control button, and in that the terminal is arranged to call up a public emergency service centre upon operation of the third control button.

3. A safety system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the terminal comprises a GPS receiver, and in that the system is arranged to determine the geographic position of the terminal by means of GPS.

4. A safety system according to any of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the terminal comprises a radio transmitter for manual tracking of the terminal.

5. A safety system according to claim 4, characterized in that the radio transmitter is activatable from the service centre.

6. A safety system according to any of the claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the terminal comprises indication means which are arranged to indicate to the user of the terminal that the terminal is being called up.

7. A safety system according to any of the claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the control device is connected to blocking means for the water supply and the current supply of the residence, in that said inactivation comprises the blocking of the water and current supply by means of said blocking means, and in that said activation comprises the unblocking of the water and current supply.

8. A safety system according to any of the claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the control device is arranged to inactivate the residence if the outer door is not opened within a certain time period after the operation of the second control button for activating the residence.

9. A safety terminal, in particular for older users and/or users having cognitive functional impairments, which, for the user, has a manageable size, characterized in that said terminal comprises at least one first and one second control button, at least one loudspeaker, at least one microphone and transmitting and re- ceiving means by way of which the terminal is connectable to a mobile communications network, in that the terminal is arranged to communicate with a service centre by way of said mobile communications network, which service centre provides services to said user, in that the terminal is arranged to call up the service centre upon operation of the first control button, in that the terminal is arranged to control a control device associated with the residence of the user by way of at least the mobile communications network, the control device being connected to at least the lock device of the outer door to the residence of the user, and in that the terminal is arranged to control the control device for activating and inactivating, respectively, the residence of the user, where the inactivation comprises at least the locking of the outer door of the residence and the activation comprises at least the unlocking of the same, upon operation of the second control button.

10. A safety terminal according to claim 9, characterized in that the terminal comprises a third control button, and that the terminal is arranged to call up a public emergency service centre upon operation of the third control button.

11. A safety terminal according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the terminal comprises a GPS receiver.

12. A safety terminal according to any of the claims 9 to 11 , characterized in that the terminal comprises a radio transmitter for manual tracking of the termi- nal.

13. A safety terminal according to claim 12, characterized in that the radio transmitter is activatable from the service centre.

14. A safety terminal according to any of the claims 9 to 13, characterized in that the terminal comprises indication means which are arranged to indicate to the user of the terminal that the terminal is being called up.

15. An alarm system, in particular for older users and/or users having cogni- tive functional impairments, characterized in that the alarm system comprises a detection unit for detecting the passage of the user through the outer door of the residence of the user, detecting means for detecting if the user has brought a certain article when passing through the outer door, and an indication unit which indicates to the user if said article is not brought along, whereby the user is notified that the article is left behind.

16. An alarm system according to claim 15, characterized in that the detecting means comprise a stationary storage unit for storing the article, a detection element for detecting the presence of the article in the storage unit, and transmitting and receiving means arranged to communicate with a transmitting means connected to the detection unit and a receiving means connected to the indication unit, in that the transmitting means of the detection unit is arranged to send a message to the transmitting and receiving means of the detecting means when the detection unit is detecting the passage of the user through the outer door, and in that the transmitting and receiving means of the detecting means is arranged to send a message to the receiving means of the indication unit for activating the indication unit if the detection element of the detecting means detects the presence of the article.

17. An alarm system according to claim 15, characterized in that the detecting means comprise a tag intended to be attached to said article, a detection element for detecting the tag at the outer door, and transmitting and receiving means arranged to communicate with a transmitting means connected to the de- tection unit and a receiving means connected to the indication unit, in that the transmitting means of the detection unit is arranged to send a message to the transmitting and receiving means of the detecting means when the detection unit is detecting the passage of the user through the outer door, and in that the transmitting and receiving means of the detecting means is arranged to send a mes- sage to the a receiving means of the indication unit for activating the indication unit if the detection element of the detecting means does not detect the presence of the article.

18. An alarm system according to any of the claims 15 to 17, characterized in that the alarm system comprises a safety device of a manageable size intended to be worn by the user at all times, for example around the neck or the wrist of the user, and in that the detection unit is arranged to detect the presence of the safety device, whereby the passage of the user through the outer door is detected.

19. An alarm system according to any of the claims 15 to 17, characterized in that the alarm system comprises a safety device of a manageable size intended to be worn by the user at all times, for example around the neck or the wrist of the user, and in that the safety device comprises said indication unit, for example in the form of vibration means, illuminating means and/or sound-alert means.

20 An alarm system according to any of the claims 15 to 19, characterized in that said article consists of a safety terminal according to any of the claims 9 to 14.

21. A safety system according to any of the claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the safety system comprises an alarm system according to any of the claims 15 to 19, where the safety terminal of the safety system constitutes the article of the alarm system.