A SAFETY SYSTEM, A MOBILE TELEPHONE AND A METHOD FOR

PROTECTING A PERSON

TECHNICAL FIELD

The invention relates to a safety system for reducing the risk for a user to be assaulted and in case the assault is not prevented the safety system is for increasing the likelihood for the police to identify the assailant(s).

The invention also relates to a mobile telephone which can be used as a part of such safety system as well as a method for protecting a person against an assault.

BACKGROUND ART

Assaulting is a violent physical attack, which can be one of the most devastating crimes of all. Persons who have been subjected to an assault may feel fear for strangers the rest of their lives. By following a number of simple rules, such as to keep in well-lighted areas while walking, avoid walking alone at night and similar, the risk of being assaulted can generally be reduced. However, still there are an unacceptable large number of assaults, in particular on females or elderly walking alone in city areas.

In general it is very difficult for the police to identify an assailant and provide evidence for use in convicting of such assailant. Potential assailants are aware of this, and many do not fear to be identified and convicted for their crime(s).

In order to reduce the risk of being assaulted, and collecting information which may be used as evidence against an assailant who actually committed an assault, a number of alarm systems have been provided.

US 6,011 ,967 discloses a cellular telephone which operates as an alarm in an alarm mode. After or prior to being manually or automatically set in the

alarm mode, the cellular telephone receives a sensor signal which identifies the occurrence or non-occurrence of a predetermined event. Upon receiving a signal that indicates the occurrence of a predetermined event, the cellular telephone automatically establishes a channel of communication with a pre- programmed telephone number, transmits to the called number identification data that identifies the cellular telephone, and then establishes the cellular telephone in a particular alarm operating mode, for example, a two-way audio mode.

US 5,712,679 describes a security system which comprises a beatable portable electronic camera image transmission unit which both identifies its own location by utilising the capabilities of an integral position location apparatus module while at the same time electronically photographing and otherwise recording the immediate scene. This combined navigational and photographic information is at the same time both stored within the beatable portable electronic camera transmission unit and transmitted, along with any other desired information such as user name, address and time of day to a distant remote receiver. The remote receiver converts the transmitted navigational information into a display of the location of the beatable portable electronic camera transmission unit upon a map, and this navigational and the other visual information is suitably displayed upon a television screen and is also presented as a hard copy on a facsimile receiver. Thus the receiver of the transmitted information will have immediate knowledge of the exact navigational location of the beatable portable electronic camera transmission unit plus a visual and other record of the surrounding event.

US 6,278,884 describes a multi-function, portable cellular phone modified to incorporate an alarm sensor, and an image capture and storage device in the same housing, the cellular phone being activated by keyboard or by voice control, and activation of the cellular phone causing the automatic dialling of a pre-coded phone number, such as an emergency service (police) and home.

US 6,001 ,967 Cellular telephone which operates as an alarm in an alarm mode. After or prior to being manually or automatically set in the alarm mode, the cellular telephone receives a sensor signal which identifies the occurrence or non-occurrence of a predetermined event. Upon receiving a signal that indicates the occurrence of a predetermined, usually undesirable, event, the cellular telephone automatically establishes a channel of communication with a pre-programmed telephone number, transmits to the called number identification data that identifies the cellular telephone, and then establishes the cellular telephone in a particular alarm operating mode, for example, a two-way audio mode.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The object of the invention is to provide a safety system for reducing the risk for a user to be assaulted.

A further object of the invention is to provide a safety system which increases the likelihood for the police to identify the assailant(s), and preferably a system which can be used effectively in collecting evidence against an assailant.

The invention is based on the theory that by increasing the collecting of information which may lead to evidence against an assailant, the likelihood that a potential assailant - who is aware of the collecting of information - actually will commit such assault will most likely be reduced. The primary object is therefore to prevent a possibly assault and secondary, if the assault is committed, to provide evidence against the assailant for having him convicted, and to thereby alert other potential assailant against committing such crimes in future.

The objects of the invention are achieved by the invention described in the accompanying claims and as described in the following.

The safety system of the invention comprises a portable unit, at least one remote data collecting receiver for receiving and storing electronic data, and at least one remote alarm receiver for receiving and playing an alarm signal.

The portable unit may be any type of electronic portable device which comprises an activatable data recording unit for electronically recording evidence data, an activatable data transmitting unit for wireless transmitting recorded evidence data to the remote data collecting receiver, and an activatable alarm unit for wireless transmitting an alarm signal to the remote alarm receiver.

The term "portable unit" means any electronic unit which is adapted to we carried by a person, i.e. a unit with a battery and with a size and weight which is capable of being carried by an average person. The portable unit may e.g. be a laptop/notebook, a mobile phone, a PDA, and other electronic devices capable of electronically recording evidence data and transmitting data wireless as defined in the claims.

The portable unit comprises an activatable data recording unit for electronically recording evidence data

The term "activatable data recording unit" means that the portable unit is capable of recording at least one type of evidence data upon activation by the person carrying the portable device. The activation may be performed by any means e.g. by voice, or by manually activation.

The recording unit may preferably be capable of recording the evidence data in digital form. In one embodiment the recording unit is an analogue recording unit. In this embodiment the portable unit may preferably comprise an Analogue-to-digital converter for converting the recorded analogue signals to digital signals.

The term "evidence data" indicate that the data potentially could be useful for evidence against an assailant is a potential assault is committed, but not that it necessarily will be useful for evidence. In practice any recorded data

which can be transmitted to the remote data collecting receiver is within the scope of evidence data.

Evidence data comprises for example at least one type of evidence data preferably selected from the group consisting of audio frequencies; digital images such as video and still images; information relating to position of the portable unit, such as Global Position System information (GPS), Information about other wireless units in the vicinity (as identified by automatically generated networks, such as Bluetooth or similar), text and numbers.

In one embodiment the evidence data comprises sound (as recorded by a microphone).

In one embodiment the evidence data comprises images (as recorded by the build-in camera).

In one embodiment the evidence data comprises video (as recorded by the build-in (video) camera).

In one embodiment the evidence data comprises position (as recorded by a build-in satellite position system (GPS, Galileo, GLONASS or similar) or by triangulation using wireless network)

Triangulation using wireless network is a method that uses a wireless transmitter, at least 3 wireless receivers, and a central computer to measure the physical location of the transmitter relative to the receivers. Benefits include the use of inexpensive RF hardware to measure relative location more accurately than existing technologies (such as GPS).

Further information about Triangulation as well as other useful method for determining a position is e.g. disclosed in "Evaluation of Pre-Acquisition Methods for Position Estimation System using Wireless LAN" by Hiroshi Yoshida, Seigo Ito, and Nobuo Kawaguchi. Nagoya University. The Third International Conference on Mobile Computing and Ubiquitous Networking (ICMU 2006). Oct. 11-13 2006 .

In one embodiment the evidence data comprises information about other wireless units in the vicinity (as identified by automatically generated networks, such as Bluetooth or similar).

In one embodiment the evidence data comprises at least one of telephone number(s), recordings of recent telephone conversations, SMS and MMS.

The portable unit further comprises a data transmitting unit. The data transmitting unit is capable of transmitting evidence data preferably directly from the portable unit. The data transmitting unit may be a separate unit which is connected to the portable unit or it may be an integrated part of the portable unit, such as it is in a mobile telephone. The data transmitting unit is preferably arranged for transmitting the evidence data in digital form. The data transmitting unit may in one embodiment be arranged to transmit the evidence data in coded form. The data transmitting unit may in one embodiment be arranged to link a transmission point of time to the evidence data, optionally together with the recording point of time. In one embodiment the data transmitting unit is pre-coded to transmit the evidence data to one or more specific addresses comprising the address of said at least one remote data collecting receiver. The address may e.g. be in the form of one or more e-mail addresses, one or more telephone numbers, one or more PC numbers and/or one or more Internet Protocol addresses (IP-addresses).

The data collecting receiver may be any electronic device capable of receiving and storing the evidence data.

The activatable alarm signal may preferably be activatable by any means under the control of the user, e.g. voice activatable and/or manually activatable. In one embodiment the activatable alarm signal is automatically activated at a point of time after activation of the activatable data recording unit. For example such that the alarm signal is activated after an alarm activation time frame of X minutes after activation of the data recording unit unless a) the data recording unit is deactivated prior to this point of time or b) the alarm activation time frame is reset . X minutes may e.g. be 5, 10, or

15 minutes. The alarm activation time frame may e.g. be reset by a simple push on a button or by a voice instruction (e.g. a coded instruction).

In one embodiment the activatable alarm signal is automatically activated at a point of time after activation of the activatable data recording unit as described above, but in such a way that the alarm activation time frame can be overruled by manually activation of the alarm, whereby the alarm will be activated without delay. The alarm may be a 'silent' alarm, i.e. the portable unit will not spread any sounds or other signals than the wireless transmitted signals. In this situation the assailant will not know if and when the alarm has been activated. In another embodiment the alarm will simultaneously with the wireless transmission emit a sound and/or a light signal to warn and possibly frighten off the assailant.

The wireless transmitted alarm may be transmitted by the data transmitting unit, or by an additional transmitter. The wireless transmitted alarm is transmitted to at least one remote alarm receiver. The remote alarm receiver may be or comprise the same electronic unit as the data collecting receiver or it may be one or more of any other electronic devices capable of receiving the alarm and playing the alarm for a human operator.

The term play/playing is meant to comprise playing sound signals and/or displaying visually signals and/or printing visually signals.

In one embodiment the system comprises at least one data collecting receiver and one at least one remote alarm receiver, where the data collecting receiver and the or at least one remote alarm receiver are separate units and preferably placed at different locations. The data collecting receiver may e.g. be placed at the user's home, in a related persons home or at a firm selling recording space to the user. The remote alarm receiver may e.g. be placed at a police station or at a control centre guarded by a human operator. The data collecting receiver may e.g. be arranged such that it additionally acts as an alarm receiver, and that it upon receiving an alarm automatically transmits collected evidence data to the remote alarm receiver placed at the police station or the control centre. The

data collecting receiver may e.g. transmit the evidence data collected within a certain time frame or it may send evidence data which otherwise is linked to the alarm. The data collecting receiver may alternatively or additionally be arranged such that the recorded evidence date can be accessed the internet using a password or similar access code.

In one embodiment the system comprises at least one remote alarm receiver which is also a data collecting receiver. The remote alarm receiver may e.g. be placed at a police station or at a control centre guarded by a human operator. The data collecting is preferably performed without the interference or alarming of a human operator, whereas the alarm receiver is arranged to immediately, without delay calling the attention of a human operator, e.g. by emitting a sound or a visual signal.

In general the portable unit is arranged such that the data recording unit can be activated independently of activation of the alarm unit. This means in practice that a user carrying the portable unit may - if she feels threatened - activate the data recording unit. She may e.g. take a photograph of a potential assailant, and initiate voice recording and position recording.

If the threatening situation passes by without any actual assault, she can deactivate the data recording unit. Thereby there has not been transmitted any false alarm; the potential assailant may have decided not to commit the potential assault because of the risk of identification by the recorded evidence data; and the user has felt more safe than she would have without the safety system of the invention.

If the threatening situation escalate and the user is or is about to be assaulted she can activate the alarm unit. The human operator operating the alarm receiver will immediately receive the information from the recorded data and thereby know hot to handle the situation e.g. calling the police (if the human operator is not already the police) who if the evidence data comprise position information, will know where to locate the assault and possibly be able to interrupt and terminate the assault. The police further will

obtain evidence date which can be use in convicting the assailant who therefore can be liable to a penalty according to criminal law.

Further examples of using the device are disclosed below.

In one embodiment the data transmitting unit is arranged to be activated simultaneously with activation of the alarm unit. In other words, the alarm unit cannot be activated without activating the data transmitting unit. If the user feels extremely threatened and she decides to immediately activate the alarm unit, the data transmitting unit will simultaneously be activated. Said data transmitting unit and said alarm unit may preferably be manually activatable, e.g. by depression at least one button.

In one embodiment the portable unit further comprises a storing element for storing recorded evidence data. The storing element may be a separated element, such as a memory stick or another memory device which can be removed from the portable unit and replaced with another memory device.

Alternatively the storing element may be an integrated part of the portable unit. The recorded and stored evidence data or parts thereof, such as a part recorded within a selected time frame, may e.g. be transmitted upon activation of the data transmitting unit.

In one embodiment the data transmitting unit is arranged to be activated simultaneously with activation of said data recording unit, e.g. by manually activatable, e.g. by depression at least one button. If desired the portable unit may additionally comprise a storing element for storing the recorded data.

The recorded evidence data may in one embodiment be transmitted by said data transmitting unit to said at least one remote data collecting receiver immediately after recording.

The portable unit may in one embodiment be a hand-held device preferably comprising one or more buttons for activating one or more of said data recording unit, optional sub recording elements of said data recording unit,

said data transmitting unit, said alarm unit as well as any other desired functions.

In one embodiment the hand-held device comprises a two-step button, comprising 3 settings, a first non-activated setting, a second recording-unit activating setting and/or transmitting-unit activating setting, and a third alarm unit activating setting. In one embodiment at least one recording unit is pre- activated in the first non-activated setting. In a preferred embodiment the second setting activates the transmitting-unit and if not already activated it simultaneously activates the recording unit. The two-step button may preferably be arranged such that it must be in its second recording-unit activating setting prior to be set in its third alarm unit activating setting. Thereby the recording unit will be activated prior to or simultaneously with the alarm unit, and a third alarm unit activating setting, the two-step

The two-step button may be arranged such that in its first non-activated setting it is non-depressed, by pressing the two-step button a first step the data recording unit and the transmission unit being activated and by pressing the two-step button a second step said alarm unit being activated.

The data recording unit for electronically recording evidence data, may preferably be capable of recording at least two types of evidence data. The portable unit optionally comprises two or more sub recording elements for recording said at least two or more types of evidence data independently of each other.

In one embodiment wherein the portable unit comprises two or more sub recording elements for recording at least two types of evidence data, said two or more sub recording elements are capable of being activated independently of each other e.g. by using separate buttons. For the case of definition the data recording unit is defined as being activated by activating of the first of the sub recording elements.

The data transmitting unit for wireless transmitting recorded evidence data may in principle be any type of wireless transmission unit. In one

embodiment the data transmitting unit is arranged to transmit recorded evidence data by telecommunication, preferably selected from the group consisting of radio signals such as blue tooth; microwave signals; infrared light; visible light; ultraviolet light; laser light; and acoustic waves.

Wireless transmitting means herein any type of transmission of electronic data which is not entirely provided via a wired route. The transmission may thus include partly transmission via a wired route and partly a transmission via a non-wired route. Thus if at least a section of the data route is performed wireless the data transmission should be interpreted to be wireless.

In one embodiment the least one remote data collecting receiver is a computer, optionally comprising at least one element for playing the collected data. The remote data collecting receiver in the form of a computer may e.g. be arranged to receive the evidence data by wireless transmission directly or partly via telephone wires or the Internet.

The remote data collecting receiver in the form of a computer may be a stationary computer or a portable computer, e.g. a personal computer (PC).

In one embodiment the at least one remote data collecting receiver in the form of a computer comprises at least one play unit, said play unit preferably being selected from a loudspeaker system for playing audio frequencies evidence data, a screen for displaying visual data, such as digital images and/or information relating to position of the portable unit, and a printer for printing digital images and/or information relating to position of the portable unit.

In one embodiment the safety system comprises at least two remote data collecting receivers which are arranged to receive and store said evidence data.

In one embodiment the least one remote data collecting receiver arranged to receive and store evidence data further comprises a transmitter for

transmitting at least a part of said evidence data to at least one further remote receiver, such as at least one further remote receiver selected from the group consisting of a stationary computer, a portable computer, a mobile telephone and other mobile electronic devices capable of receiving such evidence data.

The at least one remote data collecting receiver may be arranged to automatically transmitting at least a part of said evidence data to at least one further remote receiver or it may be arranged to transmit at least a part of said evidence data to at least one further remote receiver upon activation to perform the transmitting, the activation to perform the transmitting preferably being in the form of a signal received by the at least one remote data collecting receiver, said signal preferably being the alarm signal transmitted from the alarm unit.

As explained above the at least one of said at least one remote data collecting receiver and at least one of said at least one remote alarm receiver may be the same or being integrated physically with each other into one unit, such as a computer unit.

In one embodiment the at least one remote alarm receiver is selected from the group consisting of a stationary computer, a portable computer, a mobile telephone and other mobile electronic devices capable of receiving such evidence data.

In one embodiment the safety system comprises a plurality of remote alarm receivers, which individually from each other may be selected from the group consisting of a stationary computer, a portable computer, a mobile telephone and other mobile electronic devices capable of receiving such evidence data.

The safety system may preferably be arranged such that the alarm unit upon activation generates and transmits an alarm signal to at least one remote alarm receiver. The alarm signal preferably comprises information which links the alarm to said portable unit.

The alarm signal may preferably comprise information identifying the portable unit and/or the owner of the portable unit.

In one embodiment the alarm signal comprises information linking said alarm signal to said evidence data transmitted by the transmitting unit, e.g. by a code number or similar.

In one embodiment the remote alarm receiver for receiving and playing an alarm signal comprises at least one playing element for playing at least a part of said evidence data such as at least one playing element selected from the group consisting of a loudspeaker system for playing audio frequencies evidence data, a screen for displaying digital images and/or information relating to position of the portable unit, and a printer for printing digital images and/or information relating to position of the portable unit.

In one embodiment the remote alarm receiver for receiving and playing an alarm signal comprises a map and software to calculate the position of said portable unit based on evidence data comprising information relating to position of the portable unit, such as GPS data or other data e.g. as explained above.

In one embodiment the safety system comprises a first remote data collecting receiver and alarm receiver for receiving and storing electronic data and receiving and playing an alarm signal, one or more second data collecting receivers for receiving and playing electronic. The first remote data collecting receiver and remote alarm receiver for receiving and storing electronic data and receiving and playing an alarm signal may preferably be arranged such that upon receiving said evidence data from said portable unit, said evidence data being stored, and upon receiving an alarm signal from said portable unit at least a part of said evidence data being transmitted from said first remote data collecting receiver and alarm receiver to said one or more second data collecting receivers.

The safety system may comprise a plurality of portably units, and the evidence data and the alarm signal transmitted from said respective portably units may preferably comprise information identifying the individual transmitting portably unit.

In one embodiment the safety system comprises a portable unit, at least one remote data collecting receiver for receiving and storing electronic data, and at least one remote alarm receiver for receiving and playing an alarm signal. The portable unit comprises an activatable data recording unit for electronically recording evidence data, an activatable data transmitting unit for wireless transmitting said recorded evidence data to said at least one remote data collecting receiver, and an activatable alarm unit for wireless transmitting an alarm signal to said at least one remote alarm receiver, for alerting a human operator operating the at least one remote alarm receiver. The human operator may e.g. be a guard, a police man or any other person. The human operator preferably comprises or receives information for linking a transmitted alarm to the evidence data transmitted by said transmitting unit.

In a preferred embodiment the portably unit is a mobile telephone.

The invention also relates to a mobile telephone comprising an activatable data recording unit for electronically recording evidence data, an activatable data transmitting unit for wireless transmitting said recorded evidence data, and an activatable alarm unit for wireless transmitting an alarm signal, said data recording unit and said data transmitting unit is arranged to be activatable independently of activation of said alarm unit.

The mobile telephone may comprise a two-step button, comprising 3 settings, a first non-activated setting, a second recording-unit activating setting and/or transmission-unit activating setting, and a third alarm unit activating setting, the two-step button. The two-step button may be as described above.

In one embodiment of the mobile telephone the data transmitting unit upon activation transmit all data recorded within a predetermined time frame, such as up to 15 minutes, such as up to 10 minutes, such as up to 5 minutes prior to the time for activation of the data transmitting unit.

The invention further relates to a method of protecting a person against assault comprising providing a safety system as described above, and providing the person with a portable unit of said safety system.

The method of the invention may preferably comprising providing said person with a portable unit comprising an activatable data recording unit for electronically recording evidence data, an activatable data transmitting unit for wireless transmitting said recorded evidence data, and an activatable alarm unit for wireless transmitting an alarm signal, wherein said data recording unit and said data transmission unit is arranged to be activatable independently of activation of said alarm unit.

In one embodiment the method of the invention comprises upon activating of the data recording unit and said data transmission unit, receiving and storing evidence data transmitted from said data recording unit to said at least one remote data collecting receiver, and upon activation of said alarm unit, receiving and playing said alarm signal on said at least one remote alarm receiver.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will be explained more fully below in connection with a preferred embodiment and with reference to the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic front view of a portable unit in the form of a mobile telephone according to the invention.

FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of a first safety system of the invention.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of a second safety system of the invention.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of a third safety system of the invention

FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of a fourth safety system of the invention.

The mobile telephone 4 comprises a keyboard 2, which I principle may have any shape and for example be as any of the well known telephone keyboards. The telephone also comprises a display 1. The mobile telephone of the invention further comprises at least one not shown recording unit, such as at least one of the recording units described above and in particular at least one of a sound recording unit, an image recording unit and GPS recording. The mobile telephone also comprises a non shown transmitting unit for transmitting recorded data upon activation. On the front of the mobile telephone 4, it further comprises a two-step button 3, comprising three settings, a first non-activated setting, a second recording-unit and transmission-unit activating setting, and a third alarm unit activating setting. In an alternative embodiment the button 3 is only an alarm button whereas the recording unit(s) and the unit for transmitting data are activated with one or more other buttons. Also the skilled person will know that the mobile telephone may comprise additional elements, such as elements described above and/or which are today found in portable electronic units.

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a system of the invention comprising a portable unit 11 , at least one remote data collecting receiver 12 for receiving and storing electronic data, and at least one remote alarm receiver 13 for receiving and playing an alarm signal. The portable unit 11 may be as described above, for example the mobile telephone 4 described in Fig. 1. The portable unit 11 comprises as described above an activatable data recording unit for electronically recording evidence data, an activatable data transmitting unit for wireless transmitting said recorded evidence data to the remote data collecting receiver 12, and an activatable alarm unit for wireless transmitting an alarm signal to the remote alarm receiver 13. Upon activation of the data transmission unit, recorded data is wireless - as indicated by the line 14 - transmitted to the remote data collecting receiver 12. Upon activation of the alarm unit the alarm signal is wireless - as indicated by the

line 15 - transmitted to the remote alarm receiver 13. The remote alarm receiver 13 may preferably further receive the collected data on the remote data collecting receiver 12 corresponding to the activated alarm. There may therefore be a communication (e.g. wireless) between the remote alarm receiver 13 and the remote data collecting receiver 12 as indicated by line 16.

FIG. 3 is a schematic illustration of another safety system of the invention which is a variation of the safety system shown in Fig. 2. The safety system comprises a portable unit 21 , at least one remote data collecting receiver 22 for receiving and storing electronic data, and at least one remote alarm receiver 23 for receiving and playing an alarm signal. The remote data collecting receiver 22 and the remote alarm receiver 23 are integrated in one device. Upon activation of the data transmission unit, recorded data is wireless - as indicated by the line 24 - transmitted to the integrated remote data collecting receiver 12 and alarm receiver 13. Upon activation of the alarm unit the alarm signal is wireless - as indicated by the line 25 - also transmitted to the integrated remote data collecting receiver 12 and alarm receiver 13.

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of a third safety system of the invention which is a variation of the safety system shown in Fig. 2. The safety system comprises a portable unit 31 , a plurality of remote data collection receivers 32 for receiving and storing electronic data, and a plurality of remote alarm receivers 33 for receiving and playing an alarm signal. The remote data collecting receivers 32 may receive and store the same data or they may be arranged to receive and store separate date for example one remote data collection receiver 32 may be arranged to store audio date, another remote data collection receiver 32 may be arranged to store digital images and a third remote data collection receiver 32 may be arranged to store GPS data. The plurality of remote alarm receivers 33 may e.g. be in the form of portable devices, such as other mobile phones. Thereby one person in danger may alert other persons e.g. a group of persons in a protection group, for example a parent group. It should be understood that the embodiment may be varied such that the number of remote data collection receiver(s) 32 and

the number of remote alarm receiver(s) 33 may independently of each other vary from 1 to any number, such as up to 100, such as up to 25.

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of a fourth system of the invention comprising a plurality of portable units 41 , at least one remote data collecting receiver 42 for receiving and storing electronic data, and at least one remote alarm receiver 43 for receiving and playing an alarm signal. Each of the portable units may be as described above for example the mobile telephone 4 described in Fig. 1. Each of the portable units 41 comprise as described above an activatable data recording unit for electronically recording evidence data, an activatable data transmitting unit for wireless transmitting said recorded evidence said recorded evidence data to the remote data collecting receiver 42, and an activatable alarm unit for wireless transmitting an alarm signal to the remote alarm receiver 43. Upon activation of the data transmission unit, recorded data is wireless - as indicated by the line 44 - transmitted to the remote data collecting receiver 42. Upon activation of the alarm unit the alarm signal is wireless - as indicated by the line 45 - transmitted to the remote alarm receiver 43. The remote alarm receiver 43 may preferably further receive the collected data from the remote data collecting receiver 42 corresponding to the activated alarm. There may therefore be a communication (e.g. wireless) between the remote alarm receiver 43 and the remote data collecting receiver 42 as indicated by line 46.The individual portable units 41 may preferably comprise an identification signal which is transmitted together with the other electronic data as well as with the alarm signal to respectively the remote data collecting receiver 42 and the remote alarm receiver 43.

EXAMPLES

Example 1 - Uncomfortable situation

If a person is in a place and situation which she is uncomfortable with, like at night in a questionable neighbourhood. She may in this case choose to activate the data recording and transmission unit. By doing so she ensures that evidence data is recorded and reduce the risk of a dangerous situation

by making possible assailants aware of the recording device. By wearing the recording and transmitting device visibly and actively making sure that the people, locations, automobiles etc. she encounters are in the pictures transmitted, the risk of a dangerous situation will be lowered because the possible assailants know that they cannot remain anonymous after a criminal act. If the situation turns out to be harmless, she will deactivate the recording and transmitting device when she is in a safe location. However, if the situation becomes threatening or dangerous, she will activate the alarm unit to alert others to the dangerous situation, whom can thus come to assist the victim.

Example 2 - Kidnapping

If a person is abducted or kidnapped he may secretly activate the recording, transmitting and alarm units. This will allow the authorities to respond early to the situation and appropriately as it develops. Having instant and accurate information in such a situation will aid the authorities to ensure a fast and successful ending to the kidnapping.

In this situation it is imperative that the abductee ensures that the device remains hidden, as the kidnapper is likely to destroy it once discovered, and thereby ending the transmission.

Example 3 - Blackmail

If a person is subjected to extortion or blackmail, he may activate the data recording and transmission unit in order to ensure that the conversation is recorded and he thereby subsequently can prove the blackmail.

Example 4 - Bank robbery

If a person is a customer in a bank when a bank robbery starts, she may choose to secretly activate the recording, transmitting and alarm units in order to alert the police to the situation. Raising the alarm can be difficult or impossible for the bank staff because the robber has his attention on them. If sufficiently many people have such devices it may make bank robberies very difficult because any person in the bank may be able to raise the alarm, and it will be difficult for the robber to observe so many people. This may cause bank robberies to occur less frequently.

Some preferred embodiments have been shown in the foregoing, but it should be stressed that the invention is not limited to these, but may be embodied in other ways within the subject-matter defined in the following claims.