Emergency information access on portable electronic devices

• US 10,241,642 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2017
• Issued: 03/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Michalske, Steven Charles
• Primary Examiner(s): Korsak, Oleg
• Application Number:
  US15/727,370
• Publication Number:
  US 20180032234A1
• Time in Patent Office: 536 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/62 Protecting access to data via a platform, e.g. using keys or access control rules
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/629 to features or functions of an application
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27475 using interactive graphical means or pictorial representations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/673 the user being required to key in a code
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6775 by providing access to preprogrammed keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72418 for supporting emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72424 with manual activation of emergency-service functions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]

Abstract

Improved techniques for facilitating emergency access to one or more contacts stored on a portable electronic device are disclosed. One or more contacts on the portable electronic device are designated as emergency contacts. While the portable electronic device is password-locked, a request to display the one or more emergency contacts on the password-locked portable electronic device is received. Without requiring a password, the one or more emergency contacts are displayed on the portable electronic device.

Claims

1. A method for displaying emergency information associated with a registered user, the method comprising, at a locked portable electronic device that stores the emergency information:

displaying a lock screen that includes (i) a first keypad for inputting a passcode for unlocking the lock screen, and (ii) an emergency user interface (UI) control for accessing an emergency information screen;

displaying the emergency information screen in response to receiving a first selection of the emergency UI control, wherein the emergency information screen includes (i) an emergency information UI control for accessing the emergency information stored at the locked portable electronic device, and (ii) a second keypad for initiating an emergency phone call; and

in response to receiving a second selection of the emergency information UI control;

displaying the emergency information associated with the registered user that includes different subcategories of the emergency information that is associated with the registered user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the different subcategories of the emergency information include at least two or more of a blood type, a medical condition, allergies or existing medications associated with the registered user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the emergency information was previously designated as lock-accessible by the registered user of the locked portable electronic device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein, in response to receiving the first selection of the emergency UI control, the method further comprises:

preventing any other information associated with the registered user from being displayed.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the emergency phone call corresponds to an emergency contact number that is stored at the locked portable electronic device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the emergency information includes at least one emergency contact UI control having (i) a name of an emergency contact, and (ii) a phone number associated with the emergency contact.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein, in response to receiving a third selection of the at least one emergency contact UI control, the method further comprises:

accessing the phone number associated with the name of the emergency contact; and

causing the emergency phone call to be initiated in accordance with the phone number.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first keypad is concurrently displayed with the emergency UI control at the lock screen.

9. A computing device for displaying emergency information associated with a registered user, the computing device comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory storing instructions that, in response to being executed by the at least one processor, cause the computing device to;

store the emergency information associated with the registered user of the computing device;

display a lock screen that includes (i) a first keypad for inputting a passcode for unlocking the lock screen, and (ii) an emergency UI control for accessing an emergency information screen;

display the emergency information screen in response to receiving a first selection of the emergency UI control, wherein the emergency information screen includes (i) an emergency information UI control, and (ii) a second keypad for initiating an emergency phone call; and

in response to receiving a second selection of the emergency information UI control;

display the emergency information associated with the registered user that includes different subcategories of the emergency information that is associated with the registered user.

10. The computing device of claim 9, wherein the different subcategories of the emergency information include at least two or more of a blood type, a medical condition, allergies or existing medications associated with the registered user.

11. The computing device of claim 9, wherein the emergency information was previously designated as lock-accessible by the registered user of the computing device.

12. The computing device of claim 9, wherein the first keypad is concurrently displayed with the emergency UI control at the lock screen.

13. The computing device of claim 9, wherein the emergency information includes at least one emergency contact UI control having (i) a name of an emergency contact, and (ii) a phone number associated with the emergency contact.

14. The computing device of claim 13, wherein, in response to receiving a third selection of the at least one emergency contact UI control, the at least one processor further causes the computing device to:

access the phone number associated with the name of the emergency contact; and

cause the emergency phone call to be initiated in accordance with the phone number.

15. At least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that, in response to being executed by at least one processor included in a computing device, cause the computing device to:

store emergency information associated with a registered user of the computing device;

display a lock screen that includes (i) a first keypad for inputting a passcode for unlocking the lock screen, and (ii) an emergency UI control for accessing an emergency information screen;

display the emergency information screen in response to receiving a first selection of the emergency UI control, wherein the emergency information screen includes (i) an emergency information UI control for accessing the emergency information stored at the computing device, and (ii) a second keypad for initiating an emergency phone call; and

in response to receiving a second selection of the emergency information UI control;

display the emergency information associated with the registered user that includes different subcategories of the emergency information that is associated with the registered user.

16. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the different subcategories of the emergency information include at least two or more of a blood type, a medical condition, allergies or existing medications associated with the registered user.

17. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the emergency information was previously designated as lock-accessible by the registered user of the computing device.

18. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the emergency phone call corresponds to an emergency contact number that is stored at the computing device.

19. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the emergency information includes at least one emergency contact UI control having (i) a name of an emergency contact, and (ii) a phone number associated with the emergency contact.

20. The at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein, in response to receiving a third selection of the at least one emergency contact UI control, the at least one processor further causes the computing device to:

access the phone number associated with the name of the emergency contact; and

cause the emergency phone call to be initiated in accordance with the phone number.