Proximity detection of mobile devices for emergency calling

• US 10,278,051 B2
• Filed: 04/06/2017
• Issued: 04/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Hassan, Amer A., Penar, Russell A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schwartz, Joshua L
• Application Number:
  US15/480,894
• Publication Number:
  US 20180295479A1
• Time in Patent Office: 754 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems

Abstract

A system and method for placing an emergency call using a initiating device. A initiating device receives a request to place an emergency call. Upon determining that a VoIP-based emergency call cannot be placed, the initiating device identifies a proximate proxy device. The initiating device directs the proxy device to place the emergency call.

Claims

1. An initiating device capable of placing VoIP calls comprising:

a processor;

a memory device containing machine-readable instructions that control the device to;

detect a request for emergency services;

confirm whether the initiating device is or is not present at a registered location;

upon confirming the initiating device is not present at the registered location, confirm a proximity within a range of a proxy device to the initiating device; and

upon confirming the proximity within a range of the proxy device, route the request for emergency services through the proxy device.

2. The initiating device of claim 1, wherein the proxy device is capable of connecting to a cellular network.

3. The initiating device of claim 1, wherein routing the request for emergency services comprises directing the proxy device to send the request to initiate an emergency call.

4. The initiating device of claim 1, wherein routing the request for emergency services comprises blocking the request if the proximity of a proxy device cannot be confirmed.

5. The initiating device of claim 1, wherein confirming whether the initiating device is or is not present at a registered location comprises:

querying for location information from at least one source;

inferring the geographical location of the device from the results of the query; and

comparing the inferred location to the registered location.

6. The initiating device of claim 1, wherein confirming the proximity within a range of the proxy device comprises:

transmitting a discovery signal to the proxy device; and

receiving a reply signal from the proxy device.

7. The initiating device of claim 1, wherein routing the request for emergency services comprises selecting an emergency number based on the location of the proxy device.

8. A storage device containing instructions that direct an initiating device capable of placing VoIP calls to:

detect a request for emergency services;

confirm whether the initiating device is or is not present at a registered location;

upon confirming the initiating device is not present at the registered location, confirming a proximity within a range of a proxy device to the initiating device; and

upon confirming the proximity within a range of the proxy device, route the request for emergency services through the proxy device.

9. The storage device of claim 8, wherein routing the request for emergency services comprises directing the proxy device to send the request to initiate an emergency call.

10. The storage device of claim 8, wherein routing the request for emergency services comprises blocking the request if the proximity within a range of a proxy device cannot be confirmed.

11. The storage device of claim 8, wherein confirming whether the initiating device is or is not present at a registered location comprises:

querying for location information from at least one source;

inferring the geographical location of the initiating device from the results of the query; and

comparing the inferred location to the registered location.

12. The storage device of claim 8, wherein confirming the proximity within a range of the proxy device comprises:

transmitting a discovery signal to the proxy device; and

receiving a reply signal from the proxy device.

13. The storage device of claim 8, wherein routing the request for emergency services comprises selecting an emergency number based on the location of the proxy device.

14. A method of placing an emergency call from an initiating device capable of placing VoIP calls, the method comprising:

detecting, by the initiating device, a request for emergency services;

confirming, by the initiating device, whether the initiating device is or is not present at a registered location;

upon confirming the initiating device is not present at the registered location, confirming, by the initiating device, a proximity within a range of a proxy device to the initiating device; and

upon confirming the proximity within a range of the proxy device, routing, by the initiating device, the request for emergency services through the proxy device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein routing the request for emergency services comprises directing, by the initiating device, the proxy device to send the request to initiate an emergency call.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein routing the request for emergency services comprises blocking, by the initiating device, the request if the proximity within a range of a proxy device cannot be confirmed.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein confirming whether the initiating device is or is not present at a registered location comprises:

querying for location information from at least one source;

inferring the geographical location of the initiating device from the results of the query; and

comparing the inferred location to the registered location.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein confirming the proximity within a range of the proxy device capability comprises:

transmitting, by the initiating device, a discovery signal to the proxy device; and

receiving, by the initiating device, a reply signal from the proxy device.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein routing the request for emergency services comprises selecting, by the initiating device, an emergency number based on the location of the proxy device.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the proxy device is capable of connecting to a cellular network.