Location capable mobile handset

• US 20040192346A1
• Filed: 03/27/2003
• Published: 09/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kyocera Wireless Corporation (Kyocera Corporation)
• Inventors: Chang, Henry, Dunn, Douglas L.
• Granted Patent: US 6,973,298 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/17 Emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/006 for emergency situations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• 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 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections

Abstract

Briefly, the location capable mobile handset allows the user to provide a call recipient with the location of an unsuccessful attempted emergency call. In one specific example, the call may be an E911 call to a PSAP dispatcher, however, it will be appreciated that the call may be to request assistance from a family member, or friend. Additionally, the call may be to a towing service. The call could be any call that a mobile handset user wants to send location information to the party that has been called. Returning to the E911 call example, the location information reported to dispatcher can include the location of initial E911 call, current location during a successful E911 call, or ground track information from the initial location to the current location. When an E911 call is unsuccessfully attempted the mobile handset stores the location of the mobile handset at that time. This information can later be transmitted when the mobile handset is in a coverage area. Additionally, the mobile handset can auto-dial 911 upon entering a service area after an unsuccessful E911 attempt. Alternately the user can be prompted to initiate an E911 call when the mobile handset enters a service area.

Claims

1. A method of transmitting a geographical position of a wireless communication device comprising:

attempting a first mobile call;

failing the attempted first mobile call;

receiving location information indicative of a geographic location;

storing the location information;

attempting a second mobile call;

successfully completing the second mobile call;

transmitting the stored location information; and

,

determining, using the location information, a geographical position of the wireless communication device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first mobile call is a call to a Public Safety Answering Point.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first mobile call is a wireless 911 call.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first mobile call is a mobile call to a road side assistance service.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the location information indicative of a geographic location is pseudo-range information transmitted by a global positioning system satellite.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the location information indicative of a geographic location is latitude and longitude information.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the location information indicative of a geographic location is an estimate of range and direction from a base station.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the storing step includes writing to a memory.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the memory is random access memory.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the second mobile call is a call to a public safety answering point.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the second mobile call is a wireless 911 call.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the second mobile call is a mobile call to a road side assistance service.

13. A method of transmitting a geographical location of a wireless communication device comprising:

determining that the wireless communications device is in a no service region;

receiving location information indicative of a geographic location;

storing the location information;

attempting a second mobile call;

successfully completing the second mobile call;

transmitting the stored location information

determining, using location information, a geographical location of the wireless communication device.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the first mobile call is a call to a public safety answering point.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the first mobile call is a wireless 911 call.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the first mobile call is a mobile call to a road side assistance service.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the location information indicative of a geographic location is pseudo-range information transmitted by a global positioning system satellite.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein the location information indicative of a geographic location is latitude and longitude information.

19. The method of claim 13 wherein the location information indicative of a geographic location is an estimate of range and direction from a base station.

20. The method of claim 13 wherein the storing step includes writing to a memory.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the memory is random access memory.

22. The method of claim 13 wherein the second mobile call is a call to a public safety answering point.

23. The method of claim 13 wherein the second mobile call is a wireless 911 call.

24. The method of claim 13 wherein the second mobile call is a mobile call to a road side assistance service.

25. A mobile handset comprising:

a transceiver for transmitting and receiving rf signals;

a location determining device;

a memory coupled to the location determining device and configured to store location information for a mobile call that is not successfully completed;

a prior location transmission block coupled to the transceiver and the memory for transmitting the location information stored in the memory upon successful completion of a mobile call;

a battery coupled to the transceiver for supplying power to the transceiver;

a user interface coupled to the transceiver, location determining device, prior location transmission block, and the battery; and

a case enclosing the transceiver, the location determining device, the memory, the prior location transmission block, the user interface, and the battery.

26. The device of claim 25 wherein the mobile call is a call to a public safety answering point.

27. The device of claim 25 wherein the mobile call is a wireless 911 call.

28. The device of claim 25 wherein the mobile call is a mobile call to a road side assistance service.

29. The device of claim 25 wherein the location determining device is a global positioning system receiver.

30. The device of claim 29 wherein the global positioning system receiver determines pseudo-ranges to be stored in the memory.

31. The device of claim 29 wherein the global positioning system receiver determines latitude and longitude based on pseudo-ranges received.

32. The device of claim 25 wherein the memory is random access memory.

33. A method of transmitting path of travel of a wireless communication device comprising:

attempting a first mobile call;

failing the attempted first mobile call;

receiving a first location information indicative of a first geographic location;

storing the first position information;

receiving a plurality of other location information data indicative of location along a path of travel;

storing the plurality of other location information data;

attempting a second mobile call;

successfully completing the second mobile call;

transmitting the first location information;

determining, using the first location information a geographic location of a wireless communication device;

displaying the plurality of location data to determine a path of travel.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein the storing a plurality of other location information indicative of location along a path of travel is stored upon leaving a coverage area.

35. The method of claim 33 wherein the displaying the plurality of location data to determine a path of travel step occurs on the mobile device.

36. The method of claim 33 comprising the additional step of transmitting the plurality of other location information data indicative of location along a path of travel.

37. The method of claim 33 wherein the displaying the plurality of location data to determine a path of travel step is used to assist a mobile device user to get back to the coverage area.

38. A method of transmitting path of travel of a wireless communication device comprising:

determining that the wireless communication device is outside of a coverage area;

starting a timer;

attempting a first mobile call;

failing the attempted first mobile call;

receiving a first location information indicative of a first geographic location;

storing the first location information;

reporting a time from the timer;

attempting a second mobile call;

successfully completing the second mobile call;

transmitting the first location information;

determining, using the first location information a geographic location of a wireless communication device.