Methods and apparatus for communication

• US 20050032504A1
• Filed: 08/08/2003
• Published: 02/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ciliko Wireless Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ciliko Wireless Incorporated
• Inventors: Camp, R. Allen Van
• Granted Patent: US 7,068,994 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/404.200
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/001 Alarm cancelling procedures or alarm forwarding decisions, e.g. based on absence of alarm confirmation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12
• 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: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

A communication system according to various aspects of the present invention comprises one or more remote units. The communication system may also include at least one communication center. The remote units may also be configured to communicate with each other. The communication center and/or the remote unit may be configured to determine the location of another remote unit.

Claims

1. A communication system, comprising:

a remote unit; and

a communication center configured to communicate with the remote unit, wherein the communication center is configured to identify the location of the remote unit.

2. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein the communication center is configured to provide assistance via the remote unit.

3. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein the remote unit includes a positioning system.

4. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein the communication center is configured to determine the location of the remote unit.

5. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein the remote unit is configured to provide position data to the communication center.

6. A communication system according to claim 5, wherein the remote unit is configured to provide position data only if the remote unit receives an authorized request.

7. A communication system according to claim 5, wherein the communication center is configured to display the position of the remote unit on a map based on the position data.

8. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein the remote unit is configured to provide position data to a receiver designated by the communication center.

9. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein the communication center is configured to provide position data for the remote unit to a remote receiver.

10. A communication system according to claim 1, further comprising a second remote unit, the second remote unit is configured to identify the location of the first remote unit.

11. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein the remote unit includes an alarm.

12. A communication system according to claim 1, wherein the remote unit is configured to selectively respond substantially silently to a contact from the communication center.

13. A communication system, comprising:

a first unit;

a second unit configured to communicate with the first unit, wherein the first unit is configured to identify the location of the second unit.

14. A communication system according to claim 13, further comprising a communication center configured to provide assistance via at least one of the first unit and the second unit.

15. A communication system according to claim 14, wherein the communication center is configured to determine the location of the remote unit.

16. A communication system according to claim 13, wherein the second unit includes a positioning system.

17. A communication system according to claim 13, wherein the second unit is configured to provide position data to the first unit.

18. A communication system according to claim 17, wherein the second unit is configured to provide position data only if the second unit receives an authorized request from the first unit.

19. A communication system according to claim 17, wherein the first unit is configured to display the position of the second unit on a map based on the position data.

20. A communication system according to claim 13, wherein the second unit is configured to provide position data to a receiver designated by the first unit.

21. A communication system according to claim 13, wherein the first unit is configured to provide position data for the second unit to a remote receiver.

22. A communication system according to claim 13, wherein at least one of the units includes an alarm.

23. A communication system according to claim 13, wherein the second unit is configured to selectively respond substantially silently to a contact from the first unit.

24. A method of identifying a location of a first remote unit, comprising:

providing a second remote unit configured to communicate with the first remote unit;

requesting position data from the first remote unit via the second remote unit;

determining position data for the first remote unit; and

transmitting the position data to the second remote unit.

25. A method according to claim 24, further comprising providing a communication center configured to provide assistance via at least one of the first remote unit and the second remote unit.

26. A method according to claim 25, wherein the communication center is configured to determine the location of the first remote unit.

27. A method according to claim 24, wherein determining position data comprises receiving position data via a positioning system.

28. A method according to claim 24, further comprising receiving an authorization by the first remote unit from the second remote unit prior to transmitting the position data.

29. A method according to claim 24, further comprising displaying the position of the first remote unit on a map display associated with the second remote unit based on the position data.

30. A method according to claim 24, further comprising transmitting the position data to a receiver designated by the second remote unit.