Mobile emergency notification system

• US 20050085257A1
• Filed: 10/01/2004
• Published: 04/21/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: American Traffic Solutions Incorporated (Verra Mobility Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Mark D. Laird, Michael Glier
• Inventors: Laird, Mark D., Glier, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,221,928 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/550.100
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0242 adapted to measure environmental factors, e.g. temperature, pollution
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/002 Monitoring the patient using a local or closed circuit, e.g. in a room or building A61B5/0017 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1112 Global tracking of patients, e.g. by using GPS
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/1117 Fall detection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/24 Detecting, measuring or recording bioelectric or biomagnetic signals of the body or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/411 Detecting or monitoring allergy or intolerance reactions to an allergenic agent or substance
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7465 Arrangements for interactive communication between patient and care services, e.g. by using a telephone network telemetry of measured physiological signal A61B5/0002
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/20 Instruments for performing navigational calculations G01C21/24, G01C21/26 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/12 specially adapted for proprietary or special-purpose networking environments, e.g. medical networks, sensor networks, networks in vehicles or remote metering networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5116 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking 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 84/16 WPBX [Wireless Private Branch Exchange]

Abstract

A handset uses one or more systems, such as GPS, a carrier-based network or a wireless local area network, to ascertain its location. The handset can include sensors, such as temperature or heart rate sensors. In response to detecting an attempt to place an emergency call or send a message, or in response to automatically detecting an emergency, the handset provides a server with the identity and location of the handset and information about the emergency. The server provides the handset with information to correct errors in the location information or the server corrects the location errors. Communications between the server and handset are carried over the carrier-based network, WLAN and/or another wireless channel. The server displays information about the handset, a user and the sensors, so a dispatcher can dispatch assistance and/or provide information about the emergency to another agency.

Claims

1. A wireless handset comprising:

a positioning system; and

an application program configured to send a data message containing three-dimensional location information about the handset if the handset attempts to place a call to a predetermined destination.

2. The wireless handset of claim 1, wherein the predetermined destination is an emergency service.

3. The wireless handset of claim 1, wherein the predetermined destination is 911.

4. The wireless handset of claim 1, further comprising at least one sensor communicably coupled to the handset;

and wherein the application program is configured to include data from the at least one sensor in the data message.

5. A system for providing an indication of a possible emergency situation, comprising:

a wireless communication device operable, in response to a user input, to generate a data message that includes three-dimensional location information about the handset; and

a monitoring station in communication with the wireless communication device and operable, in response to receiving the data message, to display information pertaining to the user and including an indication of the location information.