Emergency call apparatus and method for smart phone

• US 20050097380A1
• Filed: 10/20/2004
• Published: 05/05/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Pil-Jun
• Granted Patent: US 7,533,280 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/323
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/26 Power supply means, e.g. regulation thereof for memories G11C
• 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 1/72424 with manual activation of emergency-service functions

Abstract

An emergency call apparatus and method for a smart phone are disclosed in which the apparatus includes a personal data assistant unit including a telephone power control unit for generating a telephone power-on signal when an emergency call requirement occurs in a state in which the telephone unit is powered off, and an emergency call number storage unit for storing an emergency call number, the personal data assistant unit sending a call set-up command to the telephone unit; a power supply for supplying power the telephone unit and the personal data assistant unit; a first power path connected to the power supply, for sending power to the personal data assistant unit; a second power path connected to the power supply, for sending power to the telephone unit in response to the power-on signal; and an on-screen keyboard which enables a user to make an emergency call.

Claims

1. An emergency call apparatus for a smart phone capable of independently turning off power of a telephone unit while supplying power to a personal data assistant unit, the emergency call apparatus comprising:

the telephone unit including an emergency call performing unit;

the personal data assistant unit including a telephone power control unit for generating a telephone power-on signal when an emergency call is required when the telephone unit is powered off, and an emergency call number storage unit for storing an emergency call number, the personal data assistant unit sending a call set-up command to the telephone unit;

a power supply for supplying power to the telephone unit and the personal data assistant unit;

a first power path connected to the power supply, for sending power to the personal data assistant unit; and

a second power path connected to the power supply, for sending power to the telephone unit in response to the telephone power-on signal.

2. The emergency call apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a display having an on-screen keyboard which enables a user to make an emergency call.

3. The emergency call apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a power button for turning on/off the smart phone, wherein when the user pushes the power button, the first power path connects the personal data assistant unit to the power supply to allow the personal data assistant unit to be powered on and the second power path then connects the telephone unit to the power supply to power on the telephone unit.

4. The emergency call apparatus as claimed in claim 3, wherein the telephone power control unit of the personal data assistant unit controls powering on of the telephone unit.

5. The emergency call apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a power-on melody generating unit for generating a melody when the phone is powered on, wherein an inhibition signal outputted from the personal data assistant unit causes the generating unit not to generate the melody when in an emergency call mode.

6. An emergency call method for a smart phone capable of independently turning off only power of a telephone unit, the smart phone including the telephone unit and a personal data assistant unit, the method comprising the steps of:

a) determining, by the personal data assistant unit, whether a user is trying to make a call, and determining whether the telephone unit is powered on when it is detected that the user is trying to make the call;

b) determining, by the personal data assistant unit, whether an emergency call number is inputted when the telephone unit is powered off;

c) generating, by the personal data assistant unit, a telephone power supply control signal for controlling power to be supplied from a power supply to the telephone unit when the emergency call number is inputted;

d) powering on and initializing the telephone unit in response to the telephone power supply control signal; and

e) the personal data assistant unit ordering the telephone unit to set up a call and the telephone unit performing an emergency call.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, further including generating a power-off warning message when it is determined that the emergency call number is not inputted in step b) and returning to step a).

8. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein in step b) the personal data assistant unit determines whether at least one emergency call number stored in advance is equal to the emergency call number inputted by the user.

9. The method as claimed in claim 6 further including not generating a power-on melody when it is determined that the emergency call number is inputted in step b).

10. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the call set-up command includes the emergency call number.