Mechanism to allow use of typed emergency calls

• US 20050148316A1
• Filed: 01/05/2004
• Published: 07/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/05/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Laatu, Juho
• Granted Patent: US 7,340,239 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/404.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways

Abstract

A method and device are disclosed for accessing an emergency call number in a terminal. A signal sends a first identity to a smart card in the terminal, if access is sought to an emergency number readable by terminals that support calls for types of emergencies. If access is instead or additionally sought to at least one emergency number readable by substantially any terminal compatible with third generation specifications, then a second identity is sent to the smart card. Subsequently, the emergency number or numbers are received from the smart card. This smart card functions in a terminal configured to only send the second identity, and it also functions in a terminal configured to send both identities.

Claims

1. A method of accessing a set of emergency call numbers stored in a terminal, comprising:

signaling to a smart card in the terminal a first identity, if access is sought to a null set or at least one emergency number readable by terminals supporting calls for types of emergencies,

sending to the smart card a second identity if access is sought to a null set or at least one emergency number readable by substantially any terminal compatible with third generation specifications, and

receiving the set of the emergency call numbers from the smart card.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the smart card includes both the at least one emergency number readable by terminals supporting calls for types of emergencies, and also the at least one emergency number readable by substantially any terminal compatible with third generation specifications, and

wherein the terminal is programmed to perform the signaling and the sending, or instead is programmed to perform the sending only, said signaling or sending being responsive to user input indicative of an emergency or instead to booting the terminal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the types of emergency include emergencies requiring police, requiring firemen, and requiring ambulance.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the at least one emergency number for a type of emergency further includes a general emergency number.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the terminal is programmable to perform the sending only, if the terminal operates according to a release of third generation partnership project specifications released prior to Release 4.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the terminal is programmable to perform the sending and the signaling, if the terminal operates according to a release of third generation partnership project specifications after Release 1999.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein only the first identity or the second identity is sent, but the set of the emergency call numbers from the smart card include both the null set or at least one emergency number readable by terminals supporting calls for types of emergencies as well as the null set or at least one emergency number readable by substantially any terminal compatible with third generation specifications.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one emergency number readable by terminals supporting calls for type of emergencies are not understood by the terminal.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first identity or the second identity is a generic identity for emergencies, and wherein only the generic identity is sent.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the generic identity is sent in response to an emergency or in response to booting the terminal.

11. A smart card operational within a terminal in a communication network, the smart card including an emergency call code file that further comprises:

at least one emergency number, or a null set, available in response to receipt of a first identity and readable by terminals supporting calls for types of emergencies; and

at least one emergency number, or a null set, available in response to receipt of a second identity and readable by substantially any terminal compatible with third generation specifications.

12. The smart card of claim 11, wherein the first identity or the second identity is a generic emergency identity.

13. A terminal for accessing a set of emergency call numbers stored in the terminal, comprising:

at least one identification unit, responsive to emergency user input or to booting the terminal, for signaling a first identity if access is sought to a null set or at least one emergency number readable by terminals supporting calls for types of emergencies, and for sending a second identity if access is sought to a null set or at least one emergency number readable by substantially any terminal compatible with third generation specifications; and

a smart card, responsive to the first identity and the second identity, or to the second identity only, or to the first identity only, for providing the set of the emergency call numbers.

14. The terminal of claim 13, wherein the smart card includes both the at least one emergency number readable by terminals supporting calls for types of emergencies, and also the at least one emergency number readable by substantially any terminal compatible with third generation specifications, and

wherein the terminal is programmed to perform the signaling and the sending, or instead is programmed to perform the sending only, said signaling or sending being responsive to user input indicative of an emergency or instead to booting the terminal.

15. The terminal of claim 13, wherein the types of emergency include emergencies requiring police, requiring firemen, and requiring ambulance.

16. The terminal of claim 15, wherein the at least one emergency number for a type of emergency further includes a general emergency number.

17. The terminal of claim 14, wherein the terminal is programmable to perform the sending only, if the terminal operates according to a release of third generation partnership project specifications released prior to Release 4.

18. The terminal of claim 14, wherein the terminal is programmable to perform the sending and the signaling, if the terminal operates according to a release of third generation partnership project specifications released after Release 1999.

19. The terminal of claim 13, wherein the set of the emergency call numbers from the smart card include both the null set or at least one emergency number readable by terminals supporting calls for types of emergencies as well as the null set or at least one emergency number readable by substantially any terminal compatible with third generation specifications, if only the first identity or the second identity is sent.

20. The terminal of claim 19, wherein the at least one emergency number readable by terminals supporting calls for type of emergencies are not understandable by the terminal.

21. The terminal of claim 13, wherein the first identity or the second identity is a generic identity for emergencies.