Handheld portable automatic emergency alert system and method

• US 20050208925A1
• Filed: 03/16/2004
• Published: 09/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Salzman, James F., Panasik, Carl M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,181,192 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/404.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72421 with automatic activation of emergency service functions, e.g. upon sensing an alarm
• 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 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

In one embodiment, an automated emergency alert system includes a handheld portable communication device operable to initiate communication over a wireless telecommunications network, a dynamic sensor operable to generate an acceleration profile for the device, and a memory operable to store one or more predefined acceleration profiles each associated with an emergency event. The system also includes one or more processors collectively operable to (1) receive from the dynamic sensor an acceleration profile for the device; (2) access one or more of the stored predefined acceleration profiles; (3) compare the received acceleration profile to the one or more stored predefined acceleration profiles to determine if the acceleration profile substantially matches a predefined acceleration profile; and (4) if it is determined that the acceleration profile substantially matches a stored predefined acceleration profile, initiate a communication using the network to one or more emergency call centers to notify the call center that the emergency event has occurred.

Claims

1. An automated emergency alert system, comprising:

a handheld portable communication device operable to initiate communication over a wireless telecommunications network;

a dynamic sensor operable to generate an acceleration profile for the handheld portable communication device;

a memory operable to store one or more predefined acceleration profiles, each predefined acceleration profile associated with an emergency event;

one or more processors collectively operable to;

receive from the dynamic sensor an acceleration profile for the handheld portable communication device;

access one or more predefined acceleration profiles stored in the memory;

compare the acceleration profile received from the dynamic sensor to the one or more predefined acceleration profiles stored in the memory to determine if the acceleration profile substantially matches a predefined acceleration profile in the one or more predefined acceleration profiles; and

if it is determined that the acceleration profile received from the dynamic sensor substantially matches a predefined acceleration profile in the one or more predefined acceleration profiles stored in the memory, initiate a communication using the wireless telecommunications network to one or more emergency call centers to notify the emergency call center that the emergency event has occurred.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the dynamic sensor comprises an on-chip accelerometer.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the handheld portable communication device further comprises a location receiver operable to determine a location of the handheld portable communication device.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the location receiver comprises a global positioning system (GPS) receiver.

5. The system of claim 3, wherein the one or more processors are operable to:

determine a velocity of the handheld portable communication device using the location receiver; and

in addition to determining whether the acceleration profile received from the dynamic sensor substantially matches a predefined acceleration profile stored in the memory, use the determined velocity to determine whether an emergency event has occurred.

6. The system of claim 3, wherein the one or more processors are further operable to communicate location information identifying the location of the handheld portable communication device to the one or more emergency call centers if it is determined that the acceleration profile received from the dynamic sensor substantially matches a predefined acceleration profile stored in the memory.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein one or more components in the wireless communication network are operable to determine a location of the handheld portable communication device in compliance with an enhanced 911 (E911) mandate and to communicate this location to the emergency call center.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the memory is further operable to store one or more prerecorded emergency event messages, each event message associated with one or more emergency events; and

the one or more processors are further operable to communicate a prerecorded event message to the emergency call center when a substantial match is determined.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein:

the memory is further operable to store prerecorded user information regarding a user associated with the handheld portable communication device; and

the one or more processors are further operable to communicate the prerecorded user information regarding the user to the emergency call center when a substantial match is determined.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor operable to monitor a temperature near the handheld portable communication device, the one or more processors further operable to:

receive from the temperature sensor temperature information regarding the temperature near the handheld portable communication device; and

if the information received indicates that the temperature near the handheld portable communication device exceeds a predefined threshold temperature, communicate a message regarding the temperature to the one or more emergency call centers.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a water sensor operable to monitor whether the handheld portable communication device is under water, the one or more processors further operable to:

receive from the water sensor information regarding whether the handheld portable communication device is under water; and

if the information received indicates that the handheld portable communication device is under water, communicate a message indicating that the handheld portable communication device is under water to one or more emergency call centers.

12. A method for automated emergency alert using a handheld portable communications device operable to initiate communication over a wireless telecommunications network, comprising:

storing one or more predefined acceleration profiles, each predefined acceleration profile associated with an emergency event;

receiving an acceleration profile for the handheld portable communication device;

accessing one or more of the stored predefined acceleration profiles;

comparing the acceleration profile to the one or more stored predefined acceleration profiles to determine if the acceleration profile substantially matches a predefined acceleration profile in the one or more predefined acceleration profiles; and

if it is determined that the acceleration profile substantially matches a stored predefined acceleration profile in the one or more predefined acceleration profiles, initiating a communication using the wireless telecommunications network to one or more emergency call centers to notify the emergency call center that the emergency event has occurred.

13. The method of claim 12, comprising receiving the acceleration profile for the handheld portable communication device from an on-chip accelerometer associated with the handheld portable communication device.

14. The method of claim 12, comprising determining a location of the handheld portable communication device using a global positioning system (GPS) receiver associated with the handheld portable communication device.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

determining a velocity of the handheld portable communication device using a location receiver; and

in addition to determining whether the acceleration profile received from the dynamic sensor substantially matches a predefined acceleration profile stored in the memory, using the determined velocity to determine whether an emergency event has occurred.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising communicating location information identifying the location of the handheld portable communication device to the one or more emergency call centers if it is determined that the acceleration profile substantially matches a predefined acceleration profile.

17. The method of claim 12, comprising:

determining a location of the handheld portable communications device using one or more components in the wireless communication network operable to determine a location of the handheld portable communication device in compliance with an enhanced 911 (E911) mandate; and

communicating the determined location to the emergency call center.

18. The method of claim 12, comprising:

storing one or more prerecorded emergency event messages, each event message associated with one or more emergency events; and

communicating a prerecorded event message to the emergency call center when a substantial match is determined.

19. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving information regarding the temperature near the handheld portable communication device; and

if the information received indicates that the temperature near the handheld portable communication device exceeds a predefined threshold temperature, communicating a message regarding the temperature to the one or more emergency call centers.

20. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

receiving information regarding whether the handheld portable communication device is under water; and

if the information received indicates that the handheld portable communication device is under water, communicating a message indicating that the handheld portable communication device is under water to one or more emergency call centers.