Emergency notification method and mobile communication device using the same

• US 20050221866A1
• Filed: 08/27/2004
• Published: 10/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ASUSTek Computer, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ASUSTek Computer, Inc.
• Inventors: Chiang, Chun-Ying, Huang, Hsing-Wei
• Application Number:
  US10/927,088
• Publication Number:
  US 20050221866A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/567
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 including functional features of a camera constructional features concerning the integration of cameras in portable phones H04M1/0264

Abstract

An emergency notification method. The emergency notification method can be implemented in a mobile communication device capable of wireless connection to a telecommunication system providing telephone and messaging service. The mobile communication device comprises an initiation device and a speaker. The initiation device is activated to automatically implement the following emergency notification process comprising the following steps. The speaker is activated to emit a high volume ring tone. At least a predetermined parameter is first identified to determine whether to send a predetermined distress message through the telecommunication system. If the mobile communication device is directed to send the predetermined distress message, the predetermined distress message is transmitted through the telecommunication system.

Claims

1. An emergency notification method, implemented in a mobile communication device capable of wireless connection to a telecommunication system providing telephone and messaging service, wherein the mobile communication device comprises an initiation device, comprising the steps of:

activating the initiation device to automatically initiate the following emergency notification steps;

activating a speaker of the mobile communication device to emit a high volume ring tone;

identifying at least a predetermined parameter to determine whether to send a predetermined distress message through the telecommunication system; and

if it is determined that the predetermined distress message is to be sent by the mobile communication device, transmitting the predetermined distress message through the telecommunication system.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined parameter comprises a message parameter, and the predetermined distress message comprises a text message conforming to short messaging services protocol.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined parameter comprises a photo parameter, and the transmitting step further comprises the steps of:

capturing an image; and

transmitting the image through the telecommunication system based on the photo parameter.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined parameter comprises a video parameter, and the transmitting step further comprises the steps of:

capturing a video clip; and

transmitting the video clip through the telecommunication system based on the video parameter.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined parameter comprises an audio parameter, and the transmitting step further comprises the steps of:

recording an audio clip; and

transmitting the audio clip through the telecommunication system based on the audio parameter.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined parameter comprises a call parameter, and the method further comprises the step of calling a predetermined emergency phone number based on the call parameter.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

determining whether a termination condition of the initiation device is satisfied; and

if the termination condition is satisfied, suspending emergency process triggered by the initiation device, comprising at least ringing of the speaker or transmission of the distress message.

8. A mobile communication device, capable of wireless connection to a telecommunication system providing telephone and messaging service, comprising:

an input device for initiating emergency notification functions;

a speaker for emitting audio signals;

a memory storing at least a predetermined parameter;

a communication unit for wireless communication; and

a processing unit coupled to the input device, the speaker, the memory, and the communication unit, wherein, when the input device is activated, the processing unit automatically directs the speaker to emit a high volume ring tone, identifies the predetermined parameter to determine whether to send a predetermined distress message through the telecommunication system, and transmits the predetermined distress message through the communication unit and the telecommunication system if the processing unit determines that the distress message is to be sent by the mobile communication device.

9. The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the predetermined parameter comprises a message parameter, and the predetermined distress message comprises a text message conforming to short messaging services protocol, the content of which is stored in the memory in advance.

10. The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the predetermined parameter comprises a photo parameter, the mobile communication device further comprises an image capture device for capturing images, and the processing unit further automatically captures an image using the image capture device and transmits the image through the telecommunication system based on the photo parameter when the input device is activated.

11. The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the predetermined parameter comprises a video parameter, the mobile communication device further comprises an image capture device for capturing video clips, and the processing unit further automatically captures a video clip using the an image capture device and transmits the video clip through the telecommunication system based on the video parameter when the input device is activated.

12. The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the predetermined parameter comprises an audio parameter the mobile communication device further comprises an audio input unit for recording audio clips, and the processing unit further automatically records an audio clip using the audio input unit and transmits the audio clip through the telecommunication system based on the audio parameter when the input device is activated.

13. The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the predetermined parameter comprises a call parameter, and the processing unit further calls a predetermined emergency phone number using the communication unit based on the call parameter.

14. The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the mobile communication device further comprises a flashlight for emitting bursts of bright light, the processing unit further automatically activates the flashlight when the input device is activated.

15. The device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the mobile communication device is powered on when the input device is activated.