System and method for call processing in a mobile device with position location capability

• US 20070049287A1
• Filed: 08/25/2005
• Published: 03/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Inventors: Dunn, Doug
• Granted Patent: US 7,333,818 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72418 for supporting emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• 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

Abstract

An exemplary wireless device includes a communication radio and a position location receiver. When the wireless device has established a call with the communication radio, and a request for position location is received, the communication radio is deactivated while the position location information is collected using the position location receiver. A local warning message is communicated to the user of the mobile device while the communication radio is disabled. The warning message may be a text display, a graphical display, an audio message, or an input-key challenge. By generating and presenting the local warning message, the user is made aware that the lack of normal call activity is expected and temporary. After the position location information is collected, the call is resumed with the communication radio, and the position location information is transmitted. Since the mobile device is now acting with normal call activity, the local warning is removed.

Claims

1. A method for call processing operating on a mobile device, comprising:

placing an emergency call;

opening a communication channel to an emergency call center;

receiving a request for position location information;

suspending at least a part of the communication channel;

activating a warning while the communication channel is suspended;

collecting position location data while the communication channel is suspended;

resuming the communication channel to the emergency call center;

transmitting position location information using the resumed communication channel; and

deactivating the warning.

2. The method for call processing according to claim 1, wherein the communication channel comprises a control, a data, or a voice channel.

3. The method for call processing according to claim 1, wherein the communication channel complies with a GSM, CDMA, W-CDMA, CDMA2000, or UMTS communication standard.

4. The method for call processing according to claim 1, wherein the warning is a textual display on a screen that presents information that an emergency call is progressing normally.

5. The method for call processing according to claim 1, wherein the warning is a aural message played through a speaker that presents information that an emergency call is progressing normally.

6. The method for call processing according to claim 5, wherein the aural message comprises synthesized speech.

7. The method for call processing according to claim 1, wherein the warning comprises:

a key challenge that requires additional operator steps to interrupt the emergency call; and

a textual display on a screen that presents information that the additional steps are required to interrupt the emergency call.

8. The method for call processing according to claim 1, wherein the position location data is GPS data collected from a plurality of satellites.

9. The method for call processing according to claim 1, wherein the warning is deactivated responsive to reopening the communication channel.

10. The method for call processing according to claim 1, wherein the warning is deactivated responsive to transmitting the position location information.

11. A mobile wireless device, comprising:

a radio frequency (RF) receive chain;

a communication radio and a GPS receiver sharing the RF receive chain;

switch circuitry for allowing only one of the communication radio or the GPS receiver to use the RF receive chain at any one time;

detection circuitry acting responsive to the GPS receiver using the RF receive chain;

a memory holding a predetermined warning message; and

an output device operably coupled to the detection circuitry, the output device configured to present the predetermined warning message when the GPS receiver is using the RF receive chain.

12. The mobile wireless device according to claim 11, wherein the communication radio complies with a GSM, CDMA, W-CDMA, CDMA2000, or UMTS communication standard.

13. The mobile wireless device according to claim 11, wherein the detection circuitry further detects that a call has been established with the communication radio.

14. The mobile wireless device according to claim 11, wherein the detection circuitry further detects that an emergency call has been established with the communication radio.

15. The mobile wireless device according to claim 11, wherein the output device is a display screen, and the predetermined warning message is a visual display that presents information that a call is progressing normally.

16. The mobile wireless device according to claim 11, wherein the output device is a speaker, and the predetermined warning message is an aural message that presents information that a call is progressing normally.

17. A method for call processing, comprising:

establishing a call at a local device;

opening a communication channel from the local device;

receiving a request for position location information;

suspending at least part of the communication channel;

activating a local warning while the communication channel is suspended;

collecting position location data while the communication channel is suspended;

resuming the communication channel after the position location data is collected;

transmitting position location information using the resumed communication channel; and

deactivating the local warning.

18. The method for call processing according to claim 17, wherein the communication channel comprises a control, a data, or a voice channel.

19. The method for call processing according to claim 17, wherein the communication channel complies with a GSM, CDMA, W-CDMA, CDMA2000, or UMTS communication standard.

20. The method for call processing according to claim 17, wherein the request is generated at the local device.

21. The method for call processing according to claim 17, wherein the request is received on the communication channel.

22. The method for call processing according to claim 17, wherein the call is a voice call.

23. The method for call processing according to claim 17, wherein the call is a data call.

24. The method for call processing according to claim 17, wherein the local warning is a textual display on a screen that presents information that the call is progressing normally.

25. The method for call processing according to claim 17, wherein the local warning is an aural message played through a speaker that presents information that the call is progressing normally.

26. The method for call processing according to claim 25, wherein aural message is synthesized speech.

27. The method for call processing according to claim 25, wherein aural message is comfort noise.

28. The method for call processing according to claim 17, wherein the local warning comprises:

a key challenge that requires additional operator steps to interrupt the call; and

a textual display on a screen that presents information that the additional steps are required to interrupt the call.

29. The method for call processing according to claim 17, wherein the suspend part of the communication channel includes at least one of a communication receiver and a communication transmitter.

30. The method for call processing according to claim 17, further comprising the step of receiving the local warning from a remote server.