Methods And Apparatus For Use In Processing Disconnected Emergency Calls And Other Communications Involving Mobile Communication Devices And The Remote Monitoring Thereof

• US 20080305763A1
• Filed: 06/08/2007
• Published: 12/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Naqvi, Noushad, Wijayanathan, Maiyuran, Weigele, Ingo W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,933,581 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/404.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72421 with automatic activation of emergency service functions, e.g. upon sensing an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/04 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/06 Lines and connections with preferential service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42195 Arrangements for calling back a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy H04M3/48
• 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 76/19 Connection re-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for use in processing disconnected emergency calls and other communications involving mobile communication devices, as well as the remote monitoring of such mobile communication devices, are disclosed. In one illustrative example, an emergency call with a public safety answering point entity is established by a mobile communication device via a wireless communication network. If the emergency call is disconnected, the mobile device monitors to receive an incoming call message for a continued emergency call from the public safety answering point entity. In response to receiving such incoming call message, the mobile device refrains from producing an audible alert and automatically answers the continued emergency call from the public safety answering point entity without detecting any manual answer signal via its user interface. In one specific approach, the mobile device answers the call automatically if the incoming call message is received within a time period following the disconnection and a data indication of the incoming call message indicates that the message is for the continued emergency call or automatic answering. Otherwise, if the incoming call message is received outside of the time period following the disconnection, or if the data indication fails to indicate that, the incoming call message is for the continued emergency call or the automatic answering, the mobile device refrains from automatically answering the call associated with the incoming call message.

Claims

1. A method for use by a mobile communication, device for emergency communications, the method comprising the acts of:

causing an emergency call to be established with a public safety answering point entity via a wireless communication network;

monitoring to receive, via the wireless communication network, an incoming call message for a continued emergency call from the public safety answering point entity in response to the emergency call being disconnected; and

in response to receiving the incoming call message, causing the continued emergency call, from the public safety answering point entity to be answered automatically by the mobile communication device without detecting a manual answer signal via a user interface of the mobile communication device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to receiving the incoming call message, refraining from producing an audible alert at the mobile communication device for alerting of the continued emergency call.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

causing a mobile identifier which identifies the mobile communication device to be transmitted via the wireless communication network for the emergency call for receipt by the public safety answering point; and

wherein the act of receiving the incoming call message comprises receiving an incoming call message directed to the mobile identifier.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

after an out-of-coverage condition with the wireless communication network which caused the emergency call to be disconnected, identifying an in-coverage condition, with the wireless communication network;

causing a message to be transmitted to the wireless communication network based on identifying the in-coverage condition; and

monitoring to receive the incoming call message for the continued emergency call after causing the message to be transmitted to the wireless communication network.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a data indication in one or more data fields of the incoming call message;

if the data indication indicates that the incoming call message is for the continued emergency call or automatic answering, causing the continued emergency call from the public safety answering point entity to be answered automatically by the mobile communication device without detecting the manual answer signal; and

if the data indication fails to indicate that the incoming call message is for the continued emergency call or the automatic answering, refraining from causing the associated with the incoming call message to be answered automatically by the mobile communication device without detecting the manual answer signal.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a call request via the user interface;

if the call, request is for a non-emergency call;

causing the non-emergency call to be established via the wireless communication network;

if the call request is for the emergency call;

running a timer which defines a time period from the disconnection of the emergency call of the emergency call;

if the incoming call message is received within the time period, causing the continued emergency call from the public safety answering point entity to be answered automatically by the mobile communication device without detecting the manual answer signal; and

if the incoming call message is received outside of the time period, refraining from automatically answering the call without detecting the manual answer signal.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a call request via the user interface;

if the call request is for anon-emergency call;

causing the non-emergency call to be established via the wireless communication network;

if the call request is for the emergency call;

running a timer which defines a time period from the disconnection of the emergency call;

receiving a data indication in one or more data fields of the incoming call message;

if the incoming call message is received within the time period, and the data indication indicates that the incoming call message is for the continued emergency call or automatic answering;

then causing the continued emergency call from the public safety answering point entity to be answered automatically by the mobile communication device without deleting the manual answer signal; and

if the incoming call message is received outside of the time period, or

if the data indication fails to indicate that the incoming call message is for the continued emergency call or the automatic answering, then refraining from automatically answering the call without detecting the manual answer signal.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the user interface comprises a plurality of keys, a speaker, and a microphone, and wherein the act of causing the continued emergency call to be answered automatically by the mobile communication device comprises the further acts of enabling the speaker to produce audible signals from the public safety answering point entity and enabling the microphone to receive audible signals at the mobile communication device.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a call request via the user interface;

if the call request is for anon-emergency call;

causing the non-emergency call to be established via the wireless communication, network;

if the call request is for the emergency call;

running a timer which defines a time period from the disconnection of the emergency call;

receiving a data indication in one or more data fields of the incoming call message;

if the incoming call message is received within the time period, or the data indication indicates that the incoming call message is for the continued emergency call or automatic answering, then causing the continued emergency call from the public safety answering point entity to be answered automatically by the mobile communication device without detecting the manual answer signal; and

if the incoming call message is received outside of the time period, and if the data indication foils to indicate that the incoming call message is for the continued emergency call or the automatic answering, then refraining from automatically answering the call without detecting the manual answer signal.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein the mobile communication device comprises a memory including a programmable data indication in one or more data fields for setting one of an audible alert answer mode and a silent answer mode for incoming calls to the mobile communication device, and wherein the act of refraining from producing the audible alert at the mobile communication device for alerting of the continued emergency call is performed when the programmable data indication indicates that the audible alert answer mode is enabled.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

after the continued emergency call is answered automatically, causing positioning information of the mobile communication device to be sent to the public safety answering point entity.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile communication device has a handset talk mode and a speakerphone talk mode, and the method comprises the further act of:

in response to receiving the incoming call message for the continued emergency call, enabling the speakerphone talk mode of the mobile communication device without detecting a manual speakerphone activation signal via the user interface.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the method is embodied in a computer program product comprising a computer readable medium and computer instructions stored in the computer readable medium, the computer instructions being executable by one or more processors for performing the method.

14. A mobile communication device, comprising:

a wireless transceiver which, is adapted for communications via a wireless communication network;

one or more processors coupled to the wireless transceiver;

a user interface coupled to the one or more processors;

the one or more processors being operative to;

receive a call request via the user interface;

if the call request is for an emergency call, cause the emergency call to be established with a public safety answering point entity with use of the wireless transceiver;

monitor to receive, via the wireless transceiver, an incoming call, message for a continued emergency call from the public, safety answering point entity in response to the emergency call being disconnected; and

in response to receiving the incoming call message via the wireless transceiver, cause the continued emergency call from the public safety answering point entity to be answered automatically by the mobile communication device without detecting a manual answer signal via the user interface.

15. The mobile communication device of claim 14, wherein the one or more processors are further operative to:

in response to receiving the incoming call message, refrain from producing an audible alert at the mobile communication device for alerting of the continued emergency call.

16. The mobile communication device of claim 14, wherein the one or more processors are further operative to:

after an out-of-coverage condition with the wireless communication network which caused the emergency call to be disconnected, identify an in-coverage condition with the wireless communication network via the wireless transceiver;

cause a message to be transmitted via the wireless transceiver based on identifying the in-coverage condition; and

monitor to receive the incoming call message for the continued emergency call after causing the message to be transmitted to the wireless communication network.

17. The mobile communication device of claim 14, wherein the one or more processors are further operative to:

receive a data indication in one or more data fields of the incoming call message;

if the data indication indicates that the incoming call message is for the continued emergency call or automatic answering, cause the continued emergency call from the public safety answering point entity to be answered automatically by the mobile communication device without detecting the manual answer signal; and

if the data indication fails to indicate that the incoming call message is for the continued emergency call or the automatic answering, refrain from automatically answering by the mobile communication device without detecting the manual answer signal.

18. The mobile communication device of claim 14, wherein the one or more processors are further operative to:

if the call request is for a non-emergency call, cause the non-emergency call to be established via the wireless communication network;

if the call request is for the emergency call;

run a timer which defines a time period after the disconnection;

if the incoming call message is received within the time period, cause the continued emergency call from the public safety answering point entity to be answered automatically by the mobile communication device without detecting the manual answer signal; and

if the incoming call message is received outside of the lime period, refrain from automatically answering by the mobile communication device without detecting the manual answer signal.

19. The mobile communication device of claim 14, wherein the one or more processors are further operative to:

if the call, request is for a non-emergency call, cause the non-emergency call to be established via the wireless communication network;

if the call request is for the emergency call;

receive a data indication in one or more data, fields of the incoming call, message;

run a timer which defines a time period from the disconnection of the emergency call;

if the incoming call message is received within the time period, and the data indication indicates that the incoming call message is for the continued emergency call or automatic answering, then cause the continued emergency call from the public, safety answering point entity to be answered automatically by the mobile communication device without detecting the manual answer signal; and

if the incoming call message is received outside of the time period, or

if the data indication fails to indicate that the incoming call message is for the continued emergency call or the automatic answering, then refrain from automatically answering by the mobile communication device without detecting the manual answer signal.

20. The mobile communication device of claim 14, wherein the one or more processors are further operative to:

after the continued emergency call is answered automatically, cause positioning information of the mobile communication device to be sent to the public safety answering point entity.

21. The mobile communication device of claim 14, wherein the mobile communication device has a handset talk mode and a speakerphone talk mode, and the one or more processors are further operative to:

in. response to receiving the incoming call message for the continued emergency call, enable the speakerphone talk mode of the mobile communication device without detecting a manual speakerphone activation signal via the user interface.

22. A wireless communication system, comprising:

a wireless communication network;

a plurality of mobile communication devices which operate in the wireless communication network;

each mobile communication device including a user interface and adapted to;

receive a call request via the user interface;

if the call request is for an emergency call, cause the emergency call to be established with a public safety answering point entity via the wireless communication network;

monitor to receive, via the wireless communication network, an incoming call message for a continued emergency call, from the public safety answering point entity in response to the emergency call being disconnected; and

in response to receiving the incoming call message, cause the continued emergency call from the public safety answering point entity to be answered automatically by the mobile communication device without detecting a manual answer signal via the user interface.

23. The wireless communication system of claim 22, wherein each mobile communication device is further adapted to:

in response to receiving the incoming call message, refrain from producing an audible alert at the mobile communication device for alerting of the continued emergency call.

24. The wireless communication system of claim 22, wherein each mobile communication device is further adapted to:

identify an in-coverage condition with the wireless communication network after an out-of-coverage condition with the wireless communication network which caused the emergency call to be disconnected;

cause a message to be transmitted to the wireless communication network based on identifying the in-coverage condition; and

monitoring to receive the incoming call, message for the continued emergency call after causing the message to be transmitted to the wireless communication network.

25. The wireless communication system of claim 22, wherein each mobile communication device is further adapted to:

receive a data indication in one or more data fields of the incoming call message;

if the data indication indicates that the incoming call message is for the continued emergency call or automatic answering, cause the continued emergency call from the public safety answering point entity to be answered automatically by the mobile communication device without detecting the manual answer signal; and

if the data indication tails to indicate that the incoming call message is for the continued emergency call or automatic answering, refrain from causing a call associated with the incoming call message to be answered automatically by the mobile communication device without detecting the manual answer signal.

26. The wireless communication system of claim 22, wherein each mobile communication device is further adapted to:

if the call request is for a non-emergency call, cause the non-emergency call to be established via the wireless communication network;

if the call request is for the emergency call;

run a timer which defines a time period from the disconnection of the emergency call;

if the incoming call message is received within, the time period, cause

the continued emergency call from the public safety answering point entity to be answered automatically by the mobile communication device without detecting the manual answer signal; and

if the incoming call message is received outside of the time period, then refrain from automatically answering by the mobile communication device without detecting the manual answer signal.

27. The wireless communication system of claim 22, wherein each mobile communication device is further adapted to:

if the call request is for a non-emergency call, cause the non-emergency call to be established via the wireless communication network;

if the call request is for the emergency call;

receive a data indication in one or more data fields of the incoming call message;

run a timer which defines a time period from the disconnection of the emergency call;

if the incoming call message is received within the time period, and the data indication indicates that the incoming call message is for the continued emergency call or automatic answering, then cause the continued emergency call from the public safety answering point entity to be answered automatically by tire mobile communication device without detecting the manual answer signal; and

if the incoming call message is received outside of the time period, or

if the data indication fails to indicate that the incoming call message is for the continued emergency call or the automatic answering, then refrain from automatically answering by the mobile communication device without detecting the manual answer signal.

28. The wireless communication system of claim 22, wherein each mobile communication device is further adapted to:

after the continued emergency call, is answered automatically, cause positioning information of the mobile communication, device to be sent to the public safety answering point entity.

29. The wireless communication system of claim 22, wherein each mobile communication device has a handset talk mode and a speakerphone talk mode, and wherein each mobile communication device is further adapted to:

in response to receiving the incoming call message for the continued emergency call;

enable the speakerphone talk mode of the mobile communication device without detecting a manual speakerphone activation signal via, the user interface.

30. A method for use in a wireless communication network for processing emergency calls involving mobile communication devices, the method comprising the acts of:

facilitating the establishment of an emergency call between a mobile communication device operating in the wireless communication, network and a public safety answering point entity;

receiving a message for a continued emergency call from the mobile communication device from the public safety answering point entity in response to the emergency call being disconnected;

in response to receiving the message for the continued emergency call;

producing an incoming call message for the continued emergency call

with the mobile communication device for transmission via the wireless

communication network;

setting a data indication in one or more data fields of the incoming call message when producing the incoming call message, the data indication being for use in instructing the mobile communication device to automatically answer the call without detection of a manual answer signal via a user interface of the mobile communication device; and

causing the incoming call message for the continued emergency call to be transmitted to the mobile communication device via the wireless communication network.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

setting the data indication for use in instructing the mobile communication device to refrain from producing an audible alert at the mobile communication device for alerting of the continued emergency call.

32. The method of claim 30, further comprising:

wherein the data indication indicates that the continued emergency call is to be automatically answered by the mobile communication device without detection of the manual answer signal, if the incoming call message is received within a time period after the disconnection.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein the mobile communication device has a handset talk mode and a speakerphone talk mode, and wherein the data indication is for use in enabling the speakerphone talk mode of the mobile communication device without detecting a manual speakerphone activation signal via the user interface.

34. A method for use by a mobile communication device for processing incoming calls via a wireless communication network, the method comprising the acts of monitoring to receive, via tire wireless communication network, an incoming call message for an incoming call;

receiving a data indication in one or more data fields of the incoming call message;

if the data indication indicates that the incoming call message is for silent, automatic answering;

refraining from producing an audible alert at the mobile communication device for alerting of the incoming call;

causing the incoming call to be answered automatically by the mobile communication device without detecting a manual answer signal via a user interface of the mobile communication device;

otherwise, if the data indication fails to indicate that the incoming call message is for the silent, automatic answering;

refraining from causing the incoming call to be answered automatically by the mobile communication device without detecting the manual answer signal; and

in response to detecting the manual answer signal via the user interface, causing the incoming call to be answered.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the incoming call comprises a secret call of which an end user at the mobile communication device is unaware.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein the user interface comprises a plurality of keys, a speaker, and a microphone, and wherein the act of causing the incoming call to be answered automatically by the mobile communication device comprises the further acts of enabling the microphone to receive audible signals at the mobile communication device.

37. The method of claim 34, wherein the mobile communication device comprises a memory including a programmable data indication in one or more data fields for setting one of a manual answering mode and an automatic answering mode for incoming calls to the mobile communication device, and wherein the act of causing the incoming call to be answered automatically by the mobile communication device without detecting the manual answer signal is performed when, the programmable data indication indicates that the manual answer mode is enabled.

38. The method of claim 34, wherein the mobile communication device comprises a memory including a programmable data indication in one or more data fields for setting one of an audible alert answer mode and a silent answer mode for incoming calls to the mobile communication device, and wherein the act of refraining front producing the audible alert at the mobile communication device for alerting of the incoming call is performed when tire programmable data indication indicates that the audible alert answer mode is enabled.

39. The method of claim 34, further comprising:

after the incoming call is answered silently and automatically, causing location information of the mobile communication device to be sent to a receiving entity.

40. The method of claim 34, further comprising:

receiving a message request for a message via the user interface;

causing the message to be sent via the wireless communication network;

running a timer which, defines a time period from the sending of the message;

receiving a data indication in one or more data fields of the incoming call message;

if the incoming call message is received within the time period, and the data indication indicates that the incoming call message is for the silent, automatic answering, then causing the incoming call to be answered automatically by the mobile communication device without detecting the manual answer signal; and

if the incoming call message is received outside of the time period, or if the data indication fails to indicate that the incoming call message is for the silent, automatic answering, then refraining from automatically answering the call without detecting the manual answer signal.

41. The method of claim 34, further comprising:

receiving a message request via the user interface;

if the message request is for a non-emergency message;

causing the non-emergency message to be sent via the wireless communication network;

if the message request is for an emergency message;

running a timer which defines a time period from the sending of the emergency message;

receiving a data indication in one or more data fields of the incoming call message;

if the incoming call message is received within the time period, and the data indication indicates that the incoming call message is for the silent, automatic answering, then causing the incoming call to be answered automatically by the mobile communication device without detecting the manual answer signal; and

if the incoming call message is received outside of the time period, or if the data indication fails to indicate that the incoming call message is for the silent, automatic answering, then refraining from automatically answering the call without detecting the manual answer signal.

42. The method of claim 34, wherein the mobile communication device has a handset talk mode and a speakerphone talk mode, and the method comprises the further act of:

if the data, indication indicates that the incoming call message is for silent, automatic answering;

enabling the speakerphone talk mode of the mobile communication device without detecting a manual speakerphone activation signal via the user interface.

43. A method for use by a mobile communication device which is adapted to communicate via a wireless communication network, the method comprising the acts of receiving, over the wireless communication network, a message having a data indication in one or more data fields;

enabling a speakerphone talk mode of the mobile communication device for a voice call if the data indication from the message indicates that the speakerphone talk mode is to be utilized; and

otherwise, enabling a handset talk mode of the mobile communication device for the voice call if the data indication from the message indicates that the handset talk mode is to be utilized.

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

causing the voice call from the third party entity to be answered automatically by the mobile communication device without detecting a manual answer signal via a user interface of the mobile communication device.