METHODS, USER TERMINALS, COMPUTER PROGRAM PRODUCTS, AND COMPONENTS FOR PROVIDING COMMUNICATIONS IN EMERGENCY SITUATIONS

• US 20090004998A1
• Filed: 03/18/2008
• Published: 01/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chanyu Holdings LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: AT&T DELAWARE INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, INC., FORMERLY KNOWN AS BELLSOUTH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, Caapaction (Société Cocoon SA)
• Inventors: Aaron, Jeffrey A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,623,841 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/404.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72418 for supporting emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/04 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5116 for emergency applications

Abstract

A method for providing communications services in a network can include adjusting a mode of communication for devices operating in the network based on emergency state information. Related user terminals, computer program products, and components are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A user terminal for use in a communications network comprising:

a transceiver configured to transmit/receive communications to a communications network according to an emergency communications mode; and

a processor circuit coupled to the transceiver circuit configured to activate the emergency communications mode responsive to an emergency message received from the network based on emergency state information.

2. A user terminal according to claim 1 wherein the emergency communications mode comprises a limited audio mode, a text mode, a limited text mode, and/or a limited video mode.

3. A user terminal according to claim 2 wherein the emergency communications mode further comprises one of a plurality of different codecs to be used for limited audio and/or video mode, one of a plurality of different compression modes to be used for limited audio and/or video mode, a TCP/IP communication mode to be used in limited audio and/or video mode, a UDP communication mode to be used in limited audio and/or video mode, a shortcut based communication mode to be used in limited text mode, a hotkey based communication mode to be used in limited text mode, an abbreviation based communication mode to be used in limited text mode, and/or a communications mode having a predetermined number of messages and/or amount of time allocated for use.

4. A user terminal according to claim 2 wherein the processor is configured to activate the emergency communications mode responsive to a manual input at the user terminal.

5. A component for use in routing and/or switching and/or transporting communications in a communications network, comprising a processor circuit configured to activate the emergency communications mode responsive to an emergency message received from the network based on emergency state information.

6. A component according to claim 5 wherein the emergency communications mode comprises a limited audio mode, a text mode, a limited text mode, and/or a limited video mode.

7. A component according to claim 5 wherein the emergency communications mode further comprises a TCP/IP communication mode to be used in limited audio and/or video mode, a UDP communication mode to be used in limited audio and/or video mode, and/or a communications mode having a predetermined number of messages and/or amount of time allocated for use.