PROMPTING AND DIRECTING USERS TO SAFETY DURING EMERGENCY SITUATIONS

• US 20090170468A1
• Filed: 12/28/2007
• Published: 07/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gozleveli, Farideh, Aftelak, Andrew, Kane, John Richard, Zhen, Li-Xin
• Granted Patent: US 8,422,987 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/404.200
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 21/20 for precision weighing apparatus
• 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

A method and wireless device augment and manage, respectively, emergency alert messages with additional emergency information. An emergency alert message is determined to have been sent (404) to one or more wireless devices (102) in a given area. The emergency alert message is analyzed (406) to determine a type of emergency associated with the emergency alert message. Optionally, a current location of at least one wireless device (102) within the given area is determined. A message is generated (412), based at least in part on the type of emergency and logistics of the given area, including additional emergency information for augmenting the emergency alert message. The message that has been generated is transmitted to the at least one wireless device (102). This message is, optionally, adjusted based on the location of the device and the logistics of the given area.

Claims

1. A method for augmenting emergency alert messages with additional emergency information, the method comprising:

determining that an emergency alert message has been sent to one or more wireless devices in a given area;

analyzing the emergency alert message to determine a type of emergency associated with the emergency alert message;

generating a message, based at least in part on the type of emergency and logistics of the given area, comprising additional emergency information for augmenting the emergency alert message; and

transmitting the message that has been generated to the at least one wireless device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining a current location of at least one wireless device within the given area.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining that an emergency alert message has been sent to at least one wireless device further comprises at least one of:

detecting an emergency notification signal from an emergency notification device; and

determining that an emergency beacon has been generated at an emergency beacon generating device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein generating a message further comprises:

determining a route for directing a user of the at least one wireless device to an exit.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the route is one of:

a pre-programmed route; and

a route determined based on a current location of the at least one wireless device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a current location of the at least one wireless device within a given area further comprises at least one of:

determining location coordinates associated with the at least one wireless device;

determining a location based on a monitored signal strength of a signal associated with a wireless device; and

receiving positioning information from a user associated with the at least one wireless device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the additional emergency information at least one of:

instructs the at least one wireless device to monitor transmissions from at least one emergency beacon generating device; and

comprises a set of signals that provides a set of varying feedback to a user of the wireless device based on a current location of the wireless device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the set of varying feedback comprises at least one of:

flashing lights at the wireless device;

changing text at the wireless device;

audio prompts at the wireless device; and

tactile prompts at the wireless device.

9. A method, with a wireless device, for managing augmented emergency alert messages, the method comprising:

receiving an emergency alert message from at least one emergency notification device;

receiving an augmenting message from at least one emergency notification augmenting device, wherein the augmenting message comprises additional emergency information associated with the emergency alert message;

analyzing the augmenting message; and

directing a user to an exit based on the additional emergency information.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

establishing a short range radio frequency communication link with the at least one emergency notification augmenting device.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the additional emergency information comprises directional information associated with an exit, wherein the directional information is used by the wireless device for directing a user associated with the wireless devise to the exit.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein directing a user to an exit based on the additional emergency information, further comprises:

determining a current location of the wireless device;

comparing the current location of the wireless device with directional information included within the additional emergency information; and

providing the user with directional prompts based on the comparing.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the directional prompts include at least one of:

audio prompts;

visual prompts; and

tactile prompts.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the additional emergency information includes instructions to monitor transmissions from at least one emergency beacon generating device, and wherein the directing a user to an exit based on the additional emergency information further comprises:

monitoring the at least one emergency beacon to determine if a signal strength associated with the at least one emergency beacon is one of decreasing and increasing,

wherein if the signal strength associated with the at least one emergency beacon is decreasing,

prompting the user to change a current direction of movement; and

wherein if the signal strength associated with the at least one emergency beacon is increasing,

prompting the user to continue heading in a current direction.

15. A wireless device for managing augmented emergency alert messages, the wireless device comprising:

a memory;

a processor communicatively coupled to the memory;

a user interface communicatively coupled to the memory and the processor; and

an emergency alert manager communicatively coupled to the memory, the processor, and the user interface, wherein the emergency alert manager is adapted to;

receive an emergency alert message from at least one emergency notification device;

receive an augmenting message from at least one emergency notification augmenting device, wherein the augmenting message comprises additional emergency information associated with the emergency alert message;

analyze the augmenting message; and

direct a user, via the user interface, to an exit based on the additional emergency information.

16. The wireless device of claim 15, wherein the emergency alert manager is further adapted to:

establish a short range radio frequency communication link with the at least one emergency notification augmenting device.

17. The wireless device of claim 15, wherein the additional emergency information comprises directional information associated with an exit, wherein the directional information is used by the emergency alert manager for directing a user associated with the wireless device to the exit.

18. The wireless device of claim 15, wherein the emergency alert manager is further adapted to direct a user to an exit based on the additional emergency information by:

determining a current location of the wireless device;

comparing the current location of the wireless device with directional information included within the additional emergency information; and

providing the user with directional prompts based on the comparing.

19. The wireless device of claim 18, wherein the directional prompts include at least one of:

audio prompts;

visual prompts; and

tactile prompts.

20. The wireless device of claim 15, wherein the additional emergency information includes instructions to monitor transmissions from at least one emergency beacon generating device, and wherein the emergency alert manager is further adapted to direct a user to an exit based on the additional emergency information by:

monitoring the at least one emergency beacon to determine if a signal strength associated with the at least one emergency beacon is one of decreasing and increasing,

wherein if the signal strength associated with the at least one emergency beacon is decreasing,

prompting the user to change a current direction of movement; and

wherein if the signal strength associated with the at least one emergency beacon is increasing,

prompting the user to continue heading in a current direction.