METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING AUTHENTICATED EMERGENCY MESSAGES

• US 20100075628A1
• Filed: 09/19/2008
• Published: 03/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Data Services LLC (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Ye, Baoqing
• Application Number:
  US12/233,753
• Publication Number:
  US 20100075628A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/404.200
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/084 using delegated authorisation, e.g. open authorisation [OAuth] protocol
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• 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 approach is provided for transmitting an emergency text-based message. A text-based message is received from a mobile device. A determination is made whether the text-based message is an emergency communication from an authorized sender. Location information of the mobile device is accepted if the text-based message is determined to be an emergency communication from an authorized sender.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a text-based message from a mobile device;

determining whether the text-based message is an emergency communication;

receiving location information of the mobile device if the text-based message is determined to be an emergency communication.

2. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

authenticating the text-based message according to user-defined information contained within the text-based message.

3. A method of claim 1, wherein the user-defined authentication information is a pre-shared secret.

4. A method of claim 1, wherein the text-based message is either an electronic mail, an instant messaging (IM) message, a short message service (SMS) message, or a multimedia messaging service (MMS) message.

5. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

filtering the text-based message according to a predetermined list of allowed devices.

6. A method of claim 1, wherein the location information is included in the text-based message, and updated location information is periodically received.

7. An apparatus comprising:

an messaging module configured to receive a text-based message from a mobile device, and to determine whether the text-based message is an emergency communication,

wherein the messaging module is further configured to receive location information of the mobile device if the text-based message is determined to be an emergency communication.

8. An apparatus of claim 7, wherein the messaging module is further configured to authenticate the text-based message according to user-defined information contained within the text-based message.

9. An apparatus of claim 7, wherein the user-defined authentication information is a pre-shared secret.

10. An apparatus of claim 7, wherein the text-based message is either an electronic mail, an instant messaging (IM) message, a short message service (SMS) message, or a multimedia messaging service (MMS) message.

11. An apparatus of claim 7, wherein the messaging module is further configured to filter the text-based message according to a predetermined list of allowed devices.

12. An apparatus of claim 7, wherein the location information is included in the text-based message, and updated location information is periodically received.

13. A method comprising:

retrieving authentication information associated with a recipient, wherein the authentication information is designated for an emergency communication;

obtaining location information;

generating a text-based message including an emergency message, the authentication information, and the location information; and

transmitting the text-based message to the recipient.

14. A method of claim 13, wherein the authentication information is user-defined.

15. A method of claim 13, wherein the text-based message is either an electronic mail, an instant messaging (IM) message, a short message service (SMS) message, or a multimedia messaging service (MMS) message.

16. A method of claim 13, further comprising:

updating the location information; and

transmitting the updated location information to the recipient.

17. A method of claim 13, further comprising:

invoking an emergency messaging application by either an assigned key, a predetermined key sequence, a physical button, a soft button, or a combination thereof.

18. A method of claim 13, further comprising:

storing a plurality of pre-defined emergency messages including the emergency message.

19. A mobile apparatus comprising:

an emergency messaging module configured to retrieve authentication information associated with a recipient, wherein the authentication information is designated for an emergency communication;

a locator configured to obtain location information of the mobile apparatus, wherein the emergency messaging module is further configured to generate a text-based message including an emergency message, the authentication information, and the location information; and

a transceiver configured to transmit the text-based message to the recipient.

20. A mobile apparatus of claim 19, wherein the authentication information is user-defined.

21. A mobile apparatus of claim 19, wherein the text-based message is either an electronic mail, an instant messaging (IM) message, a short message service (SMS) message, or a multimedia messaging service (MMS) message.

22. A mobile apparatus of claim 19, wherein the location information is updated and transmitted to the recipient.

23. A mobile apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:

an input device configured to invoke the emergency messaging module by either an assigned key, a predetermined key sequence, a physical button, a soft button, or a combination thereof.

24. A mobile apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:

a memory configured to store a plurality of pre-defined emergency messages including the emergency message.