SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR EFFECTING SPECIAL NUMBER COMMUNICATIONS BY A MULTI-MODE PHONE USING A PREFERRED MODE

• US 20110009088A1
• Filed: 07/13/2009
• Published: 01/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intrado Life & Safety Incorporated
• Original Assignee: West Corporation
• Inventors: Pierce, Jennifer Ann
• Granted Patent: US 8,180,320 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/404.2
• 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 48/18 Selecting a network or a communication service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A method for effecting emergency service communications using a preferred mode by a communication station configured for communicating using multiple modes includes: (a) evaluating the multiple modes to identify a plurality of extant operationally viable modes for the communication station; (b) evaluating the plurality of extant operationally viable modes to identify the preferred mode among the plurality of extant operationally viable modes; the preferred mode having a generally best communicating milieu among the plurality of extant operationally viable modes; and (c) initiating the emergency service communications employing the preferred mode.

Claims

1. A method for effecting emergency service communications using a preferred mode by a communication station configured for communicating using multiple modes;

the method comprising;

(a) evaluating said multiple modes to identify a plurality of extant operationally viable modes for said communication station;

(b) evaluating said plurality of extant operationally viable modes to identify said preferred mode among said plurality of extant operationally viable modes;

said preferred mode having a generally best communicating milieu among said plurality of extant operationally viable modes; and

(c) initiating said emergency service communications employing said preferred mode.

2. The method for effecting emergency service communications using a preferred mode by a communication station configured for communicating using multiple modes as recited in claim 1 wherein said communication station includes a location determining unit for substantially fixing geographic location of said communication station, and wherein the method further comprises a step (1) performed before step (c), and performed in no particular order with respect to steps (a) and (b):

(1) determining an extant geographic location of said communication station.

3. The method for effecting emergency service communications using a preferred mode by a communication station configured for communicating using multiple modes as recited in claim 2 wherein said extant geographic location of said communication unit is employed to effect a prediction of likely communication coverage density by at least one selected mode of said multiple modes;

said prediction being employed in determining said best communicating milieu.

4. The method for effecting emergency service communications using a preferred mode by a communication station configured for communicating using multiple modes as recited in claim 1 wherein said generally best communicating milieu exhibits generally better wireless communication signaling characteristics than are exhibited while employing other modes of said extant operationally viable modes than said preferred mode.

5. The method for effecting emergency service communications using a preferred mode by a communication station configured for communicating using multiple modes as recited in claim 2 wherein said generally best communicating milieu exhibits generally better wireless communication signaling characteristics than are exhibited while employing other modes of said extant operationally viable modes than said preferred mode.

6. The method for effecting emergency service communications using a preferred mode by a communication station configured for communicating using multiple modes as recited in claim 2 wherein said communication station consults an emergency communication priority list in determining said best communicating milieu;

said emergency communication priority list indicating accuracy of location information vis-à

-vis respective modes of said multiple modes for said extant geographic location.

7. The method for effecting emergency service communications using a preferred mode by a communication station configured for communicating using multiple modes as recited in claim 6 wherein said emergency communication priority list is provisioned in said communication station by at least one of a preprovisioned said priority list, an input by a user of said communication station, and an input to said communication station during communication between said communication station and a mobile communication network.

8. A method for effecting special number communications using a preferred mode by a multiple-mode capable communication station;

said multiple-mode capable communication station including a location determining unit for substantially fixing geographic location of said multiple-mode capable communication station;

the method comprising;

(a) in no particular order;

(1) evaluating said multiple modes to identify a plurality of extant operationally viable modes for said multiple-mode capable communication station; and

(2) determining an extant geographic location of said multiple-mode capable communication station;

(b) employing said extant geographic location of said multiple-mode capable communication station to effect a prediction of likely communication coverage density by at least one selected mode of said multiple modes;

(c) evaluating said plurality of extant operationally viable modes and said prediction of likely communication coverage density by said at least one selected mode to identify said preferred mode among said plurality of extant operationally viable modes;

said preferred mode having a generally best communicating milieu among said plurality of extant operationally viable modes; and

(d) initiating said special number communications employing said preferred mode.

9. The method for effecting special number communications using a preferred mode by a multiple-mode capable communication station as recited in claim 8 wherein said generally best communicating milieu exhibits generally better wireless communication signaling characteristics than are exhibited while employing other modes of said extant operationally viable modes than said preferred mode.

10. The method for effecting special number communications using a preferred mode by a multiple-mode capable communication station as recited in claim 8 wherein said multiple-mode capable communication station consults a special number communication priority list in determining said best communicating milieu;

said special number communication priority list indicating accuracy of location information vis-à

-vis respective modes of said multiple modes for said extant geographic location.

11. The method for effecting special number communications using a preferred mode by a multiple-mode capable communication station as recited in claim 10 wherein said special number communication priority list is provisioned in said multiple-mode capable communication station by at least one of a preprovisioned said priority list, an input by a user of said multiple-mode capable communication station, and an input to said multiple-mode capable communication station during communication between said multiple-mode capable communication station and a mobile communication network.

12. The method for effecting special number communications using a preferred mode by a multiple-mode capable communication station as recited in claim 9 wherein said multiple-mode capable communication station consults a special number communication priority list in determining said best communicating milieu;

said special number communication priority list indicating accuracy of location information vis-à

-vis respective modes of said multiple modes for said extant geographic location.

13. The method for effecting special number communications using a preferred mode by a multiple-mode capable communication station as recited in claim 12 wherein said special number communication priority list is provisioned in said multiple-mode capable communication station by at least one of a preprovisioned said priority list, an input by a user of said multiple-mode capable communication station, and an input to said multiple-mode capable communication station during communication between said multiple-mode capable communication station and a mobile communication network.

14. A system for effecting emergency service communications using a preferred mode by a communication station configured for communicating using multiple modes;

the system comprising;

(a) a first mode evaluating unit coupled with said communication station for evaluating said multiple modes to identify a plurality of extant operationally viable modes for said communication station; and

(b) a second mode evaluating unit coupled with said communication station for evaluating said plurality of extant operationally viable modes to identify said preferred mode among said plurality of extant operationally viable modes;

said preferred mode having a generally best communicating milieu among said plurality of extant operationally viable modes;

said emergency service communications being effected employing said preferred mode.

15. The system for effecting emergency service communications using a preferred mode by a communication station configured for communicating using multiple modes as recited in claim 14 wherein the system further comprises:

a location determining unit coupled with said communication station for substantially fixing geographic location of said communication station, said location determining unit determining an extant geographic location of said communication unit.

16. The system for effecting emergency service communications using a preferred mode by a communication station configured for communicating using multiple modes as recited in claim 15 wherein said extant geographic location of said communication unit is employed to effect a prediction of likely communication coverage density by at least one selected mode of said multiple modes;

said prediction being employed in determining said best communicating milieu.

17. The system for effecting emergency service communications using a preferred mode by a communication station configured for communicating using multiple modes as recited in claim 14 wherein said generally best communicating milieu exhibits generally better wireless communication signaling characteristics than are exhibited while employing other modes of said extant operationally viable modes than said preferred mode.

18. The system for effecting emergency service communications using a preferred mode by a communication station configured for communicating using multiple modes as recited in claim 15 wherein said generally best communicating milieu exhibits generally better wireless communication signaling characteristics than are exhibited while employing other modes of said extant operationally viable modes than said preferred mode.

19. The system for effecting emergency service communications using a preferred mode by a communication station configured for communicating using multiple modes as recited in claim 15 wherein said communication station consults an emergency communication priority list in determining said best communicating milieu;

said emergency communication priority list indicating accuracy of location information vis-à

-vis respective modes of said multiple modes for said extant geographic location.

20. The system for effecting emergency service communications using a preferred mode by a communication station configured for communicating using multiple modes as recited in claim 19 wherein said emergency communication priority list is provisioned in said communication station by at least one of a preprovisioned said priority list, an input by a user of said communication station, and an input to said communication station during communication between said communication station and a mobile communication network.