EMERGENCY TEXT MESSAGING

• US 20130065549A1
• Filed: 09/14/2011
• Published: 03/14/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sennett, DeWayne, Daly, Brian, Musgrove, Charles
• Granted Patent: US 9,148,396 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/18 Commands or executable codes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72421 with automatic activation of emergency service functions, e.g. upon sensing an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

Emergency text messaging provides the ability to send and receive partial text-based messages and text messages that were prematurely ended. When a sender of a text message is not able to complete the message, the recipient of the partial/prematurely concluded message is provided information such that the recipient can ascertain that an exceptional condition exists. A text message can be sent on a character-by-character basis, a text message can be sent when a lack of activity is detected for a predetermined amount of time, when a character entry is consecutively repeated a predetermined amount of times or for a predetermined amount of time, or any appropriate combination thereof. The recipient of the text message has the ability to adjust parameters on the device, activate sensors on the device, and/or trigger the transmission of information from the device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

while generating a message, determining, by a processor, if an exceptional condition exists; and

when it is determined that an exceptional condition exists;

obtaining, by the processor, current contents of the message;

generating, by the processor, an express indication of the exception condition;

combining the express indication of the exception condition with the current contents of the message; and

providing the combined current contents of the message and the express indication of the exception condition.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the exceptional condition comprises inactivity for a predetermined amount of time.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the exceptional condition comprises unintentionally sequentially repeated characters.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the exceptional condition comprises a number of sequentially repeated characters exceeding a threshold amount of characters.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the exceptional condition comprises sequentially repeated characters being received for a predetermined amount of time.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a prompt to determine if an indication of an exceptional condition is intentional.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

determining that an exceptional condition exists when a response to the prompt is not received.

8. (canceled)

9. A device comprising:

a processor; and

memory coupled to the processor, the memory comprising executable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the processor to effectuate operations comprising;

while generating a message, determining if an exceptional condition exists; and

when it is determined that an exceptional condition exists;

obtaining obtain current contents of the message;

generating an express indication of the exception condition;

combining the express indication of the exception condition with the current contents of the message; and

providing the combined current contents of the message and the express indication of the exception condition.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the exceptional condition comprises inactivity for a predetermined amount of time.

11. The device of claim 9, wherein the exceptional condition comprises unintentionally sequentially repeated characters.

12. The device of claim 9, wherein the exceptional condition comprises a number of sequentially repeated characters exceeding a threshold amount of characters.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein the exceptional condition comprises sequentially repeated characters being received for a predetermined amount of time.

14. The device of claim 9, the operations further comprising:

providing a prompt to determine if an indication of an exceptional condition is intentional.

15. The device of claim 9, the operations further comprising:

determining that an exceptional condition exists when a response to the prompt is not received.

16. (canceled)

17. A computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to effectuate operations comprising:

while generating a message, determining if an exceptional condition exists; and

when it is determined that an exceptional condition exists;

obtaining current contents of the message;

generating an express indication of the exception condition;

combining the express indication of the exception condition with the current contents of the message; and

providing the combined current contents of the message and the express indication of the exception condition.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the exceptional condition comprises at least one of:

inactivity for a predetermined amount of time;

or

sequentially repeated characters.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, the operations further comprising:

providing a prompt to determine if an indication of an exceptional condition is intentional.

20. (canceled)