Methods, Systems, and Products for Processing Emergency Communications

• US 20130142316A1
• Filed: 11/17/2012
• Published: 06/06/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2003
• 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: Binning, Valerie
• Granted Patent: US 8,983,424 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2829 involving user profiles according to which the execution of a home appliance functionality is automatically triggered
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5116 for emergency applications

Abstract

Methods, systems, and products process an emergency communication. A profile is queried for a code received during the emergency communication. If the code matches the profile, then the emergency communication is blocked.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

memory for storing code that when executed causes the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising;

processing a communication identifying a sending communications address;

retrieving a profile associated with the sending communications address;

prompting the sending communications address during the communication to enter a code for blocking an emergency communication;

receiving the code from the sending communications address;

comparing the code to the profile; and

blocking the emergency communication when the code matches the profile.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise retrieving a physical address from the profile.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise generating the emergency communication when the code fails to match the profile.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise activating an emergency alert when the code fails to match the profile.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise activating a visual alert when the code fails to match the profile.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise activating a position locator when the code fails to match the profile.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise receiving 911 as dialed digits.

8. A method of processing an emergency communication, comprising:

processing the emergency communication from a sending communications address to an emergency address;

retrieving a profile associated with the sending communications address;

receiving a code during the emergency communication;

comparing the code to the profile; and

blocking the emergency communication when the code matches the profile.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising retrieving a physical address from the profile.

10. The method according to claim 8, further comprising activating an emergency alert when the code fails to match the profile.

11. The method according to claim 8, further comprising activating a visual alert when the code fails to match the profile.

12. The method according to claim 8, further comprising activating a position locator when the code fails to match the profile.

13. The method according to claim 8, further comprising receiving 911 as dialed digits.

14. The method according to claim 8, further comprising activating a Global Positioning System.

15. The method according to claim 8, further comprising deactivating an emergency alert.

16. The method according to claim 8, further comprising retrieving a timing parameter from the profile that describes an amount of time that an emergency alert is activated.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising deactivating the emergency alert when the amount of time has lapsed.

18. A computer readable medium storing processor executable instructions that when executed cause the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

processing the emergency communication from a sending communications address to an emergency address;

retrieving a profile associated with the sending communications address;

receiving a code during the emergency communication;

comparing the code to the profile; and

blocking the emergency communication when the code matches the profile.

19. The computer readable medium according to claim 18, wherein the operations further comprise retrieving a physical address from the profile.

20. The computer readable medium according to claim 18, wherein the operations further comprise activating an emergency alert when the code fails to match the profile.