METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR MANAGING AN EMERGENCY FOR ENHANCED USER SECURITY USING A MOBILE COMMUNICATION DEVICE

• US 20140148120A1
• Filed: 11/28/2012
• Published: 05/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: F-Secure Corporation (F-Secure Oyj)
• Original Assignee: Lookout Incorporated
• Inventors: Buck, Brian James
• Granted Patent: US 9,210,561 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/404.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]

Abstract

Security is enhanced for a user of a mobile communications device by providing a method for managing an emergency event includes detecting, by a mobile communication device having a GUI for displaying information to a user, an indication that an emergency event is occurring. Once the emergency event is detected, a plurality of event options is displayed on the GUI to a responding user who is not an owner of the mobile communication device. Each event option is associated with at least one instruction relating to an emergency action and/or response. When an indication selecting a first event option is received, the mobile communication device executes the instruction(s) associated with the first event option.

Claims

1. A method for managing an emergency event by a mobile communication device, the method comprising:

detecting, by a mobile communication device including a graphical user interface (GUI) for displaying information to a user, an indication that an emergency event is occurring;

displaying, on the GUI, a plurality of event options to a responding user who is not an owner of the mobile communication device, wherein each of the plurality of event options is associated with at least one instruction relating to at least one of an emergency action and emergency response;

receiving, by the mobile communication device, an indication selecting a first event option; and

in response to receiving the indication, executing, by the mobile communication device, the at least one instruction associated with the first event option.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the emergency event is a medical emergency event relating to the owner of the mobile communication device and wherein the mobile communication device is configured to provide access to medical information of the owner of the mobile communication device.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the at least one instruction associated with the first event option includes providing, by the mobile communication device, access to at least a portion of the owner'"'"'s medical information.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising displaying on the GUI, a device lock screen that includes an emergency notification icon, which when activated, provides an indication that a medical emergency event relating to the owner is occurring.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein when the medical emergency event is detected, the method further comprises at least one of:

establishing a connection with an emergency call center and transmitting at least a portion of the owner'"'"'s medical information to the emergency call center; and

broadcasting, over an emergency response channel, that a medical emergency is occurring and a location of the mobile communication device, and broadcasting at least a portion of the owner'"'"'s medical information over the emergency response channel.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein prior to receiving the indication selecting a first event option, the method further comprises:

monitoring, for a predetermined time period, for a selection of an event option; and

when a selection is not detected within the predetermined time period, establishing, by the mobile communication device, a connection with an emergency call center, and transmitting at least a portion of the mobile communications device owner'"'"'s medical information to the emergency call center.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the mobile communications device includes an audio speaker component and wherein the method further includes:

providing an audio broadcast via the audio speaker component, the audio broadcast comprising an announcement of a medical emergency and an appeal for assistance; and

broadcasting, by the mobile communication device, over an emergency response channel that a medical emergency is occurring and a location of the mobile communication device

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the emergency event is that the mobile communication device has been found by the responding user.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising displaying on the GUI, a device lock screen that includes a lost device notification icon, which when activated, provides an indication that the responding user has found the mobile communication device.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the mobile communication device includes a geo-location tracking system and a camera, and wherein in response to detecting that the mobile communication device is found, the method further comprises:

automatically disabling, by the mobile communication device, all functions and services of the mobile communication device except for those needed to execute the at least one instruction associated with each of the plurality of lost device emergency event responses;

determining a current geo-location of the mobile communication device based on information collected by the geo-location tracking system;

capturing an image of the responding user; and

transmitting at least one of the determined geo-location and the image to a designated lost device contact.

11. A method for managing an emergency event involving a medical emergency, the method comprising:

detecting, by a mobile communication device configured to provide access to medical information of an owner of the mobile communications device and including a graphical user interface (“

GUI”

) for displaying information to a user, a medical emergency event relating to the owner;

displaying, on the GUI, a plurality of medical emergency event options to a responding user who is not the owner of the mobile communication device, wherein each of the plurality of medical emergency event options is associated with at least one instruction relating to at least one of an emergency action and emergency response;

receiving, by the mobile communication device, an indication selecting a first medical emergency event option; and

in response to receiving the indication, executing, by the mobile communication device, the at least one instruction associated with the first medical emergency event option.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising providing, by the mobile communication device, an indication that the mobile communications device owner'"'"'s medical information is accessible by the mobile communication device.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the indication that the mobile communication device owner'"'"'s medical information is accessible by the mobile communication device is provided by a decal label affixed onto an encasing surface of the mobile communication device.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the indication that the mobile communication device owner'"'"'s medical information is accessible by the mobile communication device is provided by a device lock screen displayed on the GUI.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein a device lock screen displayed on the GUI includes an emergency notification icon, which when activated, provides an indication that a medical emergency event relating to the owner is occurring.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein detecting the medical emergency event relating to the owner includes receiving an indication that the emergency notification icon is at least one of pressed and swiped by a responding user who is not an owner of the mobile communication device.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the device lock screen includes an emergency call icon, and wherein detecting the medical emergency event relating to the owner includes receiving an indication that the emergency call icon is at least one of pressed and swiped by a responding user who is not an owner of the mobile communication device.

18. The method of claim 11 wherein when the medical emergency event is detected, the method further comprises establishing, by the mobile communication device, a connection with an emergency call center, and transmitting at least a portion of the owner'"'"'s medical information to the emergency call center.

19. The method of claim 11 wherein when the medical emergency event is detected, the method further comprises broadcasting, by the mobile communication device over an emergency response channel, that a medical emergency is occurring and a location of the mobile communication device, and broadcasting at least a portion of the owner'"'"'s medical information over the emergency response channel.

20. The method of claim 11 wherein when the owner of the mobile communication device is a subscriber to a medical alert service, the at least one instruction associated with the first medical emergency event option includes establishing, by the mobile communication device, a connection with the medical alert service.

21. The method of claim 11 wherein the at least one instruction associated with the first medical emergency event option includes displaying, on the GUI, at least a portion of the mobile communications device owner'"'"'s medical information.

22. The method of claim 11 wherein the at least one instruction associated with the first medical emergency event option includes requesting a destination to which the mobile communications device owner'"'"'s medical information is to be transmitted, receiving the destination, and transmitting at least a portion of the mobile communications device owner'"'"'s medical information to the destination.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the destination is at least one of an email address and a mobile phone number associated with another device of at least one of a medical care facility, and a medical care provider.

24. The method of claim 11 wherein the at least one instruction associated with the first medical emergency event option includes providing at least one of audio and text directions to the responding user for providing medical care to the owner.

25. The method of claim 24 wherein the at least one instruction associated with the first medical emergency event option further includes determining a location of an automated external defibrillator (“

AED”

) and providing the location to the responding user.

26. The method of claim 11 wherein prior to receiving the indication selecting a first medical emergency event option, the method further comprises:

monitoring, for a predetermined time period, for a selection of a medical emergency event option; and

when a selection is not detected within the predetermined time period, establishing, by the mobile communication device, a connection with an emergency call center, and transmitting at least a portion of the mobile communications device owner'"'"'s medical information to the emergency call center.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the mobile communications device includes an audio speaker component and wherein the method further includes providing an audio broadcast via the audio speaker component, the audio broadcast comprising an announcement of a medical emergency and an appeal for assistance.

28. The method of claim 26 further including broadcasting, by the mobile communication device, over an emergency response channel that a medical emergency is occurring and a location of the mobile communication device.

29. A method for managing an emergency event involving a lost mobile communication device, the method comprising:

detecting, by a mobile communication device including a graphical user interface (“

GUI”

) for displaying information to a user, that the mobile communication device is found by a responding user who is not an owner of the mobile communication device;

displaying, on the GUI, a plurality of lost device emergency event options to the responding user, wherein each of the plurality of lost device emergency event options is associated with at least one instruction relating to at least one of an emergency action and emergency response;

receiving, by the mobile communication device, an indication selecting a first lost device emergency event option; and

in response to receiving the indication, executing, by the mobile communication device, the at least one instruction associated with the first lost device emergency event option.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein a device lock screen displayed on the GUI includes a lost device notification icon, which when activated, provides an indication that the responding user has found the mobile communication device.

31. The method of claim 30 wherein detecting that the mobile communication device is found includes receiving an indication that the lost device notification icon is at least one of pressed and swiped by the responding user.

32. The method of claim 29 further comprising receiving, from a device administrator of the mobile communication device, contact information of a lost device contact, and storing the contact information in a storage component in the mobile communication device.

33. The method of claim 32 wherein when the contact information includes a phone number of the lost device contact, the at least one instruction associated with the first event option includes establishing, by the mobile communication device, a phone connection with the lost device contact.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein establishing the phone connection includes providing the phone number of the lost device contact to a phone service without displaying the phone number on the GUI so that the contact information of the lost device contact remains confidential.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein the phone service is at least one of a mobile phone service provider and a VoIP service provider.

36. The method of claim 32 wherein when the contact information includes a phone number of the lost device contact, the at least one instruction associated with the first event option includes generating a text message indicating that the mobile communication device has been found and transmitting, by the mobile communication device, the text message to the lost device contact without revealing the contact information to the responding user.

37. The method of claim 32 wherein when the contact information includes information identifying a chat service and the lost device contact, the at least one instruction associated with the first event option includes establishing, by the mobile communication device, a connection with the chat service for real-time text-based communications between the responding user using the mobile communication device and the lost device contact without revealing the contact information to the responding user.

38. The method of claim 32 wherein when the contact information includes an email address of the lost device contact, the at least one instruction associated with the first event option includes generating a message indicating that the mobile communication device has been found, and transmitting the message to the email address of the lost device contact without revealing the contact information to the responding user.

39. The method of claim 38 wherein the at least one instruction for generating the message includes receiving contact information associated with the responding user and including the responding user'"'"'s contact information in the message.

40. The method of claim 32 wherein the mobile communication device includes a geo-location tracking system, and wherein the at least one instruction associated with the first event option includes:

determining a current geo-location of the mobile communication device based on information collected by the geo-location tracking system; and

transmitting the determined geo-location to the lost device contact.

41. The method of claim 32 wherein the mobile communication device includes a camera, and wherein the at least one instruction associated with the first event option includes capturing an image of the responding user and transmitting the image to the lost device contact.

42. The method of claim 32 wherein the lost device contact is at least one of a service provider, a contact associated with a frequently called phone number, a contact identified as an emergency contact, and a phone-based interactive voice response (IVR) system.

43. The method of claim 29 wherein the at least one instruction associated with the first event option includes:

identifying a device return service for receiving the mobile communication device and returning it to the owner; and

directing the responding user to deposit the mobile communication device with the identified device return service.

44. The method of claim 43 wherein the at least one instruction associated with the first event option further includes:

establishing a connection with the identified device return service; and

transmitting information identifying the mobile communication device and authentication information of the owner to the device return service.

45. The method of claim 29 wherein in response to detecting that the mobile communication device is found, the method further comprises automatically disabling, by the mobile communication device, all functions and services of the mobile communication device except for those needed to execute the at least one instruction associated with each of the plurality of lost device emergency event options.

46. The method of claim 29 wherein the mobile communication device includes a geo-location tracking system and wherein in response to detecting that the mobile communication device is found, the method further comprises determining a current geo-location of the mobile communication device based on information collected by the geo-location tracking system and transmitting the determined geo-location to a designated lost device contact.

47. The method of claim 29 wherein the mobile communication device includes a camera, and wherein in response to detecting that the mobile communication device is found, the method further comprises capturing an image of the responding user and transmitting the image to a lost device contact.