Alpha tagging and type indication of emergency call number

• US 6,766,159 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2001
• Issued: 07/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Conversant Wireless Licensing S.à.r.l. (f/k/a Core Wireless Licensing S.a.r.l.) (MOSAID Technologies Inc. (f/k/a Conversant Intellectual Property Management))
• Original Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones UK Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Lindholm, Rune
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban, Edward F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jackson, Blane J.
• Application Number:
  US09/803,677
• Publication Number:
  US 20010051514A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,229 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.1, 455/404.2, 455/566, 455/414.2, 455/414.4, 455/418, 455/521, 455/558, 455/564, 455/565, 379/216.01, 379/45
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27485 Appending a prefix to or inserting a pause into a dialling sequence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72424 with manual activation of emergency-service functions

Abstract

A user of a mobile terminal is enabled to call emergency services in a wireless telecommunications network, whether or not the user is in a foreign country. If the user signals for emergency help by sending an emergency call code to the base station, the user is connected to an emergency center corresponding to the user'"'"'s base station. The user may also be provided with an emergency services display. Further, the user may be connected to a specific type of emergency center corresponding to the user'"'"'s base station, if the user signals for the specific type of emergency center by sending a service category to the base station. These emergency signals sent from the mobile terminal to the base station are location-independent, and therefore work well at an international level.

Claims

1. A method for providing an emergency call by a user of a mobile phone to a mobile phone network, comprising the steps of:

inputting an emergency call number into a mobile phone; and

attaching to the emergency call number a location-independent emergency service category that is identified by each mobile network in the same way,

wherein the method also comprises the steps of;

providing an emergency call code alpha tag identifier,

obtaining from the mobile phone emergency information, and

choosing the location-independent emergency service category.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the available emergency services are stored within the mobile phone or within a universal subscriber identity module located within the mobile phone.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the method further comprises the step of after a predetermined time providing an emergency call having the emergency call number and the location-independent emergency service category attached thereto to the mobile network if an alternative emergency call number is not selected by the user.

4. A method according to claim 2, wherein the method further comprises the step of automatically routing the emergency call to a corresponding emergency call center in the mobile network.

5. A method according to claim 2, wherein the method further comprises the step of maintaining an emergency call code data file in the mobile phone.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein the emergency call code data file stores the location-independent emergency service category, the emergency call code and an emergency call code alpha tag identifier.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the method further comprises the step of using a smart card for storing the emergency call code data file.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises the step of maintaining an emergency call code data file in the mobile phone.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein the location-independent emergency service category identifies emergencies, including general rescue, police ambulance, fire, or a combination thereof.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises the step of attaching to an emergency call code an emergency call code alpha tag identifier for scrolling available emergency services.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises the step of scrolling a display of the mobile phone for available emergency services in case the emergency number entered did not correspond to a desired emergency service.

12. A mobile terminal (102) for allowing a user to make different categories of emergency calls having a plurality of different respective functions, to a radio network subsystem in a wireless telecommunications network, when the user is located in a foreign country or a home country, comprising:

a data file and call conversion circuit (302) for providing a location-independent emergency signal (304), responsive to a customized emergency user input signal (306) having a magnitude indicative of a user seeking selected emergency assistance, wherein required emergency user input does not change when the mobile terminal (102) is taken across an international border;

a transmit and receive device (308), responsive to the location-independent emergency signal (304), for providing an outgoing transmission signal (310),

wherein the customized emergency user input signal (306) is selected from a plurality of allowed emergency user input signals that are programmably customized to suit the user, and

wherein the location-independent emergency signal (304) is selected from a plurality of different allowed location-independent emergency signals having different respective functions effectuated by the outgoing transmission signal (310), and

wherein an alpha identifier enables the user to obtain from the mobile phone emergency information.

13. The mobile terminal (102) of claim 12, further comprising:

a microphone (314), responsive to audio input from the user, for providing a user voice signal (316); and

a speaker (318), responsive to an incoming voice signal (320), for providing audio output to the user,

wherein the incoming voice signal (320) contains information from a general emergency center corresponding to a base station that is communicating with the user over a wireless interface, and

wherein the mobile terminal (102) further comprises a display screen (322), responsive to a display signal (324) which is initiated by the user and has a signal component indicative of the alpha identifier, the display screen (322) being for providing the user with at least one emergency services display containing emergency call information to assist the user in selecting the customized emergency user input signal (306).

14. The mobile terminal (102) of claim 13, further comprising a keypad (326) for providing the customized emergency user input signal (306) in response to customized emergency input.

15. The mobile terminal (102) of claim 13, wherein the display signal (324) is provided by the data file and call conversion circuit (302).

16. The mobile terminal (102) of claim 15, wherein the display screen (322) displays information about how to get help regarding police, ambulance, and fire.

17. The mobile terminal of claim 15, wherein the call is automatically routed to the general emergency center if the user does not respond to the at least one displayed emergency service within a defined time.

18. The mobile terminal (102) of claim 15, wherein an emergency call code file is stored in a smart card which is removable from the mobile terminal, and wherein the emergency call code file provides information about the emergency call code, the alpha identifier and the service category.

19. The mobile terminal (102) of claim 15, wherein the display screen (322) displaying the at least one emergency services display allows the user to automatically place a call by selecting an emergency service.

20. The mobile terminal (102) of claim 13, wherein the data file and call conversion circuit (302) is a programmable smart card which is removably located in the mobile terminal (102).

21. The mobile terminal (102) of claim 12, further comprising:

a microphone (314), responsive to audio input from the user, for providing a user voice signal (316); and

a speaker (318), responsive to an incoming voice signal (320), for providing audio output to the user,

wherein the incoming voice signal (320) contains information from a specific type of emergency center corresponding to a base station that is communicating with the user over a wireless interface, if the location-independent emergency signal (304) includes an emergency call code, and also includes a service category indicating the type of emergency call.

22. The mobile terminal (102) of claim 21, wherein the specific type of emergency center is selected by the user from a group which at least consists of police, ambulance, and fire department.

23. The mobile terminal (102) of claim 22, further comprising an emergency button (328) for providing the customized emergency user input signal (306) in response to user input, and wherein the specific type of emergency center is an ambulance facility.

24. The mobile terminal (102) of claim 21, wherein the call is automatically routed to a general emergency center if the user does not respond to the at least one emergency service displayed within a defined time.

25. The mobile terminal (102) of claim 21, wherein an unsuccessful call to the general emergency center is automatically routed to a backup specific type of emergency center which corresponds to the base station that is communicating with the user over the wireless interface.

26. The mobile terminal (102) of claim 12, wherein the transmit and receive device (308) is also for providing a distress signal that can be used by emergency personnel to home in on the mobile terminal, when the data file and call conversion circuit (302) provides the location-independent emergency signal (304).

27. A system for allowing a mobile terminal (102) to make different categories of emergency calls, having a plurality of different respective functions, to a radio network subsystem (128) in a wireless telecommunications network, when the user is located in a foreign country or a home country, comprising:

a mobile terminal (102), responsive to a customized emergency signal (402) having a magnitude indicative of selected emergency assistance sought by the user, for providing a location-independent emergency transmission signal (406) that is selected from a plurality of different allowed location-independent emergency transmission signals having different respective functions; and

a radio network subsystem (128), responsive to the location-independent emergency transmission signal (406), for providing to the mobile terminal (102) an emergency response signal (408),

wherein the customized emergency signal (402) is selected by the user from a plurality of allowed emergency user input signals in a manner that is programmably customized to suit the user and in a manner that does not change when the mobile terminal (102) is taken across international borders,

wherein the radio network subsystem (128) further comprises a base station (114) in direct wireless communication with the mobile terminal (102) over a wireless interface, and a radio network controller (112) in communication with the base station (114), and

wherein the customized emergency signal (402) is user-selected when the user causes an alpha identifier to elicit emergency information which will be displayed for the user.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the location-independent emergency transmission signal (406) contains an emergency call code having a magnitude indicative of an emergency.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the location-independent emergency transmission signal (406) also contains the alpha identifier, and wherein the emergency response signal (408) includes emergency information which the user can display and scroll through.

30. The system of claim 27, further comprising an emergency center (410) for communication with the user via the radio network subsystem (128), wherein the radio network subsystem (128) establishes the communication by translating the location-independent emergency transmission signal (406) into a corresponding local telephone call.

31. The system of claim 28, wherein the location-independent emergency transmission signal (406) also contains a service category, and wherein the emergency response signal (408) includes a downlink portion of a call between the user and a specific type of emergency center corresponding to the base station (114) and also corresponding to the service category.

32. A smart card operational within a mobile terminal in a wireless communication network, the smart card comprising an emergency call code file that further comprises an emergency call code, an alpha identifier, and a service category which are location-independent, wherein the emergency call code file is for translating emergency data from a format which was input by a user into a format that is location-independent, wherein the alpha identifier enables the user to obtain from the mobile terminal emergency information and choose the location-independent emergency service category.

33. A mobile phone for providing an emergency call to a mobile phone network, comprising:

means for inputting an emergency call number into the mobile phone; and

means for attaching to the emergency call number a location-independent emergency service category that is identified by each mobile network in the same way,

wherein the mobile phone also comprises;

means for providing an emergency call code alpha tag identifier;

means for a user to obtain from the mobile phone emergency information; and

means for choosing the location-independent emergency service category.