Location capable mobile handset

• US 6,973,298 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2003
• Issued: 12/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kyocera Wireless Corporation (Kyocera Corporation)
• Inventors: Chang, Henry, Dunn, Douglas L.
• Primary Examiner(s): TIEU, BENNY QUOC
• Application Number:
  US10/402,608
• Publication Number:
  US 20040192346A1
• Time in Patent Office: 985 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.1, 455/404.2, 455/456.1, 455/456.6, 455/521
• US Class Current: 455/404.2
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/17 Emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/006 for emergency situations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• 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 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections

Abstract

Briefly, the location capable mobile handset allows the user to provide a call recipient with the location of an unsuccessful attempted emergency call. In one specific example, the call may be an E911 call to a PSAP dispatcher, however, it will be appreciated that the call may be to request assistance from a family member, or friend. Additionally, the call may be to a towing service. The call could be any call that a mobile handset user wants to send location information to the party that has been called. Returning to the E911 call example, the location information reported to dispatcher can include the location of initial E911 call, current location during a successful E911 call, or ground track information from the initial location to the current location. When an E911 call is unsuccessfully attempted the mobile handset stores the location of the mobile handset at that time. This information can later be transmitted when the mobile handset is in a coverage area. Additionally, the mobile handset can auto-dial 911 upon entering a service area after an unsuccessful E911 attempt. Alternately the user can be prompted to initiate an E911 call when the mobile handset enters a service area.

Claims

1. A method of transmitting a geographical position of a wireless communication device comprising:

detecting an unsuccessful attempt of a first mobile call;

receiving first location information indicative of a geographic location proximate the first mobile call unsuccessful attempt;

storing the first location information;

successfully establishing (318) a second mobile call; and

transmitting the first location information during the second mobile call.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first mobile call is a call to a Public Safety Answering Point.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first mobile call is a wireless 911 call.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the first mobile call is a call to a road side assistance service.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the location information indicative of a geographic location is pseudo-range information transmitted by a global positioning system satellite.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the location information indicative of a geographic location is latitude and longitude information.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the location information indicative of a geographic location is an estimate of range and direction from a base station.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the storing step includes writing to a memory.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the memory is random access memory.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the second mobile call is a call to a Public Safety Answering Point.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the second mobile call is a wireless 911 call.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the second mobile call is a call to a road side assistance service.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a plurality of other location information data indicative of location along a path of travel;

storing the plurality of other location information data; and

displaying the plurality of location data to determine the path of travel.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the storing a plurality of other location information indicative of location along the path of travel is stored upon leaving a coverage area.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the displaying the plurality of location data to determine the path of travel step occurs on the mobile device.

16. The method of claim 13 further comprising transmitting the plurality of other location information data indicative of location along the path of travel during the second mobile call.

17. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

starting a timer after detecting the unsuccessful attempt of a first mobile call;

storing timer information generated by the timer; and

displaying the timer information generated by the timer.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising transmitting the timer information during the second mobile call.

19. A mobile handset comprising:

a transceiver coupled to an antenna for transmitting and receiving RF signals;

a location determining device;

a memory; and

a user interface, the mobile handset being characterized by;

prior location transmission circuitry coupled to the transceiver, to the location determining device, to the memory and to the user interface, the prior transmission circuitry structured and configured to;

detect an unsuccessful attempt of a first mobile call;

receive first location information indicative of a geographic location proximate the first mobile call unsuccessful attempt;

store the first location information;

successfully establish a second mobile call; and

transmit the first location information during the second mobile.

20. The device of claim 19 wherein the first mobile call is a call to a Public Safety Answering Point.

21. The device of claim 19 wherein the first mobile call is a wireless 911 call.

22. The device of claim 19 wherein the first mobile call is a call to a road side assistance service.

23. The device of claim 19 wherein the location determining device is a global positioning system receiver.

24. The device of claim 23 wherein the global positioning system receiver determines pseudo-ranges to be stored in the memory.

25. The device of claim 23 wherein the global positioning system receiver determines latitude and longitude based on pseudo-ranges received.

26. The device of claim 19 wherein the memory is random access memory.