Methods and apparatus for communication

• US 7,068,994 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2003
• Issued: 06/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ciliko Wireless Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Ciliko Wireless Incorporated
• Inventors: Van Camp, R. Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): Eng, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bhattacharya, Sam
• Application Number:
  US10/637,987
• Publication Number:
  US 20050032504A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,054 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.2, 455/414.2, 455/433, 455/456.1, 455/456.2, 455/456.3, 455/456.5, 455/456.6, 455/457
• US Class Current: 455/404.2
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/001 Alarm cancelling procedures or alarm forwarding decisions, e.g. based on absence of alarm confirmation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6775 by providing access to preprogrammed keys
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72418 for supporting emergency services
• 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 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

A communication system according to various aspects of the present invention comprises one or more remote units. The communication system may also include at least one communication center. The remote units may also be configured to communicate with each other. The communication center and/or the remote unit may be configured to determine the location of another remote unit.

Claims

1. A mobile telephony communication system for use by multiple users, the system comprising:

a first mobile telephony unit configured to be carried by a person and configured to transmit and receive wireless telephony communications; and

a second mobile telephony unit configured to be carried by at least one of a person and a pet and configured to transmit first location information toward the first mobile telephony unit;

wherein the first unit is further configured to receive second location information related to the first location information from the second unit and to display, to a user of the first mobile telephony unit, indicia of the second location information;

wherein at least one of the first and second mobile telephony units is configured such that the second unit is unable to automatically track a location of the first unit upon request; and

wherein the second unit is configured to initiate outgoing telecommunications with a limited set of destinations that includes a telephone number stored in the second unit by the first unit.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the second unit is unable to request to track a location of the first unit.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the limited set of destinations includes the first unit and at least one emergency destination.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the at least one emergency destination includes a 911 emergency number.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the second unit is configured to be worn by a pet and is configured to receive incoming telephone calls and provide audio associated with the incoming calls but is unable to initiate outgoing telephone calls.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the second unit is configured to provide information regarding a user associated with the second unit in response to a user identity request received locally by the second unit.