Mobile data device and method of locating mobile data service

• US 7,317,705 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2004
• Issued: 01/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Business Global LLC (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Hanson, Joel
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HANH N
• Application Number:
  US11/016,159
• Publication Number:
  US 20050153681A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,117 Days
• Field of Search: 379/33, 379/38, 379/40, 379/45, 379/50, 455/404.1, 455/404.2, 455/407, 455/408, 455/435.1, 455/456.1, 455/458, 370/328, 370/316
• US Class Current: 370/329
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/17 Emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• 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

Abstract

A method including providing a PDA having a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, a GPS receiver coupled to the processor and a RF transponder capable of communicating using Internet Protocol; storing user identification information in the memory; storing medical history information in the memory; determining location using the GPS receiver; transmitting the determined location to a service using the RF transponder; and in response to a request of emergency service by a user of the PDA, contacting the service and transmitting an emergency request to the service using the RF transponder. A PDA comprising a processor; a memory coupled to the processor; a GPS receiver coupled to the processor; and a wireless transponder capable of communicating using Internet Protocol, the PDA being configured to store user identification information in the memory, store medical history information in the memory, determine location using the GPS receiver, transmit the determined location to a service using the wireless transponder, and, in response to a request of emergency service by a user of the PDA, contact the service and transmit an emergency request to the service using the wireless transponder.

Claims

1. A method for communicating with a locator service, the method comprising:

determining, by a mobile device, location of a user of a mobile device including a wireless transponder;

transmitting the determined location to the locator service via the wireless transponder;

transmitting a request for assistance to the locator service via the wireless transponder;

determining a nearest one of a plurality of assistance providers based on the determined location and compatibility of communications protocol supported by the wireless transponder and corresponding communication devices of the assistance providers; and

establishing communication with the corresponding communication device of the nearest assistance provider using the compatible communications protocol.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

receiving vital signs of the user; and

transmitting the vital signs via the wireless transponder.

3. A method in accordance with claim 2, wherein the vital signs are transmitted continually.

4. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the location is updated and transmitted continually to the locator service.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the mobile device includes a microphone and a speaker, and is configured for Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) using the microphone, the speaker, and the wireless transponder.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the mobile device is a Personal Digital Assistant (PDA).

7. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

establishing a packetized voice session in response to the request.

8. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

downloading a database of the assistance providers and corresponding communications protocols, indexed by location of the assistance providers.

9. A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

determining the position of the mobile device using information stored at the service; and

performing a database lookup to determine the location of the assistance provider nearest the mobile device.

10. A method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the nearest assistance provider is determined based on a threshold, the method further comprising:

if the threshold is not satisfied, retrieving the nearest assistance provider from a remote database via the wireless transponder.

11. A mobile device for communicating with a locator service, the device comprising:

a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver configured to determine location of a user of the mobile device; and

a wireless transponder capable of communicating using data communications protocol to transmit the determined location to the locator service in response to a request for assistance by the user,

wherein the nearest one of a plurality of assistance providers is determined based on the determined location and compatibility of communications protocol supported by the wireless transponder and corresponding communication devices of the assistance providers, and communication is established with the nearest assistance provider using the compatible communications protocol.

12. A mobile device in accordance with claim 11, wherein the memory stores medical information of the user, the medical information being transmitted by the wireless transponder in response to the user requesting assistance.

13. A mobile device in accordance with claim 12, wherein the medical information are continually updated and transmitted in response to the user requesting assistance.

14. A mobile device in accordance with claim 11, wherein the wireless transponder continually updates and transmits the location to the locator service.

15. A mobile device in accordance with claim 11, further comprising:

a microphone; and

a speaker wherein the microphone and the speaker are used to conduct a packetized voice session.

16. A mobile device in accordance with claim 11, further comprising:

a processor configured to establish a packetized voice session in response to the request.

17. A mobile device in accordance with claim 11, further comprising:

a memory configured to store data of the assistance providers and the communications protocols.

18. A method of locating a user of a mobile data device, the method comprising:

registering the mobile data device with a locator service, wherein the mobile data device is configured to determine location of the user, and the mobile data device wirelessly transmits the determined location to the locator service; and

configuring a messaging device associated with the user to communicate with the locator service and to pass the determined location of the mobile data device received from the locator service to a caller who places a call to the messaging device,

wherein an inquiry for the location of the user is generated in response to an incomplete attempt to call the user.

19. A method in accordance with claim 18, wherein the messaging device is capable of interfacing a data network.

20. A method in accordance with claim 18, wherein the call is switched over a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).

21. A method in accordance with claim 18, wherein the locator service supports a find me/follow me service for the mobile data device.

22. A method in accordance with claim 18, wherein the locator service supports a paging service for the mobile data device.

23. A method for communicating with a locator service, the method comprising:

registering a mobile device with the locator service, wherein the mobile device includes a wireless transponder for transmitting the location of the mobile device to the locator service;

establishing an account associated with the mobile device, wherein the account includes at least one policy for revealing the location of the mobile device; and

configuring a messaging device to communicate with the locator service, wherein upon a caller placing a call to the messaging device, the messaging device is configured to selectively receive the location from the locator service based on the at least one policy and to convey the location to the caller, and

wherein an inquiry for the location of the user is generated in response to an incomplete attempt to call the user.