System and method for call processing in a mobile device with position location capability

• US 7,333,818 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2005
• Issued: 02/19/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Inventors: Dunn, Doug
• Primary Examiner(s): Perez-Gutierrez; Rafael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel; Nimesh
• Application Number:
  US11/212,831
• Publication Number:
  US 20070049287A1
• Time in Patent Office: 908 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.1, 455/457, 455/404.1, 455/414.1, 455/414.2, 455/414.3, 455/563, 379/374.01
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72418 for supporting emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• 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

An exemplary wireless device includes a communication radio and a position location receiver. When the wireless device has established a call with the communication radio, and a request for position location is received, the communication radio is deactivated while the position location information is collected using the position location receiver. A local warning message is communicated to the user of the mobile device while the communication radio is disabled. The warning message may be a text display, a graphical display, an audio message, or an input-key challenge. By generating and presenting the local warning message, the user is made aware that the lack of normal call activity is expected and temporary. After the position location information is collected, the call is resumed with the communication radio, and the position location information is transmitted. Since the mobile device is now acting with normal call activity, the local warning is removed.

Claims

1. A method for call processing operating on a mobile device, comprising:

placing an emergency call;

opening a communication channel to an emergency call center;

receiving a request for position location information;

suspending a voice part of the communication channel;

retrieving a warning from a memory of the mobile device;

activating the warning while the voice part of the communication channel is suspended;

collecting position location data while the voice part of the communication channel is suspended;

transmitting position location information using a data part of the communication channel;

resuming the voice part of the communication channel; and

deactivating the warning.

2. The method for call processing according to claim 1, wherein the communication channel comprises a control, a data, or a voice channel.

3. The method for call processing according to claim 1, wherein the communication channel complies with a OSM, CDMA, W-CDMA, CDMA2000, or UMTS communication standard.

4. The method for call processing according to claim 1, wherein the warning is a textual display on a screen that presents information that an emergency call is progressing normally.

5. The method for call processing according to claim 1, wherein the warning is an aural message played through a speaker that presents information that an emergency call is progressing normally.

6. The method for call processing according to claim 5, wherein the aural message comprises synthesized speech.

7. The method for call processing according to claim 1, wherein the warning comprises:

a key challenge that requires additional operator steps to interrupt the emergency call; and

a textual display on a screen that presents information that the additional steps are required to interrupt the emergency call.

8. The method for call processing according to claim 1, wherein the position location data is GPS data collected from a plurality of satellites.

9. The method for call processing according to claim 1, wherein the warning is deactivated responsive to reopening the voice part of the communication channel.

10. The method for call processing according to claim 1, wherein the warning is deactivated responsive to transmitting the position location information.

11. A mobile wireless device, comprising:

a radio frequency (RF) receive chain;

a communication radio and a GPS receiver sharing the RF receive chain;

switch circuitry for allowing the communication radio to use the RF receive chain in a first state or the GPS receiver to use the RF receive chain in a second state;

detection circuitry acting responsive to the GPS receiver using the RF receive chain;

a memory holding a predetermined warning message, the memory residing in the mobile wireless device; and

an output device operably coupled to the detection circuitry, the output device configured to present the predetermined warning message by retrieving it from the memory when the GPS receiver is using the RF receive chain, the output device further configured to remove the predetermined warning message when the communication radio is using the RF receive chain, the RF receive chain further configured to remain open when the switch is in the first or the second state.

12. The mobile wireless device according to claim 11, wherein the communication radio complies with a GSM, CDMA, W-CDMA, CDMA2000, or UMTS communication standard.

13. The mobile wireless device according to claim 11, wherein the detection circuitry further detects that a call has been established with the communication radio.

14. The mobile wireless device according to claim 11, wherein the detection circuitry further detects that an emergency call has been established with the communication radio.

15. The mobile wireless device according to claim 11, wherein the output device is a display screen, and the predetermined warning message is a visual display that presents information that a call is progressing normally.

16. The mobile wireless device according to claim 11, wherein the output device is a speaker, and the predetermined warning message is an aural message that presents information that a call is progressing normally.

17. A method for call processing, comprising:

establishing a call at a local device;

opening a communication channel from the local device;

receiving a request for position location information;

suspending a voice part of the communication channel;

activating a local warning that resides on the local device while the voice part of the communication channel is suspended, the local warning including a key challenge that requires additional operator steps to interrupt the call and a textual display on a screen that presents information that the additional steps are required to interrupt the call;

collecting position location data while the voice part of the communication channel is suspended;

transmitting position location information using a data part of the communication channel;

resuming the voice part of the communication channel; and

deactivating the local warning upon resuming the voice part of the communication channel.

18. The method for call processing according to claim 17, wherein the communication channel comprises a control, a data, or a voice channel.

19. The method for call processing according to claim 17, wherein the communication channel complies with a GSM, ODMA, W-CDMA, CDMA2000, or UMTS communication standard.

20. The method for call processing according to claim 17, wherein the request is generated at the local device.

21. The method for call processing according to claim 17, wherein the request is received on the communication channel.

22. The method for call processing according to claim 17, wherein the call is a voice call.

23. The method for call processing according to claim 17, wherein the call is a data call.

24. The method for call processing according to claim 17, further comprising the step of receiving the local warning from a remote server.