Methods computer program products and components for adjusting a mode of communication in a network based on emergency state information

• US 7,346,335 B2
• Filed: 10/20/2006
• Issued: 03/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Chanyu Holdings LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: At&T Delaware Intellectual Property, Inc. (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Aaron, Jeffrey A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eng; George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Afshar; Kamran
• Application Number:
  US11/584,293
• Publication Number:
  US 20070173225A1
• Time in Patent Office: 515 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.1, 455/404.2, 455/423, 455/411, 455/458, 455/452.2, 455/453, 455/502, 455/552.1, 348/14.01, 348/14, 379 37- 51
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72418 for supporting emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/04 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5116 for emergency applications

Abstract

A method for providing communications services in a network can include adjusting a mode of communication for devices operating in the network based on emergency state information. Related user terminals, computer program products, and components are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method for providing mobile communications services in a wireless communications network comprising:

adjusting a mode of communication for devices operating in the network based on emergency state information, wherein the emergency state information indicates availability of the network under emergency conditions associated with the emergency state information, wherein the mode of communication comprises a normal text mode, a normal audio mode, a normal digital photograph mode, a video mode when the network is not subject to the emergency state information, where in all the normal modes are supported by the network; and

wherein the mode of communication comprises a limited text mode, a limited audio mode, a limited digital photograph mode, a limited video mode when the network is subject to the emergency state information, wherein all the limited modes are supported by the network.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein the mode of communication further comprises one of a plurality of different codecs to be used for audio and/or video, one of a plurality of different compression modes to be used for audio and/or video, a Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) communication mode, a User Datagram Protocol (UDP) communication mode, a shortcut based communication mode, a hotkey based communication mode, an abbreviation based communication mode, and/or a communications mode having a predetermined number of messages and/or amount of time allocated for use.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein adjusting further comprises:

transmitting emergency mode messages to devices in the network based on the emergency state information to indicating to the devices to activate emergency communication mode.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein the emergency state information is associated with an amount of permissible bandwidth for the devices.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein emergency state information comprises information authenticated from a plurality of information sources.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein emergency state information further comprises different types of authenticated information accumulated from separate sources.

9. A computer readable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein for providing mobile communications services in a wireless communications network, causing the wireless communication network to perform the method of claim 1.

10. A computer program product according to claim 9 wherein the emergency communications mode further comprises a Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) communication mode to be used in limited audio and/or video mode, a User Datagram Protocol (UDP) communication mode to be used in limited audio and/or video mode, and/or a communications mode having a predetermined number of messages and/or amount of time allocated for use.

11. A computer program product according to claim 9 wherein the computer readable program code configured to adjust further comprises:

computer readable program code configured to transmit emergency mode messages to devices in the network based on the emergency state information to indicating to the devices to activate emergency communication mode.

12. A computer program product according to claim 9 wherein the emergency state information is associated with an amount of permissible bandwidth for the devices.

13. A computer program product according to claim 9 wherein emergency state information comprises information authenticated from a plurality of information sources.

14. A computer program product according to claim 13 wherein emergency state information further comprises different types of authenticated information accumulated from separate sources.

7. A component for use in routing and/or switching and/or transporting communications in a wireless communications network, comprising a processor circuit configured to activate emergency communications mode responsive to an emergency message received from the network based on emergency state information, wherein the emergency state information indicates availability of the network under emergency conditions associated with the emergency state information, wherein the mode of communication comprises a normal text mode, a normal audio mode, a normal digital photograph mode, a video mode when the network is not subject to the emergency state information, where in all the normal modes are supported by the network;

and

wherein the mode of communication comprises a limited text mode, a limited audio mode, a limited digital photograph mode, a limited video mode when the network is subject to the emergency state information, wherein all the limited modes are supported by the network.

8. A component according to claim 7 wherein the emergency communications mode further comprises a Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) communication mode to be used in limited audio and/or video mode, a User Datagram Protocol (UDP) communication mode to be used in limited audio and/or video mode, and/or a communications mode having a predetermined number of messages and/or amount of time allocated for use.