User terminals and components configured to adjust a communication mode thereof based on emergency state information

• US 7,623,841 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2008
• Issued: 11/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chanyu Holdings LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Aaron, Jeffrey A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Afshar; Kamran
• Application Number:
  US12/050,747
• Publication Number:
  US 20090004998A1
• Time in Patent Office: 616 Days
• Field of Search: 4554041-4042, 455/423, 455/411, 455/458, 455/452.2, 455/453, 455/502, 455/566, 455/552.1, 3481401- 1407, 348/554, 348/568, 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 mobile user terminal for use in a broadband wireless communications network comprising:

a transceiver configured to transmit/receive communications to the broadband wireless communications network according to an emergency communications mode; and

a processor circuit coupled to the transceiver circuit configured to activate the emergency communications mode for communications by the mobile user terminal responsive to an emergency message received from the broadband wireless communications network based on emergency state information used by a mode controller circuit to determine which emergency communications mode is to be activated by the mobile user terminal, wherein the emergency communications mode is selected by the mode controller circuit from a listing of emergency modes consisting of a limited audio mode, a text mode, a limited text mode, and a limited video mode.

2. A user terminal according to claim 1 wherein the emergency communications mode further comprises a shortcut based communication mode to be used in limited text mode, a hotkey based communication mode to be used in limited text mode, an abbreviation based communication mode to be used in limited text mode, and/or a communications mode having a predetermined number of messages and/or amount of time allocated for use.