Remotely activatable locator with voice/data relay

• US 8,005,456 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2010
• Issued: 08/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Skyhook Holding, Inc. (Liberty Broadband Corp.)
• Original Assignee: JJCK, LLC (Liberty Broadband Corp.)
• Inventors: Buehler, Christopher D., Ward, Matthew L., Nalley, James Elwood, Woodall, Bruce A.
• Primary Examiner(s): SHEDRICK, CHARLES TERRELL
• Application Number:
  US12/904,904
• Publication Number:
  US 20110086609A1
• Time in Patent Office: 313 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404, 455/456.1, 455/404.2
• US Class Current: 455/404.2
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/005 Alarm destination chosen according to a hierarchy of available destinations, e.g. if hospital does not answer send to police station
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0428 wherein the data content is protected, e.g. by encrypting or encapsulating the payload
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/007 with remote control systems remote control in general G08C
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking 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 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/15 Setup of multiple wireless link connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections

Abstract

A method for use in locating a mobile locator device in a wireless communications network (WCN) includes establishing a three-way call involving the locator device, a caretaker, and an emergency services answering point upon initiation of an emergency services call from the locator device, and providing a location record for the locator device from a database to the answering point while conducting the three-way call. Therefore, in cases of an emergency location where a locator is attached to a disabled subject or object, the locator device allows for extended emergency services calling where a third party such as a care giver, guardian, or custodial organization may be involved in real-time with the automatically located call to provide verbal or textual information to responders.

Claims

1. A method for use in locating a mobile locator device in a wireless communications network (WCN), wherein the locator device comprises first and second wireless transceiver modules configured for communication with the WCN, a first subscriber information module (SIM), and a control processor, wherein the locator device is configured to establish a control communications path between the locator device and a caretaker associated with the locator device, and to establish an emergency call path between the locator device and an emergency services answering point, comprising:

upon initiation of an emergency services call from the locator device, establishing a three-way call involving the locator device, the caretaker associated with the locator device, and the emergency services answering point, wherein the three-way call is conducted via the locator device using the first and second wireless transceiver modules; and

providing a location record for the locator device from a database to the emergency services answering point while conducting the three-way call, wherein the locator device and WCN are configured to establish a control communications path between the locator device and the caretaker, and an emergency call path between the locator device and the answering point, wherein the locator device initiates and maintains two radio connections including a first radio connection for the control path and a second radio connection for the emergency path.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising employing a wireless location system (WLS) to locate the locator device, wherein the location record is provided by the WLS to the WCN for storage in the database.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising routing the emergency services call with identifying information to the answering point.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the emergency services call is initiated by the locator device based on a triggering event.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the emergency services call is initiated from the caretaker associated with the locator device.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the locator device and WCN are configured to establish a control communications path between the locator device and the caretaker, and an emergency call path between the locator device and the answering point, wherein the locator device initiates and maintains two radio connections including a first radio connection for the control path and a second radio connection for the emergency path.

7. A method as recited in claim 6, wherein a central office or core network of the WCN performs dialed digit analysis and call interconnection for the control communications path and the emergency call path, and wherein interconnection between the control and emergency paths is accomplished within the locator device.

8. A method as recited in claim 7, wherein the control communications path and the emergency call path are activated by the caretaker by calling a phone number associated with the locator device.

9. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the locator device is configured for secure remote activation using a Short Message Service (SMS) of the WCN.

10. A method as recited in claim 9, wherein the locator device is further configured to receive via the SMS an activation message payload from a source, and to respond to messages from the source only if the locator device determines that the source is a trusted source.

11. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the locator device is configured for secure remote activation using a challenge-response method based on exchange of in-band signals with the caretaker.

12. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the locator device is configured to collect satellite broadcast signals from a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) with the aid of information from an assistance server, and wherein, once sufficient satellite signals have been collected to compute a location, the WCN delivers a location record to the database via a data link.

13. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the control processor is configured for performing signal modification functions including volume control, echo cancellation, interception of DTMF control tones, and insertion of pre-recorded messaging into the control communications path or the emergency call path.

14. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the control processor is further configured to perform memory management functions and to run local applications including geofencing, sensor monitoring, power rationing, and data logging.

15. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the locator device comprises mobile-based or mobile-assisted location capabilities, and multiple antennae, including an antenna for reception of broadcast signals from a satellite constellation or terrestrial broadcast network.

16. A method as recited in claim 13, wherein the SIM is registered and operatively coupled to the first wireless transceiver module, wherein maintenance and remote activation of the locator device are performed via the first wireless transceiver module;

and wherein the second wireless transceiver module is SIM-less and unregistered, and is useful to place an emergency services call.

17. A locator device, comprising:

first and second wireless transceiver modules configured for communication with a wireless communications network (WCN);

a first subscriber information module (SIM); and

a control processor operatively coupled to the first and second wireless transceiver modules and the first SIM;

wherein the SIM is registered and operatively coupled to the first wireless transceiver module, wherein the locator device is configured to permit maintenance and remote activation of the locator device to be performed via the first wireless transceiver module; and

wherein the second wireless transceiver module is SIM-less and unregistered, and configured to place an emergency services call;

wherein the locator device is configured to operate in a wireless communications network (WCN) to establish a control communications path between the locator device and a caretaker, and an emergency call path between the locator device and an answering point; and

wherein the control processor is configured for performing signal modification functions including volume control, echo cancellation, interception of DTMF control tones, and insertion of pre-recorded messaging into the control communications path or the emergency call path.

18. A locator device as recited in claim 17, further comprising means for receiving broadcast signals from a satellite constellation.

19. A locator device as recited in claim 17, further comprising means for receiving broadcast signals from a terrestrial broadcast network.