Personal safety mobile notification system

• US 8,013,734 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2008
• Issued: 09/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Liquid Rarity Exchange, LLC (Saigh and Son LLC)
• Original Assignee: Autocart LLC
• Inventors: Saigh, Michael, Arndt, Kevin R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hung T.
• Application Number:
  US12/011,577
• Publication Number:
  US 20080284587A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,317 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.11, 340/539.13, 340/541, 340/573.1, 340/539.1, 340/825.49, 455/404.1, 455/456.1, 455/521
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72424 with manual activation of emergency-service functions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72436 for text messaging, e.g. short messaging services [SMS] or e-mails
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/74 with voice recognition means

Abstract

Described embodiments provide a method of alarm notification. An alert mode of a mobile device is activated based on an emergency situation in an area. The mobile device transmits an indication of the emergency situation to a communication network control system. The communication network control system confirms the indication of the emergency situation to the mobile device and notifies emergency personnel of the indication of the emergency situation. The communication network control system transmits an indication of the emergency situation to one or more additional mobile devices in the area.

Claims

1. A method of alarm notification, the method comprising:

activating an alert mode of a mobile device based on an emergency situation in an area;

transmitting, from the mobile device, an indication of the emergency situation to a communication network control system;

confirming, by the communication network control system, the indication of the emergency situation to the mobile device;

notifying, by the communication network control system, emergency personnel of the indication of the emergency situation;

transmitting, by the communication network control system, an indication of the emergency situation to one or more additional mobile devices in the area, wherein the one or more additional mobile devices are mobile devices within a predetermined physical range of the emergency situation indicated by the first mobile device; and

transmitting, by the communication network control system, an indication of the emergency situation to one or more local alarm devices in the area, the local alarm devices being in the vicinity of the emergency situation.

2. The invention of claim 1, wherein the alert mode comprises:

activating a backup power supply to power the mobile device;

deactivating one or more output devices of the mobile device such that the mobile device appears to be in a powered off state, wherein the one or more output devices include a screen, a ringer, a status light, and a keypad backlight; and

transmitting, from the mobile device, periodic update indications of the emergency situation.

3. The invention of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting, by the communication network control system, periodic update indications of the emergency situation to the one or more additional mobile devices.

4. The invention of claim 1, wherein the alert mode is activated by at least one of:

a predefined voice command, a key press of a predefined duration, a predefined key press pattern, and an inertial movement of a predefined strength, and a secondary transmission.

5. The invention of claim 4, wherein the secondary transmission comprises:

activating an alert mode of a secondary transmission device; and

transmitting, by the secondary transmission device, an activation signal to the mobile device, wherein the activation signal activates the alert mode of the mobile device.

6. The invention of claim 5, wherein the secondary transmission device comprises one of:

jewelry, earrings, watches, finger rings, wireless earphones, key rings, key chains, keys, wallets, belts, belt buckles, shoes, shirts, caps, and backpacks.

7. The invention of claim 1, wherein, when the alert mode is activated, the method further comprises recording of information related to the emergency situation.

8. The invention of claim 7, wherein the recording of information related to the emergency situation comprises recording at least one of audio information, video information, and location information.

9. The invention of claim 7, wherein the recording of information related to the emergency situation further comprises transmitting to, and recording by, the information to communication network control system.

10. The invention of claim 1, wherein, when the alert mode is activated, the method further comprises:

receiving, by the communication network control system, an acknowledgement for reception of the indication of the emergency situation from a corresponding one or more additional mobile devices in the area.

11. The invention of claim 10, wherein, when the alert mode is activated, the method repeatedly transmits the indication of the emergency situation to one or more additional mobile devices in the area until reception of the acknowledgement from the corresponding additional mobile device.

12. The invention of claim 1, wherein the indication of the emergency situation comprises:

location data corresponding to the location of the emergency situation, and

emergency description data corresponding to the type of the emergency situation.

13. An apparatus for alarm notification, the apparatus comprising:

a mobile device having an alert mode that is activated based on an emergency situation in an area, the mobile device is adapted to transmit an indication of the emergency situation to a communication network control system,

wherein the communication network control system;

(i) confirms the indication of the emergency situation to the mobile device, (ii) notifies emergency personnel of the indication of the emergency situation, (iii) transmits an indication of the emergency situation to one or more additional mobile devices in the area, (iv) transmits periodic update indications of the emergency situation to the one or more additional mobile devices, wherein the one or more additional mobile devices are mobile devices within a predetermined physical range of the emergency situation indicated by the first mobile device, and (v) transmits an indication of the emergency situation to one or more local alarm devices in the area, the local alarm devices being in the vicinity of the emergency situation.

14. The invention of claim 13, wherein the mobile device comprises:

a backup power supply to power the mobile device;

wherein, upon entering alert mode, the mobile device is adapted to i) activate the backup power supply, ii) deactivate one or more output devices of the mobile device such that the mobile device appears to be in a powered off state, wherein the one or more output devices include a screen, a ringer, a status light, and a keypad backlight; and

ii) transmit periodic update indications of the emergency situation.

15. The invention of claim 13, wherein the alert mode is activated by at least one of:

a predefined voice command, a key press of a predefined duration, a predefined key press pattern, and an inertial movement of a predefined strength, and a secondary transmission.

16. The invention of claim 15, wherein the secondary transmission comprises:

activating an alert mode of a secondary transmission device; and

transmitting, by the secondary transmission device, an activation signal to the mobile device, wherein the activation signal activates the alert mode of the mobile device;

wherein the secondary transmission device comprises one of;

jewelry, earrings, watches, finger rings, wireless earphones, key rings, key chains, keys, wallets, belts, belt buckles, shoes, shirts, caps, and backpacks.

17. The invention of claim 13, wherein the mobile device further is adapted to record information related to the emergency situation, wherein the recording of information related to the emergency situation comprises recording at least one of audio information, video information, and location information.

18. A system for alarm notification, the system comprising:

a mobile device having an alert mode that is activated based on an emergency situation in an area;

a communication network control system in communication with the mobile device, wherein the mobile device is adapted to transmit an indication of the emergency situation to the communication network control system, and wherein the communication network control system is adapted to, (i) confirm the indication of the emergency situation to the mobile device, (ii) notify emergency personnel of the indication of the emergency situation, (iii) transmits an indication of the emergency situation to one or more additional mobile devices in the area, (iv) transmit periodic update indications of the emergency situation to the one or more additional mobile devices, wherein the one or more additional mobile devices are mobile devices within a predetermined physical range of the emergency situation indicated by the first mobile device, and (v) transmit an indication of the emergency situation to one or more local alarm devices in the area, the local alarm devices being in the vicinity of the emergency situation.

19. The invention of claim 18, wherein the mobile device comprises:

a backup power supply to power the mobile device;

wherein, upon entering alert mode, the mobile device is adapted to i) activate the backup power supply, ii) deactivate one or more output devices of the mobile device such that the mobile device appears to be in a powered off state, wherein the one or more output devices include a screen, a ringer, a status light, and a keypad backlight; and

iii) transmit periodic update indications of the emergency situation.

20. The invention of claim 18, wherein the alert mode is activated by at least one of:

a predefined voice command, a key press of a predefined duration, a predefined key press pattern, and an inertial movement of a predefined strength, and a secondary transmission,

wherein the secondary transmission comprises;

activating an alert mode of a secondary transmission device; and

transmitting, by the secondary transmission device, an activation signal to the mobile device, wherein the activation signal activates the alert mode of the mobile device;

wherein the secondary transmission device comprises one of;

jewelry, earrings, watches, finger rings, wireless earphones, key rings, key chains, keys, wallets, belts, belt buckles, shoes, shirts, caps, and backpacks.

21. The invention of claim 18, wherein the mobile device further is adapted to record information related to the emergency situation, wherein the recording of information related to the emergency situation comprises recording at least one of audio information, video information, and location information.

22. The invention of claim 18, wherein, when the alert mode is activated, the mobile device is adapted to i) record information related to the emergency situation, wherein the information includes at least one of audio information, video information, and location information, and ii) transmit the information to the communication network control system.

23. The invention of claim 22, wherein the information is recorded by communication network control system.

24. The invention of claim 18, wherein, when the alert mode is activated, the communication network control system is adapted to receive acknowledgements for reception of the indication of the emergency situation from a corresponding one or more additional mobile devices in the area.

25. The invention of claim 18, wherein, when the alert mode is activated, the communication network control system repeatedly transmits the indication of the emergency situation to one or more additional mobile devices in the area until reception of the acknowledgement from the corresponding additional mobile device.

26. A method of alarm notification, the method comprising:

activating an alert mode of a mobile device based on an emergency situation in an area;

transmitting, from the mobile device, an indication of the emergency situation to a communication network control system;

confirming, by the communication network control system, the indication of the emergency situation to the mobile device;

notifying, by the communication network control system, emergency personnel of the indication of the emergency situation; and

transmitting, by the communication network control system, an indication of the emergency situation to one or more additional mobile devices in the area,

wherein the alert mode comprises;

activating a backup power supply to power the mobile device;

deactivating one or more output devices of the mobile device such that the mobile device appears to be in a powered off state, wherein the one or more output devices include a screen, a ringer, a status light, and a keypad backlight; and

transmitting, from the mobile device, periodic update indications of the emergency situation.

27. An apparatus for alarm notification, the apparatus comprising:

a mobile device having an alert mode that is activated based on an emergency situation in an area, the mobile device is adapted to transmit an indication of the emergency situation to a communication network control system,

wherein the communication network control system, i) confirms the indication of the emergency situation to the mobile device, ii) notifies emergency personnel of the indication of the emergency situation, and iii) transmits an indication of the emergency situation to one or more additional mobile devices in the area, and

wherein the mobile device comprises a backup power supply to power the mobile device;

wherein, upon entering alert mode, the mobile device is adapted to, i) activate the backup power supply, ii) deactivate one or more output devices of the mobile device such that the mobile device appears to be in a powered off state, wherein the one or more output devices include a screen, a ringer, a status light, and a keypad backlight; and

iii) transmit periodic update indications of the emergency situation.

28. A system for alarm notification, the system comprising:

a mobile device having an alert mode that is activated based on an emergency situation in an area, wherein the mobile device comprises a backup power supply to power the mobile device;

a communication network control system in communication with the mobile device, wherein the mobile device is adapted to transmit an indication of the emergency situation to the communication network control system, and wherein the communication network control system is adapted to, i) confirm the indication of the emergency situation to the mobile device, ii) notify emergency personnel of the indication of the emergency situation, and iii) transmit an indication of the emergency situation to one or more additional mobile devices in the area,

wherein, upon entering alert mode, the mobile device is adapted to, i) activate the backup power supply, ii) deactivate one or more output devices of the mobile device such that the mobile device appears to be in a powered off state, wherein the one or more output devices include a screen, a ringer, a status light, and a keypad backlight; and

iii) transmit periodic update indications of the emergency situation.