Electronic medic alert

• US 8,169,315 B2
• Filed: 04/14/2010
• Issued: 05/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cingular Wireless II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Smith, Keith Shane, Mikan, Jeffrey Clinton
• Primary Examiner(s): Previl, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US12/759,848
• Publication Number:
  US 20100198933A1
• Time in Patent Office: 748 Days
• Field of Search: 340/525, 340/531, 340/286.01, 340/825.36, 340/990, 340/524, 340/506, 340988-989, 340/287, 340/293, 340/294, 340/3.1
• US Class Current: 340/525
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/20 for the management or administration of healthcare resources or facilities, e.g. managing hospital staff or surgery rooms
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems

Abstract

A device and method for sending medic alert information electronically. The device may have a memory component and a processing component. The memory component may store medic alert information. The processing component may generate an electronic message containing the medic alert information and send the electronic message via a communications network. The device may also have an input component for receiving a user request to initiate a connection with an emergency contact, such as a 911 dispatcher. The electronic message may be automatically generated and sent in response to the user request.

Claims

1. A method for distributing medical information, the method comprising:

receiving a signal comprising a request to electronically distribute medical information associated with a sender of the signal, the signal comprising an access code associated with the medical information;

determining a geographic location of the sender of the signal;

retrieving, responsive to receiving the signal, a medical information file, wherein either a prefix or a suffix of the access code identifies the medical information file;

determining, based upon the geographic location, a dispatcher associated with the geographic location to receive the medical information file; and

transmitting the medical information file to the dispatcher.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises determining an electronic address for the dispatcher.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the medical information file is transmitted via an electronic message.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the sender of the signal is a mobile communications device associated with a subscriber.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the method further comprises establishing a communication session between the subscriber and the dispatcher.

6. A computer-readable memory with processor-executable instructions stored thereon for performing a method of distributing medical information, the method comprising:

receiving a signal comprising a request to electronically distribute medical information associated with a sender of the signal, the signal comprising an access code associated with the medical information;

determining a geographic location of the sender of the signal;

retrieving, responsive to receiving the signal, a medical information file, wherein either a prefix or a suffix of the access code identifies the medical information file;

determining, based upon the geographic location, a dispatcher associated with the geographic location to receive the medical information file; and

transmitting the medical information file to the dispatcher.

7. The computer-readable memory of claim 6, wherein the method further comprises determining an electronic address for the dispatcher.

8. The computer-readable memory of claim 6, wherein the medical information file is transmitted via an electronic message.

9. The computer-readable memory of claim 6, wherein the sender of the signal is a mobile communications device associated with a subscriber.

10. The computer-readable memory of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises establishing a communication session between the subscriber and the dispatcher.

11. A device for electronic distribution of medical information, the device comprising:

a memory configured to store a plurality of medical information files, each of the plurality of medical information files configured to be accessible via a respective predetermined access code;

a communications component configured to receive a signal comprising at least one of the respective predetermined access codes;

a processor configured to, responsive to receipt of the at least one of the respective predetermined access codes;

retrieve from the memory a respective one of the plurality of medical information files accessible via the received predetermined access code, wherein either a prefix or a suffix of the predetermined access code identifies the respective one of the plurality of medical information files;

generate an electronic message comprising the respective one of the plurality of medical information files; and

transmit the respective one of the plurality of medical information files, via the communications component, to a dispatcher.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to:

determine a geographic location of a sender of the signal; and

determine, based upon the geographic location, the dispatcher.

13. The device of claim 12, wherein the dispatcher comprises an emergency services dispatcher associated with the geographic location.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to establish, via the communications component, a communication session between a sender of the signal and the dispatcher.