System and method for initiating communication

• US 8,170,525 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2004
• Issued: 05/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Martin, Dannie E.
• Primary Examiner(s): MILLER, BRANDON J
• Application Number:
  US10/985,756
• Publication Number:
  US 20050096067A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,729 Days
• Field of Search: 4554041-4042, 455/416, 4554561-4566, 455/422.1, 455/550.1, 455/564, 455/569.1, 455517-519, 455418-420, 455/414.1
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12
• 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 76/50 for emergency connections

Abstract

A system and method for initiating communications with a called party using a wireless device. The wireless device comprises an input element and a microprocessor. In one embodiment, when a specific input is entered using the input element, the wireless device performs the following tasks: disabling one or more components of the wireless device; establishing a wireless communication session with the called party; communicating with a location system to generate location information of the location of the wireless device; and providing the location information to the called party. In other embodiments, the wire device performs additional tasks, including: capturing content during the wireless communication; communicating with the location system to generate subsequent location information; and providing one or more of the subsequent location information and the content to the called party. The called party may then use the location information and the content to perform one or more actions, including providing help to the user of the wireless device.

Claims

1. A wireless device for initiating communication with a called party, the wireless device comprising:

a microprocessor;

an input element in communication with the microprocessor;

a display in communication with the microprocessor;

a ringer;

a signal detector in communication with the microprocessor;

a memory storing a relationship between an input and the called party, wherein the input comprises pressing a first key while holding down a second key;

a sensing device in communication with the microprocessor; and

a location system in communication with the microprocessor,

wherein when the input is received by the input element the microprocessor deactivates normal operation of the wireless device to disable the display and the ringer and activates the signal detector;

wherein when the signal detector senses a stimulus, the microprocessor establishes a wireless communication session with the called party, wherein the stimulus comprises a spoken sound;

wherein when the wireless communication session is established, the location system generates location information of a location of the wireless device;

wherein the microprocessor transmits the location information to the called party;

wherein the memory comprises a user profile, the user profile transmitted to the called party during the wireless communication session;

wherein the location system generates subsequent location information, and wherein the subsequent location information is provided to the called party during the wireless communication session; and

wherein the sensing device captures surrounding sound during the wireless communication session, the sound transmitted to the called party during the wireless communication session.

2. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the sensing device comprises a microphone.

3. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the signal detector and the sensing device are one integrated component.

4. The wireless device of claim 1, wherein the called party has exclusive control over the wireless communication session.