Method and apparatus for storing a message for playback during a user-initiated emergency telephone call from a wireless device

• US 8,374,574 B1
• Filed: 07/06/2000
• Issued: 02/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/06/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Alberth, William P. Jr., Kotzin, Michael D., Bero, Rob
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Tuan A
• Application Number:
  US09/610,768
• Time in Patent Office: 4,604 Days
• Field of Search: 379/32.05, 379/33, 379/37, 379/38, 379/39, 379 40- 42, 379 80- 82, 379/88.04, 379/88.22, 379/88.23, 455/437, 455/439, 455/404, 455/407, 455/412, 4554041- 2, 4554121- 2, 4554141- 4
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72424 with manual activation of emergency-service functions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72433 for voice messaging, e.g. dictaphones for answering incoming calls H04M1/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver

Abstract

A wireless device such as a cellular phone is disclosed. The cellular phone is adapted to store a voice message picked-up by a microphone and store voice data representing the voice message in a memory. The cellular phone is further adapted to initiate a call such as an emergency 911 call in response to a turbo-dial or speed-dial key stroke initiated by the user. The cellular phone transmits the stored voice message, along with position data obtained by an onboard geolocation receiver, when the call is established.

Claims

1. A method for sending a message stored in memory associated with the wireless device, comprising:

a) initiating a call from the wireless device;

b) initiating a timer when the call is established; and

c) sending the stored message from the wireless device during the call, when a predetermined time has elapsed on the timer from when the call was established.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

d) sending position data from the wireless device when the call is established.

3. The method of claim 1, further including terminating sending the stored message when a key of the wireless device is activated.

4. A method of sending a message stored in memory associated with a wireless device, the wireless device including a microphone, the method comprising the steps of:

a) initiating a call from the wireless device;

b) monitoring the microphone for audio signals; and

c) sending the stored message from the wireless device after a call is established if audio signals have not been detected being picked-up by the microphone of the wireless device; and

d) never sending the stored message from the wireless device in connection with the call initiated from the wireless device, if audio signals have been detected being picked-up by the microphone of the wireless device.

5. A method of sending a message stored in memory associated with a wireless device, the wireless device including a microphone, the method comprising the steps of:

a) initiating a call from the wireless device;

b) monitoring the microphone for audio signals;

c) sending the stored message from the wireless device after a call is established; and

d) adding audio signals picked-up by the microphone of the wireless device into the stored message and sending the resultant combined signal.

6. The method of claim 5, and further including the step of storing an audio message picked-up from a microphone of the wireless device in a memory associated with the wireless device after initiating the call.

7. The method of claim 5, further including the step of storing a data message in a memory associated with the wireless device.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the data message is part of a radio repertoire.

9. A method of sending a message stored in memory associated with a wireless device, the wireless device including a microphone, the method comprising the steps of:

a) initiating a call from the wireless device to a base;

b) sending the stored message from the wireless device to the base after a call is established;

c) detecting a playback command received from the base, in response to the operator of the base depressing a keypad key; and

d) resending the stored message from the wireless device responsive to detecting the command received from the base.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein step a) comprises detecting actuation of a speed-dial key and initiating the call from the wireless device in response to detecting actuation of the speed-dial key.

11. A method of sending a message stored in memory associated with a wireless device, the wireless device including a microphone, the method comprising the steps of:

a) initiating a call from the wireless device;

b) monitoring the microphone for audio signals;

c) sending the stored message from the wireless device after a call is established; and

d) terminating sending the stored message without resuming during the call initiated from the wireless device, when an audio signal is picked-up by a microphone of the wireless device.

12. A method for sending a message from a wireless device, including a microphone, the method comprising the steps of:

a) initiating a call from the wireless device;

b) storing audio detected by the microphone upon initiating the call in a memory associated with the wireless device; and

c) upon establishing the call, sending the audio that was stored upon initiating the call.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

d) sending position data from the wireless device once the call is established.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein step c) comprises the step of:

d) sending the stored message if voice signals are not detected via the microphone of the wireless device within a predetermined time after the call is established.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein step c) comprises the step of:

d) terminating sending the stored message if audio signals are detected via the microphone of the wireless device.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein step c) comprises the step of:

d) terminating sending the stored message when a key of the wireless device is activated.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

d) resending the stored message from the wireless device when a command is detected on a downlink channel.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein step a) comprises the step of:

d) initiating a call from the wireless device by depressing a speed-dial key.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein step b) comprises the step of:

d) storing the message picked-up from a microphone of the wireless device in a memory associated with the wireless device.

20. The method of claim 12, wherein step b) comprises the step of:

d) if necessary, reallocating the memory to store the message.

21. A wireless device comprising:

a keypad;

a transceiver;

a memory, a message stored in the memory; and

a controller programmed to;

a) initiate a call from the wireless device in response to a predetermined key stroke;

b) transmit the stored message through the transceiver to a base when the call is established; and

c) retransmit the stored message through the transceiver when a playback command is received from a base through the transceiver, in response to an operator of the base depressing a keypad key.

22. The wireless device of claim 21, further comprising:

a geolocation receiver for determining position data for the device; and

the controller further programmed to;

d) transmit the position data through the transceiver when the call is established.

23. A wireless device comprising:

a keypad;

a transceiver;

a memory, a message stored in the memory; and

a controller programmed to;

a) initiate a call from the wireless device in response to a key stroke;

b) initiate a timer when the call is established; and

c) transmit the stored message through the transceiver during the call after a predetermined time has elapsed on the timer from when the call was established.

24. The wireless device of claim 23 wherein the controller is further programmed to:

d) terminate transmission of the stored message when a voice signal is picked-up by a microphone of the wireless device.

25. The wireless device of claim 23 wherein the controller is further programmed to:

d) terminate transmission of the stored message when a key of the wireless device is activated.

26. A wireless device comprising:

a keypad;

a transceiver;

a memory, a message stored in the memory; and

a controller programmed to;

a) initiate a call from the wireless device in response to a key stroke;

b) storing audio picked up by a microphone after initiating the call;

c) transmit the stored message through the transceiver to a base when the call is established; and

d) reallocate memory to store the audio picked up by the microphone after initiating the call.

27. A wireless device comprising:

a keypad;

a transducer;

a transceiver;

a memory, the memory storing a message; and

a controller programmed to;

a) initiate a call from the wireless device in response to a key stroke; and

b) combine the stored message with an audio signal from the transducer and transmit the combined signal simultaneously through the transceiver when the call is established.