Method and apparatus for enhanced safety in a public safety communication system

• US 8,380,160 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2010
• Issued: 02/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Inventors: Monks, Deborah J., Blanco, Alejandro G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Batista, Marcos
• Application Number:
  US12/749,248
• Publication Number:
  US 20110237217A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,058 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.1, 370/338
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A communication system (100) provides collaboration amongst a plurality of communication devices (110, 112, 114, 116, 120) during emergency conditions. Emergency trigger(s) are used to detect an emergency condition. Emergency information is collected and can be shared and appended amongst the communication devices prior to the emergency information being transferred in a redundant manner across a plurality communication systems (140, 142) to a plurality of external devices (130, 144, 146).

Claims

1. A communication system, comprising:

first and second communication devices operating on first and second communication networks respectively and utilized by the same or co-located users, the first and second communication devices also operating over a personal area communication network, the first and second communication devices collaborating over the personal area network to reconfigure each other to operate in an emergency mode of operation in response to an emergency condition being detected by either the first or second communication device;

wherein at least one of the first and second communication devices comprises an emergency detection feature for collecting emergency information and transferring the collected emergency information amongst the first and second communication devices; and

wherein at least one of the first and second communication devices transmits the emergency information redundantly via a text message to members of a PTT talk group as new communication to a plurality of external devices operating over different networks;

wherein reconfiguration of the first and second communication device emergency mode operating parameters are preconfigured by first and second embedded applications associated with the first and second devices;

wherein a voice buffer is activated;

by a push-to-talk (PTT) button, by an emergency button, operated continuously, or triggered by another emergency detection mechanism, the voice buffer for collecting voice communication and providing the collected voice communication via a text message as emergency information for dissemination amongst the plurality of communication devices.

2. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the emergency detection feature located on at least one of the first and second communication devices comprises an emergency button.

3. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the emergency information comprises emergency voice push to talk (PTT) information collected at a microphone of at least one of the first and second communication devices, the emergency voice PTT information being converted into a combination of data and voice clips which are then transmitted to other communications devices using non-PTT communication through one of the first and second devices.

4. The communication system of claim 3, wherein the non-PTT communication comprises data communication over at least one of a data connection or telephony connection.

5. The communication system of claim 3, wherein the second communication device generates a text message and appends the text message and voice clips with location or other emergency information pertaining to the user of the first communication device prior to transmitting to the other communication devices.

6. A method of communicating an emergency condition amongst a plurality of communication devices, comprising:

communicating between at least two of the plurality of communication devices over a personal area network (PAN), the at least two communication devices also communicating over a wide area network (WAN) to other communication devices;

detecting an emergency condition by at least one of the at least two communication devices;

collecting emergency information pertaining to the emergency condition;

analyzing the collected emergency information at the communication device to determine relevant emergency information;

activating a voice buffer by push-to-talk (PTT) button, by an emergency button, operated continuously, or triggered by another emergency detection mechanism, the voice buffer for collecting voice communication and providing the collected voice communication via a text message as relevant emergency information for dissemination amongst the plurality of communication devices;

transferring the relevant emergency information via a text message to a plurality of communication devices over a personal area network; and

transmitting the relevant emergency information from the plurality of communication devices to external communication devices over multiple communication networks and communication types to provide redundant transmission of the emergency information.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of buffering the relevant emergency information.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein buffering the relevant information comprises buffering the relevant information before the emergency condition is detected.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the relevant emergency information is buffered before an emergency condition is detected according to business rules, by selecting predetermined emergency content and buffering continuously, such that the relevant emergency information is shared when emergency conditions are detected.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein buffering the relevant emergency information, comprises:

receiving audio at a microphone; and

buffering at least a portion of the received audio as a voice clip; and

converting the voice clip to text and attaching the converted voice clip to a text message;

transmitting the voice clip as a text message in response to an emergency trigger.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein transmitting the relevant emergency information comprises initiating a phone call using the relevant emergency information.

12. The method of claim 6, transmitting the relevant emergency information further includes requesting a companion device to initiate emergency communications using the relevant emergency information.

13. The method of claim 6, wherein collecting emergency information further comprises:

sharing and appending the emergency information amongst the plurality of communication devices prior to the emergency information being transmitted over the multiple networks.

14. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of detecting an emergency condition comprises, determining a failed PTT communication or an emergency button press by at least one of the at least two of the plurality of communication devices.