Methods and apparatus for use in processing disconnected emergency calls and other communications involving mobile communication devices and the remote monitoring thereof

• US 8,483,655 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2012
• Issued: 07/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Wijayanathan, Maiyuran, Naqvi, Noushad, Weigele, Ingo W.
• Primary Examiner(s): RAMPURIA, SHARAD K
• Application Number:
  US13/560,069
• Publication Number:
  US 20120289184A1
• Time in Patent Office: 347 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.1, 455/404.2, 4554561-457, 455/445, 455/417, 379/45
• US Class Current: 455/404.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72421 with automatic activation of emergency service functions, e.g. upon sensing an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/04 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/06 Lines and connections with preferential service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42195 Arrangements for calling back a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy H04M3/48
• 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 76/19 Connection re-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections

Abstract

Techniques for use in producing an incoming call message for a mobile-terminated call to a mobile communication device which operates in a wireless communication network are described. When the mobile-terminated call is a non-emergency call, data indications in one or more data fields of the incoming call message are set to instruct the mobile communication device to perform non-emergency call processing. When the mobile-terminated call is an emergency call from a public safety answering point entity, the data indications in the one or more data fields of the incoming call message are set to instruct the mobile communication device to automatically answer the emergency call. The incoming call message is sent to the mobile communication the wireless communication network.

Claims

1. A method for use in processing an incoming call message to a mobile communication device which operates in a wireless communication network, the method comprising:

upon determining that the incoming call message is a non-emergency call, setting data indications in one or more data fields of the incoming call message to instruct the mobile communication device to perform non-emergency call processing;

upon determining that the incoming call message is an emergency call-back from a public safety answering point entity, setting the data indications in the one or more data fields of the incoming call message to instruct the mobile communication device to automatically answer the emergency call-back; and

sending the incoming call message to the mobile communication device via the wireless communication network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless communication network comprises a cellular telecommunications network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein setting the data indications in the incoming call message to instruct the mobile communication device to automatically answer the emergency call-back further comprises instructing the mobile communication device to automatically answer without detecting a manual answer signal via a user interface of the mobile communication device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein setting the data indications in the incoming call message to instruct the mobile communication device to automatically answer the emergency call-back further comprises instructing the mobile communication device to automatically answer while refraining from producing an audible alert at the mobile communication device for alerting of the emergency call-back.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile communication device has a handset talk mode and a speakerphone talk mode, and wherein setting the data indications in the incoming call message to instruct the mobile communication device to automatically answer the emergency call-back further comprises instructing the mobile communication device to enable the speakerphone talk mode of the mobile communication device without detecting a manual speakerphone activation signal via the user interface.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein a user interface of the mobile communication device comprises a plurality of keys, a speaker, and a microphone, and wherein setting the data indications in the incoming call message to instruct the mobile communication device to automatically answer the emergency call-back further comprises instructing the mobile communication device to enable the speaker to produce audible signals from the public safety answering point entity and to enable the microphone to receive audible signals at the mobile communication device.

7. A network processor for use in a wireless communication network, the network processor being configured to process an incoming call message to a mobile communication device operating in the wireless communication network by, upon determining that the incoming call message is a non-emergency call, setting data indications in one or more data fields of the incoming call message to instruct the mobile communication device to perform non-emergency call processing;

upon determining that the incoming call message is an emergency call-back from a public safety answering point entity, setting the data indications in the one or more data fields of the incoming call message to instruct the mobile communication device to automatically answer the emergency call-back; and

sending the incoming call message to the mobile communication device via the wireless communication network.

8. The network processor of claim 7, for use in a wireless communication network comprising a cellular telecommunications network.

9. The network processor of claim 7, and wherein the data indications in the incoming call message instruct the mobile communication device to automatically answer without detecting a manual answer signal via a user interface of the mobile communication device.

10. The network processor of claim 7, and wherein the data indications in the incoming call message instruct the mobile communication device to automatically answer while refraining from producing an audible alert at the mobile communication device for alerting of the emergency call-back.

11. The network processor of claim 7, wherein the mobile communication device has a handset talk mode and a speakerphone talk mode, and wherein the data indications in the incoming call message instruct the mobile communication device to enable the speakerphone talk mode of the mobile communication device without detecting a manual speakerphone activation signal via the user interface.

12. The network processor of claim 7, wherein a user interface of the mobile communication device comprises a plurality of keys, a speaker, and a microphone, and wherein the data indications in the incoming call message instruct the mobile communication device to enable the speaker to produce audible signals from the public safety answering point entity and to enable the microphone to receive audible signals at the mobile communication device.

13. A wireless communication network which is configured to process an incoming call message to a mobile communication device by, upon determining that the incoming call message is a non-emergency call, setting data indications in one or more data fields of the incoming call message to instruct the mobile communication device to perform non-emergency call processing;

upon determining that the incoming call message is an emergency call-back from a public safety answering point entity, setting the data indications in the one or more data fields of the incoming call message to instruct the mobile communication device to automatically answer the emergency call-back; and

sending the incoming call message to the mobile communication device operating in the wireless communication network.

14. The wireless communication network of claim 13, comprising a cellular telecommunications network.

15. The wireless communication network of claim 13, wherein the data indications in the incoming call message instruct the communication device to automatically answer without detecting a manual answer signal via a user interface of the mobile communication device.

16. The wireless communication network of claim 13, wherein the data indications in the incoming call message instruct the mobile communication device to automatically answer while refraining from producing an audible alert at the mobile communication device for alerting of the emergency call-back.

17. The wireless communication network of claim 13, wherein the mobile communication device has a handset talk mode and a speakerphone talk mode, and wherein the data indications in the incoming call message instruct the mobile communication device to enable the speakerphone talk mode of the mobile communication device without detecting a manual speakerphone activation signal via the user interface.

18. The wireless communication network of claim 13, wherein a user interface of the mobile communication device comprises a plurality of keys, a speaker, and a microphone, and wherein the data indications in the incoming call message instruct the mobile communication device to enable the speaker to produce audible signals from the public safety answering point entity and to enable the microphone to receive audible signals at the mobile communication device.