Telecommunications system and method for monitoring the body temperature of a user

• US 8,494,482 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2008
• Issued: 07/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/24/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gupta, Shekhar
• Primary Examiner(s): KELLEY, STEVEN SHAUN
• Application Number:
  US12/258,133
• Publication Number:
  US 20100105427A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,733 Days
• Field of Search: 455/556.1, 455/404.1, 455/404.2, 4554561-4566, 340/539.12, 340/539.13, 600/549
• 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 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion

Abstract

A method for monitoring the body temperature of a user of a wireless telephone includes detecting the body temperature of the user using a sensor disposed in the wireless telephone. A determination is made as to whether the detected temperature is within a predetermined temperature range. In response to determining that the detected temperature is within the predetermined range, an emergency notification is generated.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring the body temperature of a user of a wireless telephone, comprising:

detecting a body temperature of a user with a sensor disposed in the wireless telephone;

detecting a rate of change of the detected body temperature;

determining a geographical location of the user with a GPS device;

adjusting a predetermined temperature range based upon the determined geographical location of the user;

determining that the detected body temperature is within the adjusted predetermined temperature range;

determining that the detected rate of change of the detected body temperature is less than a selected rate of change;

in response to determining that the detected temperature is within the adjusted predetermined range and in response to determining that the detected rate of change of the detected body temperature is less than the selected rate of change, generating a first emergency notification;

communicating the first emergency notification to another device of the user;

awaiting a response from the other device of the user;

generating a second emergency notification when no response is received from the other device of the user; and

communicating the second emergency notification to an emergency response organization.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first emergency notification is a SMS message.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first emergency notification is a telephone call.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the emergency response organization is a public safety answering point.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the second emergency notification includes location coordinates, and wherein the location coordinates are GPS coordinates.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the predetermined temperature range is 103°

F.-110°

F.

7. A wireless telephone, comprising:

a temperature sensor configured to monitor the body temperature of a user,

wherein the temperature sensor is operable to monitor the body temperature of a user from a distance;

a GPS device configured to determine the geographical location of the user;

a memory configured to store a set of instructions; and

a processor in communication with the temperature sensor, the GPS device and the memory, and configured to execute the set of instructions, wherein the set of instructions cause the processor to;

determine a geographical location of the user with the GPS device;

adjust a predetermined temperature range based upon the determined geographical location of the user;

determine that the body temperature of the user is within the adjusted predetermined temperature range in response to receiving a signal from the temperature sensor the signal being associated with monitoring the body temperature of the user;

determine that a rate of change of the detected body temperature is less than a selected rate of change; and

in response to determining that the body temperature of the user is within the adjusted predetermined range and in response to determining that the detected rate of change of the detected body temperature is less than the selected rate of change, generating a first emergency notification, communicating the first emergency notification to another device of the user, awaiting a response from the other device of the user, generating a second emergency notification when no response is received from the other device of the user; and

communicating the second emergency notification to an emergency response organization, wherein the second emergency notification is a communication over a wireless network for receipt by the emergency response organization.

8. The wireless telephone of claim 7 wherein the first emergency notification is a telephone call.

9. The wireless telephone of claim 7 wherein the emergency response organization is a public safety answering point.

10. The wireless telephone of claim 7 wherein the second emergency notification includes location coordinates.

11. The wireless telephone of claim 7 wherein the temperature sensor is an IR thermometer.