Devices, systems and methods for detecting proximal traffic

• US 8,565,716 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2008
• Issued: 10/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bragg, Casey
• Primary Examiner(s): Balaoing, Ariel
• Assistant Examiner(s): KOHLMAN, CHRISTOPHER J
• Application Number:
  US12/335,470
• Publication Number:
  US 20100151814A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,772 Days
• Field of Search: 455/566, 455/456.2, 455/426.1, 455/561, 4554041-4042, 340/870.09, 379/37
• US Class Current: 455/404.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72418 for supporting emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• 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 52/0251 using monitoring of local events, e.g. events related to user activity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

Devices, systems and methods are disclosed which relate to a telecommunications network, including a mobile network device, wherein, upon an event, a mobile network device enters a mode of operation defined as a sleep mode interrupted by periodic transmissions of a plurality of mobile network device and user information. Such a mode is referred to throughout this disclosure as an “emergency mode of operation” of the mobile network device. The plurality of mobile network device and user information includes information regarding a location of the mobile network device, a level of threat facing its user, the user'"'"'s surroundings, etc. Events which trigger the mode of operation include a network command, user interaction, etc.

Claims

1. A mobile network device, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing instructions, which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

receiving an emergency signal via a mobile emergency deployment tower, the emergency signal instructing the mobile network device to enter an emergency mode,

in response to receiving the emergency signal via the mobile emergency deployment tower, displaying a first query on a display of the mobile network device, the first query asking a user of the mobile network device whether the emergency mode should be canceled,

executing an emergency mode of operation after a specified amount of time without receiving a response to the first query to place the mobile network device in the emergency mode of operation, wherein when the mobile network device is in the emergency mode of operation, the mobile network device is placed in a sleep mode during which all functions of the mobile network device are shut down aside from any function required to restore the mobile network device to a normal mode of operation,

providing a second query on the display of the mobile network device, the second query asking the user of the mobile device to define a personal threat level facing the user,

determining location information associated with the mobile network device, wherein the location information comprises identifications of access points associated with the mobile network device and location based services data associated with the mobile network device,

providing the personal threat level and the location information for transmission to a rescue receiver, and

periodically restoring all of the functions of the mobile device shut down during the sleep mode to receive a further personal threat level and further location information.

2. The mobile network device of claim 1, further comprising a housing surrounding the processor and the memory.

3. The mobile network device of claim 1, wherein the mobile network device receives the emergency signal via a transceiver, the transceiver communicating using one of a personal area network, a satellite telephone network or a global positioning system.

4. The mobile network device of claim 1, wherein the display is a liquid crystal display.

5. The mobile network device of claim 1, wherein the display is a touch screen.

6. The mobile network device of claim 1, further comprising a panic button in communication with the processor.

7. The mobile network device of claim 1, wherein the rescue receiver displays the personal threat level and the location information from the mobile network device in a form of a map on the rescue receiver.

8. The mobile network device of claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving a further emergency signal instructing the mobile network device to return to a normal mode of operation;

restoring all of the functions of the mobile network device that were shut down by during the sleep mode; and

providing an indication on the display of the network device that the normal mode of operation is returned.

9. A method comprising:

receiving, at a mobile network device comprising a processor from a mobile emergency deployment tower, an emergency signal, the emergency signal instructing the mobile network device to enter an emergency mode;

in response to receiving the emergency signal, displaying, by the mobile network device, a first query on a display of the mobile network device, the first query asking a user of the mobile network device whether the emergency mode should be canceled;

executing, by the mobile network device, an emergency mode of operation after a specified amount of time without receiving a response to the first query to place the mobile network device in the emergency mode of operation, wherein when the mobile network device is in the emergency mode of operation, the mobile network device is placed in a sleep mode during which all functions of the mobile network device are shut down aside from any function required to restore the mobile network device to a normal mode of operation;

providing, by the mobile network device, a second query on the display of the mobile network device, the second query asking the user of the mobile device to define a personal threat level facing the user;

determining, by the mobile network device, location information associated with the mobile network device, wherein the location information comprises identifications of access points associated with the mobile network device and location based services data associated with the mobile network device;

providing, by the mobile network device, the personal threat level and the location information for transmission to a rescue receiver; and

periodically restoring, by the mobile network device, all of the functions of the mobile device shut down during the sleep mode to receive a further personal threat level and further location information.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the second query comprises a scale of personal threat levels from which the personal threat level facing the user is chosen.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the rescue receiver displays the personal threat level and the location information from the mobile network device in a form of a map on the rescue receiver.

12. The method in claim 9, further comprising:

receiving a further emergency signal instructing the mobile network device to return to a normal mode of operation;

restoring all of the functions of the mobile network device that were shut down by during the sleep mode; and

providing an indication on the display of the network device that the normal mode of operation is returned.