Sensor to detect an emergency event

• US 8,680,989 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2010
• Issued: 03/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: George, Moses
• Primary Examiner(s): MCNALLY, KERRI L
• Application Number:
  US12/974,682
• Publication Number:
  US 20120154157A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,190 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.22, 340/539.26, 340/584
• US Class Current: 340/539.22
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1672 using sonic detecting means, e.g. a microphone operating in the audio frequency range
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons

Abstract

A device including a sensor to detect information around the device, an audio component to output an audible alert if an emergency event is detected, a display device to render emergency data from the device, and a controller to use the information to identify an emergency event of a user and select the emergency data from the device based on the emergency event, wherein the emergency data is associated with the user.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

one or more sensors to detect information around the device;

an audio component to output sound;

a communication component;

an input device to enable a user access the device;

a display device; and

a controller to (i) use the information to identify an emergency event of the user, (ii) in response to identifying the emergency event, cause an audible alert to be output by the audio component, (iii) select emergency data stored on the device to be rendered on the display device based on the emergency event, wherein the emergency data is associated with the user, (iv) automatically generate an emergency message, and (v) after a predefined amount of time has elapsed from a time when the emergency event was identified, wirelessly transmit the emergency message to another device via the communication component;

wherein the controller causes the display device to stop rendering the emergency data in response to detecting the user accessing the input device.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors includes an accelerometer to detect at least one of a speed of the device, a sudden stop of the device, or a recoil of the device.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors includes a microphone to detect an emergency alert provided by the user.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors includes a thermal sensor to detect a temperature of the device exceeding a threshold temperature.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the one or more sensors includes a global positioning system to detect a location of the device.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the audio component continues to increase a volume of the audible alert.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the audio component outputs the emergency data.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the emergency message is transmitted to at least one of a predefined contact on the device, a most recent contact, or a service provider.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the emergency message includes information of the user, a location of the device, and information of the emergency event.

10. A method for responding to an emergency event, the method being performed by a controller of a user'"'"'s and comprising:

detecting information around the user'"'"'s device with one or more sensors;

identifying an emergency event by comparing the information to a plurality of predefined conditions corresponding to a plurality of emergency events stored in a database;

selecting emergency data stored on the user'"'"'s device based on the emergency event to be rendered on a display device, wherein the emergency data is associated with the user;

rendering the emergency data selected on the display device;

automatically generating an emergency message; and

after a predefined amount of time has elapsed from a time when the emergency event was identified, wirelessly transmitting the emergency message to another device via a communication component of the user'"'"'s device;

wherein the user'"'"'s device includes an input device to enable the user to access the user'"'"'s device; and

wherein the controller causes the display device to stop rendering the emergency data in response to detecting the user accessing the input device.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the plurality of emergency events includes an accident involving an impact of the user, the user being in danger, the user being around a fire, and the user being lost.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein identifying the emergency event includes the one or more sensors detecting at least one of an abrupt stopping and a recoil of the user'"'"'s device when the user'"'"'s device is in motion to determine that the user has been in an accident involving an impact.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein identifying the emergency event includes utilizing voice recognition to detect an emergency alert provided by the user.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein identifying the emergency event includes detecting a temperature around the user'"'"'s device to determine that the temperature around the user exceeds a threshold temperature.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein identifying the emergency event includes detecting a location of the user and determining that the user is lost.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein identifying the emergency event includes polling components of the user'"'"'s device for a response to determine that the components are damaged.

17. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by a controller of a user'"'"'s device, causes the controller to perform operations comprising:

detecting information around the user'"'"'s device with one or more sensors;

identifying an emergency event of a user by comparing the information to a plurality of predefined conditions corresponding to a plurality of emergency events stored in a database;

selecting emergency data stored on the user'"'"'s device based on the emergency event to be rendered on a display device, wherein the emergency data is associated with the user;

rendering the emergency data selected on the display device;

automatically generating an emergency message that includes information of the user, a location of the user'"'"'s device, and information of the emergency event; and

after a predefined amount of time has elapsed from a time when the emergency event was identified, wirelessly transmitting the emergency message to another device via a communication component of the user'"'"'s device;

wherein the user'"'"'s device includes an input device to enable the user to access the user'"'"'s device; and

wherein the controller causes the display device to stop rendering the emergency data in response to detecting the user accessing the input device.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions of claim 17, wherein the emergency data includes at least one from the group consisting of a name of the user, an address of the user, a medical condition of the user, a physician of the user, a contact of the user, and a service provider of the user.