Techniques for personal security via mobile devices

• US 8,693,977 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2009
• Issued: 04/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Micro Focus Software, Inc. (Open Text Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Novell Incorporated (Open Text Corporation)
• Inventors: Patnaik, Sandeep, Singh, Saheednanda, Bolleni, AnilKumar
• Primary Examiner(s): BALAOING, ARIEL A
• Application Number:
  US12/541,006
• Publication Number:
  US 20110039514A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,699 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.1, 455/404.2, 455/556.1, 455/411, 455/414.2, 704/E15.001, 704/231
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/65 Recording arrangements for recording a message from the calling party in the exchange H04M3/50
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72424 with manual activation of emergency-service functions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver

Abstract

Techniques for achieving personal security via mobile devices are presented. A portable mobile communication device, such as a phone or a personal digital assistant (PDA), is equipped with geographic positioning capabilities and is equipped with audio and visual devices. A panic mode of operation can be automatically detected in which real time audio and video for an environment surrounding the portable communication device are captured along with a geographic location for the portable communication device. This information is streamed over the Internet to a secure site where it can be viewed in real time and/or later inspected.

Claims

1. A portable communication device, comprising:

a panic service implemented in a computer-readable medium and to execute on one or more processors of the portable communication device; and

an agent implemented in a computer-readable medium and to execute within the one or more processors of the portable communication device;

wherein panic service is acquire the physical position of the portable communication device and is to activate an audio device and a video device of the portable communication device to capture real time physical positions, real time audio, and real time video from the portable communication device when the portable communication device is processing in a panic mode of operation, the agent is to activate the panic mode of operation based on detected and evaluated events and/or messages occurring and received on the portable communication device and the real time physical positions, the real time audio, and the real time video are provided as live feeds to authorized third parties via telecasting, and wherein a particular real time physical position captured automatically triggers a real-time satellite to capture independent visual inspection of a specific area surrounding the particular real time physical position.

2. The portable communication device of claim 1 further comprising, a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver integrated into the portable communication device and interfaced to the panic service to supply the real time physical positions of the portable communication device.

3. The portable communication device of claim 1 further comprising, a hidden button that when activated by an operator triggers the agent to process the panic service on the portable communication device.

4. The portable communication device of claim 1 further comprising an access code entry mechanism integrated into the portable communication device and interacted with by an operator of the portable communication device to supply an access code that permits an external mobile requestor to view real time audio and real time video of the portable communication device and to view a current physical position of the portable communication device, the agent verifies the access code and permits the operator to set access restrictions on the requestor or to deny the requestor access altogether.

5. The portable communication device of claim 4, wherein the access code entry mechanism is a key input device for receiving key sequences from the operator, or a camera integrated into the portable communication device for receiving retinal scans, facial scans, and/or fingerprint scans of the operator, the key sequences and the scans represent the access code supplied by the operator via the access code entry mechanism.

6. The portable communication device of claim 1, wherein the portable communication device is a cellular phone, a Wifi-enabled phone, and/or a satellite phone.