Methods, systems and devices for prioritizing access to wireless networks

• US 8,868,025 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2012
• Issued: 10/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Ganesh, Shriram, Forutanpour, Babak, Everitt, Andrew J., Argade, Pramod V., Joyce, Gerald P. III
• Primary Examiner(s): MILLER, BRANDON J
• Application Number:
  US13/585,522
• Publication Number:
  US 20140051379A1
• Time in Patent Office: 798 Days
• Field of Search: 4554041-4042, 455418-420, 455573-574, 455/550.1, 455/422.1, 455/414.1
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72421 with automatic activation of emergency service functions, e.g. upon sensing an alarm
• 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 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/18 Self-organising networks, e.g. ad-hoc networks or sensor networks

Abstract

Methods, devices and systems enable prioritizing mobile device access to a communication network during periods of reduced network availability, such as during emergency situations. The mobile device may be configured to detect the existence of an emergency situation locally, on the mobile device. Upon recognizing an emergency situation the mobile device may collect information from various components and/or sensors of the mobile device. Using the collected information, the mobile device may compute a priority for accessing the communication network. Using the computed priority, the mobile device may attempt to access the communication network in a manner that staggers access attempts among all mobile devices to reduce network congestion.

Claims

1. A method for prioritizing mobile device access to a communication network, comprising:

detecting an emergency situation on a mobile device;

collecting information regarding a condition of the mobile device in response to detecting the emergency situation;

determining a priority for the mobile device based on the collected information;

determining in the mobile device a time window during which the mobile device is allowed to access the communication network based on the determined priority; and

accessing the communication network during the determined time window.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

disabling non-essential mobile device applications in response to detecting the emergency situation.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein collecting information regarding a condition of the mobile device in response to detecting the emergency situation comprises collecting battery state information, the method further comprising:

determining whether the battery state information indicates that a charge state of a battery of the mobile device is below a threshold; and

automatically halting background processes and dimming an electronic display of the mobile device in response to determining that that the battery charge state is below the threshold.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting an emergency situation on a mobile device comprises detecting network congestion conditions.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein collecting information regarding a condition of the mobile device in response to detecting the emergency situation comprises collecting at least one of:

emergency contact information;

battery state information;

network signal strength information;

location coordinates;

accelerometer information;

gyroscope information; and

call history information.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a priority for the mobile device based on the collected information comprises:

automatically sending the collected information from the mobile device to a network server;

receiving the collected information on the network server;

processing the received information separately for each base station coverage area;

identifying the mobile device as belonging to one or more groups based on the received information;

allocating priorities among mobile devices within base station coverage areas based on a combination of the one or more groups and base station availability;

sending an allocated priority to the mobile device; and

receiving the allocated priority in the mobile device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a priority for the mobile device based on the collected information comprises:

automatically determining the priority for the mobile device based on the collected information using an algorithm configured to autonomously distribute call time availability among a plurality of mobile devices in the communication network.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising executing an emergency mode application on the mobile device in response to detecting an emergency situation, wherein collecting information regarding a condition of the mobile device in response to detecting the emergency situation and determining a priority for the mobile device based on the collected information are performed by the emergency mode application.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a priority for the mobile device based on the collected information and accessing the communication network during the determined time window comprises:

automatically sending the collected information from the mobile device to a network server;

receiving the collected information on the network server;

processing the received information separately for each base station coverage area;

identifying the mobile device as belonging to one or more groups based on the received information;

allocating call windows among mobile devices within base station coverage areas based on a combination of the one or more groups and base station availability;

sending an allocated call window to the mobile device;

receiving the allocated call window in the mobile device; and

accessing the communication network during the allocated call window.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a time window during which the mobile device is allowed to access the communication network comprises computing a time window using a common algorithm implemented on a plurality of mobile devices in the communication network and configured to generate time windows such that the time windows of mobile devices are pseudo-randomly staggered.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein computing a time window using a common algorithm implemented on a plurality of mobile devices in the communication network comprises computing a pseudorandom number on the mobile device, and wherein the common algorithm implemented on mobile devices is configured to allocate time windows for accessing the communication network based on a pseudorandom number generated in each mobile device.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein:

determining a priority for the mobile device based on the collected information comprises organizing the mobile device into one or more groups based on the collected information; and

accessing the communication network during the determined time window further comprises accessing the communication network based on network access rights associated with the one or more groups into which the mobile device is organized.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising establishing a peer-to-peer connection with a second mobile device in response to detecting the emergency situation, wherein accessing the communication network during the determined time window further comprises accessing the communication network through the second mobile device via the peer-to-peer connection.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting an emergency situation on a mobile device comprises computing an emergency probability value reflecting a likelihood that an emergency situation exists, the method further comprising:

displaying the emergency probability value on a display of the mobile device; and

receiving a user input instructing the mobile device to launch an emergency mode application, wherein the operations of collecting information on the mobile device, determining a priority for the mobile device based on the collected information, and accessing the communication network during the determined time window are functionalities of the emergency mode application.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting an emergency situation on a mobile device comprises:

determining a current location of the mobile device;

measuring a signal strength value on the mobile device; and

comparing the measured signal strength value with signal strength values stored in a network coverage map for the determined location.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting an emergency situation on a mobile device comprises:

determining a current location of the mobile device;

measuring power consumption associated with establishing a network connection at the current location; and

comparing the measured power consumption with historical power consumption values for establishing network connections at the current location.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting an emergency situation on a mobile device comprises:

detecting failed attempts to communicate with a first device via the communication network; and

determining whether a temporary communication link can be established with a second device.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting an emergency situation on a mobile device comprises receiving a user input on the mobile device indicating that an emergency situation exits.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting an emergency situation on a mobile device comprises:

computing a first emergency probability value indicative of likelihood that an emergency situation exists;

determining whether the first emergency probability value exceeds a threshold value;

negotiating short-range wireless communication links with a second mobile device in response to determining the first emergency probability value exceeds the threshold value;

receiving a second emergency probability value from the second mobile device; and

comparing the first emergency probability value with the second emergency probability value.

20. A mobile device, comprising:

means for detecting an emergency situation;

means for collecting information regarding a condition of the mobile device in response to detecting the emergency situation;

means for determining a priority for the mobile device based on the collected information;

means for determining a time window during which the mobile device is allowed to access the communication network based on the determined priority; and

means for accessing a communication network during the determined time window.

21. The mobile device of claim 20, further comprising:

means for disabling non-essential mobile device applications in response to detecting the emergency situation.

22. The mobile device of claim 20, wherein means for collecting information regarding a condition of the mobile device in response to detecting the emergency situation comprises means for collecting battery state information, the mobile device further comprising:

means for determining whether the battery state information indicates that a charge state of a battery of the mobile device is below a threshold; and

means for automatically halting background processes and dimming an electronic display of the mobile device in response to determining that that the battery charge state is below the threshold.

23. The mobile device of claim 20, wherein means for detecting an emergency situation comprises means for detecting network congestion conditions.

24. The mobile device of claim 20, wherein means for collecting information regarding a condition of the mobile device comprises means for collecting at least one of:

emergency contact information;

battery state information;

network signal strength information;

location coordinates;

accelerometer information;

gyroscope information; and

call history information.

25. The mobile device of claim 20, wherein means for determining a priority for the mobile device based on the collected information comprises:

means for automatically sending the collected information to a network server, the collected information including information identifying the mobile device as belonging to one or more groups; and

means for receiving an allocated priority from the network server in response to sending the collected information, the allocated priority having one or more characteristics determined based on a combination of the one or more groups and base station availability.

26. The mobile device of claim 20, wherein means for determining a priority for the mobile device based on the collected information comprises:

means for automatically determining the priority based on the collected information using an algorithm configured to autonomously distribute call time availability among a plurality of mobile devices in the communication network.

27. The mobile device of claim 20, further comprising means for executing an emergency mode application in response to detecting the emergency situation.

28. The mobile device of claim 20, wherein means for determining a priority for the mobile device based on the collected information comprises:

means for automatically sending the collected information to a network server, the collected information identifying the mobile device as belonging to one or more groups; and

means for receiving an allocated call window in response to sending the collected information to the network server, the allocated call window having one or more characteristics determined based on a combination of the one or more groups and base station availability, and wherein means for accessing a communication network during the determined time window comprises accessing the communication network during the allocated call window.

29. The mobile device of claim 20, wherein means for determining a time window during which the mobile device is allowed to access the communication network comprises means for computing the time window using a common algorithm implemented on a plurality of mobile devices in the communication network and configured to generate time windows such that the time windows are pseudorandomly staggered across the plurality of mobile devices.

30. The mobile device of claim 29, wherein means for computing a time window using a common algorithm implemented on a plurality of mobile devices in the communication network and configured to generate time windows such that the time windows are pseudo-randomly staggered across the plurality of mobile devices comprises:

means for computing a pseudorandom number; and

means for generating the time windows based on based on the pseudorandom number.

31. The mobile device of claim 20, wherein:

means for determining a priority for the mobile device based on the collected information comprises means for organizing the mobile device into one or more groups based on the collected information; and

means for accessing the communication network during the determined time window further comprises means for accessing the communication network based on network access rights associated with the one or more groups into which the mobile device is organized.

32. The mobile device of claim 20, further comprising means for establishing a peer-to- peer connection with a second mobile device in response to detecting the emergency situation, wherein means for accessing the communication network during the determined time window further comprises means for accessing the communication network through the second mobile device via the peer-to-peer connection.

33. The mobile device of claim 20, wherein means for detecting an emergency situation comprises means for computing an emergency probability value reflecting a likelihood that an emergency situation exists, the mobile device further comprising:

means for displaying the emergency probability value on an electronic display of the mobile device; and

means for receiving a user input instructing the mobile device to launch an emergency mode application.

34. The mobile device of claim 20, wherein means for detecting an emergency situation comprises:

means for determining a current location of the mobile device;

means for measuring a signal strength value; and

means for comparing the measured signal strength value with signal strength values stored in a network coverage map for the determined location.

35. The mobile device of claim 20, wherein means for detecting an emergency situation comprises:

means for determining a current location of the mobile device;

means for measuring power consumption associated with establishing a network connection at the current location; and

means for comparing the measured power consumption with historical power consumption values for establishing network connections at the current location.

36. The mobile device of claim 20, wherein means for detecting an emergency situation comprises:

means for detecting failed attempts to communicate with a first device via the communication network; and

means for determining whether a temporary communication link can be established with a second device.

37. The mobile device of claim 20, wherein means for detecting an emergency situation comprises means for receiving a user input indicating that an emergency situation exits.

38. The mobile device of claim 20, wherein means for detecting an emergency situation comprises:

means for computing a first emergency probability value indicative of likelihood that an emergency situation exists;

means for determining whether the first emergency probability value exceeds a threshold value;

means for negotiating short-range wireless communication links with a second mobile device in response to determining the first emergency probability value exceeds the threshold value;

means for receiving a second emergency probability value from the second mobile device; and

means for comparing the first emergency probability value with the second emergency probability value.

39. A mobile device, comprising:

a transceiver;

a memory; and

a processor coupled to the transceiver and the memory, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations comprising;

detecting an emergency situation;

collecting information regarding a condition of the mobile device in response to detecting the emergency situation;

determining a priority for the mobile device based on the collected information;

determining a time window during which the mobile device is allowed to access the communication network based on the determined priority; and

accessing a communication network during the determined time window.

40. The mobile device of claim 39, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

disabling non-essential mobile device applications in response to detecting the emergency situation.

41. The mobile device of claim 39,

wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that collecting information regarding a condition of the mobile device in response to detecting the emergency situation comprises collecting battery state information, and

wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

determining whether the battery state information indicates that a charge state of a battery of the mobile device is below a threshold; and

automatically halting background processes and dimming an electronic display of the mobile device in response to determining that that the battery charge state is below the threshold.

42. The mobile device of claim 39, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that detecting an emergency situation comprises detecting network congestion conditions.

43. The mobile device of claim 39, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that collecting information regarding a condition of the mobile device comprises collecting at least one of:

emergency contact information;

battery state information;

network signal strength information;

location coordinates;

accelerometer information;

gyroscope information; and

call history information.

44. The mobile device of claim 39, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that determining a priority for the mobile device based on the collected information comprises:

automatically sending the collected information to a network server, the collected information including information identifying the mobile device as belonging to one or more groups; and

receiving an allocated priority from the network server in response to sending the collected information, the allocated priority having one or more characteristics determined based on a combination of the one or more groups and base station availability.

45. The mobile device of claim 39, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that determining a priority for the mobile device based on the collected information comprises:

automatically determining the priority based on the collected information using an algorithm configured to autonomously distribute call time availability among a plurality of mobile devices in the communication network.

46. The mobile device of claim 39, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising executing an emergency mode application in response to detecting the emergency situation.

47. The mobile device of claim 39,

wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that determining a priority for the mobile device based on the collected information comprises:

automatically sending the collected information to a network server, the collected information identifying the mobile device as belonging to one or more groups; and

receiving an allocated call window in response to sending the collected information to the network server, the allocated call window having one or more characteristics determined based on a combination of the one or more groups and base station availability, and

wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that accessing a communication network during the determined time window comprises accessing the communication network during the allocated call window.

48. The mobile device of claim 39, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that determining a time window during which the mobile device is allowed to access the communication network comprises:

computing the time window using a common algorithm implemented on a plurality of mobile devices in the communication network and configured to generate time windows such that the time windows are pseudo-randomly staggered across the plurality of mobile devices.

49. The mobile device of claim 48, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that computing a time window using a common algorithm implemented on a plurality of mobile devices in the communication network and configured to generate time windows such that the time windows are pseudo-randomly staggered across the plurality of mobile devices comprises:

computing a pseudorandom number; and

generating the time windows based on based on the pseudorandom number.

50. The mobile device of claim 39, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that:

determining a priority for the mobile device based on the collected information comprises organizing the mobile device into one or more groups based on the collected information; and

accessing the communication network during the determined time window further comprises accessing the communication network based on network access rights associated with the one or more groups into which the mobile device is organized.

51. The mobile device of claim 39,

wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising establishing a peer-to-peer connection with a second mobile device in response to detecting the emergency situation, and

wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that accessing the communication network during the determined time window further comprises accessing the communication network through the second mobile device via the peer-to-peer connection.

52. The mobile device of claim 39,

wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that detecting an emergency situation comprises computing an emergency probability value reflecting a likelihood that an emergency situation exists, and

wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions to perform operations further comprising:

displaying the emergency probability value on an electronic display of the mobile device; and

receiving a user input instructing the mobile device to launch an emergency mode application.

53. The mobile device of claim 39, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that detecting an emergency situation comprises:

determining a current location of the mobile device;

measuring a signal strength value; and

comparing the measured signal strength value with signal strength values stored in a network coverage map for the determined location.

54. The mobile device of claim 39, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that detecting an emergency situation comprises:

determining a current location of the mobile device;

measuring power consumption associated with establishing a network connection at the current location; and

comparing the measured power consumption with historical power consumption values for establishing network connections at the current location.

55. The mobile device of claim 39, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that detecting an emergency situation comprises:

detecting failed attempts to communicate with a first device via the communication network; and

determining whether a temporary communication link can be established with a second device.

56. The mobile device of claim 39, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that detecting an emergency situation comprises receiving a user input indicating that an emergency situation exits.

57. The mobile device of claim 39, wherein the processor is configured with processor-executable instructions such that detecting an emergency situation comprises:

computing a first emergency probability value indicative of likelihood that an emergency situation exists;

determining whether the first emergency probability value exceeds a threshold value;

negotiating short-range wireless communication links with a second mobile device in response to determining the first emergency probability value exceeds the threshold value;

receiving a second emergency probability value from the second mobile device; and

comparing the first emergency probability value with the second emergency probability value.

58. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a mobile device processor to perform operations for prioritizing mobile device access to a communication network, the operations comprising:

detecting an emergency situation;

collecting information regarding a condition of the mobile device in response to detecting the emergency situation;

determining a priority for the mobile device based on the collected information;

determining a time window during which the mobile device is allowed to access the communication network based on the determined priority; and

accessing the communication network during the determined time window.

59. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 58, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a mobile device processor to perform operations comprising:

disabling non-essential mobile device applications in response to detecting the emergency situation.

60. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 58,

wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a mobile device processor to perform operations such that collecting information regarding a condition of the mobile device in response to detecting the emergency situation comprises collecting battery state information, and

wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a mobile device processor to perform operations comprising:

determining whether the battery state information indicates that a charge state of a battery of the mobile device is below a threshold; and

automatically halting background processes and dimming an electronic display of the mobile device in response to determining that that the battery charge state is below the threshold.

61. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 58, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a mobile device processor to perform operations such that detecting an emergency situation comprises detecting network congestion conditions.

62. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 58, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a mobile device processor to perform operations such that collecting information regarding a condition of the mobile device comprises collecting at least one of:

emergency contact information;

battery state information;

network signal strength information;

location coordinates;

accelerometer information;

gyroscope information; and

call history information.

63. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 58, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a mobile device processor to perform operations such that determining a priority for the mobile device based on the collected information comprises:

automatically sending the collected information to a network server, the collected information including information identifying the mobile device as belonging to one or more groups; and

receiving an allocated priority from the network server in response to sending the collected information, the allocated priority having one or more characteristics determined based on a combination of the one or more groups and base station availability.

64. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 58, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a mobile device processor to perform operations such that determining a priority for the mobile device based on the collected information comprises:

automatically determining the priority based on the collected information using an algorithm configured to autonomously distribute call time availability among a plurality of mobile devices in the communication network.

65. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 58, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a mobile device processor to perform operations comprising executing an emergency mode application in response to detecting the emergency situation.

66. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 58,

wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a mobile device processor to perform operations such that determining a priority for the mobile device based on the collected information comprises:

automatically sending the collected information to a network server, the collected information identifying the mobile device as belonging to one or more groups; and

receiving an allocated call window in response to sending the collected information to the network server, the allocated call window having one or more characteristics determined based on a combination of the one or more groups and base station availability, and

wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a mobile device processor to perform operations such that accessing a communication network during the determined time window comprises accessing the communication network during the allocated call window.

67. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 58, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a mobile device processor to perform operations such that determining a time window during which the mobile device is allowed to access the communication network comprises:

computing the time window using a common algorithm implemented on a plurality of mobile devices in the communication network and configured to generate time windows such that the time windows are pseudo-randomly staggered across the plurality of mobile devices.

68. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 67, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a mobile device processor to perform operations such that computing a time window using a common algorithm implemented on a plurality of mobile devices in the communication network and configured to generate time windows such that the time windows are pseudo-randomly staggered across the plurality of mobile devices comprises:

computing a pseudorandom number; and

generating the time windows based on based on the pseudorandom number.

69. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 58, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a mobile device processor to perform operations such that:

determining a priority for the mobile device based on the collected information comprises organizing the mobile device into one or more groups based on the collected information; and

accessing the communication network during the determined time window further comprises accessing the communication network based on network access rights associated with the one or more groups into which the mobile device is organized.

70. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 58,

wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a mobile device processor to perform operations comprising establishing a peer-to-peer connection with a second mobile device in response to detecting the emergency situation, and

wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a mobile device processor to perform operations such that accessing the communication network during the determined time window further comprises accessing the communication network through the second mobile device via the peer-to-peer connection.

71. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 58,

wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a mobile device processor to perform operations such that detecting an emergency situation comprises computing an emergency probability value reflecting a likelihood that an emergency situation exists, and

wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a mobile device processor to perform operations comprising:

displaying the emergency probability value on an electronic display of the mobile device; and

receiving a user input instructing the mobile device to launch an emergency mode application.

72. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 58, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a mobile device processor to perform operations such that detecting an emergency situation comprises:

determining a current location of the mobile device;

measuring a signal strength value; and

comparing the measured signal strength value with signal strength values stored in a network coverage map for the determined location.

73. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 58, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a mobile device processor to perform operations such that detecting an emergency situation comprises:

determining a current location of the mobile device;

measuring power consumption associated with establishing a network connection at the current location; and

comparing the measured power consumption with historical power consumption values for establishing network connections at the current location.

74. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 58, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a mobile device processor to perform operations such that detecting an emergency situation comprises:

detecting failed attempts to communicate with a first device via the communication network; and

determining whether a temporary communication link can be established with a second device.

75. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 58, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a mobile device processor to perform operations such that detecting an emergency situation comprises receiving a user input indicating that an emergency situation exits.

76. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 58, wherein the stored processor-executable software instructions are configured to cause a mobile device processor to perform operations such that detecting an emergency situation comprises:

computing a first emergency probability value indicative of likelihood that an emergency situation exists;

determining whether the first emergency probability value exceeds a threshold value;

negotiating short-range wireless communication links with a second mobile device in response to determining the first emergency probability value exceeds the threshold value;

receiving a second emergency probability value from the second mobile device; and

comparing the first emergency probability value with the second emergency probability value.

77. A network server, comprising:

means for receiving information regarding a condition of a mobile device in response to the mobile device detecting an emergency situation;

means for processing the received information separately for each base station coverage area;

means for identifying the mobile device as belonging to one or more groups based on the received information;

means for allocating priorities among mobile devices within base station coverage areas based on a combination of the one or more groups and base station availability by generating time windows for a plurality of mobile devices such that the generated time windows are pseudo-randomly staggered and selecting a time window during which the mobile device is allowed to access the communication network from the generated pseudo-randomly staggered time windows; and

means for sending an allocated priority to the mobile device.

78. The network server of claim 77, wherein means for identifying the mobile device as belonging to one or more groups based on the received information comprises means for identifying the mobile device as belonging to one or more groups based on at least one of:

emergency contact information;

battery state information;

network signal strength information;

location coordinates;

accelerometer information;

gyroscope information; and

call history information.

79. The network server of claim 77, wherein means for allocating priorities among mobile devices within base station coverage areas based on a combination of the one or more groups and base station availability further comprises means for allocating call windows among mobile devices within base station coverage areas based on the combination of the one or more groups and base station availability.

80. A network server, comprising:

communications circuitry configured to send and receive communications signals to and from a mobile device;

a memory; and

a server processor coupled to the communications circuitry and the memory, wherein the server processor is configured with server-executable instructions to perform operations comprising;

receiving information regarding a condition of the mobile device in response to the mobile device detecting an emergency situation;

processing the received information separately for each base station coverage area;

identifying the mobile device as belonging to one or more groups based on the received information;

allocating priorities among mobile devices within base station coverage areas based on a combination of the one or more groups and base station availability by generating time windows for a plurality of mobile devices such that the generated time windows are pseudo-randomly staggered and selecting a time window during which the mobile device is allowed to access the communication network from the generated pseudo-randomly staggered time windows; and

sending an allocated priority to the mobile device.

81. The network server of claim 80, wherein the server processor is configured with server-executable instructions such that identifying the mobile device as belonging to one or more groups based on the received information comprises identifying the mobile device as belonging to one or more groups based on at least one of:

emergency contact information;

battery state information;

network signal strength information;

location coordinates;

accelerometer information;

gyroscope information; and

call history information.

82. The network server of claim 80, wherein the server processor is configured with server-executable instructions such that allocating priorities among mobile devices within base station coverage areas based on a combination of the one or more groups and base station availability further comprises allocating call windows among mobile devices within base station coverage areas based on the combination of the one or more groups and base station availability.

83. A non-transitory server readable storage medium having stored thereon server-executable software instructions configured to cause a server processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving information regarding a condition of a mobile device in response to the mobile device detecting an emergency situation;

processing the received information separately for each base station coverage area;

identifying the mobile device as belonging to one or more groups based on the received information;

allocating priorities among mobile devices within base station coverage areas based on a combination of the one or more groups and base station availability by generating time windows for a plurality of mobile devices such that the generated time windows are pseudo-randomly staggered and selecting a time window during which the mobile device is allowed to access the communication network from the generated pseudo-randomly staggered time windows; and

sending an allocated priority to the mobile device.

84. The non-transitory server readable storage medium of claim 83, wherein the stored server-executable software instructions are configured to cause a server processor to perform operations such that identifying the mobile device as belonging to one or more groups based on the received information comprises identifying the mobile device as belonging to one or more groups based on at least one of:

emergency contact information;

battery state information;

network signal strength information;

location coordinates;

accelerometer information;

gyroscope information; and

call history information.

85. The non-transitory server readable storage medium of claim 83, wherein the stored server-executable software instructions are configured to cause a server processor to perform operations such that allocating priorities among mobile devices within base station coverage areas based on a combination of the one or more groups and base station availability further comprises allocating call windows among mobile devices within base station coverage areas based on the combination of the one or more groups and base station availability.