Method and apparatus for configuring a mobile device to provide emergency notification

• US 8,886,153 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2010
• Issued: 11/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Velusamy, Umashankar, Moore, Devin C., Thompson, Wade P., Gudlavenkatasiva, Bhaskar R., Hughes, George L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Appiah, Charles
• Assistant Examiner(s): Peaches, Randy
• Application Number:
  US12/975,503
• Publication Number:
  US 20120164968A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,420 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.1, 455/404.2
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/48 for in-vehicle communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]

Abstract

An approach for configuring a mobile device to enable accident detection and notification functionality for use within a vehicle is described. An emergency notification platform receives position information and acceleration information associated with a mobile device. The emergency notification platform applies a rule to the position information and the acceleration information to determine an alert condition. A notification message is then generated for presentation on the mobile device based on the application of the rule, wherein the notification message specifies information relating to the alert condition.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving at a emergency notification platform position information and acceleration information associated with a mobile device and with other mobile devices within close proximity of the mobile device, the emergency notification platform being remote from the mobile device;

comparing the position information and acceleration information of the mobile device with an average of the position information and the acceleration of the other mobile devices;

applying a rule based on the comparing to determine an alert condition;

generating a notification message based on the application of the rule; and

initiating transmission of the notification message from the emergency notification platform to one or more predetermined destinations stored at the emergency notification platform that are specified by a user of the mobile device,

wherein the notification message specifies information relating to the alert condition, and

wherein the rule specifies one or more parameters indicating an accident condition associated with a user of the mobile device.

2. A method according to claim 1, further compromising:

presenting the notification message via a display of the mobile device.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein the rule specifies a threshold level for a degree of severity of the accident condition.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a deviation from a known course that is traversed by the mobile device, wherein the rule relates to the detected deviation.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising:

establishing a communication session, by the mobile device, with a predetermined communication device in response to the alert condition.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the mobile device includes a mobile phone or a mobile computer.

7. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs,

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following,

receive at a emergency notification platform position information and acceleration information associated with a mobile device and with other mobile devices within close proximity of the mobile device, the emergency notification platform being remote from the mobile device,

compare the position information and acceleration information of the mobile device with an average of the position information and the acceleration of the other mobile devices,

apply a rule based on the compare to determine an alert condition,

generate a notification message based on the application of the rule, wherein the notification message specifies information relating to the alert condition, and

initiate transmission of the notification message from the emergency notification platform to one or more predetermined destinations stored at the emergency notification platform that are specified by a user of the mobile device,

wherein the notification message specifies information relating to the alert condition, and

wherein the rule specifies one or more parameters indicating an accident condition associated with a user of the mobile device.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7, being further caused to:

present the notification message via a display of the mobile device.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the rule specifies a threshold level for a degree of severity of the accident condition.

10. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

detect a deviation from a known course that is traversed by the mobile device, wherein the rule relates to the detected deviation.

11. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

establish a communication session, by the mobile device, with a predetermined communication device in response to the alert condition.

12. An apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the mobile device includes a mobile phone or a mobile computer.

13. A method comprising:

receiving at a emergency notification platform a notification message from a mobile device configured to generate the notification message in response to an alert condition that is determined using position information and acceleration information of the mobile device compared with an average of position information and acceleration information of other mobile devices within close proximity of the mobile device, the emergency notification platform being remote from the mobile device; and

selectively initiating transmission of the alert notification from the emergency notification platform to one or more destinations specified by a user of the mobile device,

wherein the one or more destinations specified by the user of the mobile device are stored at the emergency notification platform, and

wherein the determination of the alert condition is based on the comparison and a rule that specifies one or more parameters indicating an accident condition associated with a user of the mobile device.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the rule specifies a threshold level for a degree of severity of the accident condition.

15. A method according to claim 13, further comprising:

receiving a request from the mobile device to establish a communication session with a predetermined communication device in response to the alert condition.

16. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code for one or more programs,

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following,

receive at a emergency notification platform a notification message from a mobile device configured to generate the notification message in response to an alert condition that is determined using position information and acceleration information of the mobile device compared with an average of position information and acceleration information of other mobile devices within close proximity of the mobile device, the emergency notification platform being remote from the mobile device, and

selectively initiate transmission of the alert notification from the emergency notification platform to one or more destinations specified by a user of the mobile device,

wherein the one or more destinations specified by the user of the mobile device are stored at the emergency notification platform, and

wherein the determination of the alert condition is based on the comparison and a rule that specifies one or more parameters indicating an accident condition associated with a user of the mobile device.

17. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the rule specifies a threshold level for a degree of severity of the emergency condition.

18. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

receive a request from the mobile device to establish a communication session with a predetermined communication device in response to the alert condition.