Methods, systems, and products for processing emergency communications

• US 8,983,424 B2
• Filed: 11/17/2012
• Issued: 03/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Binning, Valerie
• Primary Examiner(s): El-Zoobi, Maria
• Application Number:
  US13/680,018
• Publication Number:
  US 20130142316A1
• Time in Patent Office: 850 Days
• Field of Search: 379 37- 52
• US Class Current: 455/404.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2803 Home automation networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2829 involving user profiles according to which the execution of a home appliance functionality is automatically triggered
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5116 for emergency applications

Abstract

Methods, systems, and products process an emergency communication. A profile is queried for a code received during the emergency communication. If the code matches the profile, then the emergency communication is blocked.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing code that when executed causes the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising;

processing a communication identifying a sending communications address;

retrieving a profile associated with the sending communications address;

prompting the sending communications address during the communication to enter a code that blocks generation of an emergency alert control signal;

receiving the code from the sending communications address;

comparing the code to the profile; and

blocking the emergency alert control signal when the code matches the profile.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise retrieving a physical address from the profile.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise generating the emergency alert control signal when the code is not input.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise activating an emergency alert when the code is not input.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise activating a visual alert when the code is not input.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise activating a position locator when the code is not input.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein the operations further comprise receiving 911 as dialed digits.

8. A method of processing an emergency communication, comprising:

processing, b a processor, the emergency communication from a sending communications address to an emergency address;

retrieving, from memory, a profile associated with the sending communications address;

receiving, by the processor, a code during the emergency communication;

comparing, by the processor, the code to the profile for blocking generation of an emergency alert control signal; and

blocking, the emergency alert control signal in response to a match between the code and the profile.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising retrieving a physical address from the profile.

10. The method according to claim 8, further comprising prompting for entry of the code.

11. The method according to claim 8, further comprising receiving the code as entries on a keypad.

12. The method according to claim 8, further comprising receiving the code as dual tone multi frequency inputs.

13. The method according to claim 8, further comprising receiving 911 as dialed digits.

14. The method according to claim 8, further comprising activating a Global Positioning System.

15. The method according to claim 8, further comprising deactivating an emergency alert.

16. The method according to claim 8, further comprising retrieving a timing parameter from the profile that describes an amount of time that an emergency alert is activated.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising deactivating the emergency alert when the amount of time has lapsed.

18. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing processor executable instructions that when executed cause the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

processing an emergency communication from a sending communications address to an emergency address;

retrieving a profile associated with the sending communications address;

receiving a code during the emergency communication;

comparing the code to the profile for blocking generation of an emergency alert control signal; and

blocking the emergency alert control signal in response to a match between the code and the profile.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 18, wherein the operations further comprise retrieving a physical address from the profile.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 18, wherein the operations further comprise prompting for entry of the code.