Method and system for managing an emergency for enhanced user security using a mobile communication device

• US 9,210,561 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2012
• Issued: 12/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: F-Secure Corporation (F-Secure Oyj)
• Original Assignee: Lookout Incorporated
• Inventors: Buck, Brian James
• Primary Examiner(s): Arevalo, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US13/688,003
• Publication Number:
  US 20140148120A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,105 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.1, 455/404.2, 455/550.1, 455/456.1, 455/450
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]

Abstract

Security is enhanced for a user of a mobile communications device by providing a method for managing an emergency event includes detecting, by a mobile communication device having a GUI for displaying information to a user, an indication that an emergency event is occurring. Once the emergency event is detected, a plurality of event options is displayed on the GUI to a responding user who is not an owner of the mobile communication device. Each event option is associated with at least one instruction relating to an emergency action and/or response. When an indication selecting a first event option is received, the mobile communication device executes the instruction(s) associated with the first event option.

Claims

1. A method for managing an emergency event by a mobile communication device, the method comprising:

detecting, by the mobile communication device including a graphical user interface (GUI) for displaying information to a responding user, an indication that the emergency event relating to an owner of the mobile communication device is occurring, the mobile communication device being configured to provide access to medical information of the owner of the mobile communication device;

displaying, on the GUI, a plurality of event options to the responding user who is not the owner of the mobile communication device in response to the indication of the emergency event, wherein each of the plurality of event options is associated with at least one instruction relating to at least one of an emergency action and emergency response;

monitoring, for a predetermined time period, for a selection of a first event option of the plurality of event options displayed on the GUI;

when the selection is not detected within the predetermined time period, establishing, by the mobile communication device, a connection with an emergency call center, and transmitting at least a portion of the owner'"'"'s medical information to the emergency call center;

and

when the selection is detected within the predetermined time period, executing, by the mobile communication device, the at least one instruction associated with the first event option.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one instruction associated with the first event option includes providing, by the mobile communication device, access to at least the portion of the owner'"'"'s medical information.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying on the GUI, a device lock screen that includes an emergency notification icon, which when activated, provides the indication that the emergency event relating to the owner is occurring.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein transmitting at least the portion of the owner'"'"'s medical information to the emergency call center includes

broadcasting, over an emergency response channel, that the emergency event is occurring and a location of the mobile communication device, and broadcasting at least the portion of the owner'"'"'s medical information over the emergency response channel.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the mobile communication device includes an audio speaker component and wherein the method further includes:

providing an audio broadcast via the audio speaker component, the audio broadcast comprising an announcement of the emergency event and an appeal for assistance; and

broadcasting, by the mobile communication device, over an emergency response channel that the emergency event is occurring and a location of the mobile communication device.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the emergency event is that the mobile communication device has been found by the responding user.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising displaying on the GUI, a device lock screen that includes a lost device notification icon, which when activated, provides an indication that the responding user has found the mobile communication device.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the mobile communication device includes a geo-location tracking system and a camera, and wherein in response to detecting that the mobile communication device is found, the method further comprises:

automatically disabling, by the mobile communication device, all functions and services of the mobile communication device except for those needed to execute the at least one instruction associated with each of the plurality emergency event options;

determining a current geo-location of the mobile communication device based on information collected by the geo-location tracking system;

capturing an image of the responding user; and

transmitting the current determined geo-location and the image to a designated lost device contact.

9. A method for managing an emergency event involving a medical emergency, the method comprising:

detecting, by a mobile communication device configured to provide access to medical information of an owner of the mobile communication device and including a graphical user interface (“

GUI”

) for displaying information to a responding user, the medical emergency event relating to the owner;

displaying, on the GUI, a plurality of medical emergency event options to the responding user who is not the owner of the mobile communication device in response to detecting the medical emergency event, wherein each of the plurality of medical emergency event options is associated with at least one instruction relating to at least one of an emergency action and emergency response;

monitoring, for a predetermined time period, for a selection of a first medical emergency event option of the plurality of medical emergency event options on the GUI;

when the selection is not detected within the predetermined time period, establishing, by the mobile communication device, a connection with an emergency call center, and transmitting at least a portion of the owner'"'"'s medical information to the emergency call center;

and

when the selection is detected within the predetermined time period, executing, by the mobile communication device, the at least one instruction associated with the first medical emergency event option.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising providing, by the mobile communication device, an indication that the mobile communication device owner'"'"'s medical information is accessible by the mobile communication device.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the indication that the mobile communication device owner'"'"'s medical information is accessible by the mobile communication device is provided by a decal label affixed onto an encasing surface of the mobile communication device.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the indication that the mobile communication device owner'"'"'s medical information is accessible by the mobile communication device is provided by a device lock screen displayed on the GUI.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein a device lock screen displayed on the GUI includes an emergency notification icon, which when activated, provides the indication that the medical emergency event is occurring.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein detecting the medical emergency event relating to the owner includes receiving an indication that the emergency notification icon is at least one of pressed and swiped by the responding user who is not the owner of the mobile communication device.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the device lock screen includes an emergency call icon, and wherein detecting the medical emergency event relating to the owner includes receiving an indication that the emergency call icon is at least one of pressed and swiped by the responding user who is not the owner of the mobile communication device.

16. The method of claim 9 wherein transmitting at least the portion of the owner'"'"'s medical information to the emergency call center includes broadcasting, by the mobile communication device over an emergency response channel, that the medical emergency event is occurring and a location of the mobile communication device, and broadcasting the portion of the owner'"'"'s medical information over the emergency response channel.

17. The method of claim 9 wherein when the owner of the mobile communication device is a subscriber to a medical alert service, the at least one instruction associated with the first medical emergency event option includes establishing, by the mobile communication device, a connection with the medical alert service.

18. The method of claim 9 wherein the at least one instruction associated with the first medical emergency event option includes displaying, on the GUI, at least the portion of the mobile communication device owner'"'"'s medical information.

19. The method of claim 9 wherein the at least one instruction associated with the first medical emergency event option includes requesting a destination to which the mobile communication device owner'"'"'s medical information is to be transmitted, receiving the destination, and transmitting at least the portion of the mobile communication device owner'"'"'s medical information to the destination.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the destination is at least one of an email address and a mobile phone number associated with another device of at least one of a medical care facility and a medical care provider.

21. The method of claim 9 wherein the at least one instruction associated with the first medical emergency event option includes providing at least one of an audio direction and a text direction to the responding user for providing medical care to the owner.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein the at least one instruction associated with the first medical emergency event option further includes determining a location of an automated external defibrillator (“

AED”

) and providing the location to the responding user.

23. The method of claim 9 wherein the mobile communication device includes an audio speaker component and wherein the method further includes providing an audio broadcast via the audio speaker component, the audio broadcast comprising an announcement of the medical emergency event and an appeal for assistance.

24. The method of claim 9 further including broadcasting, by the mobile communication device, over an emergency response channel that the medical emergency event is occurring and a location of the mobile communication device.

25. A method for managing an emergency event involving a lost mobile communication device, the method comprising:

receiving, from a device administrator of the mobile communication device, contact information of a lost device contact, and storing the contact information in a storage component in the mobile communication device, the lost device contact is at least one of a service provider, a contact associated with a frequently called phone number, a contact identified as an emergency contact, and a phone-based interactive voice response (IVR) system;

detecting, by the mobile communication device including a graphical user interface (“

GUI”

) for displaying information, that the mobile communication device is found by a responding user who is not an owner of the mobile communication device;

displaying, on the GUI, a plurality of lost device emergency event options to the responding user in response to the detection of the found mobile communication device, wherein each of the plurality of lost device emergency event options is associated with at least one instruction relating to at least one of an emergency action and emergency response and at least one of the plurality of lost device emergency event options is associated with the lost device contact;

receiving, by the mobile communication device, an indication selecting a first lost device emergency event option of the plurality of event options on the GUI; and

in response to receiving the indication, executing, by the mobile communication device, the at least one instruction associated with the first lost device emergency event option.

26. The method of claim 25 wherein a device lock screen displayed on the GUI includes a lost device notification icon, which when activated, provides an indication that the responding user has found the mobile communication device.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein detecting that the mobile communication device is found includes receiving the indication that the lost device notification icon is at least one of pressed and swiped by the responding user.

28. The method of claim 25 wherein when the contact information includes a phone number of the lost device contact, the at least one instruction associated with the first event option includes establishing, by the mobile communication device, a phone connection with the lost device contact.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein establishing the phone connection includes providing the phone number of the lost device contact to a phone service without displaying the phone number on the GUI so that the contact information of the lost device contact remains confidential.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein the phone service is at least one of a mobile phone service provider and a VoIP service provider.

31. The method of claim 25 wherein when the contact information includes a phone number of the lost device contact, the at least one instruction associated with the first event option includes generating a text message indicating that the mobile communication device has been found and transmitting, by the mobile communication device, the text message to the lost device contact without revealing the contact information to the responding user.

32. The method of claim 25 wherein when the contact information includes information identifying a chat service and the lost device contact, the at least one instruction associated with the first event option includes establishing, by the mobile communication device, a connection with the chat service for real-time text-based communication between the responding user using the mobile communication device and the lost device contact without revealing the contact information to the responding user.

33. The method of claim 25 wherein when the contact information includes an email address of the lost device contact, the at least one instruction associated with the first event option includes generating a message indicating that the mobile communication device has been found, and transmitting the message to the email address of the lost device contact without revealing the contact information to the responding user.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein the at least one instruction for generating the message includes receiving contact information associated with the responding user and including the responding user'"'"'s contact information in the message.

35. The method of claim 25 wherein the mobile communication device includes a geo-location tracking system, and wherein the at least one instruction associated with the first event option includes:

determining a current geo-location of the mobile communication device based on information collected by the geo-location tracking system; and

transmitting the determined geo-location to the lost device contact.

36. The method of claim 25 wherein the mobile communication device includes a camera, and wherein the at least one instruction associated with the first event option includes capturing an image of the responding user and transmitting the image to the lost device contact.

37. The method of claim 25 wherein the at least one instruction associated with the first event option includes:

identifying a device return service for receiving the mobile communication device and returning the mobile communication device to the owner; and

directing the responding user to deposit the mobile communication device with the identified device return service.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein the at least one instruction associated with the first event option further includes:

establishing a connection with the identified device return service; and

transmitting information identifying the mobile communication device and authentication information of the owner to the device return service.

39. The method of claim 25 wherein in response to detecting that the mobile communication device is found, the method further comprises automatically disabling, by the mobile communication device, all functions and services of the mobile communication device except for those needed to execute the at least one instruction associated with each of the plurality of lost device emergency event options.

40. The method of claim 25 wherein the mobile communication device includes a geo-location tracking system and wherein in response to detecting that the mobile communication device is found, the method further comprises determining a current geo-location of the mobile communication device based on information collected by the geo-location tracking system and transmitting the determined geo-location to the lost device contact.

41. The method of claim 25 wherein the mobile communication device includes a camera, and wherein in response to detecting that the mobile communication device is found, the method further comprises capturing an image of the responding user and transmitting the image to the lost device contact.