Universal code for emergency calls mode in a network environment

• US 9,420,445 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2014
• Issued: 08/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Vedhanarayanan, Praveen Kumar
• Primary Examiner(s): SAMS, MATTHEW C
• Application Number:
  US14/150,535
• Publication Number:
  US 20150195694A1
• Time in Patent Office: 951 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72424 with manual activation of emergency-service functions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• 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 76/50 for emergency connections

Abstract

An example method for universal code for emergency calls mode in a network environment is provided and includes receiving an emergency call mode (ECM) code at an application framework layer of a phone, the ECM code being able to trigger an ECM procedure call in a telephony service of the application framework layer, and invoking the ECM procedure call, which instructs an operating system of the phone to enter an ECM, in which the phone is enabled to only make or receive calls and non-essential components of the phone that utilize battery power are disabled. The ECM code can be entered directly on a dial pad of the phone; the ECM code can also be received in a message from an authorized user. In specific embodiments, the non-essential components that are disabled include built-in sensors, wireless fidelity components, Bluetooth components and mobile data network components, applications, and background processes.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving an emergency call mode (ECM) code from a sender number at an application framework layer of a phone, wherein the ECM code can trigger an ECM procedure call in a telephony service of the application framework layer, wherein the ECM code comprises a universal code including a unique combination of letters, numbers and non-alphanumeric symbols understood by telecommunications carriers and phones to trigger ECM;

authenticating the sender number, comprising looking up in the phone an in-case-of-emergency (ICE) contact list having a list of phone numbers of users authorized to send the ECM code to the phone;

accepting the ECM code if the sender number matches one of the entries in the ICE list, and rejecting the ECM code if the sender number does not match any of the entries in the ICE list; and

invoking the ECM procedure call if the ECM code is accepted, wherein the ECM procedure call instructs an operating system of the phone to enter ECM, wherein the phone is enabled to only make or receive calls and non-essential components of the phone that utilize battery power are disabled in ECM.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the ECM code is received in a text message from the sender number.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the application framework layer authenticates the text message before invoking the ECM procedure call.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the operating system causes display of a customized dial pad on a user interface of the phone in ECM, wherein the customized dial pad shows only numbers and a call connect/disconnect icon without any background colors.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the numbers are displayed in single color, with multicolor display disabled.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the operating system disables a portion of a touch screen outside the dial pad area on the user interface in ECM.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the operating system reduces a screen brightness to a minimum possible level in ECM according to ambient light conditions measured before entering ECM.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the operating system disables a display screen when a call is connected in ECM.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-essential components include built-in sensors, wireless fidelity components, Bluetooth components and mobile data network components, applications, and background processes.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising returning to a normal mode from ECM when the phone is connected to an external power source.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein an incoming call that is not answered within a predetermined time period is automatically connected in hands-free mode in ECM.

12. Non-transitory tangible media that includes instructions for execution, which when executed by a processor of a phone, is operable to perform operations comprising:

receiving an ECM code from a sender number at an application framework layer of the phone, wherein the ECM code can trigger an ECM procedure call in a telephony service of the application framework layer, wherein the ECM code comprises a universal code including a unique combination of letters, numbers and non-alphanumeric symbols understood by telecommunications carriers and phones to trigger ECM;

authenticating the sender number, comprising looking up in the phone an ICE contact list having a list of phone numbers of users authorized to send the ECM code to the phone;

accepting the ECM code if the sender number matches one of the entries in the ICE list, and rejecting the ECM code if the sender number does not match any of the entries in the ICE list; and

invoking the ECM procedure call if the ECM code is accepted, wherein the ECM procedure call instructs an operating system of the phone to enter an ECM, wherein the phone is enabled to only make or receive calls and non-essential components of the phone that utilize battery power are disabled in ECM.

13. The media of claim 12, wherein the ECM code is received in a text message from the sender number.

14. The media of claim 12, wherein the non-essential components include built-in sensors, wireless fidelity components, Bluetooth components and mobile data network components, applications, and background processes.

19. The media of claim 12, wherein the operating system causes display of a customized dial pad on a user interface of the phone in ECM, wherein the customized dial pad shows only numbers and a call connect/disconnect icon without any background colors.

15. An apparatus, comprising:

a memory element for storing data; and

a processor, wherein the processor executes instructions associated with the data, wherein the processor and the memory element cooperate, such that the apparatus is configured for;

receiving an ECM code from a sender number at an application framework layer of the apparatus, wherein the ECM code can trigger an ECM procedure call in a telephony service of the application framework layer, wherein the ECM code comprises a universal code including a unique combination of letters, numbers and non-alphanumeric symbols understood by telecommunications carriers and phones to trigger ECM;

authenticating the sender number, comprising looking up in the phone an ICE contact list having a list of phone numbers of users authorized to send the ECM code to the phone;

accepting the ECM code if the sender number matches one of the entries in the ICE list, and rejecting the ECM code if the sender number does not match any of the entries in the ICE list; and

invoking the ECM procedure call if the ECM code is accepted, wherein the ECM procedure call instructs an operating system of the apparatus to enter an ECM, wherein the apparatus is enabled to only make or receive calls and non-essential components of the apparatus that utilize battery power are disabled in ECM.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the ECM code is received in a text message from the sender number.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the non-essential components include built-in sensors, wireless fidelity components, Bluetooth components and mobile data network components, applications, and background processes.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the operating system causes display of a customized dial pad on a user interface of the phone in ECM, wherein the customized dial pad shows only numbers and a call connect/disconnect icon without any background colors.