Automated response to duress in distress signals

• US 9,870,695 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2016
• Issued: 01/16/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alert Media, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Alert Media, Inc.
• Inventors: Cruver, Brian, Godwin, David, Branc, Jeff, Miller, Matthew
• Primary Examiner(s): Previl, Daniel
• Application Number:
  US15/252,788
• Publication Number:
  US 20160373912A1
• Time in Patent Office: 503 Days
• Field of Search: 3405731, 34053911, 340500, 34042612, 3405734, 3405735, 340692, 3406917, 34082525, 34082524, 340 75
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724098 Interfacing with an on-board device of a vehicle for hands-free speaking in vehicles H04M1/6075
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72421 with automatic activation of emergency service functions, e.g. upon sensing an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72424 with manual activation of emergency-service functions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location 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 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/20 Information technology specific aspects, e.g. CAD, simulation, modelling, system security

Abstract

A system for facilitating automated response to a distress signal includes an attachment for a multifunction mobile computing device. In some embodiments, the attachment removably articulates to a sensor location coupled to a housing of the multifunction mobile computing device. In some embodiments, the system includes a computer program product in a non-transitory computer-readable medium. In some embodiments, the program instructions are computer-executable by the multifunction mobile computing device to implement detecting a disarticulation of the attachment from the sensor location on the multifunction mobile computing device, and, responsive to the detecting the disarticulation of the attachment from the sensor location on the multifunction mobile computing device, transmitting to a distress signal response receiver over a radio-frequency network from a radio-frequency transmitter located within a housing of the multifunction mobile computing device the distress signal.

Claims

1. A system for facilitating automated response to a distress signal, the system comprising:

an attachment for a multifunction mobile computing device, wherein the attachment removably articulates to a sensor location coupled to a housing of the multifunction mobile computing device; and

a computer program product in a non-transitory computer-readable medium, wherein the program instructions are computer-executable by the multifunction mobile computing device to implement;

detecting a disarticulation of the attachment from the sensor location on the multifunction mobile computing device, and responsive to the detecting the disarticulation of the attachment from the sensor location on the multifunction mobile computing device, transmitting to a distress signal response receiver over a radiofrequency network from a radio-frequency transmitter located within a housing of the multifunction mobile computing device thea distress signal comprising location information describing a location of the mobile computing device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the program instructions are further computer-executable to implement:

responsive to the detecting the disarticulation of the attachment from the sensor location on the multifunction mobile computing device,

presenting a distress signal control interface capable of receiving a duress condition transmission order from a user of the multifunction mobile computing device to prevent transmission of the distress signal, and

responsive to the duress condition transmission order from a user of the multifunction mobile computing device, transmitting the distress signal.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the program instructions are further computer-executable to implement:

responsive to the detecting the disarticulation of the attachment from the sensor location on the multifunction mobile computing device,

over-riding a locked screen condition of the multifunction mobile computing device; and

presenting a distress signal control interface capable of receiving an order from a user of the multifunction mobile computing device to control parameters of transmission of the distress signal.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the program instructions are further computer-executable to implement:

responsive to the detecting the disarticulation of the attachment from the sensor location on the multifunction mobile computing device,

over-riding a locked screen condition of the multifunction mobile computing device; and

presenting a distress signal data input interface capable of receiving condition description indications from a user of the multifunction mobile computing device for transmission with the distress signal.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the program instructions are further computer-executable to implement:

responsive to the detecting the disarticulation of the attachment from the sensor location on the multifunction mobile computing device,

presenting a distress signal control interface capable of receiving an order from a user of the multifunction mobile computing device to prevent transmission of the distress signal, wherein the presenting the distress signal control interface capable of receiving the order from a user of the multifunction mobile computing device to prevent transmission of the distress signal further comprises presenting a distress signal control interface capable of receiving a duress indication order from the user of the multifunction mobile computing device; and

responsive to receiving the duress indication order from the user of the multifunction mobile computing device,

indicating over a user interface of the multifunction mobile computing device prevention of transmission of the distress signal, and transmitting the distress signal with a duress indicator.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the program instructions are further computer-executable to implement:

responsive to the detecting the disarticulation of the attachment from the sensor location on the multifunction mobile computing device, capturing input data received from one or more sensors of the multifunction mobile computing device, and

transmitting to the distress signal response receiver over the radiofrequency network from the radio-frequency transmitter located within the housing of the multifunction mobile computing device the input data received from the one or more sensors of the multifunction mobile computing device.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the program instructions are further computer-executable to implement:

responsive to the detecting the disarticulation of the attachment from the sensor location on the multifunction mobile computing device, capturing location data describing a location of the multifunction mobile computing device, and

transmitting to the distress signal response receiver over the radiofrequency network from the radio-frequency transmitter located within the housing of the multifunction mobile computing device the location data describing the location of the multifunction mobile computing device.

8. A system for facilitating automated response to a distress signal, the system comprising:

a multifunction mobile computing device, the multifunction mobile computing device comprising;

a housing,

a sensor location coupled to the housing, a processor located within the housing, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, and a radio-frequency transmitter located within the housing;

an attachment for the multifunction mobile computing device, wherein the attachment removably articulates to the sensor location coupled to the housing of the multifunction mobile computing device; and

a computer program product in the non-transitory computer-readable medium of the multifunction mobile computing device, wherein the program instructions are computer-executable to implement;

detecting a disarticulation of the attachment from the sensor location on the multifunction mobile computing device, and responsive to the detecting the disarticulation of the attachment from the sensor location on the multifunction mobile computing device, transmitting to a distress signal response receiver over a radiofrequency network from the radio-frequency transmitter located within the housing of the multifunction mobile computing device a distress signal comprising location information describing a location of the mobile computing device.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the program instructions are further computer-executable to implement:

responsive to the detecting the disarticulation of the attachment from the sensor location on the multifunction mobile computing device, presenting a distress signal control interface capable of receiving a duress condition transmission order from a user of the multifunction mobile computing device to prevent transmission of the distress signal, and

responsive to the duress condition transmission order from a user of the multifunction mobile computing device transmitting the distress signal.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the program instructions are further computer-executable to implement:

responsive to the detecting the disarticulation of the attachment from the sensor location on the multifunction mobile computing device, over-riding a locked screen condition of the multifunction mobile computing device; and

presenting a distress signal control interface capable of receiving an order from a user of the multifunction mobile computing device to control parameters of transmission of the distress signal.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the program instructions are further computer-executable to implement:

responsive to the detecting the disarticulation of the attachment from the sensor location on the multifunction mobile computing device, over-riding a locked screen condition of the multifunction mobile computing device; and

presenting a distress signal data input interface capable of receiving condition description indications from a user of the multifunction mobile computing device for transmission with the distress signal.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the program instructions are further computer-executable to implement:

responsive to the detecting the disarticulation of the attachment from the sensor location on the multifunction mobile computing device, presenting a distress signal control interface capable of receiving an order from a user of the multifunction mobile computing device to prevent transmission of the distress signal, wherein the presenting the distress signal control interface capable of receiving the order from a user of the multifunction mobile computing device to prevent transmission of the distress signal further comprises presenting a distress signal control interface capable of receiving a duress indication order from the user of the multifunction mobile computing device; and

responsive to receiving the duress indication order from the user of the multifunction mobile computing device,

indicating over a user interface of the multifunction mobile computing device prevention of transmission of the distress signal, and transmitting the distress signal with a duress indicator.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the program instructions are further computer-executable to implement:

responsive to the detecting the disarticulation of the attachment from the sensor location on the multifunction mobile computing device, capturing input data received from one or more sensors of the multifunction mobile computing device, and

transmitting to the distress signal response receiver over the radiofrequency network from the radio-frequency transmitter located within the housing of the multifunction mobile computing device the input data received from the one or more sensors of the multifunction mobile computing device.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the program instructions are further computer-executable to implement:

responsive to the detecting the disarticulation of the attachment from the sensor location on the multifunction mobile computing device, capturing location data describing a location of the multifunction mobile computing device, and

transmitting to the distress signal response receiver over the radiofrequency network from the radio-frequency transmitter located within the housing of the multifunction mobile computing device the location data describing the location of the multifunction mobile computing device.

15. A peripheral device for use in causing a multifunction mobile computing device to facilitate automated response to a distress signal, the peripheral comprising:

an attachment for a multifunction mobile computing device, wherein the attachment removably articulates to a sensor location coupled to the housing of the multifunction mobile computing device, wherein the attachment removably articulates to a sensor location in a manner detectable to a sensor housed at the sensor location; and

a tether for removably articulating the attachment to a user of the multifunction mobile computing device, wherein upon application of force to the tether in a direction away from the sensor location, the sensor housed at the sensor location detects removal of the attachment and causes the multifunction mobile computing device to transmit a distress signal comprising location information describing a location of the mobile computing device.

16. The peripheral device for use in causing a multifunction mobile computing device to facilitate automated response to a distress signal of claim 15, wherein the sensor location comprises an audio output connector coupled to a housing of the multifunction mobile computing device;

and the attachment comprises an articulating component dimensioned for removable articulation to the audio output connector.

17. The peripheral device for use in causing a multifunction mobile computing device to facilitate automated response to a distress signal of claim 15, wherein the sensor location comprises an audio output connector coupled to a housing of the multifunction mobile computing device;

and the attachment comprises an electrically-conductive articulating component dimensioned for removable articulation to the audio output connector.

18. The peripheral device for use in causing a multifunction mobile computing device to facilitate automated response to a distress signal of claim 15, wherein the sensor location comprises an digital data connector coupled to a housing of the multifunction mobile computing device;

and the attachment comprises an articulating component dimensioned for removable articulation to the digital data connector.

19. The peripheral device for use in causing a multifunction mobile computing device to facilitate automated response to a distress signal of claim 15, wherein the sensor location comprises a magnetic peripheral articulation connector coupled to a housing of the multifunction mobile computing device;

and the attachment comprises an articulating component polarized for magnetic removable articulation to the magnetic peripheral articulation connector.

20. The peripheral device for use in causing a multifunction mobile computing device to facilitate automated response to a distress signal of claim 15, wherein the sensor location comprises an electric power transmission connector coupled to a housing of the multifunction mobile computing device;

and the attachment comprises an articulating component dimensioned for removable articulation to the electric power transmission connector.