Portable device for indicating emergecny events

• US 9,875,641 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2017
• Issued: 01/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dauntless Labs LLC
• Original Assignee: Arati P. Singh, Ranjeev K. Singh
• Inventors: Singh, Arati P, Singh, Ranjeev K
• Primary Examiner(s): Lau, Hoi
• Application Number:
  US15/594,587
• Publication Number:
  US 20170251350A1
• Time in Patent Office: 255 Days
• Field of Search: 340449, 340501, 34087017, 34063618, 3405391, 34053913, 34053912, 340521, 34053923, 34053921, 340 81, 700153, 700205, 700299, 7320419, 315185 R, 315119, 315129, 315117, 315125, 315294, 315192, 315310, 315 77, 315121, 4554041, 4554042, 455466, 455419
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04101 2.5D-digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface and also measures the distance of the input means within a short range in the Z direction, possibly with a separate measurement setup
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• 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: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• 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 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]

Abstract

A portable device including a gesture recognizer module for automatically detecting a specific sequence of gestures is described. The portable device may be used to detect a health, safety, or security related event. The portable device may further include an emergency event module for automatically determining whether the sequence of gestures corresponds to an emergency event. The portable device may further include a proximity detection module for automatically determining whether a mobile device corresponding to a user listed as an emergency contact is in a state of proximity to the portable device. The portable device may further include a notification module for automatically transmitting a message, indicating the emergency event, to the user of the mobile device determined to be in the state of proximity.

Claims

1. A portable device for use in a wireless network, the portable device comprising:

at least one processor;

a memory;

a touch screen configured to be in a locked state or in an unlocked state;

a plurality of contacts of a user associated with the portable device stored in the memory, wherein a subset of the plurality of contacts of the user is designated by the user as contacts that may automatically receive location information, via the wireless network, corresponding to the user in case of an emergency; and

one or more modules stored in the memory and configured for execution by the at least one processor, the one or more modules comprising instructions;

to automatically place an emergency call, without any further user interaction, in response to information generated by the portable device, wherein the portable device is configured to generate the information, even when the touch screen is in the locked state, based on a specific input sequence to the portable device comprising a first input provided by the user followed by a second input provided by the user, wherein the first input provided by the user corresponds to a user input device associated with the portable device and the second input provided by the user corresponds to a swipe by the user across the touch screen associated with the portable device, and

to, in response to the information generated by the portable device, without any further user interaction, automatically obtain, substantially in real-time, a current location of the portable device, automatically provide a message for transmission to at least one of the subset of the plurality of contacts of the user including the current location of the portable device, and provide an intermittent location update corresponding to a location of the portable device.

2. The portable device of claim 1, wherein the portable device is configured to operate in a first power mode or a second power mode, wherein the first power mode comprises supplying power to a predetermined number of modules of the portable device and the second power mode comprises supplying power to a subset of the predetermined number of modules of the portable device, wherein the subset of the modules comprises fewer modules than the predetermined number of modules, and wherein even when the portable device is in the second power mode, the portable device is further configured to supply power to the subset of the predetermined number of modules comprising at least the instructions to automatically place the emergency call.

3. The portable device of claim 2, wherein even when the portable device is in the second power mode, the portable device is further configured to supply power to the subset of the predetermined number of modules comprising at least the instructions to automatically obtain, substantially in real-time, the current location of the portable device and automatically provide the message for transmission to the at least one of the subset of the plurality of contacts of the user including the current location of the portable device.

4. The portable device of claim 1 further comprising instructions to automatically track an amount of time that has elapsed since the portable device was last used to perform a function associated with the portable device.

5. The portable device of claim 1, wherein the portable device further comprises instructions to, in response to information generated by a wrist watch worn by the user of the portable device, without any further user interaction, automatically place the emergency call.

6. The portable device of claim 5, wherein the portable device further comprises instructions to, in response to the information generated by the wrist watch worn by the user of the portable device, without any further user interaction, automatically obtain, substantially in real-time, the current location of the portable device and automatically provide the message for transmission to the at least one of the subset of the plurality of contacts of the user including the current location of the portable device.

7. A portable device for use in a wireless network, the portable device comprising:

at least one processor;

a memory;

a touch screen configured to be in a locked state or in an unlocked state;

a plurality of contacts of a user associated with the portable device stored in the memory, wherein a subset of the plurality of contacts of the user is designated by the user as contacts that may automatically receive location information, via the wireless network, corresponding to the user in case of an emergency; and

one or more modules stored in the memory and configured for execution by the at least one processor, the one or more modules comprising instructions;

to automatically obtain an emergency number to dial depending upon a location of the portable device and automatically place an emergency call to the emergency number, without any further user interaction, in response to information generated by the portable device, wherein the portable device is configured to generate the information, even when the touch screen is in the locked state, based on a specific input sequence to the portable device comprising a first input provided by the user followed by a second input provided by the user, wherein the first input provided by the user corresponds to a user input device associated with the portable device and the second input provided by the user corresponds to a swipe by the user across the touch screen associated with the portable device, and

to, in response to the information generated by the portable device, without any further user interaction, automatically obtain, substantially in real-time, a current location of the portable device, automatically provide a message for transmission to at least one of the subset of the plurality of contacts of the user including the current location of the portable device, and provide an intermittent location update corresponding to a location of the portable device.

8. The portable device of claim 7, wherein the portable device is configured to operate in a first power mode or a second power mode, wherein the first power mode comprises supplying power to a predetermined number of modules of the portable device and the second power mode comprises supplying power to a subset of the predetermined number of modules of the portable device, wherein the subset of the modules comprises fewer modules than the predetermined number of modules, and wherein even when the portable device is in the second power mode, the portable device is further configured to supply power to the subset of the predetermined number of modules comprising at least the instructions to automatically place the emergency call.

9. The portable device of claim 8, wherein even when the portable device is in the second power mode, the portable device is further configured to supply power to the subset of the predetermined number of modules comprising at least the instructions to automatically obtain, substantially in real-time, the current location of the portable device and automatically provide the message for transmission to the at least one of the subset of the plurality of contacts of the user including the current location of the portable device.

10. The portable device of claim 7 further comprising instructions to automatically track an amount of time that has elapsed since the portable device was last used to perform a function associated with the portable device.

11. The portable device of claim 7, wherein the portable device further comprises instructions to, in response to information generated by a wrist watch worn by the user of the portable device, without any further user interaction, automatically place the emergency call.

12. The portable device of claim 11, wherein the portable device further comprises instructions to, in response to the information generated by the wrist watch worn by the user of the portable device, without any further user interaction, automatically obtain, substantially in real-time, the current location of the portable device and automatically provide the message for transmission to the at least one of the subset of the plurality of contacts of the user including the current location of the portable device.

13. A portable device for use in a wireless network, the portable device comprising:

at least one processor;

a memory;

a touch screen configured to be in a locked state or in an unlocked state;

a plurality of contacts of a user associated with the portable device stored in the memory, wherein a subset of the plurality of contacts of the user is designated by the user as contacts that may automatically receive location information, via the wireless network, corresponding to the user in case of an emergency; and

one or more modules stored in the memory and configured for execution by the at least one processor, the one or more modules comprising instructions;

to automatically obtain an emergency number to dial depending upon a location of the portable device and automatically place an emergency call, without any further user interaction, in response to information generated by the portable device, wherein the portable device is configured to generate the information, even when the touch screen is in the locked state, based on a specific input sequence to the portable device comprising a first input provided by the user followed by a second input provided by the user, wherein the first input provided by the user corresponds to a user input device associated with the portable device and the second input provided by the user corresponds to a swipe by the user across the touch screen associated with the portable device, and

to, in response to the information generated by the portable device, without any further user interaction, automatically obtain, substantially in real-time, a current location of the portable device, automatically provide a message for transmission to at least one of the subset of the plurality of contacts of the user including the current location of the portable device.

14. The portable device of claim 13, wherein the portable device is configured to operate in a first power mode or a second power mode, wherein the first power mode comprises supplying power to a predetermined number of modules of the portable device and the second power mode comprises supplying power to a subset of the predetermined number of modules of the portable device, wherein the subset of the modules comprises fewer modules than the predetermined number of modules, and wherein even when the portable device is in the second power mode, the portable device is further configured to supply power to the subset of the predetermined number of modules comprising at least the instructions to automatically place the emergency call.

15. The portable device of claim 14, wherein even when the portable device is in the second power mode, the portable device is further configured to supply power to the subset of the predetermined number of modules comprising at least the instructions to automatically obtain, substantially in real-time, the current location of the portable device and automatically provide the message for transmission to the at least one of the subset of the plurality of contacts of the user including the current location of the portable device.

16. The portable device of claim 13 further comprising instructions to automatically track an amount of time that has elapsed since the portable device was last used to perform a function associated with the portable device.

17. The portable device of claim 13, wherein the portable device further comprises instructions to, in response to information generated by a wrist watch worn by the user of the portable device, without any further user interaction, automatically place the emergency call.

18. The portable device of claim 17, wherein the portable device further comprises instructions to, in response to the information generated by the wrist watch worn by the user of the portable device, without any further user interaction, automatically obtain, substantially in real-time, the current location of the portable device and automatically provide the message for transmission to the at least one of the subset of the plurality of contacts of the user including the current location of the portable device.

19. A method for using a portable device, having a touch screen configured to be in a locked state or in an unlocked state, in a wireless network, the method comprising:

the portable device storing a plurality of contacts of a user in a memory associated with the portable device, wherein a subset of the plurality of contacts of the user is designated by the user as contacts that may automatically receive location information, via the wireless network, corresponding to the user in case of an emergency;

in response to information generated by the portable device, wherein the portable device is configured to generate the information, even when the touch screen is in the locked state, based on a specific input sequence to the portable device comprising a first input provided by the user followed by a second input provided by the user, wherein the first input provided by the user corresponds to a user input device associated with the portable device and the second input provided by the user corresponds to a swipe by the user across the touch screen associated with the portable device, without any further user interaction, the portable device automatically obtaining an emergency number to dial depending upon a location of the portable device and the portable device automatically placing an emergency call to the emergency number; and

in response to the information generated by the portable device, without any further user interaction, the portable device automatically obtaining, substantially in real-time, a current location of the portable device, automatically providing a message for transmission to at least one of the subset of the plurality of contacts of the user including the current location of the portable device, and providing an intermittent location update corresponding to a location of the portable device.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the portable device is configured to operate in a first power mode or a second power mode, wherein the first power mode comprises supplying power to a predetermined number of modules of the portable device and the second power mode comprises supplying power to a subset of the number of modules of the portable device, wherein the subset of the modules comprises fewer modules than the predetermined number of modules, and wherein even when the portable device is in the second power mode, the portable device is further configured to supply power to the subset of the predetermined number of modules comprising at least the instructions to automatically place the emergency call.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein even when the portable device is in the second power mode, the portable device is further configured to supply power to the subset of the predetermined number of modules comprising at least the instructions to automatically obtain, substantially in real-time, the current location of the portable device and automatically provide the message for transmission to the at least one of the subset of the plurality of contacts of the user including the current location of the portable device.

22. The method of claim 19 further comprising the portable device automatically keeping track of an amount of time that has elapsed since the portable device was last used to perform a function associated with the portable device.

23. The method of claim 19 further comprising in response to information generated by a wrist watch worn by the user of the portable device, the portable device, without any further user interaction, automatically placing the emergency call.

24. The method of claim 23 further comprising in response to the information generated by the wrist watch worn by the user of the portable device, without any further user interaction, automatically obtaining, substantially in real-time, the current location of the portable device and automatically providing the message for transmission to the at least one of the subset of the plurality of contacts of the user including the current location of the portable device.

25. A method for using a portable device, having a touch screen configured to be in a locked state or in an unlocked state, in a wireless network, the method comprising:

the portable device storing a plurality of contacts of a user in a memory associated with the portable device, wherein a subset of the plurality of contacts of the user is designated by the user as contacts that may automatically receive location information, via the wireless network, corresponding to the user in case of an emergency;

in response to information generated by the portable device, wherein the portable device is configured to generate the information, even when the touch screen is in the locked state, based on a specific input sequence to the portable device comprising a first input provided by the user followed by a second input provided by the user, wherein the first input provided by the user corresponds to a user input device associated with the portable device and the second input provided by the user corresponds to a swipe by the user across the touch screen associated with the portable device, without any further user interaction, the portable device automatically placing an emergency call; and

in response to the information generated by the portable device, without any further user interaction, the portable device automatically obtaining, substantially in real-time, a current location of the portable device and automatically provide a message for transmission to at least one of the subset of the plurality of contacts of the user including the current location of the portable device.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the portable device is configured to operate in a first power mode or a second power mode, wherein the first power mode comprises supplying power to a predetermined number of modules of the portable device and the second power mode comprises supplying power to a subset of the predetermined number of modules of the portable device, wherein the subset of the modules comprises fewer modules than the predetermined number of modules, and wherein even when the portable device is in the second power mode, the portable device is further configured to supply power to the subset of the predetermined number of modules comprising at least the instructions to automatically place the emergency call.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein even when the portable device is in the second power mode, the portable device is further configured to supply power to the subset of the predetermined number of modules comprising at least the instructions to automatically obtain, substantially in real-time, the current location of the portable device and automatically provide the message for transmission to the at least one of the plurality of contacts of the user including the current location of the portable device.

28. The method of claim 25 further comprising the portable device automatically keeping track of an amount of time that has elapsed since the portable device was last used to perform a function associated with the portable device.

29. The method of claim 25 further comprising in response to information generated by a wrist watch worn by the user of the portable device, the portable device, without any further user interaction, automatically placing the emergency call.

30. The method of claim 29 further comprising in response to the information generated by the wrist watch worn by the user of the portable device, without any further user interaction, the portable device automatically obtaining, substantially in real-time, the current location of the portable device and automatically providing the message for transmission to the at least one of the subset of the plurality of contacts of the user including the current location of the portable device.