Apparatus and method for providing a wireless, portable, and/or handheld, device with safety features

• US 9,961,249 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2013
• Issued: 05/01/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Christopher Michael Joao, Gregory Thomas Joao, Raymond Anthony Joao
• Original Assignee: Christopher Michael Joao
• Inventors: Joao, Gregory Thomas, Joao, Raymond Anthony, Joao, Christopher Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Hallenbeck-Huber, Jeremaiah C
• Application Number:
  US14/037,133
• Publication Number:
  US 20140085445A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,679 Days
• Field of Search: 348 61, 348 62, 348135
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3679 Retrieval, searching and output of POI information, e.g. hotels, restaurants, shops, filling stations, parking facilities G01C21/3611 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/17 Emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72421 with automatic activation of emergency service functions, e.g. upon sensing an alarm
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/57 Mechanical or electrical details of cameras or camera modules specially adapted for being embedded in other devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/18 Closed-circuit television [CCTV] systems, i.e. systems in which the video signal is not broadcast

Abstract

An apparatus, including a processing device, a camera for obtaining a view, a picture, or video, a display device for displaying information, the view, picture, or video obtained by the camera, and a global positioning system for determining a position or a location of the apparatus. The global positioning system determines a position or location of the apparatus. The apparatus identifies a municipal subdivision in which the apparatus is located, identifies a nearest police department, fire department, hospital, hotel, point of interest, or individual, generates a report containing information regarding the identified nearest police department, fire department, hospital, hotel, point of interest, or individual, located in the municipal subdivision, and contact information for the nearest police department, fire department, hospital, hotel, point of interest, or individual, and provides at least a portion of the information contained in the report via the display device.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a case;

a plurality of cameras, wherein each camera of the plurality of cameras is configured to record or obtain a view, a picture, or a video, wherein each camera of the plurality of cameras is positioned on, or is housed by, the case;

a plurality of microphones, wherein each microphone of the plurality of microphones is configured to record or obtain audio, wherein each microphone of the plurality of microphones is positioned on, or is housed by, the case;

at least one speaker, wherein the at least one speaker provides audio via the apparatus;

a processor, wherein the processor is specially programmed to control a plurality of operations of the apparatus;

a display, wherein the display displays the view, the picture, or the video, obtained by at least one camera of the plurality of cameras;

a touchscreen keyboard, wherein the touchscreen keyboard is displayed within a portion of the display;

a global positioning system, wherein the global positioning system determines a position or a location of the apparatus; and

a collision avoidance sensor, wherein the collision avoidance sensor detects an object, a structure, or an individual,

wherein the processor is specially programmed to automatically detect a texting operational mode, an e-mail operational mode, a game or gaming operational mode, or a speakerphone operational mode, of operation of the apparatus and, wherein, in response to detecting the texting operational mode, the e-mail operational mode, the game or gaming operational mode, or the speakerphone operational mode, of operation of the apparatus, the processor activates at least one camera of the plurality of cameras and activates the collision avoidance sensor, and further wherein the processor activates at least a portion of the display to display a view in front of, or an anticipated travel path of movement of, the apparatus, and further wherein the display simultaneously displays the view in front of, or the anticipated travel path of movement of, the apparatus and information for providing the continued use of the texting operational mode, the e-mail operational mode, the game or gaming operational mode, or the speakerphone operational mode, of operation of the apparatus, and further wherein the processor is specially programmed to automatically deactivate the at least one camera of the plurality of cameras and the collision avoidance sensor upon detecting a completion of the texting operational mode, the e-mail operational mode, the game or gaming operational mode, or the speakerphone operational mode, of operation of the apparatus, wherein the apparatus displays the view obtained by the at least one camera of the plurality of cameras, on or via the display, from a first time when the at least one camera of the plurality of cameras is activated until a second time when the at least one camera of the plurality of cameras is deactivated upon the detecting of the completion of the texting operational mode, the e-mail operational mode, the game or gaming operational mode, or the speakerphone operational mode, of operation of the apparatus,

wherein the apparatus stores information regarding a safe area of travel, and further wherein the global positioning system determines a position or location of the apparatus, wherein the processor determines whether or not the apparatus is located at a location outside of the safe area of travel, and wherein, if the apparatus is determined to be outside of the safe area of travel, the processor is specially programmed to activate the at least one camera of the plurality of cameras or programmed to activate a second camera of the plurality of cameras, to record a picture or video at the location of the apparatus, wherein the processor is specially programmed to location stamp and time stamp the picture or the video, and further wherein the processor generates a notification message containing, or containing as an attachment, the picture or the video, or containing a link to the picture or the video, and further wherein the apparatus transmits the notification message with the picture or the video to a communication device associated with an authorized individual or law enforcement personnel,

wherein the processor is specially programmed to convert audio information obtained by at least one microphone of the plurality of microphones to text information for transmission to the communication device, and further wherein the processor is specially programmed to convert a text message or an e-mail message to audio information and provide the audio information via the apparatus.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the size or shape of the display, a display area in the display, or the touchscreen keyboard, can be programmably changeable.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor is specially programmed to identify a municipal subdivision within which the apparatus is located and to provide information regarding the municipal subdivision via the apparatus.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the processor is specially programmed to identify a police department, law enforcement office, fire department, hospital, doctor'"'"'s office, dentist'"'"'s office, restaurant, gas station or service station, hotel, or point of interest, in the municipal subdivision.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the processor is specially programmed to identify a second individual or a relative or friend of the user of the apparatus in the municipal subdivision.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the processor is specially programmed to identify a second municipal subdivision within which the apparatus has entered and to provide information regarding the second municipal subdivision via the apparatus.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus stores a pre-stored emergency message for automatic transmission to the communication device.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least one camera of the plurality of cameras is a night vision camera.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus transmits a second message to a server or a central processing computer.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a receiver, wherein the receiver receives a control signal for controlling an operation of the apparatus.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the notification message contains a link or a hyperlink to the video or to a video clip.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is programmed for being voice-activated.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus processes information for composing a text message or an e-mail message, and further wherein the global positioning system determines a current position or location of the apparatus at the time of the composing of the text message or the e-mail message, and further wherein the apparatus attaches or includes information regarding the current position or location of the apparatus to or in the text message or to or in the e-mail message, and further wherein the apparatus transmits the information regarding the current position or location of the apparatus with the text message or with the e-mail message.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mode of operation detected is a texting operational mode.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mode of operation detected is an e-mail operational mode.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mode of operation detected is a speakerphone operational mode.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the mode of operation detected is a game playing or a gaming operational mode.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus detects a driving mode, and further wherein the apparatus deactivates the display and the touchscreen keyboard and activates a voice synthesized reading of a message or composes a message from dictation.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus automatically detects a movement of the apparatus outside of a municipal subdivision and generates an alert message containing information regarding the detection of the movement of the apparatus outside of the municipal subdivision, and further wherein the apparatus transmits the alert message to the communication device.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the alert message contains information regarding a current municipal subdivision in which the apparatus is located, information regarding a time when the apparatus moved outside of the municipal subdivision, information regarding a current time, and information regarding a current position or location of the apparatus.