Communication terminal

• US 20060052120A1
• Filed: 08/31/2005
• Published: 03/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
• Inventors: Dinescu, Dan, Kodim, Walter
• Application Number:
  US11/218,315
• Publication Number:
  US 20060052120A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72424 with manual activation of emergency-service functions
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A device coupled to a communication terminal allows an emergency sequence to be triggered. During the emergency sequence, the communication terminal outputs a signal, so that, by way of example, a voice link is set up to a prescribed telephone number. The external triggering apparatus is in the form of a memory card, for example, which has a triggering grip and is coupled to the communication terminal by means of a card reading apparatus.

Claims

1. A communication terminal comprising:

an external triggering apparatus which has an operating element and a signaling device, which generates a trigger signal when the operating element is operated mechanically;

a signal generation device;

a signal output device;

a detection device which detects the trigger signal; and

a control device which controls the signal generation device to generate a signal which is output by the signal output device when the trigger signal is detected by the detection device.

2. The communication terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signal is in a form such that output of the signal sets up a voice communication link using a telephone number from a plurality of prescribed telephone numbers and/or such that output of the signal sends a message from which it is possible to ascertain that an emergency has arisen, and/or where the signal is an audio or visual signal.

3. The communication terminal as claimed in claim 2, wherein the message is a text message or a multimedia message.

4. The communication terminal as claimed in claim 3, wherein the message is an SMS message or an MMS message.

5. The communication terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the external triggering apparatus is an accessory of the communication terminal.

6. The communication terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the signal output device is a mobile radio transmission device.

7. The communication terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the communication terminal is a mobile radio user terminal.

8. The communication terminal as claimed in claim 1, wherein the triggering apparatus is selected from the group consisting of a chip card, a memory stick, and a computer expansion card.

9. The communication terminal as claimed in claim 8, wherein the triggering apparatus is selected from the group consisting of a MultiMediaCard, a USB stick, and a PCMCIA card.

10. The communication terminal as claimed in claim 8, wherein the triggering apparatus can be coupled to the communication terminal using an access apparatus.

11. A method for controlling a communication terminal having a detection device, a,control device, a signal generation device and a signal output device, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting a trigger signal which is generated when an operating element in an external triggering apparatus coupled to the communication terminal is operated mechanically; and

prompting, based on the detection of the trigger signal, the communication terminal to be controlled such that the communication terminal generates and outputs a signal.

12. A communication arrangement comprising:

an triggering apparatus having an operating element and a signaling device, which generates a trigger signal when the operating element is operated mechanically; and

a communication terminal coupled with the triggering apparatus and having;

a signal generation device;

a signal output device;

a detection device which detects the trigger signal; and

a control device which controls the signal generation device to generate a signal which is output by the signal output device when the trigger signal is detected by the detection device.

13. A triggering apparatus comprising:

an operating element; and

a signaling device,

wherein the triggering apparatus can be coupled to a communication terminal, and the triggering apparatus is external relative to the communication terminal, and

wherein the signaling device generates a trigger signal when the operating element is operated mechanically, and the communication terminal generates and outputs a signal when the trigger signal is detected.

14. A computer program element which, having been loaded into a memory of a communication terminal and executed by a processor in the communication terminal, prompts the following method steps to be carried out:

detecting a trigger signal which is generated when an operating element in an external triggering apparatus coupled to the communication terminal is operated mechanically; and

prompting, based on the detection of the trigger signal, the communication terminal to be controlled such that the communication terminal generates and outputs a signal.

15. A communication terminal comprising:

a signal generation device;

a signal output device;

an accessory; and

a control device which, depending on whether the accessory is coupled in the communication terminal, controls the signal generation device to generate a signal which is output from the signal output device, indicating that an emergency has occurred.

16. Communication terminal as claimed in claim 15, further comprising a detection device which is adapted to detect if the accessory is coupled with the communication terminal.

17. Communication terminal as claimed in claim 15 wherein the control device controls the signal generation device to generate the signal which is output by the signal output device if the accessory is coupled to the communication terminal when the communication terminal is switched on or if the communication terminal is switched on and the accessory is separated from the communication terminal.

18. A method for controlling a communication terminal which can be coupled with an accessory wherein the communication terminal is controlled depending on whether the accessory is coupled with the communication terminal to generate and output a signal indicating that an emergency has occurred.

19. A communication arrangement comprising:

an accessory; and

a communication terminal coupled with the accessory and having;

a signal generation device;

a signal output device; and

a control device which controls, depending on whether the accessory is coupled with the communication terminal, the signal generation device to generate a signal which is output from the signal output device, thereby indicating that an emergency has occurred.

20. A computer program element which, having been loaded into the memory of a communication terminal which is coupled with an accessory and executed by a processor in the communication terminal, prompts that the communication terminal is controlled depending on whether the accessory is coupled with the communication terminal to generate and output a signal indicating that an emergency has occurred.

21. Computer readable storage medium on which program instructions are stored which, when executed by a processor of a communication terminal which can be coupled to an accessory prompt that the communication terminal is controlled depending on whether the accessory is coupled with the communication terminal to generate and output a signal indicating that an emergency has occurred.