Computer-Related Devices and Techniques for Facilitating an Emergency Call Via a Cellular or Data Network

• US 20090209224A1
• Filed: 02/20/2008
• Published: 08/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: YMAX Communications Corporation (B. Riley Financial, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: YMAX Communications Corporation (B. Riley Financial, Inc.)
• Inventors: Borislow, Daniel M., Wood, Gregory Lynn
• Application Number:
  US12/034,569
• Publication Number:
  US 20090209224A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/404.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72418 for supporting emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0057 Services where the data services network provides a telephone service in addition or as an alternative, e.g. for backup purposes, to the telephone service provided by the telephone services network
• 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

The claimed invention consists of a device for use with a computer. The device may include control logic that receives a first signal corresponding to an emergency call and implements the emergency call as either a cellular-based call or a VoIP call. If two-way communication can be established with a remote device via a cellular network, then the emergency call is implemented as a cellular-based call via the cellular network. If two-way communication cannot be established with a remote device, then the emergency call is implemented as a VoIP call.

Claims

1. ) A device for use with a computer, said device comprising:

control logic that receives a first signal corresponding to an emergency call, said control logic implementing said emergency call as one of a cellular-based call or a VoIP call, said control logic implementing said emergency call as a cellular-based call via a cellular network if two-way communication can be established with a remote device via said cellular network;

said control logic implementing said emergency call as a VoIP call if said two-way communication can not be established with a remote device via said cellular network.

2. ) The device of claim 1, wherein said control logic determines whether said two-way communication can be established.

3. ) The device of claim 2, wherein said control logic determines whether said two-way communication can be established by evaluating whether a cellular signal is present.

4. ) The device of claim 3, wherein said evaluating is accomplished by employing a first transceiver to scan for cellular signals from one or more cellular towers.

5. ) The device of claim 1, wherein a first transceiver coupled to said control logic transmits a radio signal to said remote device in an attempt to establish said two-way communication.

6. ) The device of claim 2, wherein a first transceiver coupled to said control logic transmits a radio signal to said remote device in an attempt to establish said two-way communication.

7. ) The device of claim 6, wherein said control logic determines whether said two-way communication can be established by attempting to communicate with said remote device at least once, said two-way communication being established if said attempt is successful, said two-way communication not being established if said attempt is unsuccessful.

8. ) The device of claim 2, wherein said control logic determines whether said two-way communication can be established by attempting to communicate with said remote device at least once, said two-way communication being established if said attempting is successful, said two-way communication not being established if said attempting is unsuccessful.

9. ) The device of claim 1, wherein said device is incorporated into said computer.

10. ) The device of claim 1, wherein said control logic determines if said first signal corresponds to an emergency call.

11. ) A processor program product for use in a device having a processor for executing software instructions, said device being for use with a computer, said processor program product comprising:

a processor usable medium having processor readable program code embodied therein for causing said processor to receive a first signal corresponding to an emergency call;

for causing said processor to implement an emergency call as one of a cellular-based call or a VoIP call;

said processor to implement said emergency call as a cellular-based call via a cellular network if two-way communication can be established with a remote device via said cellular network;

said processor to implement said emergency call as a VoIP call if said two-way communication can not be established with a remote device via said cellular network.

12. ) The processor program product of claim 11, wherein said processor readable program code causes said processor to determine whether said two-way communication can be established.

13. ) The processor program product of claim 12, wherein said processor readable program code causes said processor to determine whether said two-way communication can be established by evaluating whether a cellular signal is present.

14. ) The processor program product of claim 13, wherein said evaluating is accomplished by employing a first transceiver to scan for cellular signals from one or more cellular towers.

15. ) The processor program product of claim 11, wherein said processor readable program code causes a first transceiver coupled to said processor to transmit a radio signal to said remote device in an attempt to establish said two-way communication.

16. ) The processor program product of claim 12, wherein said processor readable program code causes a first transceiver coupled to said processor to transmits a radio signal to said remote device in an attempt to establish said two-way communication.

17. ) The processor program product of claim 16, wherein said processor readable program code causes said processor to determine whether said two-way communication can be established by attempting to communicate with said remote device at least once, said two-way communication being established if said attempt is successful, said two-way communication not being established if said attempt is unsuccessful.

18. ) The processor program product of claim 12, wherein said processor readable program code causes said processor to determine whether said two-way communication can be established by attempting to communicate with said remote device at least once, said two-way communication being established if said attempting is successful, said two-way communication not being established if said attempting is unsuccessful.

19. ) The processor program product of claim 11, wherein said processor readable program code causes said processor to determine if said first signal corresponds to an emergency call.

20. ) A method for making a telephone call comprising:

receiving a first signal corresponding to an emergency call;

implementing said emergency call as one of a cellular-based call or a VoIP call, said implementing said emergency call as a cellular-based call via a cellular network if two-way communication can be established with a remote device via said cellular network;

said implementing said emergency call as a VoIP call if said two-way communication can not be established with a remote device via said cellular network.

21. ) The method of claim 20, further comprising determining whether said two-way communication can be established.

22. ) The method of claim 21, wherein said determining is established by evaluating whether a cellular signal is present.

23. ) The method of claim 22, wherein said evaluating is accomplished by employing a first transceiver to scan for cellular signals from one or more cellular towers.

24. ) The method of claim 20, wherein a first transceiver coupled to said control logic transmits a radio signal to said remote device in an attempt to establish said two-way communication.

25. ) The method of claim 21, wherein a first transceiver coupled to said control logic transmits a radio signal to said remote device in an attempt to establish said two-way communication.

26. ) The method of claim 25, wherein said determining whether said two-way communication can be established is accomplished by attempting to communicate with said remote device at least once, said two-way communication being established if said attempt is successful, said two-way communication not being established if said attempt is unsuccessful.

27. ) The method of claim 21, wherein said determining whether said two-way communication can be established is accomplished by attempting to communicate with said remote device at least once, said two-way communication being established if said attempting is successful, said two-way communication not being established if said attempting is unsuccessful.

28. ) The method of claim 20, further comprising the step of determining if said first signal corresponds to an emergency call.