APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING EMERGENCY ALERT SERVICE IN PORTABLE TERMINAL

• US 20100127863A1
• Filed: 11/24/2009
• Published: 05/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: KIM, Sang Hoon, KIM, Dong Sub, KIM, Sung Gu, YOON, Yong Chul
• Granted Patent: US 9,275,539 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/540
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72424 with manual activation of emergency-service functions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages

Abstract

An apparatus and method for providing an emergency alert service in a portable terminal and for generating an alarm for the emergency alert service are provided. The method includes detecting, by a controller, an SOS execution signal while the portable terminal is being operated in a certain mode, identifying, by the controller, a current operating mode of the portable terminal in response to the SOS execution signal, outputting a control signal according to the identified operating mode to a source audio signal processor, and outputting, by the source audio signal processor, a source audio signal according to an input port receiving the control signal.

Claims

1. A method for providing an emergency alert service in a portable terminal, the method comprising:

detecting, by a controller, an SOS execution signal while the portable terminal is being operated in a certain mode;

identifying, by the controller, a current operating mode of the portable terminal in response to the SOS execution signal;

outputting a control signal according to the identified operating mode to a source audio signal processor; and

outputting, by the source audio signal processor, a source audio signal according to an input port receiving the control signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting of the SOS execution signal comprises:

activating an electrical power supply line of the source audio signal processor; and

outputting the source audio signal, if the source audio signal processor receives electrical power via the electrical power supply line.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

generating the SOS execution signal in an SOS input unit of the portable terminal; and

transferring the SOS execution signal to the controller via a first switching unit,

wherein the first switching unit controls the transferring of the SOS execution signal.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

passing the SOS execution signal to the controller when the first switching unit is switched on; and

interrupting the SOS execution signal when the first switching unit is switched off.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the passing and the interrupting of the SOS execution signal is performed by a switch controlling unit that is installed externally.

6. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

outputting, by the controller, a preset effect corresponding to the operating mode of the portable terminal.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein:

the activating of the electrical power supply line of the source audio signal processor comprises switching on a second switching unit; and

the second switching unit controls the electrical power supply according to control signals of the controller, and at least one of passes electrical power from the power supply to the source audio signal processor if the second switching unit is switched on according to the control signal and interrupts electrical power from the electrical power supply to the source audio signal processor if the second switching unit is switched off according to the control signal.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the outputting of the source audio signal comprises:

identifying, if electrical power is applied to a power supply port, a corresponding mode input port, which receives a control signal from the controller; and

outputting a source audio signal corresponding to the identified mode input port externally.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the outputting of the source audio signal comprises:

processing, if a mode input port receives the control signal, the source audio signal to have a soundproof portion for a certain period of time, and at least one of outputting the processed source audio signal and delaying transmission of the source audio signal for a certain time period and outputting the delayed source audio signal.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the outputting of the source audio signal comprises:

calling, by the source audio signal processor, a preset source audio signal and outputting the preset source audio signal to at least one of a speaker and an output unit of the portable terminal.

11. A portable terminal comprising:

an SOS input unit for generating an SOS execution signal in response to a request;

a first switching unit for at least one of transferring and breaking the SOS execution signal;

a controller for detecting the SOS execution signal passed via the first switching unit, identifying an operating mode of the portable terminal, and generating a control signal according to the identified operating mode; and

a source audio signal processor for outputting a preset source audio signal corresponding to a mode input port receiving a control signal of the controller.

12. The portable terminal of claim 11, further comprising:

a switch controlling unit for switching on and off the first switching unit.

13. The portable terminal of claim 12, further comprising:

an output unit for outputting a sound corresponding to a source audio signal processed by the source audio signal processor; and

a storage unit for storing setting information related to an emergency alert service, an SOS message, setting information regarding effects and source audio signals set by modes of the portable terminal.

14. The portable terminal of claim 12, wherein the first switching unit at least one of passes the SOS execution signal to the controller when the first switching unit is switched on according to control of the switch controlling unit and interrupts the SOS execution signal when the first switching unit is switched off.

15. The portable terminal of claim 13, further comprising a second switching unit for passing electrical power from the power supply to the source audio signal processor via a switched path,

wherein the second switching unit is activated by a control signal of the controller.

16. The portable terminal of claim 15, wherein:

the controller generates a first control signal and a second control signal according to the operating mode of the portable terminal;

the second switching unit is activated by the first control signal and passes electrical power from the power supply to the source audio signal processor; and

the source audio signal processor is activated by receiving electrical power via the second switching unit and outputs a source audio signal corresponding to a mode input port receiving the second control signal.

17. The portable terminal of claim 16, wherein the second switching unit controls the electrical power supply according to control signals of the controller, and at least one of passes electrical power from the electrical power supply to the source audio signal processor if the second switching unit is switched on according to the control signal and interrupts electrical power from the electrical power supply to the source audio signal processor if the second switching unit is switched off according to the control signal.

18. The portable terminal of claim 17, wherein the source audio signal processor comprises:

an electrical power input port; and

a plurality of mode input ports, wherein

the source audio signal processor receives electrical power from the power supply via the electrical power input port and the control signal from the controller via one of the plurality of mode input ports.

19. The portable terminal of claim 18, wherein the source audio signal processor receives a control signal corresponding to one of an idle mode, a call mode and a miscellaneous mode, via one of the plurality of mode input ports.

20. The portable terminal of claim 19, wherein, if the source audio signal processor receives a control signal via one of the plurality of mode input ports, corresponding to the call mode, the source audio signal processor processes the source audio signal to have a soundproof portion for a certain period of time, and at least one of outputs the processed source audio signal and delays transmission of the source audio signal for a certain time period and outputs the delayed source audio signal.