SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR INITIATING A STAND-BY SIGNAL AND A DISTRESS SIGNAL FROM A MOBILE DEVICE

• US 20120282877A1
• Filed: 04/24/2012
• Published: 11/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: David Amis
• Original Assignee: David Amis
• Inventors: AMIS, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US13/454,230
• Publication Number:
  US 20120282877A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/23 Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof by improving visibility H04M1/22
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72424 with manual activation of emergency-service functions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]

Abstract

The disclosure generally relates to systems and methods for allowing a person to activate a distress signal via a portable device, such as a mobile phone, without having to physically look at the portable device. For example, if a victim is being held hostage, and cannot use their mobile phone in plain sight of the hostage-takers, the present invention allows the victim to silently activate a distress signal that can be sent to various third-party response providers, such as a 911 dispatch center, a private security/monitoring service and a friends and family network. The distress signal is activated through various software and/or hardware based tactile mechanisms and buttons provided on the portable device.

Claims

1. A method of initiating a distress signal, comprising the steps of:

sensing a first pressure by a sensor on a pre-determined portion of a surface of a mobile device;

transmitting, by a signal transceiver in the mobile device, a stand-by signal to a remote monitoring system upon sensing the first pressure by the sensor;

initiating a first security protocol by the remote monitoring system upon receipt of the stand-by signal;

sensing a second pressure by the sensor on the pre-determined portion of the surface, wherein the second pressure is different than the first pressure;

transmitting, by the signal transceiver, a distress signal to the remote monitoring system upon sensing the second pressure by the sensor; and

initiating a second security protocol by the remote monitoring system upon receipt of the distress signal.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the pre-determined portion of the surface of the mobile device is a touchscreen display.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the pre-determined portion of the surface of the mobile device is selected from a group consisting of a mechanical button, a mechanical switch, and a mechanical slider.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second pressure has a zero value.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first pressure value is greater than the second pressure value.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first pressure value is less than the second pressure value.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising activating an indicator on the mobile device by a processor on the mobile device upon sensing the application of the first pressure or the second pressure by the sensor.

8. A method of communicating a safety status to a third-party, comprising the steps of:

sensing an application of a finger by a sensor on a touch-sensitive display of a mobile device;

transmitting, by a signal transceiver in the mobile device, a stand-by signal to a remote monitoring system upon sensing the application of the finger by the sensor;

initiating a first security protocol by the remote monitoring system upon receipt of the stand-by signal;

sensing a removal of the finger from the touch-sensitive display by the sensor;

transmitting, by the signal transceiver, a distress signal to the remote monitoring system upon sensing the removal of the finger by the sensor; and

initiating a second security protocol by the remote monitoring system upon receipt of the distress signal.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising, terminating the first security protocol by the remote monitoring system if a security code is transmitted from the signal transceiver to the remote monitoring system within a pre-determined period of time after the remote monitoring system receives the distress signal.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the security code is manually input via the touch-sensitive display.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the security code is verbally input via a microphone on the mobile device.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the first security protocol is selected from a group consisting of monitoring audio signals from the mobile device at the remote monitoring system, monitoring video signals from the mobile device at the remote monitoring system, initiating a telephone call to the mobile device by the remote monitoring system, and transmitting the stand-by signal to a third-party by the remote monitoring system.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the second security protocol is selected from a group consisting of transmitting the distress signal to a first responder by the remote monitoring system, transmitting the distress signal to a third-party by the remote monitoring system, and activating an indicator on the mobile device by the remote monitoring system.

14. A method of communicating a safety status to a third-party, comprising the steps of:

sensing an application of a finger by a sensor on a surface of a mobile device;

transmitting, by a signal transceiver in the mobile device, a stand-by signal to a remote monitoring system upon sensing the application of the finger by the sensor;

activating a first indicator on a display on the mobile device upon sensing the application of the finger by the sensor;

initiating a first security protocol by the remote monitoring system upon receipt of the stand-by signal;

sensing a removal of the finger from the surface by the sensor;

activating a second indicator on the display on the mobile device upon sensing the removal of the finger by the sensor;

transmitting, by the signal transceiver, a distress signal to the remote monitoring system upon sensing the removal of the finger by the sensor; and

initiating a second security protocol by the remote monitoring system upon receipt of the distress signal.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first indicator and the second indicator are visual indicators selected from a group consisting of a logo, a warning text, a hologram emitting from the mobile device, and a flashing light.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the first indicator and the second indicator are audible indicators selected from a group consisting of a pre-recorded message, an audio signal from the remote monitoring system, an alarm, a police siren, and a musical melody.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the first indicator or the second indicator is selected from a group consisting of a visual indicator and an audible indicator.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the first indicator and the second indicator are visual indicators having different colors.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of transmitting the stand-by signal by the transceiver to a third-party other than the remote monitoring system.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of transmitting the distress signal by the transceiver to a third-party other than the remote monitoring system.