Manual reporting of location data in a mobile communications network

• US 6,225,944 B1
• Filed: 12/11/1999
• Issued: 05/01/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Original Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Hayes, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAN, DAO LINDA
• Application Number:
  US09/460,186
• Time in Patent Office: 507 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.1, 342/357.01, 342/357.06, 342/357.09, 342/452, 701/213
• US Class Current: 342/357.4
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/17 Emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/008 using a mobile telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18554 using the position provided by an existing geolocalisation system

Abstract

The invention is, in one embodiment, a method of reporting the location of a mobile phone by locating a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver in a mobile communications network. The method first determines the location of the GPS receiver, processes data identifying the location, then synthesizes the location information into a Tele-type (TTY/TDD) compatible format and transmits the location. A TTY/TDD device at a receiving station will process the location data to identify the location of the mobile phone. In one aspect, the method is implemented through modular programming. The invention is also a mobile phone capable of transmitting location information gathered by a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver to a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP). The mobile phone houses a transceiver, a GPS receiver, and a Tele-type (TTY/TDD) synthesizer in communication with the GPS receiver and the transceiver.

Claims

1. A method of reporting a location of a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver in a mobile communications network, comprising the steps of:

determining a location of a GPS receiver disposed in a mobile phone;

identifying the location as location information;

synthesizing the location information into a Teletype/Telephony Device for the Deaf (TTY/TDD) compatible format; and

transmitting the location information through the mobile communications network as a TTY/TTD transmission.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of re-transmitting the location information as a TTY/TDD message.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of re-transmitting is repeated a predetermined number of times.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of re-transmitting is repeated periodically.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein the step of re-transmitting is initiated at the request of a user.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of receiving a location query.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the location query comprises an emergency number.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of querying a user of the mobile phone for a verification.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein transmitting is accomplished in a blank and burst mode.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein location information comprises a longitude statistic and a latitude statistic.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of transmitting the location information comprises transmitting the location information to a Public Safety Answering Point.

14. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of determining an appropriate Teletype protocol.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of detecting a Teletype protocol acceptable by a Public Safety Answering Point.

16. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of implementing the Teletype protocol selected by a user.

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of transmitting is accomplished by transmiting the teletype transmission across a voice channel.

5. A method of reporting a location of a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver in a mobile communications network, comprising the steps of:

determining a location of a GPS receiver disposed in a mobile phone;

identifying the location as location information;

synthesizing the location information into a Teletype/Telephony Device for the Deaf (TTY/TDD) compatible format; and

transmitting the location information through the mobile communications network as a TTY/TDD transmission;

re-transmitting the location information as a TTY/TDD message; and

repeating the re-transmission when the location of the GPS receiver changes more than a predetermined value.

11. A method of reporting a location of a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver in a mobile communications network, comprising the steps of:

determining a location of a GPS receiver disposed in a mobile phone;

identifying the location as location information;

synthesizing the location information into a Teletype/Telephony Device for the Deaf (TTY/TDD) compatible format; and

transmitting the location information in a blank and burst mode through the mobile communications network as a TTY/TDD transmission, the blank and burst mode comprising the steps of;

muting voice communications,

transmitting the TTY/TDD transmission, and

reactivating voice communications.

18. A mobile phone capable of transmitting location information gathered by a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver to a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP), comprising:

a transceiver;

a GPS receiver; and

a Teletype/Telephony Device for the Deaf (TTY/TDD) synthesizing module in communication with the GPS receiver and the transceiver whereby the transceiver transmits location data to the PSAP.

19. The mobile phone of claim 18 further comprising a microprocessor in communication with the transceiver.

20. A mobile phone capable of transmitting location information gathered by a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver to a Pubic Safety Answering Point (PSAP), comprising:

a transceiver;

a GPS receiver;

a Teletype (TTY/TTD) synthesizer in communication with teh GPS receiver and the transceiver; and

a microprocessor in communication with the transceiver, wherein the microprocessor stores a GPS algorithm.

21. In a mobile phone, a method executable as a computer program capable of reporting a location of a Global Positioning System receiver in a mobile communication network, comprising;

a location determination module;

a GPS to Teletype/Telephony Device for the Deaf (TTY/TDD) synthesizing module; and

a transmission module.