Method of facilitating access to IP-based emergency services
First Claim
1. A method of facilitating access to emergency services comprising:
- establishing an instant connection with an emergency service center (ESC) when a user requests emergency help using a panic button located on an Internet Protocol (IP) based household device; and
delivering a help request message in an IP format to the ESC in response to the user'"'"'s request for the emergency help wherein said help request comprises medical information about said user;
wherein the instant connection is established by accessing the ESC via the Internet;
wherein establishing an instant connection with an emergency service center (ESC) includes sending the help request message to a support service provider (SSP), the SSP forwarding the help request message to the ESC.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for reporting a user'"'"'s emergency condition by sending an emergency help request message in a TCP/IP format to an emergency service center (ESC). The help request message may be sent over the Internet to advantageously harness the data transmission resources provided by the Internet. A support service provider may commercially provide such an emergency reporting service to a group of subscribers. The service provider may receive emergency requests from the subscribers and may send those requests over the Internet to the emergency service center. The service provider may also convert any non-TCP/IP message received from the subscriber into a TCP/IP message prior to sending the message to the ESC. A per-usage fee or a flat subscription fee may be charged by the service provider to allow users to report emergency conditions over the Internet. The support service provider thus coordinates the emergency help on behalf of the user. Internet-based emergency message delivery may be useful in many situations, for example, when the person in need of help is mute, disabled or in a situation that prevents the person from orally requesting emergency help from the ESC.
56 Citations
39 Claims
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1. A method of facilitating access to emergency services comprising:
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establishing an instant connection with an emergency service center (ESC) when a user requests emergency help using a panic button located on an Internet Protocol (IP) based household device; and delivering a help request message in an IP format to the ESC in response to the user'"'"'s request for the emergency help wherein said help request comprises medical information about said user; wherein the instant connection is established by accessing the ESC via the Internet; wherein establishing an instant connection with an emergency service center (ESC) includes sending the help request message to a support service provider (SSP), the SSP forwarding the help request message to the ESC. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of providing access to emergency services comprising:
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providing an emergency contact means to a user, wherein the emergency contact means is located on an Internet Protocol (IP) based household device; establishing an instant connection with an emergency service center (ESC) when the user activates the emergency contact means; and delivering a help request message in an IP format to the ESC wherein said help request comprises medical information about said user; wherein the instant connection is established by accessing the ESC via the Internet; wherein establishing an instant connection with emergency service center (ESC) includes sending the help request message to a support service provider (SSP), the SSP forwarding the help request message to the ESC. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of providing access to emergency services comprising:
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offering a subscription-based emergency support service; establishing an instant connection with an emergency service center (ESC) when a subscriber of the emergency support service requests emergency help using a panic button located on an Interns Protocol (IP) based household device; and informing the ESC about the emergency help requested by the subscriber by delivering an help request message in IP format to the ESC wherein said help request message comprises medical information about said subscriber; wherein the instant connection is established by accessing the ESC via the Internet, wherein establishing an instant connection with an emergency service center (ESC) includes sending the help request message to a support service provider (SSP), forwarding the help request message to the ESC. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
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establish an instant connection with an emergency service center (ESC) when a user requests emergency help using a panic button located on an Internet Protocol (IP) based household device; and deliver a help request message in an IP format to the ESC in response to the user'"'"'s request for the emergency help wherein said help request message comprises medical information about said user; wherein the instant connection is established by accessing the ESC via the Internet; wherein establishing an instant connection with emergency service center (ESC) includes sending the help request message to a support service provider (SSP), the SSP forwarding the help request message to the ESC. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36)
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37. A computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to;
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establish an instant connection with an emergency service center (ESC) when a user requests emergency help using a panic button located on an Internet Protocol (IP) based household device; and deliver a help request message in an IP format to the ESC in response to the user'"'"'s request for the emergency help wherein said help request message comprises medical information about said user; wherein the instant connection is established by accessing the ESC via the Internet; activate a camera associated with the IP based household device when the user requests emergency help using the panic button; and transmit one or more images captured by the camera to the ESC in an IP format.
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38. A method of responding to an emergency comprising:
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monitoring for an internet protocol based help request message; receiving the help request message forwarded from a support service provider (SSP) along with additional information provided by the SSP; evaluating the help request message and the additional information from the SSP; and dispatching emergency help in response to the help request message and the additional information from the SSP; wherein an instant connection is established with an emergency service center (ESC) by sending the help request message to the (SSP), the SSP forwarding the help request message to the ESC. - View Dependent Claims (39)
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Specification