Method and apparatus for communicating emergency information using wireless devices

• US 7,904,053 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2009
• Issued: 03/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Wolf, Thomas G., Krasner, Norman F., Sheynblat, Leonid
• Primary Examiner(s): DOAN, PHUOC HUU
• Application Number:
  US12/497,426
• Publication Number:
  US 20090286504A1
• Time in Patent Office: 614 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.1, 701/36, 701/357.07, 340/436, 340/438
• US Class Current: 455/404.2
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/009 Signalling of the alarm condition to a substation whose identity is signalled to a central station, e.g. relaying alarm signals in order to extend communication range
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08G 1/205 Indicating the location of the monitored vehicles as destination, e.g. accidents, stolen, rental
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems
• 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

A method and apparatus for providing emergency notification by a wireless mobile device in response to triggering a sensor. A detection system, which may be located within a vehicle, comprises one or more sensors configured to sense an emergency event and transmit a message via a wireless link regarding the emergency event. For example, the wireless mobile device may be programmed to call a predetermined emergency number such as E911, and transmit data including position and other information from the mobile device to the emergency number in response to the received message.

Claims

1. A wireless mobile device comprising:

a notification system electrically configured to process an event message received from an event detection system, said event message selected by said event detection system based on a set of preprogrammed messages, the event detection system and notification system included within the wireless mobile device;

a position location system electrically coupled to said notification system that provides position information upon request from said notification system; and

a two-way wireless mobile telecommunications system electrically coupled to said notification system;

wherein said telecommunications system is configured to notify an emergency response service upon request from said notification system and to provide a data transmission including said position information and an event reporting message based on said event message during said notification.

2. The wireless mobile device of claim 1, wherein said two-way telecommunications system comprises a cellular telephone.

3. The wireless mobile device of claim 1, wherein said position location system comprises a GPS receiver.

4. The wireless mobile device of claim 1, wherein the event detection system included within the wireless mobile device is configured to communicate with the notification system via an electrical connection.

5. The wireless mobile device of claim 1, wherein said event reporting message includes transmitting at least one of sensor information or vehicular information.

6. The wireless mobile device of claim 1, wherein said notification system is configured to process event messages received from said event detection system.

7. The wireless mobile device of claim 1, wherein said emergency response service is configured to send a request for additional information in response to said data transmission, and wherein said notification system is configured to respond to said request for additional information by sending at least one additional data transmission.

8. The wireless mobile device of claim 1, wherein said position information comprises one of a latitude and longitude of said mobile device, a plurality of GPS pseudo-ranges, and a plurality of relative times-of-arrivals of signals from a plurality of base stations.

9. A method of providing emergency notification by a wireless mobile device in response to triggering of a sensor, comprising:

sensing an event by said sensor,

selecting an event message based on a set of preprogrammed messages with a processor electrically coupled to said sensor;

transmitting said event message from an event detection system electrically coupled to said sensor, the event detection system contained within the wireless mobile device;

receiving said event message from the event detection system at a notification system contained within said wireless mobile device;

determining position information of said wireless transmitter or said wireless mobile device;

notifying an emergency response service using said wireless mobile device in response to said event message; and

transmitting data, including said position information and an event reporting message based on said event message, from said wireless mobile device to said emergency response service.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of sensing an event comprises sensing said event within a vehicle, and said sensor is located within said vehicle.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the step of sensing an event comprises sensing said event within a structure, and said sensor is located within said structure.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with instructions capable of being executed by a computer for providing emergency notification by a wireless mobile device in response to triggering of a sensor, comprising:

program code to sense an event by said sensor,

program code to select an event message based on a set of preprogrammed messages with a processor electrically coupled to said sensor;

program code to transmit said event message from an event detection system electrically coupled to said sensor, the event detection system contained within the wireless mobile device;

program code to receive said event message from the event detection system at a notification system contained within said wireless mobile device;

program code to determine position information of said wireless mobile device;

program code to notify an emergency response service using said wireless mobile device in response to said event message; and

program code to transmit data, including said position information and an event reporting message based on said event message, from said wireless mobile device to said emergency response service.

13. A wireless mobile device configured to provide emergency notification in response to triggering of a sensor, comprising:

means for sensing an event by said sensor,

means for selecting an event message based on a set of preprogrammed messages with a processor electrically coupled to said sensor;

means for transmitting said event message from an event detection system electrically coupled to said sensor, the event detection system contained within the wireless mobile device;

means for receiving said event message from the event detection system at a notification system contained within said wireless mobile device;

means for determining position information of said wireless mobile device;

means for notifying an emergency response service using said wireless mobile device in response to said event message; and

means for transmitting data, including said position information and an event reporting message based on said event message, from said wireless mobile device to said emergency response service.

14. The wireless mobile device of claim 13, wherein the means for sensing an event comprises means for sensing said event within a vehicle, and said sensor is located within said vehicle.

15. The wireless mobile device of claim 13, wherein the means for sensing an event comprises means for sensing said event within a structure, and said sensor is located within said structure.