Managing battery power for mobile emergency communication device

• US 8,270,938 B2
• Filed: 11/24/2010
• Issued: 09/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MobileHelp, LLC
• Original Assignee: Integrity Tracking LLC
• Inventors: Flippo, Robert, Janetis, Elias M., Pasanen, Ernest F.
• Primary Examiner(s): ZEWDU, MELESS NMN
• Application Number:
  US12/927,806
• Publication Number:
  US 20110076984A1
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• Field of Search: 4553431-3435, 4554041-4042, 455/415, 455427-430, 4554561-4563, 4554565-4566, 455/466, 455/550.1, 4555561-5562, 455560-561, 455/574, 455/3.05, 455/41.2, 455/127.5, 455410-411, 455418-420, 455/517, 455520-521, 342/357.2, 342/357.22, 342/357.25, 342/357.28, 342/357.29, 342/357.43, 709/203, 709218-219, 709/226, 709228-229, 37039542-39543, 370/395.5, 370/395.52, 370/913
• US Class Current: 455/404.2
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/17 Emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/34 Power consumption

Abstract

A method of 2-way data and voice communication with a user utilizing a portable device having a cellular transceiver module, a GPS module and an emergency call button is disclosed. The method includes determining whether the portable device is in proximity of the base station; powering down the GPS, placing the portable device into sleep mode and sending a signal to the base station indicating that said portable device is in proximity of the base station when the portable device is in proximity to the base station; and activating and fully powering the cellular transceiver module and activating and fully powering said GPS module when the portable device is not in proximity of said base station. When not in proximity, the method also includes collecting an initial GPS location data from the GPS module and storing the location data into a memory location; placing the GPS module into a lower power mode and fully powering the GPS module, acquiring and storing additional GPS location data only at specified intervals to conserve battery life while monitoring the cellular transceiver module for inquiries and monitoring the emergency call button for an emergency signal. Various other steps occur when the emergency button is depressed which involve communicating with a back end server and collecting and sending various data packets.

Claims

1. The method of 2-way data and voice communication with a user utilizing a base station and portable device, said portable device having a cellular transceiver module, a GPS module and an emergency call button comprising the steps of:

activating and fully powering said cellular transceiver module of said portable device and activating and fully powering said GPS module of said portable device when said portable device is not in proximity of said base station and further comprising the steps of;

i) collecting initial GPS location data from said GPS module of said portable device and storing said location data into a memory location;

ii) after collecting said initial GPS location data then placing the GPS module of said portable device into a lower power mode, while in said lower power mode monitoring said cellular transceiver module for inquiries and monitoring said emergency call button for an emergency signal, thereafter only fully powering said GPS module to acquire and store additional GPS location data at specified intervals to conserve battery life; and

iii) communicating with web server when said emergency call button is depressed;

iv. creating a response center data packet on said web server when said web server receives said response center data packet; and

v. forwarding said response center data packet to an emergency response center, said response center data packet including user ID, location, phone number and web link to a location map for said user.

2. A method of 2-way data and voice communication according to claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

vi. once said response center data packet is received by the emergency response center, calling the telephone number in said response center data packet to talk to the user to determine the issue and appropriate response.

3. The method of 2-way data and voice communication according to claim 2 further comprising the steps of:

vii. at the emergency response center, using the web address to pull up a map which has user'"'"'s location thereon and using said location data to look up local emergency numbers.