Communicating a security alert

• US 8,600,337 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2008
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LMR Inventions, L.L.C. (Leigh M. Rothschild)
• Original Assignee: LMR Inventions, L.L.C. (Leigh M. Rothschild)
• Inventors: Rothschild, Leigh M.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHUONG, DAI
• Application Number:
  US12/082,986
• Publication Number:
  US 20090264093A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,057 Days
• Field of Search: 4554041-4042, 455/414.2, 4554561-4563, 455/457
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/001 Alarm cancelling procedures or alarm forwarding decisions, e.g. based on absence of alarm confirmation
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/005 Alarm destination chosen according to a hierarchy of available destinations, e.g. if hospital does not answer send to police station
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/016 Personal emergency signalling and security systems emergency non-personal manually actuated alarm activators G08B25/12
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4594 Address books, i.e. directories containing contact information about correspondents telephone directories in user terminals H04M1/27453
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/025 using location based information parameters
• 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 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A device, system and method for confidentially communicating a security alert to a monitoring service or other entity are provided. A mobile device of the present disclosure, e.g., a cellular phone, GSM phone, media player, personal digital assistant (PDA), etc., will enable a user to send a security alert or emergency communication to another party, e.g., an alerting such a monitoring service, where the user can accomplish this alert without letting anyone know that they are sending the alert so that the user does not put themselves in further danger by alerting the perpetrator of the crime to the alert. Moreover, the user will be able to send the monitoring service information on the nature of the alert including a geographic location of the user.

Claims

1. A mobile system configured to communicate an alert, comprising:

a mobile device; and

a headset separate from the mobile device, wherein

the headset includes at least one button configured to place the mobile system in a particular mode including a security mode and a normal operation mode,

upon entering the security mode, the mobile device is configured to initiate a connection between the mobile device and a first contact within a predefined list of contacts,

the headset includes a first button and a second button,

the first button is configured to activate the normal operation mode, and

the second button is configured to activate the security mode.

2. The mobile system of claim 1, wherein

upon the connection between the mobile device and first contact not being made, the mobile device is configured to initiate a connection between the mobile device and a next contact within the predefined list of contacts.

3. The mobile system of claim 1, wherein

upon a connection between the mobile device and at least one contact within the predefined list of contacts being made, the mobile device is configured to transmit the alert to the at least one contact.

4. The mobile system of claim 3, wherein

the alert includes location information.

5. The mobile system of claim 3, wherein

the alert includes a prestored message.

6. The mobile system of claim 3, wherein

the alert includes audio information received from a microphone of the mobile device.

7. The mobile system of claim 3, wherein the alert includes image information received from a camera of the mobile device.

8. The mobile system of claim 3, wherein

the mobile system is configured to be at least partially controlled via the made connection.

9. A method, performed by a mobile system having a mobile device and a headset separate from the mobile device and including at least one button, comprising:

placing the mobile system within a security mode;

initiating, upon the mobile system being placed within the security mode, a connection between the mobile device and a first contact within a predefined list of contacts, wherein

the at least one is button configured to place the mobile system in a particular mode including the security mode and a normal operation mode,

the headset includes a first button and a second button,

the first button is configured to activate the normal operation mode, and

the second button is configured to activate the security mode.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein

initiating, upon the connection between the mobile device and first contact not being made, a connection between the mobile device and a next contact within the predefined list of contacts.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein

transmitting, upon a connection between the mobile device and at least one contact within the predefined list of contacts being made, an alert to the at least one contact.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein

the alert includes location information.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein

the alert includes a prestored message.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein

the alert includes audio information received from a microphone of the mobile device.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein

the alert includes image information received from a camera of the mobile device.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein

the mobile system is configured to be at least partially controlled via the made connection.