950results about "Emergency connection handling" patented technology

In described embodiments, a system establishes a perimeter around an area, and mobile devices within the established perimeter communicate with a server that provides and collects personal and asset safety information. The provided information might enable users associated with the mobile devices to plan actions or take routes based on a given criteria, such as a safest route, through display on the mobile device. The collected information from the mobile device might be location, emergency event, environmental factors, sensor information and the like, which might then be communicated to users and/or administrators of the system. Location information, such as through global positioning system (GPS), might provide tracking of mobile devices and users or assets associated with each mobile device. GPS functionality associates latitude, longitude and elevation (X-Y-Z coordinate axis) data with the collected and provided information.

A method including providing a PDA having a processor, a memory coupled to the processor, a GPS receiver coupled to the processor and a RF transponder capable of communicating using Internet Protocol; storing user identification information in the memory; storing medical history information in the memory; determining location using the GPS receiver; transmitting the determined location to a service using the RF transponder; and in response to a request of emergency service by a user of the PDA, contacting the service and transmitting an emergency request to the service using the RF transponder. A PDA comprising a processor; a memory coupled to the processor; a GPS receiver coupled to the processor; and a wireless transponder capable of communicating using Internet Protocol, the PDA being configured to store user identification information in the memory, store medical history information in the memory, determine location using the GPS receiver, transmit the determined location to a service using the wireless transponder, and, in response to a request of emergency service by a user of the PDA, contact the service and transmit an emergency request to the service using the wireless transponder.

A user selects a route between a starting point and a destination. A mobile handset monitors the user's progress along the route by monitoring the location and movement of the handset and, optionally, sensor data, and by comparing this information to rules that define permitted or prohibited locations or movements or threshold sensor values. The handset uses one or more positioning systems, such as GPS, to ascertain its location. A server provides the handset with information to correct errors in the location information. If a rule fires, possibly indicating that the user is in danger, the handset attempts to ascertain the user's wellbeing, warns the user to return to the prescribed route and begins sending the handset's location to a server, which displays the information to a dispatcher who dispatches safety or security personnel to the user's location. The handset and servers communicate via any available wireless channel(s).

A method for disseminating emergency notification content from an emergency originating source. The method comprising: delivering the emergency notification content from the emergency originating source to at least one transmitting party; selecting a subset of users from among a set of users for dissemination of the emergency notification content based on the subject matter of the emergency notification content; and delivering the emergency notification content from the at least one transmitting party to a device corresponding to each user from the selected subset of users.

A method of initiating a telecommunication connection between a wireless 911 caller, an emergency 911 dispatcher, and at least one emergency personnel, including identifying a geographical location of a wireless 911 caller; identifying at least one emergency personnel located proximal to the geographical location of the wireless 911 caller; and initiating a telecommunication connection between each of the wireless 911 caller, an emergency 911 dispatcher, and the at least one emergency personnel.

Method and systems are employed by a wireless location system (WLS) for locating a wireless device operating in a geographic area served by a wireless communications system. An exemplary method includes monitoring a set of signaling links of the wireless communications system, and detecting at least one predefined signaling transaction occurring on at least one of the predefined signaling links. Then, in response to the detection of the at least one predefined network transaction, at least one predefined location service is triggered.

A method and system for locating an unlicensed mobile access (UMA) subscriber. The method enables a user of a mobile station comprising a hand-set or the like that supports voice and data access via both licensed and unlicensed radio spectrums to be located. Accordingly, services requiring location information, such as 911 services, may be accessed when operating the mobile station under both UMA and licensed wireless network (e.g., cellular) sessions.

Systems and methods are presented for routing 911 or other emergency calls from VoIP terminal equipment, wherein the terminal includes GPS or other means to obtain geographic location information for the current location when a 911 call is initiated, and the terminal includes the geographic location information in a call setup request message to the service provider. Routing logic receives the set request and uses the geographic information to search one or more databases to identify the proper emergency service center to which the call is routed, and also the street address corresponding to the caller's current location. The emergency call is then routed to the selected service center, where the call may be delivered with the street address or the street address information is updated in an ALI database of the 911 system by the routing logic before or during call delivery to ensure the emergency service operator or dispatcher knows where to direct emergency services.

The present embodiments provide methods, systems and apparatuses for use in providing notification of emergency services as well as notifying additional individuals and/or groups of an emergency. Some embodiments provide methods for use in dispatching emergency services (136) and notifying one or more additional contacts (140). These methods wirelessly receive a request for emergency services (212) from a remote wireless device (122), retrieve an emergency contact list according to the type of emergency (216) and determine at least one emergency contact other than emergency services according to the contact list (436). Once identified, the contact is notified of the request for emergency services (442). Some embodiments further determine a mode of communicating with the emergency contact (440) and notify the contact according to the mode of communication. Some methods additionally determine one or more types of emergency services to be dispatched (432) and notify types of emergency services (434).

Some embodiments provide a method and apparatus for seamlessly providing the location of user equipment of a first communication network while accessing a second different communication network. The first and second communication networks may include licensed wireless networks, unlicensed wireless networks, or internet protocol (IP) networks, to name a few. Furthermore, some embodiments provide a civic address as the location information for identifying the location of the caller.

Systems and methods for enabling a mobile user to notify an automated monitoring system of an emergency situation are provided. The automated monitoring system may be configured for monitoring and controlling a plurality of remote devices and may comprise a site controller in communication with the plurality of remote devices via a plurality of transceivers defining a wireless communication network and in communication with a host computer via a wide area network. Briefly described, one such method comprises the steps of: receiving notification that the mobile user desires to initiate transmission of an emergency message to the site controller; determining the identity of the mobile user; and providing an emergency message over the wireless communication network for delivery to the site controller, the emergency message indicating the identity of the mobile user.

The present invention is related to the delivery of requests for emergency service initially handled by an emergency service call center to a public safety answering point. The invention additionally allows for enhancement information to be provided to a public safety answering point operator visually in connection with calls routed to that public safety answering point. This information may include caller identification, and additional information, such as information regarding the location of the caller and the nature of the emergency. Furthermore, the routing of requests for emergency service to an appropriate public safety answering point can be accomplished for requests received over a wide geographic area. In particular, requests can be appropriately routed even though they may originate from locations encompassed by different E9-1-1 tandems. The present invention is particularly well suited for use in connection with automatic collision notification and personal alarm monitoring call centers serving areas encompassed by more than one E9-1-1 tandem.

A system and a method for communicating information concerning required emergency services including a software Emergency Utility that may reside on any home, office, automobile or hand-held device, or internet website, that can, when activated, automatically communicate emergency information to emergency service facilities and to other desired persons or devices. A ubiquitous Emergency icon is also provided for the activation of the Emergency utility.

A location-based messaging system and its methods of operation disclosed, including methods for sending geographic location information for a target address from a computing device to a receiving device that will enable the receiving device to display a map and/or directions from a geographic location of the receiving device to the geographic location of the target address. Methods for processing and distributing location-based data, methods for receiving and responding to location-based data, and methods for virally distributing location-based applications are also disclosed.

Method and system for notifying a remote facility of a vehicular accident includes obtaining information about the accident using a crash sensor system on the vehicle, obtaining information about position of the vehicle using a position determining system, obtaining information about occupancy of the vehicle by animate occupants using an occupant sensing system on the vehicle, generating at least one data packet derived from information obtained by the crash sensor system and information obtained by the occupant sensing system and directing the data packet(s), using a communications system on the vehicle, from the vehicle directly to the remote facility without involving an intermediary. The information about position of the vehicle obtained by the position determining system is provided to the remote facility to be associated with the data packet(s).

A system includes one or more wireless islands, one or more incident management applications, and one or more message management and routing (MMR) systems. Each MMR systems is configured to act as an intermediary for communication between one of the wireless islands and one or more of the incident management applications. One of the wireless islands includes a radio network. The radio network includes a plurality of remote sensor nodes (RSNs), and a gateway controller. An RSN of the plurality of RSNs is worn by ESS personnel, the gateway controller is mounted to an ESS vehicle, and the RSN is configured to wirelessly communicate with the gateway controller.

A plurality of public safety answering points (PSAPs) are accessible via a voice-over-packet (VoP) network. Each wireless access point of the VoP network is identified by a basic service set identifier (BSSID). A mobile node associates with a wireless access point and stores the wireless access point's BSSID as an indicator of the mobile node's location. A user of the mobile node dials digits for an emergency services call. In response, the mobile node transmits a SIP INVITE message that includes the BSSID and an additional indicator of the mobile node's location, e.g., determined using GPS or tower triangulation. A SIP proxy server receives the SIP INVITE message and attempts to determine the appropriate PSAP to answer the call based on the BSSID. If the attempt is unsuccessful, the SIP proxy server determines the appropriate PSAP based on the additional indicator.

A vehicle includes a communication unit including an antenna array having a plurality of antenna elements for transmitting and receiving a signal and a beamformer for forming a beam pattern focused in a specific direction by adjusting a phase of the signal transmitted from the plurality of antenna elements, and a controller for controlling the communication unit to transmit a request signal of accident associated information by focusing the beam pattern onto a peripheral vehicle.

A method and system are provided for sending location dependent and personal identification information to a public safety answering point. Base stations for receiving a transmission packet signal having a transmitter identification number are located throughout an area where personal security coverage is desired. Whenever a personal security transmitter is activated, it is received by one or more base stations. Each base station has a signal receiving unit for receiving a transmission packet signal and a signal processing unit for processing a transmission packet signal and generating a base station packet. Base station packets contain both a transmitter identification number and location information about the activated transmitter. After a base station packet is generated, it is sent to a command center for processing. If a valid base station packet is received at a command center, information contained in the base station packet is used to determine the closest base station to the activated transmitter and to retrieve personal identification information about the person to whom the transmitter was issued. This location and personal identification information is then displayed at the command center or public safety answering point.

A method and system for determining and verifying a location of a network device of an automated vehicle (i.e., driverless, etc.) and/or an occupant of an automated vehicle in emergency situations from automated vehicles. The method and system provide a current physical geographic location for the automated vehicle or mobile devices of an occupant and/or of occupant of an automated vehicle in an emergency situation such as an accident, health, fire, terrorist attack, military incident, weather, flood event, etc. and forwarding the current physical geographic location to a legacy 911 network, a Emergency Services IP networks (ESInet) or text-to-911 Short Message Services (SMS) networks to alert emergency responders.

Public safety access points are selected in a wireless network for E911 calls based on ESRD substitution when ESRKs are not being used. The present invention was conceived as an ESRK workaround solution to implement Phase II of the E911 rules from the starting point of a Phase I implementation. ESRKs, ESRDs or ESRVs are initially obtained and managed for each PSAP in a particular carrier's area. Then, Phase I processes are modified to wait to see if Phase II GSM location information will be reported in a timely manner (e.g., within a second or two or so) before committing to a default selection of a particular PSAP based on information available (e.g., based on the location of a serving cell site).

A method and system for location-aware wireless mobile devices including a mobile user network interfaces and protocol. A network-independent location-aware network protocol provides communication with location-aware wireless mobile devices. The protocol is network-independent to support and deliver location-aware services over virtually any wireless or wired network transparently regardless of the protocols being used on a transport network. The protocol is location-aware of current geographic locations of plural wireless mobile devices. Alert information is provided to a location-aware wireless mobile device with the network-independent location-aware network protocol and interfaces. Location-aware wireless mobile devices are located and provided with alert information with the network-independent location-aware network protocol and interfaces. The method, system, interfaces and protocol may help improve usability of mobile devices by allowing the mobile devices to be location-aware.

Systems and methods for two-way, interactive communication regarding emergency notifications and responses for mobile environments are disclosed. In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a specific geographic area is designated for selective emergency communications. The emergency communications may comprise text, audio, video, and other types of data. The emergency notification is sent to users' mobile communications devices such as in-vehicle telematics units, cellular phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), laptops, etc. that are currently located in the designated area. The sender of the emergency message or the users' service provider(s) may remotely control cameras and microphones associated with the users' mobile communications devices. For example, a rear camera ordinarily used when driving in reverse may be used to capture images and video that may assist authorities in searching for a suspect. The users' vehicles may send photographs or video streams of nearby individuals, cars and license plates, along with real-time location information, in response to the emergency notification. Image recognition algorithms may be used to analyze license plates, vehicles, and faces captured by the users' cameras and determine whether they match a suspect's description. Advantageously, the present invention utilizes dormant resources in a highly beneficial and time-saving manner that increases public safety and national security.

Communications methods for allowing groups of individuals, such as family members, to contact one another when no one is available to answer calls to a primary, e.g., family, telephone number are described. Calls which go unanswered are connected to a telephony device capable of storing messages and initiating conference calls. If the calling party is determined to be a family member the telephony device accesses a table of contact information corresponding to the unanswered telephone number and offers the caller the opportunity to hear messages from other family members and/or initiate a conference call to one or more family members who have supplied a contact telephone number. Family members can access and update the table of messages and contact number information by telephone or the Internet. Table information can be accessed and updated remotely thereby providing a method of communicating with family members even when no one is at home.

A method (200, 400) and an apparatus (500) in a wireless communication system for communicating contents of a broadcast message are provided. A wireless portable communication device (104) receives an emergency status indicator associated with the broadcast message from a base station (102). Upon determining the broadcast message is an emergency message, the contents of the broadcast message are immediately communicated.

Aspects of the disclosure provide a computer-implemented method and system for the assignment of roadside assistance service providers such as tow trucks to distressed vehicles/drivers requiring roadside assistance. The methods and systems may include a roadside assistance service provider system with a collection module, an assignment module, and a feedback module. The collection module collects roadside assistance service provider information and historical statistics from real-world information and stores the information in a database that may then be analyzed using particular rules and formulas. The assignment module assigns particular roadside assistance service providers to particular distressed vehicles/drivers based on one or more characteristics. The feedback module may provide near real-time cues to the tow truck driver's mobile device, such as alerting when the amount of time spent on a task exceeds a predefined threshold, flagging high priority tasks/assignments, providing a step-by-step checklist for the repair.

An notification and tracking system for a mobile device. The system includes a mobile device application that is adapted to be stored in memory on the mobile device. The application, upon activation, determines the GPS coordinates of the mobile device, records digital images over a period of time, sends a preset message from the mobile device to at least one recipient, preferably an emergency responder, such as a security monitoring station, and sends the GPS coordinates and the digital images. The coordinates and images may be sent to a remote server for storage and which can be accessed by the emergency responder. The coordinates and images are periodically updated and sent while the program is activated.

An alert system and apparatus for an emergency alert system is provided to disseminate emergency information to the public utilizing a universal paging system through a personal alert device such as a cellular telephone, pager, PDA or E-FOB. The alert system utilizes an emergency alert system signal from the NOAA alert system to broadcast the alert message to cellular devices in a specified alert area. The broadcast message provides information related to the alert level. The E-FOB may be a passive device which is activated by a NOAA alert signal and then listens for a cellular message. If the E-FOB is within the alert area, the E-FOB provides information to the user. If the E-FOB is not within the alert area, the E-FOB returns to a passive state.

A method for availing participants and others in a special number call event of information contained in a plurality of data stores includes the steps of: (a) in no particular order: (1) providing the plurality of data stores; (2) providing at least one respective data key for accessing the information contained in each respective data store of the plurality of data stores; and (3) providing communications among the participants and the plurality of data stores; (b) identifying a respective call as initiating a special number call event; (c) generating an identifier code for uniquely identifying the special number call event; the identifier code including relational data; the relational data being mappable on the at least one the respective data key to effect accessing the information; and (d) employing the communications to effect cooperation by the identifier code with each respective data store for providing the information to the participants.

A method and/or a computer readable medium and a computer-executable set of instructions on the computer readable medium, and/or a product or processing system such as a handheld communication device or computer, for carrying out the method, the method allowing a user to initiate capturing images during an experience such as a driving experience and submitting an electronic communication containing at least captured images for a threshold duration before and/or after detecting a threshold magnitude motion, such as one emulating a car accident. The electronic communication can be configured to be sent to a predestinated destination such as an insurance agent, emergency respondent, family member, employer, or any other destination, and may include additional information such as accident location, user information, and vehicle information. The processing system display may provide the user the option to, or the processing system may automatically, call a desired destination such as an emergency respondent. The processing system may respond to computer-executable instructions to delete from a threshold history of the captured image as the image capture device thereof records images to preserve memory space, keeping the most recent threshold duration. The processing system may respond to computer-executable instructions to continue recording after the threshold magnitude motion is detected for a threshold duration prior to submitting the captured image. The display of the processing system may include a user-selectable panic object to allow manual submission of a threshold duration of the image captured without the processing system having detected the threshold magnitude motion.