Mobile Device Emergency Call Detection During Password Entry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile communication devices often waste processing resources and can mistakenly initiate emergency calls when character sequences for emergency numbers are entered as part of a password, leading to erroneous calls and delayed responses to legitimate emergencies.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that distinguish between password entry and emergency call initiation by controlling the display to provide instructions for emergency calls only when the correct sequence is entered, and cancel these instructions if any other input is received or if no emergency call data is received within a given time, ensuring the device remains locked unless the correct password is entered.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the device automatically detects emergency number sequences in password input, then emergency calls can be initiated from lock screen, but erroneous emergency calls are mistakenly placed when emergency sequences appear in passwords
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of emergency number sequences during password input, but delays the actual emergency call initiation until after password verification is complete. This preliminary detection allows the system to prepare for potential emergency calls while avoiding premature activation that would cause erroneous calls.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts its behavior based on the verification state of the password. During password input, the system monitors for emergency sequences but suppresses automatic call initiation. After successful password verification, the system then allows emergency call functionality to activate, creating a dynamic response that adapts to the verification context.
2Speed
If the device places itself in emergency call ready mode upon detecting emergency sequences, then emergency calls can be quickly initiated, but processing resources are wasted when sequences are part of passwords
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary monitoring for emergency sequences without fully activating emergency call ready mode. It maintains a lower-power monitoring state that can quickly transition to full emergency mode only when necessary, avoiding continuous resource-intensive operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically transitions between different operational states: a low-power monitoring state during password input, and a high-performance emergency ready state only after successful verification. This dynamic state management optimizes resource usage while maintaining rapid response capability.
3Ease of operation
If the emergency call dialog box appears in front of the password input dialog box, then emergency calls can be initiated, but the password input process is interrupted and device access is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary detection of emergency sequences during password input but delays the display of the emergency call dialog box until after password verification is complete. This preliminary detection without immediate interruption allows password input to proceed uninterrupted while still preparing for potential emergency calls.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically controls the timing of the emergency call dialog box display based on verification status. The dialog box is suppressed during password input and only appears after successful verification, creating a dynamic temporal separation that resolves the conflict between emergency access and password entry.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the device provides emergency call functionality from lock screen, then emergency contacts can be reached, but bandwidth is wasted on erroneous calls to emergency centers
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary verification of both the password and the intent to initiate an emergency call before actually placing the call. This preliminary verification step filters out false positives from password sequences while still allowing legitimate emergency calls to proceed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from the password verification process to determine whether to initiate an emergency call. The verification result serves as feedback that confirms whether the detected emergency sequence was intentional or part of the password, thereby preventing wasteful bandwidth usage on erroneous calls.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method and apparatus for unlocking a mobile communication device are provided, the mobile communication device comprising an input device, and a display device (128), the mobile communication device enabled to initiate emergency calls in a locked state. Password input data is received via the input device, when the mobile communication device is in the locked state, the password input data for unlocking the mobile communication device, the password input data comprising at least a sequence of characters for initiating an emergency call. In response to receiving the sequence of characters for initiating the emergency call, the display device (128) is controlling to provide a representation of instructions to initiate the emergency call upon receipt of emergency call initiate data from the input device. Furthermore, said representation of instructions is removed and instruction to initiate said emergency call is cancelled when either a next input in said password input data received from said input device, following said sequence of characters for initiating said emergency call, is any input other than said emergency call initiate data; or when said emergency call initiate data is not received within a given time period.