Silent Emergency Message Transmission via Button Sequence
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mobile computing devices require user interaction and may alert others during emergency calls, potentially putting the caller at risk and causing unnecessary emergency call activations, especially in situations where immediate and silent notification is crucial.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for automatically initiating a silent emergency message by detecting a specific sequence of button presses on a mobile device, which transmits a message to an emergency contact without requiring on-screen confirmation or audible alerts, allowing for discreet and accidental prevention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the device requires on-screen confirmation or audible alerts during emergency calls, then the user can verify the call is being placed, but the user may be detected by perpetrators or alert others to the emergency situation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the audible alert and visual confirmation components from the emergency call initiation process. By taking out these notifying elements, the system allows emergency calls to be placed silently without drawing attention to the user, thus resolving the contradiction between reliable emergency call transmission and avoiding detection by perpetrators.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a silent notification mechanism as an intermediary between the user's button press and the emergency call transmission. This intermediary layer enables the call to be initiated without the traditional audible or visual alerts that would alert perpetrators, while still maintaining the reliability of emergency service activation.
2Loss of time
If the device allows easy emergency call initiation without complex confirmation, then the response time is reduced, but accidental activations by children or unintended presses may occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the emergency call initiation process into multiple distinct button presses rather than a single action. This segmentation requires deliberate user intent while still maintaining quick response time, as the segmented presses can be made rapidly. The multi-press requirement prevents accidental single presses by children or unintended activations, while the rapid sequential nature preserves emergency response efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by requiring a specific sequence of button presses before the emergency call is actually transmitted. This preliminary verification step ensures intentional activation while maintaining speed, as the predetermined sequence can be executed rapidly. The preliminary action filters out accidental presses while preserving quick emergency response capability.
3Reliability
If the device requires unlocking or complex authentication to place emergency calls, then accidental activations are prevented, but the user cannot place calls quickly during emergencies
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the authentication and confirmation steps from the emergency call process. By removing these time-consuming verification layers, the system enables immediate emergency call placement without requiring password entry, biometric authentication, or on-screen confirmations. The multi-press button sequence serves as a sufficient safeguard against accidental activation, eliminating the need for complex authentication while maintaining quick response time.
4Loss of information
If the device uses traditional emergency call initiation methods with alerts and confirmations, then users can verify intentional activation, but perpetrators can detect the emergency situation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a silent intermediary mechanism that verifies user intent through the specific multi-press button sequence without providing audible or visual feedback that would alert perpetrators. This intermediary verification method maintains the ability to confirm intentional activation while eliminating the harmful alerts, thus resolving the contradiction between intent verification and perpetrator detection.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for automatically initiating the transmission of a silent emergency message via a mobile computing device are provided. A mobile device may receive a plurality of indications of a plurality of external buttons of the mobile computing device being pressed over a time interval. Based on the plurality of indications, the mobile computing device may determine that two or more external buttons have been pressed in a fixed sequence over the time interval. In response to determining that the two or more external buttons of the mobile computing device have been pressed in the fixed sequence, the mobile computing device may silently transmit a message to a computing device associated with an emergency contact, without activating a display screen of the device or making sounds.