(51) Int Cl.: G08B 21/02 ( ) H04M 11/04 ( )

Transcription

1 (19) Europäisches Patentamt European Patent Office Office européen des brevets (11) EP B1 (12) EUROPEAN PATENT SPECIFICATION (4) Date of publication and mention of the grant of the patent: Bulletin 06/11 (21) Application number: (22) Date of filing: (1) Int Cl.: G08B 21/02 (06.01) H04M 11/04 (06.01) (86) International application number: PCT/US00/01906 (87) International publication number: WO 01/ ( Gazette 01/18) (4) System and method for a hanset-integrated emergency audible beacon Verfahren und System für einen Handgeräteintegrierten Notfall Tonalarm Système et procédé pour balise émettrice d urgence intégrée à un combiné (84) Designated Contracting States: AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE () Priority: US (43) Date of publication of application: Bulletin 02/ (73) Proprietor: QUALCOMM INCORPORATED San Diego, CA (US) (72) Inventor: GUM, Arnold, J. San Diego, CA 9211 (US) (74) Representative: Walsh, Michael Joseph et al TOMKINS & CO., Dartmouth Road Dublin 6 (IE) (6) References cited: WO-A-00/49829 DE-A GB-A US-A- 370 US-A US-A EP B1 Note: Within nine months from the publication of the mention of the grant of the European patent, any person may give notice to the European Patent Office of opposition to the European patent granted. Notice of opposition shall be filed in a written reasoned statement. It shall not be deemed to have been filed until the opposition fee has been paid. (Art. 99(1) European Patent Convention). Printed by Jouve, 7001 PARIS (FR)

2 1 EP B1 2 Description Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates generally to the field of telecommunications. More specifically, the present invention relates to a system and method for triggering an audible beacon in a portable wireless phone that can be used by emergency service providers to locate individuals. Related Art [0002] In an emergency situation, a prompt response by emergency service providers can make the difference between life and death to an incapacitated individual. The existing wireless 911 systems are able to obtain only a cell-site location and a callback number for the wireless 911 caller. With this type of system, a problem is incurred when an individual is unable to speak, give locator information or respond to a telephone call if the emergency service providers decide to use the callback number. By October 01, the typical wireless communications system will be able to locate an individual to within 12 meters of accuracy as required by the Enhanced 911 (E911) Phase II provision of a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) mandate for wireless communications. [0003] Most often, locating an individual to within 12 meters only means pinpointing a building location, not an exact physical location of the individual. This can present a problem to rescue workers when the building has multiple floors such as in skyscrapers, office buildings, or high rise apartment dwellings. With the existing location systems, the rescue workers have to search from room-to-room to locate an incapacitated individual in such a building. To perform a search using the room-to-room method is quite time consuming and impractical in an emergency situation. [0004] What is needed is a system and method for assisting rescue workers in more quickly locating incapacitated individuals by pinpointing the individual s location much more closely than the E911 Phase II standard of 12 meters of accuracy. [000] Furthermore, one of the problems associated with such a system is in cases when the mobile subscriber travels out of one cell and roams into another during the course of the phone call. If the emergency service providers initiate an emergency call back towards the original mobile station associated with the subscriber, the call back will fail. An improvement to such an system is described in the US patent number US712900, which describes a mobile switching centre which is adapted to provide for the calling back of a mobile subscriber in the event that their call to the emergency services is disconnected, and where the mobile subscriber has roamed from one mobile switching centre to another during the course of the phone call. This is achieved by maintaining the subscriber information which is required to enable the emergency services to call back the mobile subscriber at the first mobile switching centre for a predetermined time interval after the mobile subscriber has roamed to the next mobile switching centre. [0006] Patent application publication DE386 A discloses a personal protection device with an automatic emergency alarm to attract attention. The device employs several sensors for determining the health of its carrier, including an ambient noise detector. [0007] Patent US370 discloses an emergency device which can be hand held. The device contains an activation button to establish a call to a predetermined emergency telephone number, which also triggers the generation of an audible or visual alarm means in said device. These second means can be deactivated to avoid attracting attention. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008] The present invention is directed to a handset based emergency audible beacon system for use in a wireless communications device as specified in Claims 1 and 2, and to a method as specified in Claims 8 and for triggering an audible beacon system to aid emergency service providers in locating an incapacitated individual by use of a wireless communications system handset. Further features of the invention are set forth in the subsidiary claims. [0009] The present invention is a system and method for aiding emergency service providers in locating an incapacitated individual by use of a wireless communications device. Upon establishment of a call to a predetermined telephone number, the audio beacon is initiated in the handset of a wireless communications device. If, while the connection between the wireless communication device and the emergency services number is open, there is a detection of a predetermined interruption in audio voice signals being transmitted from the wireless communications device, the audible beacon will periodically emit a tone. The emitted tone assists dispatched rescue workers in more quickly locating distressed individuals by allowing the workers to listen for the tone emanating from the handset of the phone. Upon termination of a call to the emergency services telephone number, the audible beacon is immediately initiated. The audible beacon can also be remotely initiated from the call destination location of the emergency service provider if, for example, it becomes necessary to reinitiate the audible beacon after it has been manually turned off. Once the audible beacon is initiated, the stored volume settings of the handset are overridden by the tone of the beacon system. The tone continues to be activated through the handset until it is manually turned off. [00] An advantage of the present invention is that the audible beacon allows rescue workers to more quickly locate individuals who may be trapped inside buildings with multiple floors and work spaces by permitting the rescue worker to pinpoint, via the emanation of the au- 2

3 3 EP B1 4 dible tone, the office space from which the call may have originated. The previous methods only allowed the rescue worker to determine the building from which the call originated. [0011] Further features and advantages of the invention, as well as the operation of various embodiments of the invention, are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES [0012] The features, objects, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the detailed description set forth below when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements. Additionally, the left-most digit(s) of a reference number identifies the drawing in which the reference number first appears. FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the high level operation of the audible beacon system. FIG. 2 is a detailed flow diagram illustrating the method for periodically triggering the audible beacon system when there is a cessation of audible signals transmitted from the communications device. FIG. 3 is a detailed flow diagram illustrating the method for triggering the audible beacon system upon the termination of a call to a predetermined telephone number. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EM- BODIMENTS [0013] The present invention is particularly suited for use in communications systems employing standard portable cellular or satellite telephones. [0014] The present invention is a system and method for triggering an audible beacon that can be used with a wireless communications device. A primary purpose of the audible beacon system is to provide assistance to emergency service providers in locating individuals who are incapacitated. The present invention accomplishes this by emitting a tone through the speaker of a telephone, which the rescue workers can use to home in on the location of the distressed individual. [001] Prior to describing the invention in detail, a description of the communications device is provided. The communications device operates as a standard cellular or satellite telephone when a non-emergency service telephone number is dialed. The communications device operates in several modes to trigger an audible beacon when a predetermined telephone number for an emergency service provider is dialed. The predetermined number would typically be an emergency service number that connects directly to fire, police, or medical services. In the United States, the standard emergency service number is "911" [0016] FIG. 1 is a block diagram that illustrates the high level operation of the audible beacon system and routing of a call to an emergency service provider. The audible beacon system comprises a wireless communications device 2, a wireless communications network 4, a public switched telephone network (PSTN) 6, and an emergency provider 8. In one embodiment, wireless communications device 2 is a standard cellular telephone operating over a terrestrial cellular network. In an alternative embodiment, device 2 may be a satellite phone operating over a satellite communications network. [0017] When a call to a predetermined telephone number is placed from telephone 2, the signal is sent to wireless communications network 4. In accordance with the E911 Phase II FCC provision, the wireless communications network 4 automatically requests a position fix coordinate from telephone 2. Telephone 2 responds with the appropriate position fix, which is then forwarded by wireless communications network 4 and PSTN 6 to emergency service provider 8. The position fix information will locate phone 2 (and caller) within a radius of about 12 meters. [0018] FIG. 2 represents a detailed flow diagram of the method of the invention for periodically triggering the audible beacon system when there is a cessation of audible signals transmitted from the communications device. The process begins with step 2. [0019] In step 2, a telephone number is entered into telephone 2. In step 4, the determination of whether the telephone number dialed is an emergency services number is made. If the telephone number dialed is not an emergency services telephone number, then in step 2 the communications device functions as a standard cellular or satellite phone. [00] If at decision step 4, the telephone number dialed is determined to be an emergency services telephone number (for example, "911"), a link is established at step 6 between telephone 2 and the call destination. In step 8, the determination of whether voice quality audio signals are being transmitted is made. As long as voice quality signals are present, the telephone call to the call destination continues normally and is monitored at step 212 for the presence of voice quality audio signals. [0021] If at decision step 8 voice quality signals are not detected to be present, then a timer is started to count down a preset period in step 214. If the lapse of voice quality audio signals continues for the duration of the preset countdown period, then in step 216, the audible beacon is initiated to emit a selected phone ringer or beeping tone through the speaker of the telephone 2. If at decision step 214, the lapse of voice quality audio signals does not continue for the duration of the preset time period, then the call will continue to be monitored in step 212. The tone continues to be emitted from the speaker until step 218, when the tone is manually turned off at telephone 2. 3

4 EP B1 6 [0022] FIG. 3 represents a detailed flow diagram of the method for triggering the audible beacon system upon the termination of a call to a predetermined telephone number. The process begins with step 2. [0023] In step 2, a telephone number is entered into telephone 2. In step 4, the determination of whether the telephone number dialed is an emergency services number is made. If the telephone number dialed is not an emergency services telephone number, then in step 3 the communications device functions as a standard cellular or satellite phone. [0024] If at decision step 4, the telephone number dialed is determined to be an emergency services telephone number (for example, "911"), a link is established at step 6 between telephone 2 and the call destination. In step 8, the line of communication between telephone 2 and the call destination remains open so that the incapacitated individual can converse with the call destination personnel. In step 312, the determination of whether the link is still present is made. As long as the link between telephone 2 and the call destination remain open, the call continues as normal. If in step 312, the link between telephone 2 and the call destination is terminated, the audible tone is triggered to emit a selected phone ringer or beeping tone through the speaker of telephone 2. In step 316, the tone continues to be emitted from the speaker until manually turned off at telephone 2. Conclusion [002] While the present invention is described in terms of the handset of a standard cellular or satellite telephone, the present invention is also applicable to other wireless communications devices with a built in speaker. Claims 1. A handset based (2) emergency audible beacon system for use in a wireless communications device (2), the system comprising: means for detecting the establishment of a call to a predetermined telephone number (4; 4) representing a call destination, means for initiating the generation of an audible beacon (216; 314) in said handset (2); characterized in the system further comprising means for periodically generating said audible beacon (216; 314) upon the detection of a cessation, after a predetermined time period (214), of voice quality audio signals (8) being transmitted from the handset (2) to said predetermined telephone number (4; 4). 2. A handset based (2) emergency audible beacon system for use in a wireless communications device (2), the system comprising: means for detection of the establishment of a call to a predetermined telephone number (4; 4) representing a call destination, means for initiating the generation of an audible beacon (216; 314) in said handset; characterized in the system further comprising means for generating said audible beacon (216; 314) upon the termination of said call, wherein said means for initiating the generation of said audible beacon is located in said handset (2). 3. An audible beacon system (0) according to claim 1, wherein: said means for initiating the generation of said audible beacon (216; 314). is located in said handset (2). 4. An audible beacon system (0) according to claim 3, further comprising: means for selecting one of a phone ringer and a beep tone as said audible beacon; and means for over-riding volume settings on said handset (2) when the audible beacon system is initiated (216; 314).. An audible beacon system (0) according to claim 1, wherein: said means for initiating the generation of said audible beacon (216; 314) is located at said cell destination location; and further comprising: means at said cell destination location for remotely initiating the generation of said audible beacon (216; 314) at the handset. 6. An audible beacon system (0) according to claim, further comprising: means for over-riding volume settings on said handset when the emergency audible beacon system is initiated (216; 314). 7. An audible beacon system (0) according to claim 1, further comprising; means for emitting said periodic audible beacon through a speaker in said handset (2). 8. A method for triggering an audible beacon system (216; 314) to aid emergency service providers (8) in locating an incapacitated individual by use of a wireless communications system (2) handset, the 4

5 7 EP B1 8 method comprising the steps of: (a) detecting the establishment of a call to a predetermined telephone number (4; 4) representing a call destination; (b) initiating the generation of an audible beacon (216; 314) in said handset (2); characterized in the method further comprising the step of (c) periodically generating said audible beacon (216; 314) upon the detection of a cessation of voice quality audio signals (8), for a predetermined time period (214), being transmitted from the handset (2) to said predetermined number (4; 4). 9. The method of claim 8, wherein step (c) further comprises the steps of: monitoring the established call (212) to said predetermined telephone number (4; 4) to detect voice quality audio signals (8); and detecting a cessation of voice quality signals (8) for said predetermined time period (214).. A method for triggering an audible beacon system to aid emergency service providers (8) in locating an incapacitated individual by use of a handset (2), comprising the steps of: (a) detecting the establishment of a call to a predetermined telephone number (4; 314) representing a call destination; (b) initiating the generating of an audible beacon (216; 314) in said handset; and (c) generating said audible beacon (216; 314) upon the termination of said call, characterized in that means located in said handset (2) initiate the generation of said audible beacon. Patentansprüche 1. Ein System für einen hörbaren Notfall-Beacon bzw. -Peilsystem, das auf einem Handgerät (2) basiert, zur Verwendung in einem drahtlosen Kommunikationsgerät (2), wobei das System Folgendes aufweist: Mittel zum Detektieren des Aufbaus eines Anrufs zu einer vorbestimmten Telefonnummer (4; 4), die ein Anrufziel darstellt, Mittel zum Initiieren des Generierens eines hörbaren Beacons (216; 314) in dem Handgerät (2); dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das System weiterhin Folgendes aufweist Mittel zum periodischen Generieren des hörbaren Beacons (216; 314) bei der Detektierung einer Beendigung, nach einer vorbestimmten Zeitperiode (214), des Sendens von Audiosignalen mit Sprachqualität (8) von dem Handgerät (2) zu der vorbestimmten Telefonnummer (4; 4). 2. Ein System für einen hörbaren Notfall-Beacon bzw. -Peilsystem, das auf einem Handgerät (2) basiert, zur Verwendung in einem drahtlosen Kommunikationsgerät (2), wobei das System Folgendes aufweist: Mittel zum Detektieren des Aufbaus eines Anrufs zu einer vorbestimmten Telefonnummer (4; 4), die ein Anrufziel darstellt, Mittel zum Initiieren des Generierens eines hörbaren Beacon- bzw. Ortungssignals (216; 314) in dem Handgerät; dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das System Folgendes aufweist: Mittel zum Generieren des hörbaren Beacons (216; 314) nach Beendigung des Anrufs, wobei die Mittel zum Initiieren des Generierens des hörbaren Beacons in dem Handgerät (2) angeordnet sind. 3. System für einen hörbaren Beacon (0) gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei die Mittel zum Initiieren des Generierens des hörbaren Beacons (216; 314) in dem Handgerät (2) angeordnet sind. 4. System für einen hörbaren Beacon (0) gemäß Anspruch 3, das weiterhin Folgendes aufweist: Mittel zum Auswählen entweder eines Telefonklingefelements oder eines Piep-Tons als hörbarer Beacon; und Mittel zum Überschreiben von Lautstärkeeinstellungen des Handgeräts (2), wenn das System für den hörbaren Beacon initiiert wird (216; 314).. System für einen hörbaren Beacon (0) gemäß Anspruch 1, wobei: die Mittel zum Initiieren des Generierens des hörbaren Beacons (216; 314) an dem Zellzielstandort angeordnet sind; und wobei das System weiterhin Folgendes aufweist: Mittel, an dem Zellzielstandort zum entfernten Initiieren der Generierung des hörbaren Beacons (216; 314) in dem Handgerät.

6 9 EP B1 6. System für einen hörbaren Beacon (0) gemäß Anspruch, das weiterhin Folgendes aufweist: Mittel zum Überschreiben der Lautstärkeeinstellung des Handgeräts, wenn das System für einen hörbaren Notfall-Beacon initiiert wird (216; 314). (b) Initiieren der Generierung eines hörbaren Beacons (216; 314) in dem Handgerät; und (c) Generieren des hörbaren Beacons (216; 314) bei Beendigung des Anrufs, dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass Mittel, die in dem Handgerät (2) angeordnet sind, die die Generierung des hörbaren Beacons initiieren. 7. System für einen hörbaren Beacon (0) gemäß Anspruch 1, das weiterhin Folgendes aufweist: Revendications Mittel zum Abstrahlen des periodischen hörbaren Beacons durch einen Lautsprecher in dem Handgerät (2). 8. Ein Verfahren zum Auslösen eines Systems für einen hörbaren Beacon (216; 314) um Notfatldienstversorgern (8) dabei zu helfen, ein behindertes oder hilfsbedürftiges Individuum zu lokalisieren, und zwar durch Verwendung eines Handgeräts eines drahtlosen Kommunikationssystems (2), wobei das Verfahren die folgenden Schritte aufweist: (a) Detektieren des Aufbaus eines Anrufs zu einer vorbestimmten Telefonnummer (4; 4), die ein Anrufziel darstellt; (b) Initiieren der Generierung eines hörbaren Beacons (216; 314) in dem Handgerät (2); dadurch gekennzeichnet, dass das Verfahren den folgenden Schritt aufweist: (c) periodisches Generieren des hörbaren Beacons (216; 314) beim Detektieren einer Beendigung von Audiosignalen mit Sprachqualität (8) für eine vorbestimmte Zeitperiode (214), die von dem Handgerät (2) zu der vorbestimmten Nummer (4; 4) gesendet werden. 9. Verfahren nach Anspruch 8, wobei der Schritt (c) weiterhin die folgenden Schritte aufweist: Überwachen des aufgebauten Anrufs (212) zu der vorbestimmten Telefonnummer (4; 4) um Audiosignale mit Sprachqualität (8) zu detektieren; und Detektieren eines Beendigens von Sprachqualitätssignalen (8) für die vorbestimmte Zeitperiode lang (214).. Ein Verfahren zum Auslösen eines Systems für einen hörbaren Beacon, um Notfall-Dienstversorgern (8) dabei zu helfen, ein behindertes Individuum zu lokalisieren, und zwar durch Verwendung eines Handgeräts (2), wobei das Verfahren die folgenden Schritte aufweist: (a) Detektieren des Aufbauens eines Anrufs einer vorbestimmten Telefonnummer (4; 314), was ein Anrufziel darstellt; Système de balise sonore d urgence disposé dans un combiné (2) destiné à être utilisé dans un dispositif de communication sans fil (2), le système comprenant : un moyen pour détecter l établissement d un appel vers un numéro de téléphone prédéterminé (4, 4) représentant une destination d appel ; un moyen pour initier l activation d une balise sonore (216, 314) dans le combiné (2) ; caractérisé en ce que le système comprend en outre un moyen pour activer périodiquement la balise sonore (216, 314) par suite de la détection d une cessation, après une durée prédéterminée (214), de signaux audio de qualité vocale (8) émis à partir du combiné (2) vers le numéro de téléphone prédéterminé (4, 4). 2. Système de balise sonore d urgence disposé dans un combiné (2) destiné à être utilisé dans un dispositif de communication sans fil (2), le système comprenant : un moyen pour détecter l établissement d un appel vers un numéro de téléphone prédéterminé (4, 4) représentant une destination d appel ; un moyen pour initier l activation d une balise sonore (216, 314) dans le combiné ; caractérisé en ce que le système comprend en outre un moyen pour activer la balise sonore (216, 314) par suite de la cessation de l appel, le moyen pour initier l activation de la balise sonore étant disposé dans le combiné (2). 3. Système de balise sonore (0) selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le moyen pour initier l activation de la balise sonore (216, 314) est disposé dans le combiné (2). 4. Système de balise sonore (0) selon la revendication 3, comprenant en outre : un moyen pour sélectionner une sonnerie de té- 6

7 11 EP B1 12 léphone ou une tonalité de vibreur en tant que balise sonore ; et un moyen pour remplacer des réglages de volume sonore sur le combiné (2) quand le système de balise sonore (216, 314) est mis en route.. Système de balise sonore (0) selon la revendication 1, dans lequel : le moyen pour initier l activation de la balise sonore (216, 314) est disposé au niveau de l emplacement de destination de cellule ; et comprenant en outre un moyen à l emplacement de destination de la cellule pour initier à distance l activation de la balise sonore (216, 314) au niveau du combiné. 6. Système de balise sonore (0) selon la revendication, comprenant en outre un moyen pour remplacer les réglages sonores du combiné quand le système de balise sonore d urgence (216, 314) est mis en route. 1 (214).. Procédé pour déclencher un système de balise sonore pour aider des fournisseurs de service d urgence (8) à localiser un individu en incapacité par utilisation d un combiné (2), comprenant les étapes suivantes : (a) détecter l établissement d un appel vers un numéro de téléphone prédéterminé (4, 314) représentant une destination d appel ; (b) initier l activation d une balise sonore (216, 314) dans le combiné ; et (c) activer la balise sonore (216, 314) à la fin dudit appel ; caractérisé en ce que des moyens disposés dans le combiné (2) initient l activation de la balise sonore. 7. Système de balise sonore (0) selon la revendication 1, comprenant en outre un moyen pour activer la balise sonore périodique par l intermédiaire d un haut-parleur dans le combiné (2) Procédé pour déclencher un système de balise sonore (216, 314) pour aider des fournisseurs de service d urgence (8) à localiser un individu en incapacité par utilisation d un combiné de système de communication sans fil (2), ce procédé comprenant les étapes suivantes : 3 (a) détecter l établissement d un appel vers un numéro de téléphone prédéterminé (4, 4) représentant une destination d appel ; (b) initier l activation d une balise sonore (216, 314) dans le combiné (2) ; caractérisé en ce que le procédé comprend en outre l étape suivante : (c) activer de façon périodique la balise sonore (216, 314) par suite de la détection d une cessation de signaux audio de qualité vocale (8) pendant une durée prédéterminée (214), transmis par le combiné (2) vers le numéro prédéterminé (4, 4). 9. Procédé selon la revendication 8, dans lequel l étape (c) comprend les étapes suivantes : 4 0 surveiller l appel établi (212) vers le numéro de téléphone prédéterminé (4, 4) pour détecter les signaux audio de qualité vocale (8) ; et détecter la cessation des signaux de qualité vocale (8) pendant la durée prédéterminée 7

8 EP B1 8

9 EP B1 9

10 EP B1