Granted Patent B2

US 9,491,604 · App. 12/910,183 · Granted Nov 8, 2016

Abstract

Claims (48)

1. A method of placing an emergency phone call from a mobile communication device, enabled for voice communication and for data communication, to an enterprise other than a civil authority, the method comprising:

receiving, at the mobile communication device, a selection of an enterprise emergency-response service hosted by the enterprise;

determining enterprise location data based on a location of the mobile communication device within a premises of the enterprise;

determining an enterprise emergency phone number from a plurality of enterprise emergency phone numbers based on said selected enterprise emergency-response service and on said enterprise location data, wherein each of the plurality of enterprise emergency phone numbers is associated with a particular enterprise-response service and particular location within the premises; and

placing the emergency phone call from the mobile communication device to said determined enterprise emergency phone number without placing a call to a civil authority.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining said enterprise location data is based on interaction between a token, uniquely associated with the mobile communication device, and an enterprise electronic location system.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein said token comprises at least one of: a proximity identification device at the mobile communication device; an identification card uniquely associated with a designated user of the mobile communication device; a pass code uniquely associated with the designated user of the mobile communication device; and a biometric feature uniquely associated with the designated user of the mobile communication device.

4. The method of claim 2 , wherein said electronic location system comprises at least one of: an electronic access-control system; an electronic asset-tracking system; and a wireless network-access system.

5. The method of claim 2 , wherein said electronic location system comprises a plurality of fixed detectors operable for detecting the presence or proximity of said token, and wherein said enterprise location data is based on the location of the detector, of said plurality of detectors, which most recently detected the presence or proximity of said token.

6. The method of claim 2 , wherein said determining comprises detecting an indication that the mobile communication device is outside coverage for said selected emergency-response service.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein said indication is at least one of: a granting of egress permission, to said token, by a electronic access-control system; a loss of contact, with said token, by an electronic asset-tracking system; a disconnection of the mobile communication device from a wireless network-access system; and a conflict between said enterprise location data and supplemental location data associated with the mobile communication device.

8. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

providing, subsequent to receiving said selection, a prompt for confirmation to place the emergency phone call for said selected emergency-response service; and

receiving a confirmation to place the emergency phone call for said selected emergency-response service;

and wherein said placing the emergency phone call is in response to said receiving said confirmation.

9. The method of claim 6 , further comprising:

providing, subsequent to receiving said selection, an interface for selecting from amongst at least one emergency-response service other than said selected emergency-response service; and

receiving a selection of an alternate emergency-response service; and wherein said determining is further based on said alternate emergency-response service.

10. The method of claim 6 , wherein said determining comprises:

determining a preliminary phone number based on said selected emergency-response service and on said enterprise location data; and

determining as said emergency phone number a pre-determined alternate phone number associated with said preliminary phone number.

11. The method of claim 6 , wherein said determining comprises:

determining an alternate emergency-response service; and

determining said emergency phone number based on said alternate emergency-response service.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein said determining said alternate emergency-response service is based on at least one of: a pre-determined emergency-response service associated with said selected emergency-response service; an emergency-response service having a higher rank than said selected emergency-response service; and supplemental location data associated with the mobile communication device.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein said determining said enterprise emergency phone number comprises determining said enterprise emergency phone number at the mobile communication device.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein said determining comprises using a service-specific look-up table stored at the mobile communication device and corresponding to said selected emergency-response service to look up said determined emergency phone number based on said enterprise location data.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising receiving said service-specific look-up table, at the mobile communication device, from an external device in one of: a reply to a request from the mobile communication device; an update of said service-specific look-up table initiated by said external device; and a provisioning of the mobile communication device.

16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising receiving said enterprise location data at the mobile communication device from an external device in one of: a reply to a request from the mobile communication device; and an update of said enterprise location data initiated by said external device.

17. The method of claim 13 , wherein said determining said enterprise emergency phone number comprises using a location-specific look-up table, stored at the mobile communication device, to look up said determined enterprise emergency phone number based on said selected enterprise emergency-response service and location within the premises.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising receiving said location-specific look-up table, at the mobile communication device, from an external device in one of: a reply to a request from the mobile communication device; and an update of said location-specific look-up table initiated by said external device.

19. The method of claim 1 , wherein said determining comprises:

requesting the emergency phone number from an external device; and

receiving the emergency phone number from said external device.

20. The method of claim 1 , wherein said determining comprises:

placing a preliminary phone call, based on said selected emergency-response service, to said external device; and

determining, at said external device, said determined emergency phone number based on said preliminary phone call and on said enterprise location data; and wherein said placing the emergency phone call comprises forwarding said preliminary phone call from said external device to said determined emergency phone number.

21. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing, at the mobile communication device, an interface for selecting from amongst a plurality of emergency-response services including at least one enterprise emergency-response service, and wherein said selected enterprise emergency-response service is one of said at least one enterprise emergency-response service.

22. The method of claim 21 , further comprising providing, in response to a termination of said placed emergency phone call, a subsequent interface for selecting an emergency-response service from amongst a subset of said plurality of emergency-response services, wherein said subset comprises one of: all emergency-response services of said plurality of emergency-response services; all emergency-response services of said plurality of emergency-response services except said selected enterprise emergency-response service; and all emergency-response services of said plurality of emergency-response services having a higher ranking than said selected enterprise emergency-response service.

23. The method of claim 1 , wherein said determining said enterprise emergency phone number is further based on supplemental location data associated with the mobile communication device, and wherein at least one of said enterprise location data and supplemental location data is historical location data.

24. A system for placing an emergency phone call to an enterprise other than a civil authority, the system comprising:

a mobile communication device enabled for voice communication and for data communication; and

an electronic location system enabled for creating enterprise location data based on a location of the mobile communication device within a premises of the enterprise;

wherein said mobile communication device is further enabled for:

receiving a selection of an enterprise emergency-response service hosted by the enterprise;

determining an enterprise emergency phone number from a plurality of enterprise emergency phone numbers based on said selected enterprise emergency-response service and on said enterprise location data, wherein each of the plurality of enterprise emergency phone numbers is associated with a particular enterprise-response service and particular location within the premises; and

placing an emergency phone call to said enterprise emergency phone number determined based on said selected enterprise emergency-response service and on said enterprise location data without placing a call to a civil authority.

25. The system of claim 24 , further comprising a token uniquely associated with said mobile communication device; and wherein said enterprise location data is based on interaction between said token and said enterprise electronic location system.

Assignments (8)