Method of facilitating access to IP-based emergency services
A method for reporting a user's emergency condition by sending an emergency help request message in a TCP/IP format to an emergency service center (ESC). The help request message may be sent over the Internet to advantageously harness the data transmission resources provided by the Internet. A support service provider may commercially provide such an emergency reporting service to a group of subscribers. The service provider may receive emergency requests from the subscribers and may send those requests over the Internet to the emergency service center. The service provider may also convert any non-TCP/IP message received from the subscriber into a TCP/IP message prior to sending the message to the ESC. A per-usage fee or a flat subscription fee may be charged by the service provider to allow users to report emergency conditions over the Internet. The support service provider thus coordinates the emergency help on behalf of the user. Internet-based emergency message delivery may be useful in many situations, for example, when the person in need of help is mute, disabled or in a situation that prevents the person from orally requesting emergency help from the ESC.
1. A method of facilitating access to emergency services comprising:
establishing an instant connection with an emergency service center (ESC) when a user requests emergency help using a panic button located on an Internet Protocol (IP) based device; and
delivering a help request message in an IP format to the ESC in response to the user's request for the emergency help wherein said help request comprises information about said user;
wherein the instant connection is established by accessing the ESC via the Internet;
wherein establishing an instant connection with an emergency service center (ESC) includes sending the help request message to a support service provider (SSP), the SSP communicating the help request message to the ESC.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the help request message further comprises one or more of the following information:
an identity of the user;
a location of the user;
a time when the user requested help; and
an indication of a probably cause of the user's distress.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing an emergency contact means to enable the user to request the emergency help by activating the emergency contact means.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the emergency contact means includes at least one of an executable software and a device equipped with a panic button.
5. The method of claim 3 , wherein providing the emergency contact means includes supplying the user with a storage medium containing an executable software.
6. The method of claim 3 , wherein providing the emergency contact means includes allowing the user to download an executable software from a remote source of data.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the remote source of data includes a computer server.
8. The method of claim 3 , wherein establishing the instant connection includes:
receiving an indication that the user has activated the emergency contact means; and
contacting the ESC via the Internet in response to the indication.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein delivering the help request message includes:
receiving the help request message in the IP format from the user; and
communicating the help request message received from the user to the ESC.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein delivering the help request message includes time-stamping the help request message prior to communicating the help request message to the ESC.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein delivering the help request message includes:
receiving the help request message in a non-IP format from the user;
converting the help request message into an IP format; and
sending the help request message in the IP format to the ESC.
12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the instant connection is assigned a high priority such that the help request message is communicated according to a class of service providing predetermined data bandwidth, latency and error-rate.
13. A method of providing access to emergency services comprising:
obtaining medical information about a subscriber as part of the subscriber's subscription to an emergency support service;
establishing an instant connection with an emergency service center (ESC) when a subscriber of the subscription-based emergency support service requests emergency help using a panic button located on an Internet Protocol (IP) based device; and
informing the ESC about the emergency help requested by the subscriber by delivering an help request message in IP format to the ESC wherein said help request message comprises medical information about said subscriber;
wherein the instant connection is established by accessing the ESC via the Internet.
14. The method of claim 13 , wherein offering the subscription-based emergency support service includes a fee to the subscriber for the emergency-support service.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the fee is charged to the subscriber for each help request message delivered to the ESC on behalf of the subscriber.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the fee is charged to the subscriber at a flat rate for a given time period whether or not the subscriber utilizes the emergency support service during the given time period.
17. A method of providing access to emergency services comprising:
establishing a connection with an emergency service center (ESC) when a subscriber of a subscription-based emergency support service requests emergency help using a panic button located on an Internet Protocol (IP) based device;
informing the ESC about the emergency help requested by the subscriber by delivering an help request message in IP format to the ESC wherein said help request message comprises information about said subscriber;
activating a camera associated with the IP based device when the user requests emergency help using the panic button; and
transmitting one or more images captured by the camera to the ESC in an IP format.
18. A computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to implement:
obtaining medical information about a subscriber as part of the subscriber's subscription to an emergency support service;
establishing an instant connection with an emergency service center (ESC) when a subscriber of a subscription-based emergency support service requests emergency help using a panic button located on an Internet Protocol (IP) based device; and
informing the ESC about the emergency help requested by the subscriber by delivering an help request message in IP format to the ESC wherein said help request message comprises medical information about said subscriber;
wherein the instant connection is established by accessing the ESC via the Internet.
19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 18 , wherein the subscription-based emergency support service includes a fee to the subscriber for the emergency-support service.
20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 19 , wherein the fee is charged to the subscriber for each help request message delivered to the ESC on behalf of the subscriber.
21. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 19 , wherein the fee is charged to the subscriber at a flat rate for a given time period whether or not the subscriber utilizes the emergency support service during the given time period.