Emergency communications system

Abstract

A communications terminal facilitates signaling emergency alerts and monitoring. The terminal is operative in response to user input to generate emergency messages which are transmitted to one or more predetermined recipients via one or more mediums of communication. This user input to generate an emergency is designed such that it takes advantage of the facilities of available common user terminals (e.g. mobile phones, personal digital assistants) and may be augmented by short-range wireless “panic button” devices carried or worn by the user to allow triggering an alarm more effectively and/or conveniently. In response to either direct input from a user or remote input from another, the terminal also transmits audio, video, still image, and other available data that facilitates situation monitoring. The user may also indicate the nature and severity of the situation. Further, the terminal may suppress indications of the established communications such that the terminal appears to be in a dormant state. Further, the terminal may suppress normal handset controls allowing anyone to terminate communication, requiring specific, unique user input to terminate the emergency communication medium(s). Incorrect entry of this unique user input may be used as an indication that the user is in a situation of duress.

1 - 36 . (canceled) 
     
     
         37 . A method of operation of a personal communications device, the method comprising:
 receiving a prompt indicating the existence of an exigent circumstance;   identifying one or more communications mediums available for communication;   establishing, for each of the identified communications mediums, a communications link; and   transmitting, via each of the established communication links, an urgency message, the urgency message including one or both of the signal strength and battery life of the personal communications device.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the urgency message includes the signal strength of the personal communications device. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the urgency message includes the battery life of the personal communications device. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the prompt is an urgency code entered by a user of the personal communications device. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the prompt is an external activation. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the external activation is received from a panic button device in wireless communication with the personal communications device. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the personal communications device comprises a camera, and the urgency message includes a visual image taken with the camera. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the personal communications device comprises a camera, and the urgency message includes video taken with the camera. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the personal communications device comprises a camera, and the urgency message includes streaming video taken with the camera. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the personal communications device includes a capability for ascertaining its geographic location, and the urgency message includes an indication of the geographic location of the personal communications device. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46 , wherein the capability for ascertaining the geographic location of the personal communications device comprises a global positioning system (GPS) receiver. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 37 , further comprising mimicking an inactive mode while maintaining a connection to a network device. 
     
     
         49 . A personal communications device operable in response to a prompt to:
 identify one or more communications mediums available for communication; and   transmit, via each of the identified communications mediums, an urgency message, the urgency message including one or both of the signal strength and battery life of the personal communications device.   
     
     
         50 . The personal communications device of  claim 49 , further comprising one or more keys, wherein the prompt is a key sequence entered by a user of the personal communications device. 
     
     
         51 . The personal communications device of  claim 49 , further comprising a panic button device in wireless communication with the personal communications device, wherein the prompt is an external activation received from the panic button device. 
     
     
         52 . The personal communications device of  claim 49 , further comprising a camera, and wherein the urgency message includes a visual image or video taken with the camera. 
     
     
         53 . The personal communications device of  claim 49 , further comprising a capability to ascertain the geographic location of the personal communications device, and wherein the urgency message comprises an indication of the geographic location of the personal communications device. 
     
     
         54 . The personal communications device of  claim 49 , wherein the personal communications device is further operable to establish, for each of the identified communications mediums, a communications link. 
     
     
         55 . The personal communications device of  claim 49 , wherein the personal communications device is a mobile phone. 
     
     
         56 . A system which facilitates provision of emergency communication services via a network, the system comprising:
 at least one network device capable of alerting a responder, and   a personal communications device operable in response to a prompt to establish communications with the at least one network device and to send an urgency message to the at least one network device, the urgency message including one or both of the signal strength and battery life of the personal communications device.   
     
     
         57 . The system of  claim 56 , wherein the personal communications device is further operable to identify one or more communications mediums available for communication; and transmit the urgency message via each of the identified communications mediums.