Abstract:
A system and software application that communicates with a central service for alerting a security service that help is needed, wherein an application running on a smart phone causes identity information, location information, and an emergency alert to be transmitted to an emergency response facility either by a single button press or a delayed count-down, or else, in the even that a data network is unavailable, presents an interface to directly dial an emergency response service with a single button press.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a method, and software application for communicating and alerting a security service that help is needed. The invention also relates to a system with a server computing device and at least one client computing device in communication with each other via one or more communication networks, the client device configured to run a software application configured to contact the server over the one or more networks to alert a security service that the operator of the client device requires help in an emergency situation. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Mobile devices such as cell phones or “smart phones” enable a user of such devices to contact emergency services at any time such a device is within range of a connectable (e.g., wireless) communications network. However, the capability of such devices to emergency services or security services often requires a plurality of careful and time-consuming steps. For example, a user may be required to perform each and all of activating the device, launching a communications application, dialing a country-specific emergency code or number, waiting for the emergency responder to pick up, and then vocally providing necessary information to the responder sufficient to enable the responder to send help where it is needed. 
         [0003]    Performing these steps may not be practical (or possible) in an actual emergency. 
         [0004]    Further, an important part of reporting an emergency is that the user provide his or her location information to the responder. Again, however, in an emergency situation, the user may not be able to fully or adequately communicate such information. 
         [0005]    Yet further, these steps are based in older, wire-based voice communications and do not take advantage of the enhanced capabilities of modern wireless communications devices. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The object of the invention is to provide a solution to the above problems by providing an automated system that enables a user of a networked electronic device, particularly a mobile electronic device such as a cell phone or smart phone (although the invention may also function with a non-mobile or lesser mobile device, such as a desktop or laptop computer, comprising sufficient communication and geo-location devices), to contact emergency services and provide such services with information required for mounting a response, all with minimal effort in view of the distress and/or injury the user may experience during an actual emergency. 
         [0007]    In order to accomplish this object, an exemplary embodiment of the invention comprises a system that includes a server computing device associated with the emergency response center, a client computing device associated with an emergency response center, a communications network capable of transmitting messages between the server device and the client device, wherein each of the server device and the client device comprise a CPU and a memory, wherein the client device further comprises an interactive display device and one or more communications interfaces capable of communicating with each of a telephone network, a geo-location network, and a data network, and wherein the client device has software encoded on a non-transient encoding medium readable by the client device sufficient to cause the client device to display, on the display device, a first control and a second control, the first control, upon activation by a user, causing the client device to send location information, acquired from the geo-location network, and an emergency alert to server device via the data network, the second control, upon activation by the user, causing the client device to send location information acquired from the geo-location network, and a pre-alarm alert, to the server device via the data network, query the user for a time delay value, upon receiving the time delay value, initiate a count-down operation in accordance with the time delay value, and display a cancel control on the display device, in the event that the cancel control is activated by the user prior to expiration of the count-down, cancel the count-down operation, and in the event that the cancel control is not activated prior to the expiration of the count-down, send an emergency alert to the server device. 
         [0008]    In another non-limiting, exemplary embodiment, the invention is a method for communicating emergency information between a client computing device and a server computing device associated with an emergency response center, the client device and the server device being in connection with each other over a communications network, the method having the steps of displaying, on a display device of the client device, a first control and a second control, causing, upon activation by a user of the first control, the client device to send location information acquired from a geo-location device built-in to the client device, and an emergency alert, to the server device via a communications interface of the client device in connection with the communications network to which the server device is capable of communicating, causing, upon activation by the user of the second control, the client device to send location information acquired from the geo-location device, and pre-alarm alert, to the server device via the communications interface, query the user for a time delay value, upon receiving the time delay value, initiate a count-down operation in accordance with the time delay value and display a cancel control on the display device, in the event that the cancel control is activated by the user prior to expiration of the count-down, canceling the count-down operation, and in the event that the cancel control is not activated prior to the expiration of the count-down, sending an emergency alert to the server device. 
         [0009]    In yet another non-limiting, exemplary embodiment, the invention is a software application configured to cause a CPU of a computer device to perform the steps of displaying, on a display device of the device, a first control and a second control, the first control, upon activation by a user, causing the device to send location information, acquired from a geo-location device built-in to the computer device, and an emergency alert to an emergency response server associated with an emergency response center via a communications interface of the computer device in connection with a communications network to which the emergency response server is capable of communicating, the second control, upon activation by the user, causing the device to send location information acquired from the geo-location device, and a pre-alarm alert, to the emergency response server via the communications interface, query the user for a time delay value, upon receiving the time delay value, initiate a count-down operation in accordance with the time delay value, and display a cancel control on the display device, in the event that the cancel control is activated by the user prior to expiration of the count-down, cancel the count-down operation, and in the event that the cancel control is not activated prior to the expiration of the count-down, send an emergency alert to the emergency response server. 
         [0010]    Further embodiments and features of the invention are described in relation to the drawings and the description that follow. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  shows a diagram of a networked system according to the invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  shows a view of an authentication interface in accordance with the invention on a portable computing device. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  shows a view of a main interface in accordance with the invention on a portable computing device. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  shows a view of an interface in accordance with the invention for setting, commencing, and/or canceling a timer for count-down. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  shows views of interfaces indicating confirmations received from the emergency response server. 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  shows a view of a direct dialing interface in accordance with the invention for directly dialing an emergency response center via telephone line. 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  illustrates an exemplary view of a display for alerting an emergency responder of an emergency alert transmitted by the portable computing device. 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  illustrates an exemplary view of a display for communicating to an emergency responder geo-location information and other information transmitted by the portable computing device. 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is a flow-chart illustrating steps in accordance with the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0020]    According to a non-limiting, exemplary embodiment of the inventive system, one or more portable electronic devices  5  (see  FIG. 1 ), each comprising a CPU, memory (RAM), a storage device, and a display screen, and each including communication devices capable of connection with a telephone network  25  (e.g., a cellular telephone network, or switch-based telecommunications network), a data network  20  (e.g., the Internet via 3G, 4G, WiFi, or the like), and a geo-location system (e.g., the Global Positioning System (“GPS”) or equivalent). Preferably, the portable electronic device  5  comprises a touch-sensitive display screen in order to receive input from the user. Such a portable electronic device may be, for example, an iPhone® operating with the iOS® operating system, a smart phone operating with the Android® operating system, or any such portable computing device (i.e., “smart phone”) that includes communications interfaces for wirelessly communicating with a data network and a telephone network. 
         [0021]    In addition, an emergency response server  10 , comprising a CPU, memory (RAM), and a storage device, is provided in connection with the Internet and thereby capable of connection with the one or more portable electronic devices  5 . 
         [0022]    In accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a software application (“app”) is provided that is loadable onto a storage device of a portable electronic device  5  and executable on a CPU of the portable electronic device  5  that facilitates communication with at least one of the emergency response server  10  and an emergency response center  30 . 
         [0023]    In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the app according to the invention causes the portable electronic device  5 , upon launch or activation, to prompt the user of the portable electronic device  5  to enter an authentication code for authenticating with the emergency response server  10  (see Step  01  in the flow-chart of  FIG. 9 ). A field  50  is provided in an authentication interface (see  FIG. 2 ) for providing the authentication code, and upon successful connection and authentication (Step  02 ), a main interface as shown in  FIG. 3  is enabled (Step  03 ). 
         [0024]    In the main interface of  FIG. 3 , the portable electronic device  5  displays a first control  60  and a second control  70 . In a preferred embodiment, first and second indicators  80 ,  90  are also displayed. The first indicator  80  indicates a status of a connection with the geo-location network for establishing a spatial location of the portable electronic device  5 . The first indicator appears in a first color (e.g., red) if the geo-location device is not operating, a second color (e.g., yellow) if the geo-location device is in a process of activation (e.g., acquiring connection with GPS satellites), and a third color (e.g., green) if the geo-location device is connected to a geo-location network and is operating normally for establishing the location of the portable electronic device  5 . 
         [0025]    The second indicator  90  indicates a status of a connection or connectability with the emergency response server  10 . The second indicator appears in a first color (e.g., red) if the emergency response server  10  in unreachable, a second color (e.g., yellow) if the emergency response server  10  in the process of activation (e.g., performing handshaking or authentication), and a third color (e.g., green) if the emergency response server  10  is reachable via the data network  20  and is operating normally for receiving messages from the portable electronic device  5 . 
         [0026]    In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the main interface presents two main controls for rapidly sending a message to the emergency response server  10  for requesting assistance and/or reporting an emergency. A first control  60 , which in a particularly preferred embodiment is larger and in a different color (e.g., red) than that of a second control  70 , is directed to, upon activation (Step  04 ), immediately cause the portable electronic devices  5  to enter an emergency mode (Step  06 ) and thereby transmit, via the data network  20 , identification information (based on the authentication code provided by the user), location information (based on information determined by the geo-location device), and an emergency alert to the emergency response server  10 . 
         [0027]    In a preferred embodiment, the first control  60  operates in the manner of a push button, which activates when the user places a finger on an image of the first control  60  on the display screen. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the first control  60  does not activate unless the user places a finger on the image of the first control  60  and also holds it there for at least a short pre-determined time, most preferably two seconds, thereby avoiding accidental or unintentional activation of the first control  60 . 
         [0028]    Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the main interface presents a second control  70 , preferably a different color (e.g., yellow) than that of the first control  80 . Upon activation of this control (Step  07 ), the app enters into a warning mode (Step  09 ) and directs the portable electronic device  5  to immediately cause the portable electronic devices  5  to send identification information (based on the authentication code provided by the user) and location information (based on information determined by the geo-location device) to the emergency response server  10 , but not to send an emergency alert. Instead of the latter, the app causes the portable electronic devices  5  to display an interface (Step  10 ) as shown in  FIG. 4  with a prompt  95  for prompting the user to enter or choose a delay time in the form of a numeric value. Button controls  97 , 98  are also displayed for accepting the numeric value or to cancel the interface. 
         [0029]    If the user accepts a value indicated by the prompt  95  by activating the accept button  97  (Step  11 ), the app causes the portable electronic device  5  to begin counting down, second-by-second, the chosen delay time. 
         [0030]    In the event that the cancel button  98  is activated by the user prior to expiration of the count-down (Step  12 ), the count-down operation is canceled, the app exits the warning mode (Step  13 ), and the main interface may be re-displayed. 
         [0031]    On the other hand, in the event that the cancel button  98  is not activated prior to the expiration of the count-down (Step  14 ), the app enters into the emergency mode (Step  06 ), and thereupon an emergency alert to the emergency response server  10  as would take place if the user had activated the first control  60 . 
         [0032]    Once an emergency alert has been sent to the emergency response server  10 , the app causes the portable electronic device  5  to display status interfaces such as shown in 
         [0033]      FIGS. 5A-C . In a first status interface as shown in  FIG. 5A , a single green checkmark is displayed to indicate that a first confirmation message has been received from the emergency response server  10  indicating that the location information has been registered by the emergency response server  10 . In a second status interface as shown in  FIG. 5B , two green checkmarks are displayed to indicate that a second confirmation message has been received from the emergency response server  10  indicating that emergency procedures are in progress responsive to the user&#39;s emergency alert. In a third status interface as shown in  FIG. 5C , three green checkmarks are displayed to indicate that a third confirmation message has been received from the emergency response server  10  indicating that the emergency alert has been canceled. 
         [0034]    In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the app is capable of operating when a connection cannot be established with the emergency response server  10 , such as when a connection to the data network  20  is not available. In this case, activating either of the first control  60  (Step  05 ) or the second control  70  (Step  08 ) causes the portable electronic devices  5  to display a direct dialing interface (Step  15 ) with a telephone control  99  (see  FIG. 6 ), whereupon activating the telephone control  99  immediately causes the portable electronic device  5  to initiate a telephone call to the emergency response center via the telephone network  25  (Step  16 ), thereby providing a fallback mechanism that permits the user to ask for help from emergency responders even when a data network  20  is not available. 
         [0035]    In a preferred embodiment of the invention, an emergency alert causes the emergency response server  10  to produce an audible alarm, coupled with a flashing red light signal, to alert operators in the emergency response center that an emergency has been reported by a user of the system. The emergency response server  10  facilitates presenting a reply or response button on a operator panel (see  FIG. 7 ) for communicating with the user reporting the emergency, as well as visually displaying a geo-location of the user (see  FIG. 8 ). In a preferred embodiment, other references and personal information of the user may also be visible on the operator panel. 
         [0036]    Once the emergency for which the user initiated the emergency alert has been resolved, the app exits the emergency mode (Step  17 ), and the main interface may be re-displayed. 
         [0037]    In the preceding description, for purposes of explanation, numerous details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the embodiments of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that these specific details are not required in order to practice the present invention. The invention as described herein may comprise one, several, all, or any of the embodiments provided above in any combination. 
         [0038]    The above-described embodiments of the present invention are intended to be examples only. Alterations, modifications and variations can be effected to the particular embodiments by those of skill in the art without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined solely by the claims appended hereto.