Abstract:
A mobile terminal capable of emergency message transmission using Bluetooth® technology is disclosed. The mobile terminal includes a memory unit for storing a recipient list and a pre-composed emergency message; an input unit for inputting a command of emergency message transmission; a Bluetooth® module for discovering Bluetooth®-enabled devices within Bluetooth® range and for extracting a Bluetooth® address of the discovered Bluetooth®-enabled device when a Bluetooth®-enabled device is discovered; a controller for inserting the extracted Bluetooth® address into the emergency message; and a communication unit for transmitting the emergency message to a mobile terminal associated with the stored recipient list in response to input of a command of emergency message transmission. As a result, an emergency message is transmitted to a proximate Bluetooth®-enabled device for immediate help to the user.

Description:
PRIORITY 
     This application claims priority to an application filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Jun. 30, 2006 and assigned Serial No. 2006-0060754, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to a mobile terminal capable of sending an emergency message using Bluethoth® communication and, more particularly, to a method and mobile terminal wherein emergency situations of a user carrying the mobile terminal can be transmitted to a proximate person for immediate help to the user. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Nowadays, many people carry mobile terminals. However, when emergency situations occur, even a user carrying a mobile terminal may be pressed for time to place a call by inputting a desired phone number. Therefore a mobile terminal having an emergency message sending capability has been developed. To use the emergency message sending capability, it is necessary to register in advance a recipient phone number, an emergency message, and the number of times the mobile terminal should repeat emergency message transmission. 
     In a dangerous or emergency situation, pressing a predetermined button multiple times enables transmission of the emergency message to a user associated with the registered recipient phone number. When the receiving user receiving the emergency message then makes a call connection to the sending user, the receiving user can be made aware of the emergency situation of the sending user. 
     However, even with transmission of an emergency message, the receiving user may be of little help to the sending user if the receiving user is incapable of aiding the sending user (for example, as a result of a great separation distance). 
     Further, after transmission of an emergency message, the receiving user may also be of little help to the sending user if the sending user cannot answer a call from the receiving user. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a method and mobile terminal wherein an emergency message is transmitted to a proximate user for immediate help. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide a method and mobile terminal wherein emergency situations of a user carrying the mobile terminal can be transmitted to a mobile terminal receiving an emergency message and a Bluetooth®-enabled device near the user. 
     In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a mobile terminal capable of emergency message transmission using Bluetooth® technology, including a memory unit for storing a recipient list and a pre-composed emergency message; an input unit for inputting a command of emergency message transmission; a Bluetooth® module for discovering Bluetooth®-enabled devices within Bluetooth® range and for extracting a Bluetooth® address of the discovered Bluetooth®-enabled device when a Bluetooth®-enabled device is discovered; a controller for inserting the extracted Bluetooth® address into the emergency message; and a communication unit for transmitting the emergency message to a mobile terminal associated with the stored recipient list in response to input of a command of emergency message transmission. 
     In accordance with the present invention, there is also provided an emergency message transmission method for a Bluetooth®-enabled mobile terminal, including storing a recipient list and a pre-composed emergency message; discovering Bluetooth®-enabled devices within Bluetooth® range, and extracting a Bluetooth® address of the discovered Bluetooth®-enabled device when a Bluetooth®-enabled device is discovered; inserting the extracted Bluetooth® address into the emergency message; and transmitting the emergency message to a mobile terminal associated with the stored recipient list in response to input of a command of emergency message transmission. 
     In a feature of the present invention, an emergency message is transmitted to a proximate Bluetooth®-enabled device for immediate help to the user. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a configuration of a mobile terminal including a Bluetooth® module according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a block diagram illustrating an emergency message transmission method according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a flow chart illustrating steps of the emergency message transmission method of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a flow chart illustrating an example of an emergency message transmission step in the method of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a flow chart illustrating another example of an emergency message transmission step in the method of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a flow chart illustrating an emergency operation step in the method of  FIG. 3 ; and 
         FIG. 7  is a flow chart illustrating a step of call forwarding in  FIG. 6 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The same reference symbols identify the same or corresponding elements in the drawings. Some constructions or processes known in the art may be not described to avoid obscuring the invention in unnecessary detail. 
     The present invention is applicable to all kinds of communication devices using Bluetooth® wireless technology. Before describing the present invention, a brief description of Bluetooth® is given below. 
     Bluetooth® operates in a Radio Frequency (RF) band of 2.4 GHz. Bluetooth® enables communication in the presence of obstacles, and can support data rates of 1 Mbps-10 Mbps and cover a short range of 10-100 m. In these respects, Bluetooth® is considered to have an advantage over Infrared Data Association (IrDA) technology. Bluetooth® can support high-speed data exchange with low power consumption, and ensure security in data transmission. 
     Bluetooth® communication technology provides a point-to-point connection or a point-to-multipoint connection. In a point-to-multipoint connection, multiple Bluetooth®-enabled devices share an identical channel and form a piconet. In a piconet, a Bluetooth®-enabled device initiating communication acts as a master and other Bluetooth®-enabled devices act as slaves. The master controls channel access of the slaves. Multiple piconets having overlapping coverage areas may form a scatternet, in which a master in one piconet acts as a slave in another piconet. 
     Various Bluetooth® protocols and profiles are defined for transmission of voice signals and various data. For example, the Telephony Control Specification-BINary (TCS BIN) is a protocol that defines call control signaling for establishment of speech and data calls between Bluetooth®-enabled devices. The TCS BIN includes a Call Control (CC) module, Group Management (GM) module, ConnectionLess (CL) TCS module, and protocol discrimination module. 
     In an InterCom Profile (ICP), a TCS-based profile, a connection-oriented channel is used for a signaling path, and a synchronous connection-oriented (SCO) link is used to carry speech data. 
     In a TCS-based profile, the following call states are defined: null, active, disconnect request, call initiated, overlap sending, outgoing call proceeding, call delivered, call present, call received, connect request, incoming call proceeding, and overlap receiving. 
     A Bluetooth®-enabled device has a unique address. In the present invention, a mobile terminal including a Bluetooth® module has a corresponding Bluetooth® device address. 
       FIG. 1  shows a mobile terminal including a Bluetooth® module according to the present invention. The mobile terminal  100  includes a memory unit  110 , an input unit  120 , a Bluetooth® module  130 , a controller  140 , a wireless communication unit  150 , a display unit  160 , an audio processor  170 , and an interface unit  180 . 
     The memory unit  110  stores programs and related data for the operation of the mobile terminal  100  and for the control operation of the controller  140 . The memory unit  110  may be composed of various memory devices such as an Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EPROM), Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) and flash memory. In particular, the memory unit  110  stores at least one recipient list and a pre-composed emergency message for emergency message transmission. Preferably, the recipient list includes a phone number, electronic mail address, and Bluetooth® address of a Bluetooth®-enabled device. 
     The input unit  120  may include various devices such as a keypad and touch screen, and is used to select a desired function by the user or to input desired user information. In particular, the input unit  120  inputs a mode change command for emergency message transmission to a mobile terminal associated with the recipient list. The input unit  120  also inputs a command of emergency message transmission, preferably, corresponding to successive pressing of the volume key of a keypad four times. 
     The Bluetooth® module  130  enables communication according to Bluetooth® standards. A standard interface, called the Host Controller Interface (HCI), is defined between a host processor and a Bluetooth® module  130 . Control commands and related responses, and user data, are exchanged in the form of HCI-compliant messages (HCI packets). HCI packets are exchanged through an RS232, Universal Serial Bus (USB), or Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter (UART) connection. 
     HCI packets are categorized into command packets, event packets and data packets. For effective utilization of a Bluetooth® module  130 , about 60 command packets are provided. 
     In particular, the Bluetooth® module  130  uses an inquiry procedure to discover other Bluetooth®-enabled devices in the Bluetooth® radio range. That is, the Bluetooth® module  130  periodically broadcasts an inquiry message including an identification (ID) packet to discover other Bluetooth®-enabled devices in the Bluetooth® range. A Bluetooth®-enabled device to be a slave enters into an inquiry scan state, receives the broadcast inquiry message, and responds to the inquiry message by sending a Frequency Hopping Synchronization (FHS) packet to the Bluetooth® module  130 . An FHS packet includes a sender&#39;s Bluetooth® address and clock information for frequency synchronization between Bluetooth®-enabled devices. 
     Upon reception of an FHS packet, the Bluetooth® module  130  extracts a Bluetooth® address from the received FHS packet. Preferably, the extracted Bluetooth® address is stored in the memory unit  110 . For example, after a Bluetooth® address is inserted in the stored recipient list, in response to input of a command of emergency message transmission, the Bluetooth® module  130  makes an Object Push Profile (OPP) connection or a Serial Port Profile (SPP) connection to another mobile terminal including a Bluetooth® module related to the Bluetooth® address in the recipient list, and transmits an emergency message over the OPP or SPP connection using Bluetooth® communication. An OPP connection or SPP connection may be used to transmit data such as a phonebook and photograph. 
     Using a received Bluetooth® address, the Bluetooth® module  130  sends a page message to the corresponding Bluetooth®-enabled device, receives a response message in reply to the page message, and sends an FHS packet. In reply to the FHS packet, the Bluetooth®-enabled device sends an ID packet. Thereby an Asynchronous Connection-Less (ACL) link is established between the Bluetooth® module  130  and Bluetooth®-enabled device for data transmission. Thereafter, for speech signal transmission, a Synchronous Connection-Oriented (SCO) link is established. 
     After establishment of the SCO link, the Bluetooth® module  130  activates the ICP to enable transmission and reception of speech signals to and from the receiving mobile terminal including the Bluetooth® module. 
     Further, a speech signal received by the wireless communication unit  150  is directed to the Bluetooth® module  130  via the interface unit  180 . That is, the speech signal received by the wireless communication unit  150  is converted by the audio processor  170  into digital Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) data, which is then sent to the Bluetooth® module  130  via the interface unit  180 . The Bluetooth® module  130  then transmits the PCM data to the Bluetooth® module connected to the SCO link. 
     Preferably, the Bluetooth® module  130  sends PCM data from the Bluetooth® module to the interface unit  180  using the TCS Bin. 
     The controller  140  controls overall operation and states of the mobile terminal  100 , and may include a microprocessor or digital signal processor. In particular, the controller  140  inserts a Bluetooth® address of a discovered Bluetooth®-enabled device extracted by the Bluetooth® module  130  into the stored emergency message. When the user inputs a command of emergency message transmission, the controller  140  controls the wireless communication unit  150  to send the emergency message containing the Bluetooth® address to a mobile terminal associated with the stored recipient list. 
     The controller  140  may also insert the Bluetooth® address into the recipient list stored in the memory unit  110 . 
     When a call arrives from the mobile terminal that received the emergency message, the controller  140  controls the wireless communication unit  150  to establish a corresponding call connection, and also controls the audio processor  170  to convert a received speech signal into digital PCM data then to output the PCM data to the interface unit  180 . 
     The wireless communication unit  150  transmits and receives speech and control signals to and from a corresponding base station through wireless communication. The wireless communication unit  150  receives a call from a calling mobile terminal through an antenna then sends the received call to the controller  140 . The wireless communication unit  150  transmits data stored in the memory unit  110  to a called mobile terminal through the antenna. In particular, when the user inputs a command of emergency message transmission through the input unit  120 , the wireless communication unit  150  sends the emergency message to a mobile terminal associated with the recipient list. The recipient list preferably includes a phone number and electronic mail address for each listed recipient. 
     The display unit  160  displays operation states of the mobile terminal  100 . Preferably, when a command of emergency message transmission is input through the input unit  120 , the display unit  160  displays a screen indicating a call wait state instead of a normal wait screen. 
     The audio processor  170  processes a voice signal of the user input through a microphone into a form transmittable through the wireless communication unit  150 . The audio processor  170  processes a voice signal received through the wireless communication unit  150  and various audio signals generated from the controller  140  into speaker-enabled output forms through a speaker. In particular, the audio processor  170  converts an analog voice signal received through the wireless communication unit  150  into digital PCM data using a vocoder. The vocoder may be a Qualcomm® code Excited Linear Prediction (QCELP) coder or Enhanced Variable Rate Coder (EVRC) for Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) systems, and be a G.723.1 vocoder for Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) systems. 
     The interface unit  180  sends PCM data converted by the audio processor  170  to the Bluetooth® module  130 . In particular, speech signals between the controller  140  and Bluetooth® module  130  pass through the interface unit  180 . The interface unit  180  may be included in the controller  140 . 
       FIG. 2  shows an emergency message transmission method according to the present invention. Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an overview of the method is described below. 
     A mobile terminal  100   b  sends an emergency message to a mobile terminal  100   c . In response to the emergency message, the message receiving mobile terminal  100   c  places a call to the message sending mobile terminal  100   b . After sending the emergency message, the message sending mobile terminal  100   b  makes an ICP connection to a third mobile terminal  100   a  in the Bluetooth® range. The message sending mobile terminal  100   b  then receives, through a wireless communication unit  150   b , an analog speech signal transmitted, through a wireless communication unit  150   c , from the message receiving mobile terminal  100   c . The message sending mobile terminal  100   b  converts the received analog speech signal into digital PCM data, and sends the PCM data through an interface unit  180   b  to a Bluetooth® module  130   b . The Bluetooth® module  130   b  transmits the PCM data to a Bluetooth® module  130   a  of the third mobile terminal  100   a  using Bluetooth® communication. 
       FIG. 3  shows steps of the emergency message transmission method of  FIG. 2 . Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the method is described below. 
     The controller  140  stores a pre-composed emergency, message and an associated recipient list in the memory unit  110  in step S 200 . The recipient list may include a phone number and an electronic mail address. 
     When a mode change command is input by a user, the controller  140  enters into an emergency messaging mode to prepare emergency message transmission in step S 210 . Thereafter, the controller  140  controls the Bluetooth® module  130  to discover other Bluetooth®-enabled mobile terminals in the Bluetooth® range, and the Bluetooth® module  130  broadcasts an inquiry message in step S 220 . A Bluetooth®-enabled mobile terminal to be a slave enters into an inquiry scan state, receives the broadcast inquiry message, and responds to the inquiry message by sending an FHS packet containing a sender&#39;s Bluetooth® address and clock information to the Bluetooth® module  130  in step S 230 . 
     The controller  140  extracts a Bluetooth® address from a received FHS packet in step S 240 . 
     The controller  140  transmits the emergency message using the extracted Bluetooth® address in step S 250 . Step S 250  is described later in relation to  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
     After emergency message transmission, the controller  140  controls performance of an emergency operation related to the emergency message in step S 260 . Step S 260  is described later in relation to  FIG. 6 . 
       FIG. 4  shows an example of the emergency message transmission step S 250  in  FIG. 3 . Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the step is described below. 
     The controller  140  inserts the extracted Bluetooth® address into the emergency message stored in the memory unit  110  in step S 251 . The controller  140  determines whether a command of emergency message transmission is input in step S 252 . If a command of emergency message transmission is input, the controller  140  sends the emergency message to a mobile terminal related to the stored recipient list in step S 253 . 
       FIG. 5  shows another example of the emergency message transmission step S 250  in  FIG. 3 . Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 5 , the step is described below. 
     The controller  140  inserts the extracted Bluetooth® address into the recipient list stored in the memory unit  110  in step S 254 . The controller  140  determines whether a command of emergency message transmission is input in step S 255 . If a command of emergency message transmission is input, the controller  140  controls the Bluetooth® module  130  to establish an OPP connection or an SPP connection to a mobile terminal corresponding to the extracted Bluetooth® address in step S 256 . The OPP connection or SPP connection may be used to transmit data such as a phonebook and photograph. The controller  140  then controls the Bluetooth® module  130  to transmit the emergency message over the OPP or SPP connection using Bluetooth® communication in step S 257 . 
       FIG. 6  shows the emergency operation step in step S 260  in the method of  FIG. 3 . Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  6 , the step is described below. 
     In a mobile terminal  100   b  sending the emergency message, a controller  140   b  controls a Bluetooth® module  130   b  to prepare, Bluetooth® communication with a third mobile terminal  100   a  having the extracted Bluetooth® address in step S 261 . That is, the controller  140   b  makes an ACL link to the third mobile terminal  100   a  for data transfer, and also makes an SCO link for voice signal transfer. 
     In the message sending mobile terminal  100   b , the controller  140   b  controls the Bluetooth® module  130   b  to activate the ICP so that voice signals can be transmitted between the message sending mobile terminal  100   b  and third mobile terminal  100   a  using Bluetooth® communication in step S 262 . 
     After ICP activation, the message sending mobile terminal  100   b  awaits a phone call from a mobile terminal  100   c  receiving the emergency message in step S 263 . After call arrival, the message sending mobile terminal  100   b  forwards a speech signal received from the message receiving mobile terminal  100   c  to the third mobile terminal  100   a  in step S 264 . Step S 264  is described below. 
       FIG. 7  shows the step of call forwarding S 264  in  FIG. 6 . Referring to  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  7 , the step is described below. 
     The message sending mobile terminal  100   b  receives a speech signal from the message receiving mobile terminal  100   c  in step S 265 . In the message sending mobile terminal  100   b , the controller  140   b  controls the audio processor  170   b  to convert the received speech signal into digital PCM data using a vocoder in step S 266 . That is, the received analog speech signal is converted into digital PCM data through demodulation and decompression operations of the audio processor  170   b  using a vocoder such as an EVRC or QCELP coder. 
     The controller  140   b  sends the PCM data through the interface unit  180   b  to the Bluetooth® module  130   b  in step S 267 . That is, under the control of the controller  140   b , the PCM data passes through a PCM_out port of the controller  140   b  to a PCM_in port of the Bluetooth® module  130   b.    
     The controller  140   b  controls the Bluetooth® module  130   b  to transmit the PCM data to the third mobile terminal  100   a  using Bluetooth® communication in step S 268 . In the third mobile terminal  100   a , the Bluetooth® module  130   a  receives the PCM data and sends the received PCM data to the controller  140   a  through the interface unit  180   a . The controller  140   a  controls the audio processor  170   a  to convert the PCM data into an analog speech signal, to amplify the speech signal, and to output the amplified speech signal to a speaker in step S 269 . 
     Further, in the third mobile terminal  100   a , the controller  140   a  controls the audio processor  170   a  to convert an analog speech signal input through a microphone into digital PCM data, and sends the PCM data through the interface unit  180   a  to the Bluetooth® module  130   a . The controller  140   a  controls the Bluetooth® module  130   a  to transmit the PCM data to the message sending mobile terminal  100   b  using Bluetooth® communication. In the message sending mobile terminal  100   b , the Bluetooth® module  130   b  receives the PCM data and sends the PCM data to the controller  140   b  through the interface unit  180   b  using the TCS Bin. The controller  140   b  controls the audio processor  170   b  to convert the PCM data into an analog speech signal, and also controls the wireless communication unit  150   b  to transmit the speech signal to the message receiving mobile terminal  100   c.    
     As apparent from the above description, the present invention provides an emergency message transmission method and a mobile terminal using a Bluetooth® module, wherein an emergency message is transmitted to a proximate Bluetooth®-enabled mobile terminal. In addition, when a call is connected between a mobile terminal sending an emergency message and another mobile terminal receiving the emergency message, a third mobile terminal near to the sending mobile terminal can exchange speech signals with the receiving mobile terminal through the intermediation of the sending mobile terminal. As a result, a proximate person can rapidly help the user sending an emergency message. 
     While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described in this specification, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes or modifications of the embodiments are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.