Apple Researching Methods for Facilitating Emergency Phone Calls

[MacRumors]

A patent application entitled Method and system for prolonging emergency calls, filed in December 2007 and disclosed today, reveals that Apple has been researching methods for facilitating emergency phone calls from the iPhone. The scope of Apple's work extends to recognition of when a given call is an emergency call, activation of power-saving measures, use of confirmation buttons and tasks to decrease chances of premature disconnection, and the use of pre-determined "phrase buttons" to enable sending of automated messages and information.

In determining which telephone calls are emergency calls, Apple specifies that certain numbers such as 911 could automatically be categorized as "emergency", while others could be user-defined, such as within a dedicated field in the iPhone's "Contacts" application. Once an emergency call is detected, the iPhone could then implement a series of measures to facilitate the call. In one such measure, an extra step could be required before termination of the call could be permitted.

For example, if the user presses a button to disconnect an emergency call, emergency-mode processor 106 may query the user for confirmation before disconnecting the call. The confirmation may be in the form of a button, a code or password, a verbal acknowledgement, and/or other input by the user. Emergency-mode processor 106 may even disable the user's ability to disconnect the call. As a result, the call may only be disconnected by someone (e.g., an emergency operator) on the other end of the emergency call. Further, the user may select settings to specify the level of difficulty and the methods of disconnecting emergency calls. The user may also select settings for each individual emergency number. For example, the user may disable the ability to disconnect a 911 call while activating a disconnect confirmation in other emergency calls.

Confirmation buttons for emergency call disconnection
The iPhone's emergency mode could also enact a number of power-saving steps in order to preserve the device's battery life. For example, Apple proposes such actions as dimming the display screen and turning off non-essential hardware components such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi or camera sensors.

Finally, Apple describes the use of "emergency phrase buttons" that could allow for preset actions in the event that the caller is unable to speak. Apple cites examples of pre-recorded audio files that could be activated to notify 911 dispatchers that the caller is choking, automatic transmission of GPS coordinates, or automated requests to contact a friend or family member.




iPhone "emergency phrase buttons"

Article Link: Apple Researching Methods for Facilitating Emergency Phone Calls

[Sky Blue]

Seems useful, especially the location one.

[DSG]

I know its business, but should stuff like this really be the subject of IP protection? Sounds excellent and the kind of thing that should be on every mobile, rather than being a potential selling point.

[xanadeath]

This would be really smart of apple to add to the iPhone. Now everybody's first thought during an asthma attack will be to reach for their iPhone...lol

[nagromme]

Those one-tap speech phrases--including your location--are a great idea. That could save someone's life if they're too injured to speak clearly, or quietly hiding or something. If it mutes the mic while speaking, it would even let you convey info in a situation that's really loud. (Text-to-speech would be useful in the same way--and not just on emergency calls.)

Originally Posted by DSG

I know its business, but should stuff like this really be the subject of IP protection? Sounds excellent and the kind of thing that should be on every mobile, rather than being a potential selling point.

Interesting point. In a way I could see some logic to requiring the inventor by law to license lifesaving systems like this (for "reasonable" terms) to third parties.

On the flip side, though, not allowing companies to profit (and protect their profits) from lifesaving inventions (of all kinds) would take away an incentive to spend the time/money inventing them in the first place. Inventors/companies would then spend their efforts in other areas instead, and we'd get fewer lifesaving inventions!

[La Porta]

If you are ever in that rare situation where you can't actually speak because an intruder is lurking in your home, or you are hiding somewhere, this could be very useful. I think it is wonderful that they thought of such a thing, esepcially since it is nowhere near a standard for such things to be thought of in such a product.

[breeze]

of the user. Alright Apple!

[Donz0r]

Wow, this is REALLY great. Great ideas here

[t0mat0]

Not that far away beyond the Locate my iPhone feature for MobileMe. Could be useful in a fix - have a quick link to say need for fire/police/ambulance, and give location / info / close contact info

[pacohaas]

Originally Posted by DSG

I know its business, but should stuff like this really be the subject of IP protection? Sounds excellent and the kind of thing that should be on every mobile, rather than being a potential selling point.

agreed, some great ideas that should be on every cell phone, not protected by copyrights and patents.

[iOrlando]

i want my iphone to connect to my internal body measurements and if something goes wrong, 911 is automatically called with my location and a robot voice says to the 911 operator what is wrong with me.

thanks apple..get on this ok...by 2011 thanks

[deannnnn]

This is creeping me out since I literally just woke up from a dream in which I used my iPhone to call 911.... however it had none of these features

[SirOmega]

Text to speech would be useful here too.

[Howardchief]

Very interesting. The concept of categorizing certain contacts as "emergency" contacts is a feature similar to what I've been wanting on my iPhone. Grouping contacts together to easily browse through is a spinoff of this emergency category idea. I would probably have some contacts selected as emergency contacts like people I am on the phone with so much (wife, girlfriend, mistress, ect..) to conserve battery life.

[nagromme]

I see a hidden pattern in Apple's patents. They go together.

AI today has an article on an Apple patent for a Nike-style iPhone sensor for snowboarders and skiers, which tracks speed and jump time. This encourages people to try for higher speeds and achieve bigger jumps.

This emergency call patent is simply intended to reduce the deaths that result from their skiing patent

Your Nike snowboard sensor tells you your best air time is 10 seconds. Then 11. You KNOW you can beat that! And you end up at 15 seconds with your own femur stuck through your lung. You want to laugh, but you can't even talk to 911! iPhone to the rescue. Another Apple customer alive to buy more!

[jav6454]

This in idea form seems *very* useful and a great feature set to have. However, once the implementation comes, some shortcoming can happen. Still, I think that Apple will somehow make some of these ideas make their way in future 3.0 releases, or maybe reserve them for 4.0.

[macgrl]

A very good idea

[ajbrehm]

That's an _invention_????

Great. If they manage to patent this, it means that other phone makers will be not be allowed to do this.

And if this is about emergency calls, I'd consider that rather cynical on Apple's part.

Good products, but an evil company.

[WestonHarvey1]

Sounds like neat stuff, but I'm sure it won't be long before we hear the first recorded 911 call of a 911 operator not being satisfied with the wording of the automated messages, demanding information the phone/caller can't provide in their current state, or thinking their tone is just too "rude", and just letting the caller lay there and die.

No offense to all the good 911 operators out there

[.:R2theT]

Another example of Apple finding a solution to a problem we didn't know we had. Genius!

[imwoblin]

How long has Apple been in the cell radio business? 3 years, and they are completely rewriting the playbook. It amazes me that no one has had the moxy or balls to stand up to the telcos until Apple rewrote the book. We have always been given the same same from both the telcos and the handset mfrs until suddenly the iPhone came along and everyone (telco & mfrs) said Apple wont succeed because they no nothing about the business. Now every smartphone mfr & telco is copying Apple or trying to create a iPhone killer!
I'm not a walking zombie Apple fanboy, these are just the facts. I wonder what surprises the boys & girls at Cupertino have in store for us.......

[aricher]

"I've fallen & I can't get up!"

[gdigger]

Originally Posted by aricher

"I've fallen & I can't get up!"

lolz...

"All Senior Citizen Should Have An iPhone!"

[gibbz]

Originally Posted by ajbrehm

That's an _invention_????

Great. If they manage to patent this, it means that other phone makers will be not be allowed to do this.

And if this is about emergency calls, I'd consider that rather cynical on Apple's part.

Good products, but an evil company.

Settle down now. They aren't evil. They are trying to make methods for their users to be safe. Are you equally upset at OnStar? They are often lauded for their services. GM owns them and says this on their website:

OnStar is a factory-installed option and cannot be installed by a dealer or retailer, so you must do one of the following:
Purchase a vehicle with OnStar
Own a vehicle with OnStar

Are they evil?

What we should worry about is that Apple will release this and AT&T will delay it's deployment or not cover it at all until they decide how much to charge people.

[midget]

Originally Posted by nagromme

Your Nike snowboard sensor tells you your best air time is 10 seconds. Then 11. You KNOW you can beat that! And you end up at 15 seconds with your own femur stuck through your lung.

HTF did it go through the lung? lol