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Emergency phone with single button activationRelated Patent Categories: Telecommunications, Radiotelephone System, Emergency Or Alarm Communication, Location MonitoringEmergency phone with single button activation description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20080096521, Emergency phone with single button activation. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
PRIORITY [0001] Priority is claimed as a continuation to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/174,191, filed Jun. 30, 2005, which is a continuation of Ser. No. 09/684,831, filed Oct. 10, 2000, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/538,364, filed Mar. 29, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,636,732, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/495,080, filed Jan. 31, 2000, now abandoned, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/044,497, filed Mar. 19, 1998, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,044,257. The disclosure of each aforementioned priority document is incorporated herein by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] In general, the present invention relates to cellular telephones for use only in emergency situations. In particular, the present invention relates to a cellular telephone for calling a public emergency response center or an emergency roadside assistance service. [0004] 2. Background [0005] In the past, conventional, full-service cellular telephones have been used in emergency situations to call for help from public emergency response services by dialing 911. Placing such a call with a conventional cellular telephone requires performing the following steps: (1) pressing a POWER button to power-on the phone, (2) dialing the individual numbers 9-1-1 on a keypad, and (3) pressing a SEND or CALL button. Such conventional phones may also be used to call for emergency roadside assistance from a private assistance service, such as the American Automobile Association (AAA), when a user has experienced a mechanical failure while driving an automobile. Placing a call to the private assistance service with a conventional cellular phone requires that the above three steps be performed, except that typically a 1-800 number for the private assistance service is dialed on the keypad instead of 9-1-1. [0006] Although this conventional procedure to place a cellular phone call seems to be straightforward, it becomes much more difficult when it must be accomplished during a stressful emergency situation, such as immediately after an automobile accident or breakdown. During such situations, simplicity is critical. It is desirable that the user need not have to remember any phone numbers to dial, or which of many keys to press to initiate a call. [0007] It is also desirable to have a cellular telephone that is designed for limited-use, such as in emergency situations only, thereby significantly reducing the cost of cellular service. [0008] Therefore, a cellular telephone is needed that may be used to call for help in emergency situations, is simple and straightforward to operate, and that may be operated at a minimal service charge. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0009] The present invention meets the above-listed needs, and eliminates the oversights, difficulties, and disadvantages of the prior art by providing an emergency cellular telephone for establishing communication with multiple emergency response services. The phone allows a user to choose between calling a public emergency response service, also referred to as a Public Safety and Action Point (PSAP) or 911 call center, in immediate emergency situations, and calling a private assistance service in situations where urgent services are desired, such as roadside assistance. The call to the public emergency response service is placed by pressing a single public emergency response button, which is protected from inadvertent activation by a protective cover. The call to the private assistance service is placed by pressing a single private assistance call button. Both call buttons require firm pressure thereupon for several seconds before activation is initiated, thereby preventing accidental activation. [0010] Preferred embodiments of the phone include an audible siren that is activated by simultaneously pressing a pair of buttons, one located on either side of the phone housing, for approximately one second. The siren, by generating a 95 dB alarm signal, helps the user to draw the attention of passersby to an emergency situation or to discourage an attacker. [0011] The phone is preferably powered by four standard AAA alkaline batteries, which typically provide over a year of service with no recharging. Thus, the phone may be stored away, such as in a glove compartment of an automobile, for long periods of time and will be available when needed in an emergency situation. An alternate rechargeable battery pack module may also be attached to the phone. In some embodiments, this module also includes a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver that is used to provide position coordinates indicating the location of the caller to the private assistance service or public emergency response service. [0012] According to the invention, the phone comprises a handheld housing having a cellular transmitter, a cellular receiver, and a power supply disposed therein. The cellular transmitter transmits only first and second outgoing cellular signals, where the first outgoing cellular signal is for establishing a first communication session with a first emergency response service and the second outgoing cellular signal is for establishing a second communication session with a second emergency response service. The cellular receiver receives only first and second incoming cellular signals, where the first incoming cellular signal is received from the first emergency response service during the first communication session, and the second incoming cellular signal is received from the second emergency response service during the second communication session. [0013] Attached to the housing is a first activation button that, if pressed a first time when the telephone is in an off mode, causes the automatic initiation of several functions. Pressing the first activation button (1) causes electrical power from the power supply to be provided to the cellular transmitter and receiver, (2) initiates activation of the cellular receiver to search for an available cellular system channel, and (3) initiates activation of the cellular transmitter to transmit the first outgoing cellular signal to establish communication with the first emergency response service. Implementing a single activation button to initiate all of these functions simplifies communication with the first emergency response service in a stressful situation. [0014] Also attached to the housing is a second activation button that, if pressed a first time when the telephone is in the off mode, causes (1) the electrical power from the power supply to be provided to the cellular transmitter and receiver, (2) initiates activation of the cellular receiver to search for an available cellular system channel, and (3) initiates activation of the cellular transmitter to transmit the second outgoing cellular signal to establish communication with the second emergency response service. Thus, communication with the second emergency response service is also simplified in a stressful situation. [0015] The cellular transmitter is operable to transmit the first outgoing cellular signal to establish the first communication session regardless of whether the transmitter had last established a first communication session or a second communication session. Further, the cellular transmitter is operable to transmit the second outgoing cellular signal to establish the second communication session regardless of whether the transmitter had last established a first communication session or a second communication session. Thus, the operation of the phone is not limited to any particular sequence of placing calls to the public emergency response service and the private assistance service, thereby offering greater flexibility than has previously been available. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0016] Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the views, and wherein: [0017] FIG. 1 depicts a top view of the emergency phone with a protective cover in .an open position according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; [0018] FIG. 2 depicts a top view of the emergency phone with the protective cover in a closed position according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; [0019] FIG. 3 depicts a side view of the emergency phone with the protective cover in the open position according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; [0020] FIG. 4 depicts a bottom view of the emergency phone according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; Continue reading about Emergency phone with single button activation... Full patent description for Emergency phone with single button activation Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Emergency phone with single button activation patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Emergency phone with single button activation or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Tracking a group of mobile terminals Next Patent Application: Communication terminal for data communications Industry Class: Telecommunications ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Emergency phone with single button activation patent info. 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