Emergency Bypass of Silent Mode on Mobile Phones

A mobile phone having an audible notification mode and a silent mode, the mobile phone comprising:

• means for generating audible notifications responsive to incoming calls;
• means for storing profiles relating to a plurality of contacts, each profile including an emergency bypass switch that is shiftable between a first position to enable audible notifications in the silent mode and a second position to disable audible notifications in the silent mode;
• means for receiving user input to toggle the emergency bypass switch between the first position and the second position on a contact by contact basis;
• and
• a processor operably associated with the generating means, the storing means and the receiving means;
• wherein, in the audible notification mode, the generating means emits audible notifications responsive to incoming calls from contacts with the emergency bypass switch in the first position;
• wherein, in the audible notification mode, the generating means emits audible notifications responsive to incoming calls from contacts with the emergency bypass switch in the second position;
• wherein, in the silent mode, the generating means emits audible notifications responsive to incoming calls from contacts with the emergency bypass switch in the first position;
• and
• wherein, in the silent mode, the generating means does not emit audible notifications responsive to incoming calls from contacts with the emergency bypass switch in the second position.

A method of operating a mobile phone having an audible notification mode and a silent mode, the method comprising:

• storing profiles relating to a plurality of contacts, each profile including an emergency bypass switch that is shiftable between a first position to enable audible notifications in the silent mode and a second position to disable audible notifications in the silent mode;
• receiving user input to toggle the emergency bypass switch between the first position and the second position on a contact by contact basis;
• in the audible notification mode, emitting audible notifications responsive to incoming calls from contacts with the emergency bypass switch in the first position;
• in the audible notification mode, emitting audible notifications responsive to incoming calls from contacts with the emergency bypass switch in the second position;
• in the silent mode, emitting audible notifications responsive to incoming calls from contacts with the emergency bypass switch in the first position;
• and
• in the silent mode, preventing audible notifications responsive to incoming calls from contacts with the emergency bypass switch in the second position.