Creating and Using Special Contacts for Direct-to-Cell Satellite Coverage

A method comprising:

• obtaining, at a server computer comprising a processor, device data associated with a user device, wherein the device data comprises identity data that identifies the user device and connection data that identifies a current network connection of the user device, wherein the connection data indicates that the user device currently has limited network connectivity and is connected to a direct-to-cell satellite network connection;
• obtaining, by the processor, a record associated with the user device, where the record is stored in a user database and comprises special contacts information that identifies a special contact for the user device, wherein the special contact comprises a contact that is to be updated when the user device has the limited network connectivity and is connected to the direct-to-cell satellite network connection;
• determining, by the processor and based on the record associated with the user device, notification preferences associated with the user device, the notification preferences defining how the special contact is to be updated when the user device has the limited network connectivity and is connected to the direct-to-cell satellite network connection;
• and
• managing, by the processor and based on the notification preferences, communications with a special contact device associated with the special contact regarding the user device.

A computer storage medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

• obtaining device data associated with a user device, wherein the device data comprises identity data that identifies the user device and connection data that identifies a current network connection of the user device, wherein the connection data indicates that the user device currently has limited network connectivity and is connected to a direct-to-cell satellite network connection;
• obtaining a record associated with the user device, where the record is stored in a user database and comprises special contacts information that identifies a special contact for the user device, wherein the special contact comprises a contact that is to be updated when the user device has the limited network connectivity and is connected to the direct-to-cell satellite network connection;
• determining, based on the record associated with the user device, notification preferences associated with the user device, the notification preferences defining how the special contact is to be updated when the user device has the limited network connectivity and is connected to the direct-to-cell satellite network connection;
• and
• managing, based on the notification preferences, communications with a special contact device associated with the special contact regarding the user device.