Power management for emergency communications device

#Mobile personal emergency response systems (MPERS) have become increasingly popular. In an MPERS system, a user is typically client enrolled in an assistance service offered by a service provider. The client may wear or carry a mobile device that can quickly and conveniently place a telephone call to a response center staffed with customer service representatives who can assist the client in various ways, for example by providing directions, answering basic medical questions, contacting family members or other designated contacts to provide additional assistance, or calling official emergency services personnel if the user is in immediate danger.

#It is highly desirable that interruptions in contact between clients and the response center be avoided.

#According to one aspect, a method of operating a mobile communications device comprises receiving from a user of the mobile communications device an indication that the mobile communications device is to place a telephone call to a particular recipient via a mobile telephone network. The mobile communications device places the telephone call to the particular recipient via the mobile telephone network. The method further comprises automatically evaluating a battery charge level of the mobile communications device and transmitting an indication of the battery charge level to the recipient of the telephone call via the mobile telephone network. In some embodiments, the indication that the mobile communications device is to place a telephone call to a particular recipient is the press of a single button on the mobile communications device. In some embodiments, the method further comprises receiving, from the recipient of the telephone call via the mobile telephone network, an instruction to turn off one or more specified capabilities of the mobile communications device; and in response to the received instruction, turning off the one or more specified capabilities. In some embodiments, the method further comprises automatically evaluating a transmit power being used by the mobile communications device to communicate via the mobile telephone network, and transmitting an indication of the transmit power to the recipient of the telephone call via the mobile telephone network. In some embodiments, turning off the one or more specified capabilities comprises turning off a geographical location capability of the mobile communications device. In some embodiments, the method further comprises, before turning off the geographical location capability of the mobile communications device, ascertaining the geographical location of the mobile communications device, and transmitting to the recipient of the telephone call an indication of the geographical location of the mobile communications device. In some embodiments, turning off the one or more specified capabilities comprises turning off a visual display of the mobile communications device. In some embodiments, turning off the one or more specified capabilities comprises turning off a radio transceiver other than a mobile telephone transceiver being used to communicate via the mobile telephone network. In some embodiments, turning off the one or more specified capabilities comprises terminating or suspending at least one application executing on a processor of the mobile communications device. In some embodiments, the method further comprises transmitting to the recipient of the telephone call a list of one or more application programs being executed by the processor of the mobile communications device.

#FIG. 1 illustrates an example system in which embodiments of the invention may be embodied.

#FIG. 2A illustrates an example cellular telephone, in accordance with embodiments of the invention.

#FIG. 2B illustrates another kind of mobile device usable in embodiments of the invention.

#FIG. 1 illustrates an example system in which embodiments of the invention may find utility. Clients or users 101a and 101b may subscribe to a service offered by a service provider who operates a response center 102, also called a call center. Clients 101a and 101b use mobile communications devices 103a and 103b to reach response center 102 via cellular telephone network 104.

#For example, device 103a may be a fully featured “smart” cellular telephone having a processor, touchscreen display and the like, and capable of installing application software to add to the capabilities of device 103a. Device 103a is described in more detail below.

#By contrast, device 103b used by client 101b may be a simplified communicator or “fob”, having a simplified user interface, as is also described in more detail below.