FR2799861A1 - EMERGENCY CALL PROCESS AND MOBILE TELEPHONE FOR IMPLEMENTING THE PROCESS - Google Patents

Abstract

Method for calling, using a mobile telephone, an emergency center (3) of a cellular emergency call telephone network (2), in which the telephone is camped on a first cellular telephone network (1), it decamps from the first network (1) and encamps on the second emergency call network (2), through which it calls the emergency center (3), either automatically on dialing by the user of an emergency number, the telephone inhibiting in this case the telephone call to the emergency number, either by pressing an emergency call key.

Description

EMERGENCY CALL PROCESS AND MOBILE TELEPHONE

FOR THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE PROCESS

  For security reasons, it is envisaged that certain highways have a cellular telephone network for emergency calls, allowing highway users to call an emergency center, using a telephone. mobile, to report a difficulty (accident, slowdown,

  plug) and possibly to ask for help.

  When a motorway user, carrying a mobile phone, travels on the highway, his mobile phone is both in the coverage area of the emergency call network and in that of a public cellular telephone network . If the mobile phone selects the public cellular network, either automatically or on the user's command, it camps on this network but regularly monitors the presence

  other radio networks, including that of the emergency call network.

  It will be recalled here that a cellular network comprises a plurality of topographic base station cells. Each base station transmits beacon channels, carrying in particular information relating to the cellular network. By definition, a mobile phone "camps" on a cellular network, if it listens to the beacon channel of a base station of this network and regularly checks the presence of this channel in order to stay in contact with

the base station.

  To call the emergency center, the user must, by selecting from menus, interrogate their telephone so that it indicates the available networks, by display on the screen, then force the telephone to decamp from the public network and to camp on the emergency call network, by selecting the emergency call network, and finally launch the call to the emergency call center. In short, these manipulations are complex and therefore difficult to execute in an emergency situation, accompanied by

  usually a user's panic state.

  The present invention proposes to overcome this drawback.

  To this end, the invention relates to a method of calling, using a mobile phone, an emergency center of a cellular telephone emergency call network, in which the camping telephone on a first network

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  cellular telephone, it decamps from the first network and encamps on the second emergency call network, through which it calls the emergency center, under the control of a user, a process characterized by the fact that the telephone decamps from first network to camp on the second network, through which he automatically calls the emergency center,

  on a single user action, recognizable by the phone.

  In a particular embodiment, on dialing by the user of an emergency number, the telephone inhibits the telephone call from this number and decamps from the first network to camp on the call network

  emergency, through which he calls the emergency center.

  Dialing the emergency number inhibits normal telephone operation which, instead of sending the number through the first network, is decamped from this first network and then camped on the second network, through

  which he calls the emergency center.

  Advantageously, by pressing an emergency call key, the telephone decamps from the first network to camp on the emergency call network, at

  through which he calls the emergency center.

  In another embodiment, to camp on the emergency call network, the telephone searches for said network and, if the latter is not accessible, remains camped on the first network, through which it calls a

  emergency telephone number, automatically.

  The invention also relates to a mobile telephone, for the implementation of the above method, comprising telephone call means, means for searching for surrounding cells of the cellular telephone network and for selecting one of them, means

  to camp on the selected cell and human interface means

  machine, characterized in that it comprises means for calling an emergency center of a cellular telephone network for emergency calls, arranged to launch a cell search, in order to camp on a cell of the network emergency call and to call the emergency center through the emergency call network, under the control of a single action, executed using man-machine interface means and different from the

turning on the phone.

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  The invention will be better understood using the following description of the

  emergency call method and the mobile phone, according to different embodiments of the invention, with reference to the single appended figure which represents a functional block diagram of the mobile phone, according to one of the embodiments.

  In the particular example of the description, a highway is covered by

  a cellular telephone network, here GSM, public 1, and a cellular emergency call telephone network 2. The emergency call network 2 io comprises an emergency center 3, intended to receive and handle calls

  emergency, emitted by mobile phones of highway user.

  The mobile or cellular telephone, represented in the figure, comprises a radio antenna 4, a coding / decoding block 5, a data transmission and reception block 6, a telephone call block 7 and a human / machine. The man / machine interface includes a loudspeaker 8, a microphone, an input keyboard 12 and a display screen 13. The loudspeaker 8 and the microphone 10 are connected to the transmission and reception unit 6, with the interposition of a digital / analog converter (DAC) 9 and a

  analog to digital converter (ADC) 1 1, respectively.

  The coding / decoding block 5 is intended to transform the radio signals received into data and conversely to transform the data to be transmitted into

radio signals.

  The telephone call block 7 is intended for transmitting telephone off-hook, telephone on-hook and dialing signals

telephone.

  The send and receive block 6 and the call block 7 are connected to the block

  coding / decoding 5, itself connected to the radio antenna 4.

  The input keyboard 12 comprises the ordinary elements of a telephone keyboard, and in particular telephone dialing keys, a telephone answer key, a telephone hang-up key and an on / off key. To call a telephone number, a user enters this number, using the dialing keys, and presses the telephone answer key, in order to order the sending of the

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  number entered through the cellular telephone network on which the telephone is parked. This telephone dialing operation, consisting in entering the number and pressing the telephone pick-up key, constitutes a single action, that is to say a unitary operation, carried out by the user using the keyboard 12. A memory 14 is also provided, supplying the call block 7, intended to temporarily store a telephone call number, pending telephone dialing. The memory 14 is connected, on the one hand, to the 1o keyboard 12 and, on the other hand, to the telephone call block 7, with interposition

  of a filter 17, explained below.

  The telephone also includes a block 15 for searching for surrounding cells of the cellular telephone network and for selecting one of them, and a block 16 for camping on the selected cell. The blocks 15 and 16, connected to each other, are connected to the radio antenna 4, with

  interposition of the coding / decoding block 5.

  A cellular network includes a plurality of topographic base station cells. In GSM telephony, each base station transmits a BCCH (Broad Cast Control Chanel) beacon channel broadcasting various information relating to the network, and in particular the identity

  operator, available services and operating frequencies.

  To search and select a cell, block 15 is intended to locate the BCCH cell phone network beacon channels, transmitted

  by surrounding base stations, and to select one of these channels.

  This search is launched automatically when the telephone is switched on and, under the control of the camping block 16, when it no longer detects the beacon channel of the cell previously selected. Block 15 is intended to select, by default, a network beacon channel

public cellphone 1.

  The public cellular network 1 is that on which the telephone sets up "by default", that is to say preferably. Thus, when the telephone is switched on, it encamps by default on the public network 1, unless there is a specific order. The user can in fact, by selecting from the menus of the man-machine interface, select another cellular network, from the available cellular networks. We could also consider that the

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  phone is camping on a preselected network, other than the network "by

  default ", or preferred, if the" default "network is unavailable.

  The camping block 16 is intended to camp on the cell selected by the block 15, in other words to regularly monitor the presence of the beacon channel of this cell in order to stay in contact with the corresponding base station. When the camping block 16 no longer detects the beacon channel of the cell on which the phone is camping, it indicates this to block 15 in order to start a new cell search. After selecting a new cell, the encampment block 16 decamps from the cell

  previous and camped on the new cell.

  The filter 17, interposed between the call block 7 and the memory 14, is

  also connected to an emergency call unit 18.

  The emergency call unit 18, connected to the search unit 15 and to the telephone call unit 7, is intended, under the control of the filter 17, to first launch a search for surrounding cells and the selection of a cell of the emergency call network 2, in order to decamp from the cellular network 1 and to camp on the emergency call network 2, then to order a call from the emergency center 3 through the network of emergency call 2, as it will be

explained below.

  The filter 17 is intended to compare each number, numbered by a user using the telephone keypad 12, with a prerecorded emergency number, in this case the number "100". In the event of non-identity between the number numbered and the emergency number, the filter 17 is intended to retransmit the number numbered to the telephone block of call which then launches the call of the numbered number. On the other hand, in the event of identity, the filter 17 is intended to intercept the numbered number, thus inhibiting the telephone call of this number, and, under the control of the filter 17, the block 18 is intended to control the call from the emergency center 3, through the emergency call network 1, as described below. The filter 17 thus makes it possible to

  recognize the numbering of the emergency number, made by a user.

  The telephone also includes a central control unit, in this case

  a microprocessor, not shown, to which all the elements described above

  above are connected and intended to control the operation of the telephone.

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  After the structural and functional description of the telephone, the process

  call center 3, corresponding to the operation of the

  telephone, will now be explained.

  To switch on the telephone, the user presses the on / off key, thereby launching the execution of a cell search to select a cell of the public cellular network 1. Block 15 identifies the beacon channels of the radio stations. surrounding base, selects a cell from the cellular network 1 and commands the camping block 16 to camp 0o on the selected cell. The phone is then camping on the cellular network

  public 1, changing cells if necessary.

  To call emergency center 3, the user dials the emergency number "100". For this, he enters the emergency number, using the dialing keys on the keypad 12, and presses the telephone answer key. The number entered is temporarily stored in memory 14 then, after pressing the off-hook key, it is provided to the

filter 17.

  Filter 17 compares the number entered with the pre-recorded emergency number. The two numbers being identical, the filter 17 intercepts the entered number, so that the telephone call block 7 does not receive it and therefore does not launch the telephone call. In other words, the filter 17 inhibits the telephone call from the numbered emergency number. Furthermore, under the control of the filter 17, the emergency call block 18 controls the automatic execution of the following steps aimed at calling the emergency center 3. By assumption, the telephone is here located inside The area

  emergency call network coverage 2.

  Block 15 searches for the surrounding cells, by locating the beacon channels transmitted by the surrounding base stations, detects and selects a cell from the emergency call network 2 and commands block 16 to camp on the selected cell. The telephone then decamps from the public cellular network 1 and encamps on the selected cell of the emergency call network 2. Then the telephone call block 7 emits a telephone hook signaling. In other words, the telephone picks up and thus calls the emergency center 3, through the emergency call network 2. After establishing communication between the phone and the emergency center 3, through the emergency call network 3, the phone user can

  talk to an operator of the emergency center 3.

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  In the case where the telephone is outside the coverage area of the emergency call network 2, when the user dials the emergency number, a message, displayed on the screen 13, signals to the user unable to call the emergency center 3. The same applies when, for any reason, the emergency call network 2 is unavailable,

  or more generally inaccessible.

  Alternatively, in the case where the emergency call network 2 is not accessible, when dialing the emergency number, for example because the telephone is outside the coverage area of the network d emergency call, the phone then stays on the public cellular network 1, through which it automatically calls a pre-recorded emergency telephone number, different from the number

  numbered emergency services, for example the number "112".

  In the above description, when the telephone is camping on the network

  emergency call 2, just pick up the phone to call the emergency center. Alternatively, a telephone number could be assigned to the emergency center 3. In this case, to call the emergency center 3, the telephone should, after lifting the handset, send the automatic number to emergency center 3 phone call to

  through the emergency call network 2.

  In a second embodiment of the invention, not differing from the

  description above that by what will now be described, the filter is

  to compare each numbered number with a pre-recorded emergency telephone number of an emergency service of the

  public cellular network, in this case the number "112".

  If the emergency number is dialed by the user, the filter intercepts this number, at least temporarily, and, under the control of the filter, the telephone searches for nearby cells to

  select a cell of the emergency call network.

  If the telephone detects the presence of the emergency call network and if it is available, it automatically decamps from the public cellular network and encamps on the emergency call network, through which it calls the center.

  emergency, automatically, as previously explained.

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  If the emergency call network is not detected by the telephone, and more generally if it is inaccessible to the telephone, the filter automatically retransmits the emergency telephone number "112", temporarily intercepted, to the telephone call block, in order to launch the call from "1 12" through the public telephone call network. In summary, on dialing the emergency telephone number "112", if the emergency call network is accessible, the phone inhibits the call, decamps from the public cellular network and camp on the call network emergency, through which he calls the emergency center, and otherwise he remains camped on the public cellular network through which he launches the call to the emergency number "112" and thus calls the emergency service. associated emergency

at "112".

  i5 In a third embodiment, differing from the first embodiment described only by the elements which will now be described, the telephone does not include a filter, but an emergency call button

  for controlling the emergency call unit.

  In operation, the telephone is camping on a cell of a cellular telephone network, for example of the "default" public cellular network. When the user presses the emergency call button, the phone recognizes that it is an action to control a call from the emergency center. He then starts a cell search, selects a cell from the emergency call network, decamps from the public cellular network and encamps on the emergency call network, through which he calls the emergency center, as before explained, provided that it is in the coverage area of the emergency call network and that it is available. In the event that the emergency call network is inaccessible to the telephone, the latter displays a message indicating to the user that the emergency call network is not accessible. Alternatively, the telephone could automatically call an emergency telephone number, through the public cellular network, when the emergency network

is not accessible.

  It should be emphasized here that, under the command of a single action by the user, consisting in dialing a specific number (simple emergency number or emergency telephone number) or in pressing the emergency call button, action which is different from switching on the phone, the emergency call block is intended to launch,

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  in other words to order the execution of a cell search, in order to camp on a cell of the emergency call network and to call the center

  through the emergency call network.

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Claims (6)

  1- A method of calling, using a mobile telephone, an emergency center (3) of a cellular emergency call telephone network (2), in which the telephone is camping on a first cellular telephone network (1), it decamps from the first network (1) and encamps on the second emergency call network (2), through which it calls the emergency center (3), under the command of a user, method characterized in that the telephone decamps from the first network (1) to camp on the second network (2), through which it calls the emergency center (3), automatically, on   a unique user action, recognizable by the phone.   2- The method of claim 1, wherein, on dialing by the user of an emergency number, the telephone inhibits the telephone call of this number and decamps from the first network (1) to camp on the network   emergency call center (2), through which he calls the emergency center (3).   3- The method of claim 1, wherein, by pressing an emergency call button, the phone decamps from the first network to camp on   the emergency call network, through which he calls the emergency center.   4- Method according to one of claims 2 and 3, wherein, for camping   on the emergency call network (2), the telephone searches for said network (2) and, if it is not accessible, remains camped on the first network (1), through which it calls a number emergency telephone call, automatically.   - Method according to claim 1, wherein, on dialing by the user of an emergency telephone number of the first network (1), the telephone searches for the emergency call network (2), if it is not accessible, it inhibits the telephone call from the emergency call number, decamps from the first network (1) to camp on the second network (2), through which it calls the emergency center ( 3), and if not it remains to camp on   the first network (1) through which it calls the emergency number.   6- mobile telephone, for the implementation of the method according to claim 1, comprising telephone call means (7), means (15) for searching for surrounding cells of the cellular telephone network and for selecting one of between them, means (16) for camping on the selected cell and man-machine interface means (8, 10, 12, 13), characterized in that it comprises means (17, 18) for calling an emergency center (3) of a cellular emergency call telephone network (2), arranged to launch a cell search, in order to camp on a cell of the emergency call network (2) and to call the emergency center (3) through the emergency call network (2), under the control of a single action, executed using the man-machine interface means (12) and different from starting of the phone.   7. The telephone as claimed in claim 6, in which the means for calling the emergency center include filtering means (17), arranged in   case of dialing a number using human interface means   machine, to compare this number with a prerecorded emergency number and, in the event of identity, to intercept it, in order to inhibit the call telephone.   8- Telephone according to claim 6, wherein the man-machine interface means comprise an emergency call button intended for   order the means of calling the emergency center.