Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for connecting a caller to an alternate telephone number, such as 911, when a call to a private response center does not result in immediate assistance. In one example, when the call to the private response center does not connect, the communications device used to make the call may prompt the user to indicate that the call relates to an emergency, and the communications device may call the emergency services telephone number. Failure to connect may result when the call does not connect to a receiving party, or upon failure to timely reach a customer service representative. In another example, the call to the private response center may connect, but the private response center may signal the communications device that the call will not be handled immediately. The communications device may then prompt the user to indicate whether an alternate telephone number should be called.

Abstract: In an example method of operating a call center, personal profiles of a number of clients of a service provided by the call center are maintained in electronic storage. At least one of the personal profiles includes identification of one or more entities authorized by the respective client to act on behalf of the respective client, and a particular one of the one or more entities is assigned one or more trust level indicators specific respectively to one or more particular categories of action. An inquiry is received, inquiring whether the particular entity is authorized by a particular client to perform a proposed action on behalf of the particular client, the proposed action relating to one of the categories of action. It is then determined, based the trust level indicators and the category, whether the particular entity is authorized by the particular client to perform the proposed action.

Abstract: Systems and methods of conserving power in a mobile emergency communication device. After placing a telephone call, the calling device communicates information to the call recipient, for example a response center, usable to estimate the remaining talk time of the calling device. The call recipient sends instructions to the calling device to turn off, disable, or suspend certain device capabilities to conserve battery power in the calling device. For example, if it is determined that the device is not moving, a geographical location capability of the device may be turned off to conserve power. Other capabilities may also be turned off, for example a secondary radio transceiver, a display screen or other visual indicator, certain software applications executing on the device, or other capabilities.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing alternate communication paths for telephone calls. Calls directed to a telephone are relayed to a second electronic communication device, which may be a second telephone, based on the physical relationship of the telephone and the second device. According to one aspect, the physical relationship is automatically detected and compared with one or more conditions. When one of the conditions is met, an incoming call directed to the telephone is relayed to the second electronic communication device. Detection of the physical relationship may include detecting whether the telephone and the second device are in close proximity, whether one or both of the telephone and the second device is moving, or other aspects of the relationship.

Abstract: Systems and methods for handling emergency notification messages. In an example scenario, a call center identifies a text-based message sent from a mobile communication device, detects that the text-based message is an emergency notification message, determines the geographical location of the mobile communication device, and sends at least some of the information contained in the text-based message to one or more other communication devices in proximity to the geographical location of the mobile communication device.

Abstract: Systems and methods of conserving power in a mobile emergency communication device. After placing a telephone call, the calling device communicates information to the call recipient, for example a response center, usable to estimate the remaining talk time of the calling device. The call recipient sends instructions to the calling device to turn off, disable, or suspend certain device capabilities to conserve battery power in the calling device. For example, if it is determined that the device is not moving, a geographical location capability of the device may be turned off to conserve power. Other capabilities may also be turned off, for example a secondary radio transceiver, a display screen or other visual indicator, certain software applications executing on the device, or other capabilities.

Abstract: Systems and methods for handling emergency notification messages such as Commercial Mobile Alert System (CMAS) alerts. In an example scenario, a call center maintains personal profiles of a number of clients, including contact information for persons or other entities designated by the clients to receive information about the clients. The call center receives from a device associated with a particular client of the call center that the client's device has received a text-based emergency notification message. The call center notifies one or more of the designated entities. The notification may include the content of the emergency notification message, and may include an audio version of the notification message. An indication or the notification message may also be placed in a database accessible to one or more of the designated persons or entities.

Abstract: A communications terminal facilitates signaling emergency alerts and monitoring. The terminal is operative in response to user input to generate emergency messages which are transmitted to one or more predetermined recipients via one or more mediums of communication. This user input to generate an emergency is designed such that it takes advantage of the facilities of available common user terminals (e.g. mobile phones, personal digital assistants) and may be augmented by short-range wireless “panic button” devices carried or worn by the user to allow triggering an alarm more effectively and/or conveniently. In response to either direct input from a user or remote input from another, the terminal also transmits audio, video, still image, and other available data that facilitates situation monitoring. The user may also indicate the nature and severity of the situation. Further, the terminal may suppress indications of the established communications such that the terminal appears to be in a dormant state.

Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting unintentional calls placed to a call center. In some implementations, a device with telephone capability recognizes that it is being used to place a call, and automatically collects information usable to estimate whether the call is intentional or unintentional. The device may make the estimate, or may send the collected information to the recipient of the call. When a call is estimated to be unintentional, the device may signal the user of the device, or may inform the recipient of the call that the call is suspected to be unintentional, or both. The collected information may include outputs from one or more sensors, such as an accelerometer, a microphone, a camera, or a biometric sensor. A button press initiating a call may be considered in the context of other usage of the device to estimate whether the call was intentional or unintentional.

Abstract: In an example system for operating a call center, personal profiles of clients of a service of the call center are maintained. At least some of the profiles include contact information for entities in a trusted network designated by the respective clients. When a contact is received at the call center relating to a particular one of the clients, the call center automatically selects on of the designated entities to contact. The automatic selection may be made based on one or more of a number of factors, for example the location of the designated entity, the nature of the incident that prompted the initial contact to the call center, skills possessed by the designated entities, or other factors.

Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting unintentional calls placed to a call center. In some implementations, a device with telephone capability recognizes that it is being used to place a call, and automatically collects information usable to estimate whether the call is intentional or unintentional. For example, the device may record the timing of presses of a button used to initiate the call, the force used to press the button, or other parameters. The device may analyze the information, or may forward at least some of the information to the call recipient for analysis. When a suspected unintentional call is detected, the device may signal the user of the device, or other actions may be taken.

Abstract: A communications terminal facilitates signaling emergency alerts and monitoring. The terminal is operative in response to user input to generate emergency messages which are transmitted to one or more predetermined recipients via one or more mediums of communication. This user input to generate an emergency is designed such that it takes advantage of the facilities of available common user terminals (e.g. mobile phones, personal digital assistants) and may be augmented by short-range wireless “panic button” devices carried or worn by the user to allow triggering an alarm more effectively and/or conveniently. In response to either direct input from a user or remote input from another, the terminal also transmits audio, video, still image, and other available data that facilitates situation monitoring. The user may also indicate the nature and severity of the situation. Further, the terminal may suppress indications of the established communications such that the terminal appears to be in a dormant state.

Abstract: A user interface for a portable electronic device. In an example implementation, a first screen presents selections for launching applications executable by the portable device, the selections being presented in a plurality of horizontal screen regions, and a second screen presents selections related to stored contacts, these selections also being presented in a plurality of horizontal screen regions. Each of the first and second screens is accessible from the other by actuating a respective tab. A selection on the first screen may include an icon representing an application, and a textual description of the application, and the textual description may be prominent in relation to the icon. Actuating a selection on the second screen may access an individual contact screen that presents a chronological history of communications with the corresponding contact.

Abstract: Methods and systems for detecting unintentional calls placed to a call center. In some implementations, a device with telephone capability recognizes that it is being used to place a call, and automatically collects information usable to estimate whether the call is intentional or unintentional. For example, the device may record the timing of presses of a button used to initiate the call, the force used to press the button, or other parameters. The device may analyze the information, or may forward at least some of the information to the call recipient for analysis. When a suspected unintentional call is detected, the device may signal the user of the device, or other actions may be taken.

Abstract: Systems and methods for handling emergency notification messages such as Commercial Mobile Alert System (CMAS) alerts. In one example, a mobile communications device receives a text-based emergency alert message, converts at least some of the message content into an audio format, and then audibly plays the message. Such a system may enable additional persons to receive emergency notifications who otherwise may not receive them, for example, persons with visual impairments, or persons using communications devices that are unable to display text. In another example arrangement, a response center receives a text-based message, recognizes that a particular remote communications device is not capable of displaying the text-based message, derives from the content of the text-based electronic notification message data or signals that render at least some of the content of the text-based electronic notification message into an audio format, and transmits the data or signals to the communications device.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing alternate communication paths for telephone calls. Calls directed to a telephone are relayed to a second electronic communication device, which may be a second telephone, based on the physical relationship of the telephone and the second device. According to one aspect, the physical relationship is automatically detected and compared with one or more conditions. When one of the conditions is met, an incoming call directed to the telephone is relayed to the second electronic communication device. Detection of the physical relationship may include detecting whether the telephone and the second device are in close proximity, whether one or both of the telephone and the second device is moving, or other aspects of the relationship.

Abstract: Methods and systems for engaging isolated individuals. In an example implementation, a variety of historical information about a client is received, indicating that certain prior events have occurred in the life of the client. The historical information is stored in electronic storage, and one or more patterns are detected, using a specially programmed computer system, that relate the prior events occurring to the client to presumed indicators of the client's mood. A description of the one or more detected patterns is recorded in the electronic storage. In some implementations, it may be automatically recognized, based on the one or more detected patterns that one or more additional events presumed to indicate the possible onset of a negative mood on the part of the client have occurred, and one or more measures presumed to mitigate the negative mood on the part of the client may be applied.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for notifying an extended group of persons that a person has requested assistance from a private response center. In one example, an electronic communication is received from the first person, requesting assistance. One or more potential assisting persons are automatically identified as being in position to render assistance to the first person. An electronic message is sent to the one or more potential assisting persons indicating that the first person has requested assistance. The potential assisting persons may be identified based at least in part on their proximity to the first person, for example based on their interaction with the same cell of a cellular communications network, or based on global positioning system data. The electronic message may contain other information, such as information about the first person. In this way, the original caller may be assisted more quickly than would otherwise occur.