Patents Assigned to GreatCall, Inc.
  • Publication number: 20120178404
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for enabling communication between a service provider and a telephone user in conjunction with a call placed by the user. A call from the user to a particular telephone number, for example an emergency services number, is detected, and a notification is sent to a preselected recipient indicating that the call has been placed. The preselected recipient may be, for example, a private response center operated by a provider of personal health or other services to the user. A predetermined delay time may be allowed to elapse before the preselected recipient is notified of the call to the emergency services number. The preselected recipient may place a second call in reaction to the notification, for example the preselected recipient may call the user on his or her telephone.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: GreatCall, Inc.
    Inventors: John H. Chin, Jonathan J. Sieg
  • Publication number: 20120178403
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Applicant: GreatCall, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan J. Sieg, Kotaro Matsuo, Dean Williams
  • Publication number: 20120171989
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: GreatCall, Inc.
    Inventors: Kotaro Matsuo, Dean Williams
  • Publication number: 20120171988
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2010
    Publication date: July 5, 2012
    Applicant: GreatCall, Inc.
    Inventors: Kotaro Matsuo, Dean Williams
  • Publication number: 20120033814
    Abstract: A wireless phone system and methods performed thereon for cryptographically processing SMS messages is disclosed. A cryptographic pad is used to replace characters in a payload of a SMS message with coded characters. The cryptographic pad is used by the receiver of the SMS message to decode it. The cryptographic pad is one of two or more possible cryptographic pads stored in the receiver. In one embodiment, the two or more possible cryptographic pads are sent as a key where a particular cryptographic pad is referenced in the key using an index.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Publication date: February 9, 2012
    Applicant: GreatCall, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip C. Imming, Krijn van der Raadt
  • Publication number: 20120002810
    Abstract: A wireless phone system and methods performed thereon for cryptographically processing SMS messages is disclosed. A cryptographic pad is used to replace characters in a payload of a SMS message with coded characters. The cryptographic pad is used by the receiver of the SMS message to decode it. The cryptographic pad is one of two or more possible cryptographic pads stored in the receiver. In one embodiment, the two or more possible cryptographic pads are sent as a key where a particular cryptographic pad is referenced in the key using an index.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Publication date: January 5, 2012
    Applicant: GreatCall, Inc.
    Inventors: Philip C. Imming, Krijn van der Raadt