Methods and apparatus for providing access to emergency service providers

Abstract

A method and apparatus of communication via a hand held device that includes receiving an indication at the device to initiate an emergency call via a wireless network; determining whether the device is configured with a subscriber identity module (SIM) card, wherein the SIM card includes a plurality of numbers; and sequentially calling the plurality of numbers stored on the SIM card based on the determination that the device is configured with the SIM card. Further, the method and apparatus include detecting an emergency indication; connecting to a wireless network; and establishing a communication with one or more emergency service providers based at least in part on detecting the emergency indication, wherein the communication is established via the wireless network

1 - 14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . A method of communication, comprising:
 receiving an indication at a wireless device to initiate an emergency call, wherein receiving includes determining whether a panic button on the wireless device is depressed for at least a threshold period of time, wherein depressing the panic button for at least the threshold period of time causes the device to either power on or off or detect the emergency indication;   outputting at least one of a voice prompt or a visual indicator corresponding to a connection status of the device; and   establishing a communication with one or more emergency service providers based on the indication, wherein establishing the communication with the one or more emergency service providers further comprises:
 determining if a preferred predetermined plurality of numbers have been pre-selected; 
 initiating a predetermined sequential calling of the plurality of numbers; 
 establishing a call with at least one of the predetermined plurality of numbers in response to sequentially calling of the plurality of numbers; 
 determining whether all of the plurality of predetermined numbers are unavailable in response to sequentially calling of the plurality of numbers; and 
 initiating a call with the one or more emergency service providers. 
   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the predetermined plurality of numbers are stored on a subscriber identity module (SIM) card, wherein if a determination is made that all of the plurality of numbers stored on the SIM card are unavailable, initiating a call of an emergency service provider. 
     
     
         17 . A method of communication, comprising:
 receiving an indication at a device to initiate an emergency call via a wireless network, wherein receiving further includes determining whether a panic button is depressed for at least a threshold period of time, wherein depressing the panic button for at least the threshold period of time causes the device to either power on or off or detect the emergency indication;   connecting to a wireless network;   outputting at least one of a voice prompt or a visual indicator corresponding to connection status; and   establishing a communication with one or more emergency service providers via the wireless network based at least in part on receiving the indication, wherein establishing the communication with the one or more emergency service providers further includes;   initiating a communication request to a remote device, via the wireless network; and   after completing the initiation of the communication request to the remote device, initiating a call with the one or more emergency service providers.   
     
     
         18 . The method of communication of  claim 17 , wherein establishing a communication with one or more service providers further comprises:
 determining whether the device is configured with a subscriber identity module (SIM) card;   if a determination is made as to whether the device includes the SIM card, determining if the SIM card includes a plurality of numbers, wherein establishing a communication further comprises:
 initiating sequential calling of the plurality of numbers stored on the SIM card based on the determination that the device is configured with the SIM card; 
 determining whether all of the plurality of numbers stored on the SIM card are unavailable in response to sequentially calling of the plurality of numbers; and 
 initiating a call with the one or more emergency service providers based on the determination that all of the plurality of numbers stored on the SIM card are unavailable. 
   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein initiating sequential calling of the plurality of numbers stored on the SIM card based on the determination that the device is configured with the SIM card further comprises:
 calling a first number of the plurality of numbers stored on the SIM card;   determining whether the first number is unavailable;   calling a second number of the plurality of numbers stored on the SIM card based on the determination that the first number is unavailable; and   determining whether the second number is unavailable, wherein the device is configured to sequentially call each of the remaining numbers of the plurality of numbers based on the determination that a previously called number is unavailable.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 if a determination is made that all of the plurality of numbers stored on the SIM card are unavailable, initiating a call of an emergency service provider.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein initiating a communication with a third party, at a remote location, via the wireless network comprises initiating a 911 call. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 if a determination is made that the device is not configured with the SIM card, initiating a call of an emergency service provider.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 resetting an order of sequentially calling the plurality of numbers stored on the SIM card when the device is turned off, wherein resetting the order includes dialing a first number of the plurality of numbers first.   
     
     
         24 . An apparatus for communication, comprising:
 a memory storing executable instructions; and   a processor in communication with the memory, wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions to:   detect an emergency indication, wherein the processor configured to detect the emergency indication is further configured to determine whether a panic button is depressed for at least a threshold period of time, wherein depressing the panic button for at least the threshold period of time causes the process or to either power on or off the apparatus or detect the emergency indication;   connecting to a wireless network;   output at least one of a voice prompt or a visual indicator corresponding to connection status; and   establish a communication with one or more emergency service providers via the wireless network based at least in part on receiving the indication, wherein establishing the communication with the one or more emergency service providers further includes:   initiating a communication request to a remote device, via the wireless network; and   after completing the initiation of the communication request to the remote device, initiating a call with the one or more emergency service providers.   
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein establishing a communication with one or more service providers further comprises:
 determining whether the device is configured with a subscriber identity module (SIM) card;   if a determination is made as to whether the device includes the SIM card, determining if the SIM card includes a plurality of numbers, wherein establishing a communication further comprises:
 initiating sequential calling of the plurality of numbers stored on the SIM card based on the determination that the device is configured with the SIM card; 
 determining whether all of the plurality of numbers stored on the SIM card are unavailable in response to sequentially calling of the plurality of numbers; and 
 initiating a call with the one or more emergency service providers based on the determination that all of the plurality of numbers stored on the SIM card are unavailable. 
   
     
     
         26 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein initiating sequential calling of the plurality of numbers stored on the SIM card based on the determination that the device is configured with the SIM card further comprises:
 calling a first number of the plurality of numbers stored on the SIM card;   determining whether the first number is unavailable;   calling a second number of the plurality of numbers stored on the SIM card based on the determination that the first number is unavailable; and   determining whether the second number is unavailable, wherein the device is configured to sequentially call each of the remaining numbers of the plurality of numbers based on the determination that a previously called number is unavailable.   
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 26 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute instructions to initiate a call of an emergency service provider if a determination is made that all of the plurality of numbers stored on the SIM card are unavailable. 
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein initiating a communication with a remote device includes:
 initiating a communication with a third party, at a remote location, via the wireless network.   
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein initiating a communication with a third party, at a remote location, via the wireless network comprises:
 initiating a 911 call.   
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the remote device comprises a server. 
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
 execute instructions to initiate a call of an emergency service provider if the determination is made that the device is not configured with the SIM card.   
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 25 , wherein the processor is further configured to execute instructions to:
 reset an order of numbers to be sequentially called of numbers stored on the SIM card when the device is turned off, wherein resetting the order includes dialing a first number of the plurality of numbers first.   
     
     
         33 . An apparatus for communication, comprising:
 a memory storing executable instructions; and   a processor in communication with the memory, wherein the processor is configured to execute the instructions to:   receive an indication at a wireless device to initiate an emergency call, wherein receiving includes determining whether a panic button on the wireless device is depressed for at least a threshold period of time, wherein depressing the panic button for at least the threshold period of time causes the device to either power on or off or detect the emergency indication;   output at least one of a voice prompt or a visual indicator corresponding to a connection status of the device; and   establish a communication with one or more emergency service providers based on the indication, wherein establishing the communication with the one or more emergency service providers further comprises:
 determining if a preferred predetermined plurality of numbers have been pre-selected; 
 initiating a predetermined sequential calling of the plurality of numbers; 
 establishing a call with at least one of the predetermined plurality of numbers in response to sequentially calling of the plurality of numbers; 
 determining whether all of the plurality of predetermined numbers are unavailable in response to sequentially calling of the plurality of numbers; and 
 initiating a call with the one or more emergency service providers. 
   
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 33 , wherein the predetermined plurality of numbers are stored on a subscriber identity module (SIM) card, wherein if a determination is made that all of the plurality of numbers stored on the SIM card are unavailable, initiating a call of an emergency service provider.