Apple Patent To Safeguard 911 Cellphone Calls

MojoKid writes "Engineers from Apple have applied for a patent on an 'emergency' mode for cell phones that would squeeze every last drop of energy out of the batteries. The phone would recognize emergency calls when the user dialed an emergency number, such as 911 in the United States. But another number could also be stored as an 'emergency number' on the phone (a spouse, child, or parent, for example) or the user could manually put the phone in emergency mode. The process would do a variety of things. It would disable 'non-essential hardware components' and applications on the phone, reduce power to the screen and potentially reduce the phone's processor speed. It also would make it harder to disconnect the call and enable 'emergency phrase buttons' on the phone."

Great. Just amazing.

[Deltaspectre]

Now when I pocket dial 911 there's even less chance of me pocket-disconnecting and more chance of my phone spouting emergency phrases!

I patent super emergency mode

[sakdoctor]

That would squeeze the last drop of energy out of the batteries, by stabbing them and causing a small explosion to attract help.

Screams "action movie"

[Norsefire]

The protagonist is being tracked using GPS locked onto their phone, they realise this and dial 911 which puts the phone into a low power state and kills the GPS signal.

Trust me, it's a lot more exciting than just turning the phone off.

Re:I patent super emergency mode

[jo42]

That's called "smoke signal mode". I believe indigenous North American peoples have prior art on this...

Re:Batteries only have so much power.

[Anonymous Coward]

The disconnect button will move around on the touch-screen.

Emergency button

[tsa]

I have the Chinese takaway programmed in my emergency button. You need that much more than 911 (or 112 in Europe).

Re:Screams "action movie"

[PPH]

Like Jack Bauer being trapped and unable to talk that calls CIA head quarters

Also known as Kiefer Sutherland drunk dialing.

For some reason

[Toreo asesino]

this reminds me of an old phone I used to have that implemented perhaps the very opposite of this idea...

It would vibrate to tell me the battery was running low in silent mode. Problem was just by doing that it actually used up the last of the power it was supposed to warn me about being low, effectively making it some kind of ironic suicide warning.

It would disable 'non-essential hardware component

[deft]

"It would disable 'non-essential hardware components' and applications on the phone, reduce power to the screen and potentially reduce the phone's processor speed. It also would make it harder to disconnect the call".

That sounds alot like verizons business model for all their phones, emergency or not. Then you just pay more for to get them back.