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MicrosoftGranted patentSecurity & privacyInterest 8/10

Microsoft patents system to call 911 for others during video calls

Microsoft has been granted a patent for a feature in its communication services that allows one person in a group call to request emergency help for another participant. When a user triggers this request, the system connects the person in need directly to a public safety access point, such as a 911 center, and alerts other nearby participants who are logged into the service.

Why it mattersThis is interesting because it adds a safety layer to remote work and social calls, allowing friends or colleagues to quickly summon help if someone appears to be in trouble but cannot dial for themselves.

In the filing’s own words

Technology disclosed herein includes a method of operating a communication service. The method includes hosting a conference call comprising bidirectional communications between at least a first endpoint and a second endpoint; receiving, in the context of the conference call, a request from the first endpoint for emergency service on behalf of a user at the second endpoint, wherein the request is initiated by user input received at a user interface on the first endpoint; and establishing a connection between the second endpoint and a public safety access point to obtain the emergency service for the user.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. A method of operating a communication service comprising: hosting a conference call comprising bidirectional communications between at least a first endpoint and a second endpoint; receiving, in a context of the conference call, a request from the first endpoint for emergency service on behalf of a user at the second endpoint, wherein the request is initiated by user input received at a user interface on the first endpoint; establishing a connection between the second endpoint and a public safety access point to obtain the emergency service for the user; identifying another endpoint that is logged into the communication service and that is proximate to a location of the second endpoint; and sending an alert of the request for emergency service to the other endpoint.

Facts

Company
Microsoft (Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC)
Official title
System for requesting emergency service in an online collaboration context
Patent number
US12744847B2
Application number
18054728
Filed
Nov 11, 2022
Granted
Sep 22, 2026
Inventors
1
Claims
21

Classified under

H04M 3/5116 Electricity & electronicsH04M 3/567 Electricity & electronics
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.