Microsoft patents 911 | The Register

Microsoft was today granted a patent for accessing data used by the emergency services.

“The present invention provides a method and system for maintaining emergency data in a manner that provides straightforward user access thereto via a displayed emergency page (or set of pages) or other suitable user interface,” according to the Patent documentation. “In one embodiment, the operating system or other suitable components maintain a repository of emergency data such that emergency type information can be aggregated and displayed in one place.”

“In sum, what is needed is a way to provide users with access to needed emergency information. This should be simple from the user’s perspective, so that even very emotional users can find what is needed in a straightforward, yet comprehensive process.”

Of the 13 supporting images published by the USPTO, not one shows a very emotional user. But the document does disclose a user interface for at least one preferred implementation.