Method of operating a mobile communication device and mobile communication system during an emergency situation

摘要

A mobile communication system ( 400 ) provides communication service in a plurality of serving cells. Upon the occurrence of an emergency situation, the mobile communication system determines which of the serving cells are affected by the emergency ( 402 ), and begins broadcasting an emergency notification message in the affected cells. Mobile communication devices in the affected cells will only be allowed to communicate a status message to inform others of the user's status, or if the user is an emergency subscriber, the emergency subscriber will receive regular communication service. All other communication service requests will be ignored during the emergency situation.