Systems and methods for providing supplemental assistance

• US 10,123,198 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2017
• Issued: 11/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Klein, Craig Arthur, Folkerts, Maureen, Harp, Gregory, Pearson, Larry, Hawkins, Barton, Sineath, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): Khan, Mehmood B.
• Application Number:
  US15/437,172
• Publication Number:
  US 20180242125A1
• Time in Patent Office: 624 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]

Abstract

A controller for use in a supplemental response system can include an initiation module that receives a communication from a primary response system. The controller can also include an interpretation module that receives the communication from the initiation module and that interprets the communication to determine a description of attention required by the source. The controller can further include a locating module that identifies a target region based on the first location of the source, and that identifies the supplemental responding entity at a second location within the target region based on the description of the attention required by the source. The controller can also include a communication module that transmits a request to a communication system of the supplemental responding entity at the second location within the target region.

Claims

1. A controller for use in a supplemental response system, the controller comprising:

an initiation module that receives a communication from a primary response system, wherein the communication comprises source information, wherein the source information comprises a description of attention required by a source and a first location of the source, wherein the initiation module receives the communication from the primary response system in parallel with when communications are made between the primary response system, the source, and a primary responding entity;

an interpretation module coupled to the initiation module, wherein the interpretation module;

receives the communication from the initiation module; and

analyzes the communication to determine the source information;

a locating module coupled to the interpretation module, wherein the locating module;

identifies a target region based on the first location of the source; and

identifies a supplemental responding entity at a second location within the target region based on the description of the attention required by the source; and

a communication module coupled to the interpretation module, wherein the communication module transmits a request to a communication system of the supplemental responding entity at the second location within the target region, wherein the request comprises the first location of the source and the description of the attention required by the source,

wherein the request is provided to the supplemental responding entity for providing at least some of the attention required by the source until the primary responding entity, dispatched by the primary response system, arrives at the first location.

2. The controller of claim 1, wherein the communication module further:

receives triage information about the source from the communication system of the supplemental responding entity; and

transmits the triage information to the primary response system,

wherein the triage information provides the primary responding entity with the source information before the primary responding entity arrives at the first location.

3. The controller of claim 1, wherein the controller further comprises:

a registration module that maintains an active registry of the supplemental responding entity.

4. The controller of claim 3, wherein the registration module receives registration information of the supplemental responding entity prior to the source requiring the attention, and wherein the communication module transmits the request to the communication system of the supplemental responding entity based on the registration information of the supplemental responding entity entered with the registration module.

5. The controller of claim 1, wherein the target region is a building in which the source is located.

6. The controller of claim 5, wherein the locating module communicates with a security system of the building.

7. The controller of claim 1, wherein the target region is defined by a distance from the first location.

8. A method for providing a supplemental response system, the method comprising:

receiving, by an initiation module, a first communication that originates from a primary response system, wherein the first communication is based on a request for assistance involving a source, wherein the initiation module receives the first communication from the primary response system in parallel with when communications are made between the primary response system, the source, and a primary responding entity;

identifying, using an interpretation module, a plurality of information in the first communication, wherein the plurality of information comprises a first location and a description of the assistance required by the source;

identifying, using a locating module, a supplemental responding entity located within a target region based on the first location and qualified to provide the assistance required by the source; and

sending, using a communication module, a second communication to the supplemental responding entity, wherein the second communication comprises the first location of the source and the description of the assistance required by the source,

wherein the second communication is sent to the supplemental responding entity for providing at least some of the assistance required by the source until the primary responding entity, dispatched by the primary response system, arrives at the first location.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

receiving a third communication from the supplemental responding entity, wherein the third communication comprises a confirmation from the supplemental responding entity that the supplemental responding entity is agreeing to engage the source.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

sending, after receiving the third communication from the supplemental responding entity, a fourth communication to the primary response system, wherein the fourth communication comprises an identification of the supplemental responding entity that is engaging the source.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving a fourth communication from the supplemental responding entity, wherein the fourth communication comprises an assessment of the condition of the source.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

sending, after receiving the fourth communication from the supplemental responding entity, a fifth communication to the primary response system, wherein the fifth communication comprises the assessment of the source made by the supplemental responding entity.

13. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

registering the supplemental responding entity prior to receiving the first communication.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

tracking the supplemental responding entity prior to receiving the first communication.

15. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

verifying a validity of a certification of the supplemental responding entity.

16. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

confirming an identity of the supplemental responding entity after sending the second communication.

17. The method of claim 8, wherein the supplemental responding entity is selected from a database of supplemental responding entities, wherein the supplemental responding entity is identified based on a second location of the supplemental responding entity when the plurality of information is identified, wherein the second location is within the target region.

18. The method of claim 8, wherein the communication is associated with an emergency situation.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the primary response system comprises a 911 call center.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium comprising computer-readable instructions embodied therein that when executed by a processor provide a supplemental response system that performs steps comprising:

receiving, by an initiation module, a first communication that originates from a primary response system, wherein the first communication is based on a request for assistance involving a source, wherein the initiation module receives the first communication from the primary response system in parallel with when communications are made between the primary response system, the source, and a primary responding entity;

identifying, using an interpretation module, a plurality of information in the first communication, wherein the plurality of information comprises a first location and a description of the assistance required by the source;

identifying, using a locating module, a supplemental responding entity located within a target region based on the first location and qualified to provide the assistance required by the source; and

sending, using a communication module, a second communication to the supplemental responding entity, wherein the second communication comprises the first location of the source and the description of the assistance required by the source,

wherein the second communication is sent to the supplemental responding entity for providing at least some of the assistance required by the source until the primary responding entity, dispatched by the primary response system, arrives at the first location.