Locator diagnostic system for emergency dispatch

• US 10,657,614 B2
• Filed: 12/23/2015
• Issued: 05/19/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey J. Clawson
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey J. Clawson
• Inventors: Clawson, Jeffrey J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Blaufeld, Justin R.
• Application Number:
  US14/757,797
• Publication Number:
  US 20170187878A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,609 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/747 in case of emergency, i.e. alerting emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/26 Government or public services business processes related to the transportation industry G06Q50/40
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/265 Personal security, identity or safety
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/04 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5116 for emergency applications

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided to guide an emergency dispatcher in responding to emergency calls where the incident location is not known. The systems and methods can include a locator diagnostic tool configured to facilitate thorough and consistent information gathering for calls where the incident location is not known. The locator diagnostic tool may traverse a logical tree configured to gather information that can aid in identifying the incident location and/or provide instructions to the caller that may allow the incident location to be identified. For example, the locator diagnostic tool may aid callers in locating devices designed to transmit their location. The locator diagnostic tool may traverse different logical paths depending on if the caller can speak freely or not, depending on if the caller or a third party is missing, and/or depending on the type of caller location (e.g., inside, outside, or underground).

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method to assist a dispatcher when communicating with a caller via telephone regarding an incident requiring an emergency dispatch response, the computer-implemented method comprising:

presenting, on a dispatch center computer, a plurality of pre-scripted interrogatories for the dispatcher to ask the caller to collect information regarding the incident;

receiving, on the dispatch center computer, input representative of the collected information;

determining automatically on the dispatch center computer a determinant value indicative of priority of the incident from one of a plurality of pre-established determinant values based on the collected information;

providing the determinant value from the dispatch center computer to a computer aided dispatch system;

initiating a diagnostic tool on the dispatch center computer;

the diagnostic tool presenting to the dispatcher a user interface;

the user interface providing a plurality of pre-scripted location questions for the dispatcher to relay to the caller over the telephone to guide the caller in describing caller location information, wherein the diagnostic tool is configured to traverse a logical tree to determine which of the plurality of pre-scripted location questions will be relayed to the caller;

the user interface receiving dispatcher-entered input indicative of caller location information relayed from the caller, wherein the caller relays observations over the telephone to the dispatcher, and wherein the logical tree is traversed based on the dispatcher-entered input,

the diagnostic tool storing the dispatcher-entered input for later recall;

providing the caller location information to the computer aided dispatch system;

the computer aided dispatch system receiving location and availability information from a plurality of emergency response unit devices corresponding to a plurality of emergency response units;

the computer aided dispatch system automatically dispatching at least one of the plurality of emergency response units based on the determinant value, the location and availability information received from the plurality of emergency response unit devices, and the caller location information received from the dispatch center computer;

the diagnostic tool prompting the dispatcher to ask the caller if the caller hears a siren of an emergency response unit;

upon receiving confirmation that the caller hears a siren, the diagnostic tool displaying instructions for the dispatcher to relay to the caller to assist emergency responders in locating the caller, the instructions including actions to make the caller seen or heard by the emergency responders; and

upon receiving confirmation that the caller does not hear a siren, the diagnostic tool providing an option for the dispatcher to end the diagnostic tool.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising the dispatch center computer initiating the diagnostic tool based on dispatcher-entered input indicative of one or more responses of the caller to the interrogatories presented to the dispatcher by the protocol.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the dispatcher-entered input comprises an indication that the location of the caller is unknown.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the logical tree comprises a first path traversed if the caller indicates the location of the caller is in an urban area and a second path traversed if the caller indicates the location of the caller is in a wilderness area.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the logical tree comprises a first path traversed if the caller indicates the location of the caller is inside and a second path traversed if the caller indicates the location of the caller is outside.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein the logical tree comprises a third path traversed if the caller indicates the location of the caller is underground.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the logical tree comprises a first path traversed if the caller is at a location of the incident and a second path traversed for missing third parties.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising the diagnostic tool providing an instruction to the dispatcher to convey to the caller to determine the location of the caller, the instruction selected from the group consisting of activating a vehicle locator, activating an emergency pendant, calling from another phone, finding a piece of mail with an address, and attracting the attention of another person.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the logical tree comprises a first path traversed if the caller can answer appropriately and a second path traversed if the caller is prevented from speaking.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising the diagnostic tool providing an instruction to the dispatcher to convey to the caller if the caller is prevented from speaking, the instruction comprising an explanation of nonverbal signal types to the caller and a request to indicate a signal.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising the diagnostic tool providing an instruction to the dispatcher to evaluate and input the caller'"'"'s talking status.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein upon receiving confirmation that the caller hears a siren, the diagnostic tool prompting the dispatcher to ask the caller the direction of the siren.

13. A computer system to perform a method to assist a dispatcher when communicating with a caller via telephone regarding an incident requiring an emergency dispatch response, the computer system comprising:

a communication interface configured to communicate with a computer aided dispatch system in communication with a plurality of emergency response unit devices corresponding to a plurality of emergency response units;

a processor;

an output device in electrical communication with the processor;

an input device in electrical communication with the processor;

a memory in electrical communication with the processor, the memory comprising;

an emergency dispatch protocol including a plurality of pre-scripted interrogatories for the dispatcher to ask the caller to generate an emergency dispatch response;

the emergency dispatch protocol configured to determine automatically on the computer system a determinant value from one of a plurality of pre-established determinant values based on input representative of responses by the caller to one or more of the plurality of pre-scripted interrogatories;

the communication interface configured to provide the determinant value indicative of priority of the incident to the computer aided dispatch system; and

a diagnostic tool to assist the dispatcher in guiding the caller, wherein the diagnostic tool performs the method of;

providing a plurality of pre-scripted location questions for the dispatcher to relay to the caller over the telephone to guide the caller in describing a physical environment, wherein the diagnostic tool is configured to traverse a logical tree to determine which of the plurality of pre-scripted location questions will be relayed to the caller;

receiving a plurality of input components associated with the plurality of pre-scripted location questions, the input components to receive dispatcher-entered input indicative of caller-relayed information concerning the physical environment, of the location of the caller, wherein the caller-relayed information is relayed over the telephone to the dispatcher, and wherein the logical tree is traversed based on the dispatcher-entered input;

prompting the dispatcher to ask the caller if the caller hears a siren of an emergency response unit;

receiving confirmation that the caller hears a siren;

displaying instructions for the dispatcher to relay to the caller to assist emergency responders in locating the caller, the instructions including actions for the caller to be seen or heard by emergency responders; and

wherein the communication interface is configured to convey the information concerning the physical environment of the location of the caller to the computer aided dispatch system; and

wherein the computer aided dispatch system is configured to automatically dispatch at least one of the plurality of emergency response units based on the determinant value, location and availability information received from the plurality of emergency response unit devices, and the information concerning the physical environment of the location of the caller.

14. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the logical tree comprises a first path traversed if the caller indicates the location of the caller is in an urban area and a second path traversed if the caller indicates the location is in a wilderness area.

15. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the logical tree comprises a first path traversed if the caller indicates the location of the caller is inside and a second path traversed if the caller indicates the location is outside.

16. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the logical tree comprises a third path traversed if the caller indicates the location of the caller is underground.

17. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the logical tree comprises a first path traversed if the caller is at a location of the incident and a second path traversed for missing third parties.

18. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the user interface further comprises an instruction to the dispatcher to convey to the caller to determine the location of the caller, the instruction selected from the group consisting of activating a vehicle locator, activating an emergency pendant, calling from another phone, finding a piece of mail with an address, and attracting the attention of another person.

19. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the logical tree comprises a first path traversed if the caller can answer appropriately and a second path traversed if the caller is prevented from speaking.

20. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the user interface further comprises an instruction to the dispatcher to convey to the caller if the caller is prevented from speaking, the instruction comprising an explanation of nonverbal signal types to the caller and a request to indicate a signal.

21. The computer system of claim 13, wherein the user interface further comprises an instruction to the dispatcher to evaluate and input the caller'"'"'s talking status.

22. The computer system of claim 13, wherein upon receiving confirmation that the caller hears a siren, the diagnostic tool prompting the dispatcher to ask the caller the direction of the siren.

23. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon computer-readable instruction code that, when executed by a computing device, causes the computing device to perform a method to assist a dispatcher when communicating with a caller via telephone regarding an incident requiring an emergency dispatch response, the method comprising:

providing, on the computing device, an emergency dispatch protocol to assist the dispatcher, the protocol presenting a plurality of pre-scripted interrogatories for the dispatcher to ask the caller to collect information regarding the incident;

receiving, on the computing device, input representative of the collected information;

determining automatically on the computing device a determinant value indicative of priority of the incident from one of a plurality of pre-established determinant values based on the input representative of the collected information to one or more of the plurality of pre-scripted interrogatories;

providing the determinant value to a computer aided dispatch system in communication with a plurality of emergency response unit devices corresponding to a plurality of emergency response units, the computer aided dispatch system receiving location and availability information from the plurality of emergency response unit devices;

initiating a diagnostic tool on the computing device, the diagnostic tool configured to aid the dispatcher in guiding the caller to describe the location of the caller to which the emergency dispatch response should be directed;

the diagnostic tool presenting to the dispatcher a user interface comprising;

indications of a plurality of pre-scripted location questions for the dispatcher to relay to the caller over the telephone to guide the caller in describing a physical environment of the location of the caller, and a plurality of input components associated with the plurality of pre-scripted location questions;

the diagnostic tool receiving dispatcher-entered input via the input components of the user interface, the dispatcher-entered input indicative of caller-relayed information concerning the physical environment of the location of the incident, wherein the caller'"'"'s observations are relayed over the telephone to the dispatcher, wherein the diagnostic tool is configured to traverse a logical tree to determine which of the plurality of pre-scripted location questions will be relayed to the caller based on the dispatcher-entered input for previous questions; and

the computing device providing the information concerning the physical environment of the location of the caller to the computer aided dispatch system, the computer aided dispatch system automatically dispatching at least one of the plurality of emergency response units based on the determinant value, the location and availability information received from the plurality of emergency response unit devices, and the information concerning the physical environment of the location of the caller received from the computing device;

the diagnostic tool prompting the dispatcher to ask the caller if the caller hears a siren of an emergency response unit;

upon receiving confirmation that the caller hears a siren, the diagnostic tool displaying instructions for the dispatcher to relay to the caller to assist emergency responders in locating the caller, the instructions including actions to make the caller seen or heard by the emergency responders; and

upon receiving confirmation that the caller does not hear a siren, the diagnostic tool providing an option for the dispatcher to end the diagnostic tool.