APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR E911 DETECTION AND CALLBACK MONITORING

• US 20040032932A1
• Filed: 08/16/2002
• Published: 02/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Enterprise Systems Technologies S.a.r.l. (Atos SE)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Information And Communication Networks, Inc. (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Meiden, David Vander, Kucmerowski, Dennis L.
• Granted Patent: US 6,728,339 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/04 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2281 Call monitoring, e.g. for law enforcement purposes; Call tracing; Detection or prevention of malicious calls
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42195 Arrangements for calling back a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy H04M3/48
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/51 Centralised call answering arrangements requiring operator intervention , e.g. call or contact centers for telemarketing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5116 for emergency applications

Abstract

In an enhanced 911 (E911) response system, a callback monitor including a microphone and a speaker is connected to a telephone. When a caller dials 911 from the telephone, upon the telephone going on-hook, the callback monitor is activated to allow a 911 operator who calls back to detect sounds from the location of the caller'"'"'s telephone without that phone ringing or being taken off hook. The callback monitor includes a timer; when the timer expires, the monitoring ends. In alternative embodiments, the timer can be extended.

Claims

1. In an emergency response system, an apparatus for monitoring a caller comprising:

a telephone line;

a callback monitor operably connected to the telephone line, said callback monitor including a microphone and enabling personnel of the emergency response system to detect sounds at the location of a telephone operably connected to the telephone line when the telephone is on hook.

2. The emergency response system of claim 1 wherein the system is a 911 system.

3. The emergency response system of claim 1 wherein the system is a private security facility.

4. The emergency response system of claim 2 wherein the 911 system includes computer capabilities.

5. The emergency response system of claim 1 wherein the personnel includes an operator.

6. The emergency response system of claim 1 wherein the monitor includes a speaker so that the security personnel can be heard at the location of the telephone while the telephone is on hook.

7. The emergency response system of claim 1 wherein a timer times out the monitoring.

8. The emergency response system of claim 7 wherein the caller can choose to adjust the monitoring timer.

9. The emergency response system of claim 1 wherein the system includes a wireless connection.

10. The system of claim 3 wherein the telephone number of the private security facility must be registered in the monitor in order for the monitoring to take place.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the monitoring occurs after a call back from the emergency response personnel.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the call back is intercepted so that it does not ring at the telephone.

13. The system of claim 8 wherein the adjustment of the timer is an extension of the monitoring interval.

14. The system of claim 8 wherein the adjustment of the timer is a reduction of the monitoring interval.

15. A method for operating an emergency response system comprising the following steps:

a caller calling an emergency facility from a telephone by dialing a predetermined emergency number;

the emergency facility receiving the call;

the caller going on-hook;

a callback monitor setting a timer that determines how long to monitor for a call back;

the emergency facility calling back;

the callback monitor monitoring whether the timer has expired;

if the timer has expired, the call ringing as usual;

if the timer has not expired, a ring detector at the callback monitor detecting the incoming call back from the emergency facility and proceeding with the following substeps;

the callback monitor intercepting the incoming call back;

the callback monitor activating a microphone at the telephone; and

personnel from the emergency facility monitoring the call.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the emergency facility is a 911 facility.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the emergency facility is an enhanced 911 facility.

18. The method of claim 15 wherein the intercepted call back does not ring the telephone.

19. A method for operating a 911 emergency response system comprising the following steps:

a caller calling an emergency facility by dialing 911 from a telephone;

a DTMF detector of the callback monitor at the caller'"'"'s telephone detecting the 911 call;

the facility receiving the caller'"'"'s 911 call;

the caller going on-hook;

the callback monitor setting a timer that determines how long to monitor for a call back;

the 911 facility calling back;

the callback monitor monitoring whether the timer has expired;

if the timer has not expired, a ring detector of the callback monitor detecting the call and proceeding with the following substeps;

the callback monitor intercepting the call without the telephone ringing;

the callback monitor activating a microphone and speaker of the callback monitor; and

the 911 operator monitoring the call;

and if the timer has expired, the call ringing as usual.

20. The method of claim 19 further including the step, before the call ringing step, of the user selecting to adjust the time on the timer.