Method and system for managing communication in emergency communication system

• US 20060160522A1
• Filed: 01/20/2005
• Published: 07/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: STA Group, LLC
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jennings, Cullen
• Granted Patent: US 7,324,802 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/404.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/04 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5116 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 72/56 based on priority criteria
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections

Abstract

A method and system for managing communication in an emergency communication network is described. The emergency communication network receives a plurality of radio messages from a plurality of channels. The incoming radio messages sometimes overlap in time. Incoming radio messages can be prioritized and played back on the basis of the priority and the time of receipt. In case of overlap of the incoming radio messages in time, the radio message with the highest priority is played first, while the remaining radio messages are stored in a queue. The queue is formed again on the basis of priority. The stored radio messages are played subsequent to the completion of the radio message with the higher priority.

Claims

1. A method of managing communication in an emergency communication system, the emergency communication system receiving messages from a plurality of channels, the method comprising:

receiving a first message on a first channel from amongst the plurality of channels;

receiving at least one second message on channels other than the first channel from amongst the plurality of channels, the second message overlapping with the first message in time;

playing the message having a higher priority between the first and the second message;

storing at least one message having a lower priority between the first and the second message; and

playing the stored message subsequent to completing playing of the message having higher priority.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the playing the message having a higher priority comprises prioritizing the received messages based on at least one predefined parameter.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the prioritizing comprises:

calculating the priorities of the received messages; and

comparing the priorities of the received messages.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the predefined parameter comprises a bandwidth requirement of the received messages.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the predefined parameter comprises a type of the received messages.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the type of received messages being one of a group comprising audio, video, text, and image.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the calculating the priorities comprises assigning priorities to the received messages based on inputs from a user.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising informing an operator the time of receipt of a message while playing the message.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein a message includes voice over internet protocol communications.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein a message includes mobile phone communications.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein a message includes radio communications.

12. A method of managing communication in an emergency communication system, the emergency communication system receiving messages from a plurality of channels, the method comprising:

receiving a first message on a first channel from amongst the plurality of channels;

receiving at least one second message on at least one channel from amongst the plurality of channels, the second message overlapping with the first message in time;

prioritizing the received message based on at least one predefined parameter;

playing the message having the highest priority;

storing the message having lower priority in a queue on the basis of the prioritization;

checking periodically the status of the message being played; and

playing the stored message having the highest priority.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising informing a user the time of receipt of a message while plying the message.

14. An emergency communication system for managing communication, the emergency communication system receiving messages from a plurality of channels, the emergency communication system comprising:

means for receiving a plurality of messages on the plurality of channels;

means for playing a received messages having the highest priority, the plurality of received messages being prioritized based on at least one predefined parameter;

a central conferencing system comprising;

means for prioritizing the received plurality of messages based on the predefined parameter;

means for sending a message for playing based on the associated priority; and

means for storing the messages other than the one sent for playing in a queue based upon the associated priority.

15. An emergency communication system for managing communication, the emergency communication system receiving messages from a plurality of channels, the emergency communication system comprising:

a receiver module for receiving a plurality of messages on the plurality of channels;

a player module for playing a received message having the highest priority, the plurality of received messages being prioritized based on at least one predefined parameter;

a central conferencing system comprising;

a prioritizing module for prioritizing the plurality of messages based on the predefined parameter;

a sender module for sending a message for playing based on the associated priority; and

a storage medium for storing the messages in a queue based upon the associated priority.

16. The emergency communication system of claim 15, wherein the prioritizing module comprises:

a priority calculator for calculating the priority of the received messages; and

a comparison module for comparing the priorities of the plurality of received messages.

17. The emergency communication system of claim 15, wherein the central conferencing system further comprises an alert module for informing an operator the time of receipt of a message while playing the message.

18. A central conferencing system for managing a plurality of messages received by an emergency communication system, the emergency communication system receiving the messages on a plurality of channels and comprising a player module for playing the messages, the central conferencing system comprising:

a prioritizing module for prioritizing the received messages based on at least one predefined parameter, the prioritizing module comprises;

a priority calculator for calculating the priority of the received messages; and

a comparison module for comparing the priorities of the plurality of received messages;

a sender module for sending the messages with the highest priority to the player module for playing;

a storage module for storing the messages from amongst the plurality of messages that are not being played; and

an alert module for informing a user the time of receipt of a message while playing the message.

19. An apparatus for managing communication in an emergency communication system, the emergency communication system receiving messages on a plurality of channels, the apparatus comprising:

a processing system including a processor coupled to a display and user input device; and

a machine-readable medium including instructions executable by the processor comprising;

one or more instructions for receiving a plurality of messages on the plurality of channels;

one or more instructions for playing the message having the highest priority, the priority of the received messages being determined based on at least one predefined parameter;

one or more instructions for storing at least one message having a lower priority; and

one or more instructions for playing the stored messages subsequent to completing playing of the message having higher priority.

20. A machine-readable medium including instructions executable by the processor comprising:

one or more instructions for receiving a plurality of messages on the plurality of channels;

one or more instructions for playing the message having the highest priority, the priority of the received messages being determined based on at least one predefined parameter;

one or more instructions for storing at least one message having a lower priority; and

one or more instructions for playing the stored messages subsequent to completing playing of the message having higher priority.