911 data messaging

• US 20080081646A1
• Filed: 06/20/2007
• Published: 04/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Original Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Inventors: Titus, Mark, Marshall, Roger S., Morin, Drew
• Granted Patent: US 9,408,046 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• 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 76/50 for emergency connections

Abstract

A short messaging system (SMS) emergency services 911 system (SMS E911). Excess non-voice capacity is used to establish a Short Message Service (SMS) capability for generating an emergency 911 “equivalent” call, together with location information required by emergency services and to meet Federal 911 requirements. 911 requests for emergency assistance are delivered using non-voice centric sources such as SMS, email, and/or autonomous data/message generation devices. SMS 911 capability enables SMS savvy consumers to generate requests for emergency assistance to the local Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP). The SMS 911 emergency services request can be understood by an otherwise conventional PSAP, including provision of location information, and translated to provide first responders with the emergency services information they need to offer timely assistance.

Claims

1. A method of providing text message E911 emergency services, comprising:

receiving a text message E911 emergency data request from an end user requiring emergency assistance;

associating a geographic location of a sender of said text message E911 emergency data request, with said text message E911 emergency data request; and

staging said geographic location of said sender of said text message E911 emergency data request in a database for access by emergency services.

2. The method of providing text message E911 emergency services according to claim 1, wherein said location comprises:

a geographic location.

3. The method of providing text message E911 emergency services according to claim 1, wherein said location comprises:

a civic location.

4. The method of providing text message E911 emergency services according to claim 1, wherein said civic location comprises at least one of:

a street address; and

a placename.

5. The method of providing text message E911 emergency services according to claim 4, wherein said location comprises:

a MSC/Serving Cell ID.

6. The method of providing text message E911 emergency services according to claim 1, wherein said location comprises:

a location reference.

7. The method of providing text message E911 emergency services according to claim 6, wherein said location reference comprises at least one of:

a URI; and

a URL.

8. The method of providing text message E911 emergency services according to claim 1, wherein:

said emergency services is a public safety access point (PSAP).

9. The method of providing text message E911 emergency services according to claim 8, further comprising:

providing a notification to said public safety access point of receipt of said text message E911 emergency data request.

10. The method of providing text message E911 emergency services according to claim 9, wherein:

said notification is an audible notification.

11. The method of providing text message E911 emergency services according to claim 1, further comprising:

staging said text message in a database for access by a public safety access point (PSAP).

12. The method of providing text message E911 emergency services according to claim 1, wherein:

said text message is a short messaging system (SMS) message.

13. The method of providing text message E911 emergency services according to claim 1, wherein:

said text message is an email.

14. The method of providing text message E911 emergency services according to claim 1, wherein:

said text message is an Internet chat message (XMPP).

15. The method of providing text message E911 emergency services according to claim 1, wherein:

said text message is an XML post message (HTTP).

16. The method of providing text message E911 emergency services according to claim 1, wherein:

said text message is a multimedia message service (MMS) image.

17. Apparatus for providing text message E911 emergency services, comprising:

means for receiving a text message E911 emergency data request from an end user requiring emergency assistance;

means for associating a geographic location of a sender of said text message E911 emergency data request, with said text message E911 emergency data request; and

means for staging said geographic location of said sender of said text message E911 emergency data request in a database for access by emergency services.

18. The apparatus for providing text message E911 emergency services according to claim 17, wherein said location comprises:

a geographic location.

19. The apparatus for providing text message E911 emergency services according to claim 17, wherein said location comprises:

a civic location.

20. The apparatus for providing text message E911 emergency services according to claim 17, wherein said civic location comprises at least one of:

a street address; and

a placename.

21. The apparatus for providing text message E911 emergency services according to claim 20, wherein said location comprises:

a MSC/Serving Cell ID.

22. The apparatus for providing text message E911 emergency services according to claim 17, wherein said location comprises:

a location reference.

23. The apparatus for providing text message E911 emergency services according to claim 22, wherein said location reference comprises at least one of:

a URI; and

a URL.

24. The apparatus for providing text message E911 emergency services according to claim 17, wherein:

said emergency services is a public safety access point (PSAP).

25. The apparatus for providing text message E911 emergency services according to claim 24, further comprising:

means for providing a notification to said public safety access point of receipt of said text message E911 emergency data request.

26. The apparatus for providing text message E911 emergency services according to claim 25, wherein:

said notification is an audible notification.

27. The apparatus for providing text message E911 emergency services according to claim 17, further comprising:

means for staging said text message in a database for access by a public safety access point (PSAP).

28. The apparatus for providing text message E911 emergency services according to claim 17, wherein:

said text message is a short messaging system (SMS) message.

29. The apparatus for providing text message E911 emergency services according to claim 17, wherein:

said text message is an email.