SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR HANDLING SPECIAL NUMBER CALLS USING TEXT MESSAGE FORMAT WITH AUTOMATIC LOCATION FUNCTION

• US 20090156237A1
• Filed: 12/14/2007
• Published: 06/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intrado Life & Safety Incorporated
• Original Assignee: West Corporation
• Inventors: Hwang, Kuen-Yih
• Granted Patent: US 8,190,179 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/04 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42042 Notifying the called party of information on the calling party details within substation equipment H04M1/57, signalling details H04Q3/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42348 Location-based services which utilize the location information of a target
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42357 where the information is provided to a monitoring entity such as a potential calling party or a call processing server
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5116 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]

Abstract

A system for treating special number calls placed from a calling instrument using a text messaging format; the system including: a plurality of message handling units configured in at least one communication network accessible by the calling instrument. At least one selected message handling unit operates to recognize an extant call placed using a special number from the calling instrument in a first the text messaging format. The message handling units cooperate to effect conveying a response communication to the calling instrument when the extant call is detected. The response communication alerts a user of the calling instrument to a return communication conveyed via a return communication channel supporting at least one locating function. The calling instrument employs the locating function to provide a substantially pinpoint geographic location of the calling instrument to at least one receiving message handling unit via the return communication channel.

Claims

1. A system for treating special number calls placed from a calling instrument using a text messaging format;

the system comprising;

a plurality of message handling units configured in at least one communication network accessible by said calling instrument;

at least one selected message handling unit of said plurality of message handling units operating to recognize an extant call placed using a special number from said calling instrument in a first said text messaging format;

said plurality of message handling units cooperating to effect conveying a response communication to said calling instrument substantially when said extant call is detected;

said response communication alerting a user of said calling instrument to a return communication;

said plurality of message handling units cooperating to effect conveying said return communication to said calling instrument via a return communication channel supporting at least one locating function; and

said calling instrument employing said locating function to provide a substantially pinpoint geographic location of said calling instrument to at least one receiving message handling unit of said plurality of message handling units via said return communication channel.

2. A system for treating special number calls placed from a calling instrument using a text messaging format as recited in claim 1 wherein said response communication is conveyed using a second said text messaging format.

3. A system for treating special number calls placed from a calling instrument using a text messaging format as recited in claim 2 wherein said plurality of message handling units cooperates to use said geographic location for routing said extant call to at least one selected special number answering station coupled with said at least one communication network and situated generally proximate with said geographic location.

4. A system for treating special number calls placed from a calling instrument using a text messaging format as recited in claim 1 wherein said return communication channel is a voice-capable communication channel.

5. A system for treating special number calls placed from a calling instrument using a text messaging format as recited in claim 1 wherein said at least one locating function includes a global positioning system function.

6. A system for treating special number calls placed from a calling instrument using a text messaging format as recited in claim 2 wherein said response communication is conveyed using said text communication channel is a voice-capable communication channel.

7. A system for treating special number calls placed from a calling instrument using a text messaging format as recited in claim 2 wherein said at least one locating function includes a global positioning system function.

8. A system for treating special number calls placed from a calling instrument using a text messaging format as recited in claim 3 wherein said response communication is conveyed using said text communication channel is a voice-capable communication channel.

9. A system for treating special number calls placed from a calling instrument using a text messaging format as recited in claim 2 wherein said at least one locating function includes a global positioning system function.

10. A system for treating emergency service calls placed from a calling instrument using a text messaging format;

the system comprising;

a plurality of message handling units configured in at least one communication network accessible by said calling instrument;

at least one selected message handling unit of said plurality of message handling units operating to recognize an extant call placed using an emergency service number from said calling instrument in a first said text messaging format;

said plurality of message handling units cooperating to effect conveying a response communication to said calling instrument when said extant call is detected;

said response communication alerting a user of said calling instrument to a return communication;

said plurality of message handling units cooperating to effect conveying said return communication to said calling instrument via a return communication channel supporting at least one locating function; and

said calling instrument employing said locating function to provide a substantially pinpoint geographic location of said calling instrument to at least one receiving message handling unit of said plurality of message handling units via said return communication channel

11. A system for treating emergency service calls placed from a calling instrument using a text messaging format as recited in claim 10 wherein said response communication is conveyed using a second said text messaging format.

12. A system for treating emergency service calls placed from a calling instrument using a text messaging format as recited in claim 11 wherein said plurality of message handling units cooperates to use said geographic location for routing said extant call to at least one selected public service answering position coupled with said at least one communication network and situated generally proximate with said geographic location.

13. A system for treating emergency service calls placed from a calling instrument using a text messaging format as recited in claim 10 wherein said return communication channel is a voice-capable communication channel.

14. A system for treating emergency service calls placed from a calling instrument using a text messaging format as recited in claim 13 wherein said at least one locating function includes a global positioning system function.

15. A system for treating emergency service calls placed from a calling instrument using a text messaging format as recited in claim 11 wherein said at least one locating function includes a global positioning system function.

16. A method for treating special number calls placed from a calling instrument using a text messaging format;

the method comprising;

(a) providing a plurality of message handling units;

(b) coupling said plurality of message handling units in at least one communication network accessible by said calling instrument;

(c) operating at least one selected message handling unit of said plurality of message handling units to recognize an extant call placed using a special number from said calling instrument in a first said text messaging format;

(d) operating said plurality of message handling units cooperatively to effect conveying a response communication to said calling instrument substantially when said extant call is detected;

said response communication alerting a user of said calling instrument to a return communication;

(e) operating said plurality of message handling units cooperatively to effect conveying said return communication to said calling instrument via a return communication channel supporting at least one locating function; and

(f) operating said calling instrument to employ said locating function to provide a substantially pinpoint geographic location of said calling instrument to at least one receiving message handling unit of said plurality of message handling units via said return communication channel.

17. A method for treating special number calls placed from a calling instrument using a text messaging format as recited in claim 16 wherein said response communication is conveyed using a second said text messaging format.

18. A method for treating special number calls placed from a calling instrument using a text messaging format as recited in claim 17 wherein said plurality of message handling units cooperates to use said geographic location for routing said extant call to at least one selected public service answering position coupled with said at least one communication network and situated generally proximate with said geographic location.

19. A method for treating special number calls placed from a calling instrument using a text messaging format as recited in claim 16 wherein said return communication channel is a voice-capable communication channel.

20. A method for treating special number calls placed from a calling instrument using a text messaging format as recited in claim 16 wherein said at least one locating function includes a global positioning system function.