SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR HANDLING EMERGENCY IMAGE MESSAGING

• US 20100003953A1
• Filed: 10/24/2008
• Published: 01/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Embarq Holdings Company LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Coppage, Garl M., Ray, Amar Nath, Greene, Lynn T.
• Granted Patent: US 8,606,218 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/00 Speech synthesis; Text to speech systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• 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 52/0261 managing power supply demand, e.g. depending on battery level
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0296 switching to a backup power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A system and method for routing emergency image messages to a PSAP may include receiving an emergency data message and identifying that the emergency data message includes an image. A location of a wireless communications device used to send the emergency data message may be determined. At least one PSAP local to the emergency communications device may be identified and a determination as to which, if any, of the at least one PSAP is capable of receiving an emergency data message that includes an image may be made. The emergency data message that includes an image may be routed to a PSAP local to the wireless communications device and capable of receiving emergency data messages that include an image.

Claims

1. A method for routing emergency image messages to a public safety answering point (PSAP), said method comprising:

receiving an emergency data message;

identifying that the emergency data message includes an image;

determining a location of a wireless communications device used to send the emergency data message;

identifying at least one PSAP local to the emergency communications device;

determining which, if any, of the at least one PSAP is capable of receiving an emergency data message that includes an image; and

routing the emergency data message that includes an image to a PSAP local to the wireless communications device and capable of receiving emergency data messages that include an image.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein identifying that the emergency data message includes an image includes identifying that the emergency message includes a photograph.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein identifying that the emergency data message includes an image includes identifying that the emergency data message includes a photograph attachment.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein identifying that the emergency data message includes an image includes identifying that the emergency data message includes a video.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein identifying that the emergency data message includes an image includes identifying that the emergency data message includes streaming video.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising establishing a bi-directional communications path between the PSAP and the wireless communications device while maintaining the streaming video.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein establishing the bi-directional communications path includes establishing a voice communications path.

8. The method according to claim 6, wherein establishing the bi-directional communications path includes establishing a data communications path.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising selecting a PSAP that is local and closest to the wireless communications device and capable of receiving emergency data messages that include an image.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein selecting a PSAP is based on a cell code, mobile directory number, and emergency data message type.

11. A system for routing an emergency data message to a public safety answering point (PSAP), said system comprising:

a memory;

an input/output (I/O) unit;

a processing unit in communication with said memory and I/O unit, and configured to;

receive an emergency data message;

identify that the emergency data message includes an image;

determine a location of a wireless communications device used to send the emergency data message;

identify at least one PSAP local to the emergency communications device;

determine which, if any, of the at least one PSAP is capable of receiving an emergency data message that includes an image; and

route the emergency data message that includes an image to a PSAP local to the wireless communications device and capable of receiving emergency data messages that include an image.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein said processing unit is configured to identify that the emergency data message includes a photograph.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein said processing unit is configured to identifying that the emergency data message includes an image includes identifying that the emergency data message includes a photograph attachment.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein said processing unit is configured to identify that the emergency data message includes a video.

15. The system according to claim 13, wherein said processing unit is further configured to identify that the emergency data message includes streaming video.

16. The system according to claim 11, wherein said processing unit is further configured to establish a bi-directional communications path between the PSAP and the wireless communications device while maintaining the streaming video.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein said processing unit, in establishing the bi-directional communications path is configured to establish a voice communications path.

18. The system according to claim 16, wherein said processing unit, in establishing the bi-directional communications path is configured to establish a data communications path.

19. The system according to claim 11, wherein said processing unit is further configured to select a PSAP that is local and closest to the wireless communications device and capable of receiving emergency data messages that include an image.

20. The system according to claim 11, wherein said processing unit is configured to select a PSAP is based on a cell code, mobile directory number, and emergency data message type.