INTEGRATED CALL HANDLER AND EMAIL SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20100257250A1
• Filed: 06/21/2010
• Published: 10/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/06/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Powerphone Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Powerphone Incorporated
• Inventors: Turk, Jeremy Edward, Salafia, Christopher Michael, Koutchouk, Francois Gerard, Salafia, Philip M.
• Application Number:
  US12/819,548
• Publication Number:
  US 20100257250A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/10 Multimedia information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/226 Delivery according to priorities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1079 of unsolicited session attempts, e.g. SPIT
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/40 Support for services or applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/38 Displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/553 Data upload
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/04 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42068 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• 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 3/5322 for recording text messages
• 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

Apparatuses, systems and methods are presented for handling calls. In one embodiment, an emergency call handling system capable of receiving visual information from callers and correlating the visual information to particular incidents is disclosed. To obtain visual information, a call handler may generate and send an electronic mail message to the caller. The caller may reply to the electronic mail message and attach an image captured with, for example, a camera phone. The visual information may then be correlated to the call between the caller and call handler. In addition, unsolicited visual information received by the emergency call handling system may be prioritized, triaged and delivered to the call handler. The visual information may be used to assess an emergency situation. The visual information may be forwarded to emergency service providers.

Claims

1. -35. (canceled)

36. A method of contacting potential eyewitnesses to an event, said method comprising:

determining a location and a time period of said event;

obtaining a listing of cellular phones proximate to said location during said time period; and

delivering messages to said cellular phones proximate to said location during said time period.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein said obtaining step includes querying an ANIALI database.

38. The method of claim 36, further including prioritizing said listing based on information related to said cellular phones.