TRIGGERING A 911 VOICE CALL FROM A NON-VOICE MESSAGE

• US 20120237002A1
• Filed: 03/15/2011
• Published: 09/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sennett, Dewayne, Daly, Brian
• Granted Patent: US 8,369,488 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/652 Call initiation triggered by text message
• 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 4/029 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 voice based emergency call, such as a call to 911, is provided to a public safety answering point (PSAP) triggered from a non-voice based emergency call. When a non-voice based call is sent to a PSAP that does not accept non-voice based calls, upon determining that the PSAP can not handle non-voice based calls, the communication network is utilized to establish a voice based call with the PSAP.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a non-voice based emergency call;

determining a location of a device from which the non-voice based emergency call was provided;

identifying a public safety answering point (PSAP) that serves the location;

determining that the identified PSAP does not support non-voice based calls; and

providing a notification message, the notification message comprising an indication to initiate a voice based call between the device and the identified PSAP.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the provided notification message is intended for the identified PSAP.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the provided notification message is intended for the device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the provided notification message is intended for an entity in a telephony network.

5. The method of claim 1, the provided notification message comprising an email.

6. The method of claim 1, the provided notification message comprising a voice based message.

7. The method of claim 1, the provided notification message being intended for an individual call taker of the identified PSAP.

8. An apparatus comprising:

an input/output portion configured to;

receive a non-voice based emergency call; and

provide a notification message comprising an indication to initiate a voice based call between a device and an identified public safety answering point (PSAP); and

a processing portion configured to;

determine a location of the device from which the non-voice based emergency call was provided;

identify the PSAP that serves the location; and

determine that the identified PSAP does not support non-voice based calls.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the provided notification message is for the identified PSAP.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the provided notification message is intended for the device.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, the provided notification message being intended for an entity in a telephony network.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, the provided notification message comprising an email.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, the provided notification message comprising a voice based message.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, the provided notification message being intended for an individual call taker of the identified PSAP.

15. A method comprising:

receiving a non-voice based emergency call;

determining a location of a device from which the non-voice based emergency call was provided;

identifying a public safety answering point (PSAP) that serves the location;

determining if the identified PSAP supports non-voiced based calls;

when it is determined that the identified PSAP supports non-voiced based calls, providing the non-voice based emergency call to the identified PSAP; and

when it is determined that the identified PSAP does not support non-voice based calls, providing a notification message, the notification message comprising an indication to initiate a voice based call between the device and the identified PSAP.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the provided notification message is intended for the identified PSAP.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the provided notification message is intended for the device.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the provided notification message is intended for an entity in a telephony network.

19. The method of claim 15, the provided notification message comprising an email.

20. The method of claim 15, the provided notification message comprising a voice based message.