SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SIMULTANEOUS ROUTING FO A SPECIAL NUMBER CALL TO A PLURALITY OF AGENCIES

• US 20130203391A1
• Filed: 01/30/2013
• Published: 08/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intrado Life & Safety Incorporated
• Original Assignee: West Corporation
• Inventors: Snapp, John Lawrence, Zacek, Daniel, Mondul, Donald D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,954,081 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]

Abstract

A system for simultaneously routing a special number call from a mobile unit to a plurality of agencies includes (a) at least one of an unlicensed mobile access network and a radio access network communicating with the mobile unit; (b) a mobile switch coupled with at least one of the networks; (c) a call receiver coupled with the mobile switch; at least one of the call receiver and the mobile switch being coupled for communication with respective of the agencies; and (d) a locator coupled with at least one of the mobile switch and the call receiver. After receiving the special number call, the call receiver cooperates with at least one of the locator and the mobile switch to effect routing of the special number call to one or more included agency. Determination which agency is an included agency is made at the call receiver.

Claims

1. A system for substantially simultaneously routing a special number call from a mobile calling unit to a plurality of receiving agencies;

the system comprising;

(a) at least one of an unlicensed mobile access network and a radio access network configured and situated for communicative coupling with said mobile calling unit;

(b) a mobile switching facility coupled with at least one of said unlicensed mobile access network and said radio access network;

(c) a special number call receiving facility coupled with said mobile switching facility;

at least one of said special number call receiving facility and said mobile switching facility being coupled for selective communication with respective receiving agencies of said plurality of receiving agencies; and

(d) a location determining facility coupled with at least one of said mobile switching facility and said special number call receiving facility;

after receiving said special number call, said special number call receiving facility cooperating with at least one of said location determining facility and said mobile switching facility to effect routing of said special number call to one or more included receiving agency of said plurality of receiving agencies;

determination which receiving agencies of said plurality of receiving agencies is an included receiving agency being made at said special number call receiving facility.

2. The system for substantially simultaneously routing a special number call from a mobile calling unit to a plurality of receiving agencies as recited in claim 1 wherein which receiving agencies of said plurality of receiving agencies is an included receiving agency may be changed by said special number call receiving facility during said special number call.

3. The system for substantially simultaneously routing a special number call from a mobile calling unit to a plurality of receiving agencies as recited in claim 1 wherein voice communications between said mobile calling unit and said special number call receiving unit is maintained as a priority communication link throughout said special number call.

4. The system for substantially simultaneously routing a special number call from a mobile calling unit to a plurality of receiving agencies as recited in claim 1 wherein communication between said special number call receiving facility and a respective included receiving agency may be established as at least one of voice communication and data communication.

5. The system for substantially simultaneously routing a special number call from a mobile calling unit to a plurality of receiving agencies as recited in claim 2 wherein voice communications between said mobile calling unit and said special number call receiving unit is maintained as a priority communication link throughout said special number call.

6. The system for substantially simultaneously routing a special number call from a mobile calling unit to a plurality of receiving agencies as recited in claim 5 wherein communication between said special number call receiving facility and a respective included receiving agency may be established as at least one of voice communication and data communication.

7. The system for substantially simultaneously routing a special number call from a mobile calling unit to a plurality of receiving agencies as recited in claim 5 wherein said special number call is an emergency service call and wherein said special number call receiving facility is a public service answering point.

8. A method for substantially simultaneously routing a special number call from a mobile calling unit to a plurality of receiving agencies;

the method comprising;

(a) receiving said special number call at a special number call receiving facility via a mobile switching facility;

(b) if location information relating to locus of said mobile calling unit is received with said special number call, proceeding to step (d);

(c) if no location information relating to locus of said mobile calling unit is received with said special number call, obtaining said location information from a location determining facility coupled with at least one of said mobile switching facility and said special number call receiving facility;

(d) evaluating service required by caller placing said special number call;

(e) evaluating location of one or more included receiving agency of said plurality of receiving agencies;

(f) routing said special number call to one or more included receiving agency of said plurality of receiving agencies;

(g) if treatment necessitated by said special number call is complete, proceed to step (k);

(h) if treatment necessitated by said special number call is not complete, in no particular order;

(1) determining whether a change in said treatment has occurred; and

(2) determining whether a change in said locus has occurred;

(i) if a change has occurred in said treatment or in said locus, repeating steps (d) through (h);

(j) if no change has occurred in said treatment or in said locus, repeating steps (g) through (h); and

(k) terminating the method.

9. The method for substantially simultaneously routing a special number call from a mobile calling unit to a plurality of receiving agencies as recited in claim 8 wherein which receiving agencies of said plurality of receiving agencies is an included receiving agency may be changed by said special number call receiving facility during said special number call.

10. The method for substantially simultaneously routing a special number call from a mobile calling unit to a plurality of receiving agencies as recited in claim 8 wherein voice communications between said mobile calling unit and said special number call receiving unit is maintained as a priority communication link throughout said special number call.

11. The method for substantially simultaneously routing a special number call from a mobile calling unit to a plurality of receiving agencies as recited in claim 8 wherein communication between said special number call receiving facility and a respective included receiving agency may be established as at least one of voice communication and data communication.

12. The method for substantially simultaneously routing a special number call from a mobile calling unit to a plurality of receiving agencies as recited in claim 9 wherein voice communications between said mobile calling unit and said special number call receiving unit is maintained as a priority communication link throughout said special number call.

13. The method for substantially simultaneously routing a special number call from a mobile calling unit to a plurality of receiving agencies as recited in claim 12 wherein communication between said special number call receiving facility and a respective included receiving agency may be established as at least one of voice communication and data communication.

14. The system for substantially simultaneously routing a special number call from a mobile calling unit to a plurality of receiving agencies as recited in claim 12 wherein said special number call is an emergency service call and wherein said special number call receiving facility is a public service answering point.

15. A system for substantially simultaneously routing an emergency service call from a mobile calling unit to a plurality of responding agencies;

the system comprising;

(a) at least one of an unlicensed mobile access network and a radio access network configured and situated for communicative coupling with said mobile calling unit;

(b) a mobile switching center coupled with at least one of said unlicensed mobile access network and said radio access network;

(c) a public service answering position coupled with said mobile switching facility;

at least one of said public service answering position and said mobile switching center being coupled for selective communication with respective responding agencies of said plurality of responding agencies; and

(d) a location determining facility coupled with at least one of said mobile switching center and said public service answering position;

after receiving said emergency service call, said public service answering position cooperating with at least one of said location determining facility and said mobile switching center to effect routing of said emergency service call to one or more included responding agency of said plurality of responding agencies;

determination which responding agencies of said plurality of responding agencies is an included responding agency being made at said public service answering position.

16. The system for substantially simultaneously routing an emergency service call from a mobile calling unit to a plurality of responding agencies as recited in claim 15 wherein which responding agencies of said plurality of responding agencies is an included responding agency may be changed by said public service answering position during said emergency service call.

17. The system for substantially simultaneously routing an emergency service call from a mobile calling unit to a plurality of responding agencies as recited in claim 15 wherein voice communications between said mobile calling unit and said public service answering position is maintained as a priority communication link throughout said emergency service call.

18. The system for substantially simultaneously routing an emergency service call from a mobile calling unit to a plurality of responding agencies as recited in claim 15 wherein communication between said public service answering position and a respective included responding agency may be established as at least one of voice communication and data communication.

19. The system for substantially simultaneously routing an emergency service call from a mobile calling unit to a plurality of responding agencies as recited in claim 16 wherein voice communications between said mobile calling unit and said public service answering position is maintained as a priority communication link throughout said emergency service call.

20. The system for substantially simultaneously routing an emergency service call from a mobile calling unit to a plurality of responding agencies as recited in claim 19 wherein communication between said public service answering position and a respective included responding agency may be established as at least one of voice communication and data communication.