METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR EMERGENCY CALL MANAGEMENT

• US 20170164175A1
• Filed: 02/17/2017
• Published: 06/08/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rapidsos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Rapidsos, Inc.
• Inventors: BOZIK, Matthew, HORELIK, Nicholas, MARTIN, Michael John, MEHTA, Anil
• Granted Patent: US 10,165,431 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1895 for short real-time information, e.g. alarms, notifications, alerts, updates
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0654 using network fault recovery ring fault isolation or reconfiguration in loop networks without recovery actions by a network management system H04L12/437
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/02 using automatic reactions or user delegation, e.g. automatic replies or chatbot-generated messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5116 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• 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]
• 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 76/19 Connection re-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections

Abstract

A system and method for generating and transmitting emergency messages and for maintaining real-time emergency communications sessions between users and emergency dispatch centers. A system receives data transmitted from a user device and constructs an emergency message related to a specific type of emergency scenario as well as the location, meta-data and background information of the user. The generated emergency message is transmitted via a communications network and delivered to an appropriate emergency dispatch center. The method enables the user to deliver a detailed request for help regardless of his or her location or, in another instance, delivers the basic emergency response related information for the user. The generated emergency message is universally compatible with emergency communications center infrastructure so long as the communications centers possess basic voice call equipment.

Claims

1-47. -47. (canceled)

48. A computer-implemented method for facilitating emergency communications with an emergency dispatch center, the method comprising:

(a) receiving a request for assistance from a wireless device;

(b) receiving location information of the wireless device;

(c) using location services to determine a user location for the wireless device based on location information from the wireless device; and

(d) providing the user location to an emergency dispatch center to associate the user location with a telephone number of the wireless device.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein providing the user location to an emergency dispatch center comprises updating a database referenced by the emergency dispatch center with the user location.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein updating the database comprises sending the user location to an application programming interface of a routing service provider for insertion into the database, wherein the database is an automatic location identification database.

51. The method of claim 48, further comprising obtaining identifying information associated with the emergency dispatch center, the identifying information comprising location and infrastructure capabilities of the emergency dispatch center.

52. The method of claim 51, further comprising sending an emergency communication to the emergency dispatch center, wherein the emergency communication is provided to the emergency dispatch center in a format compatible with the emergency dispatch center based on the infrastructure capabilities of the emergency dispatch center.

53. The method of claim 48, further comprising determining whether a reliable data connection between the wireless device and the emergency dispatch center is available, wherein the user location is provided to the emergency dispatch center over an IP network when a reliable data connection to the database is available.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein the user location is provided via SMS directly to the emergency dispatch center when a reliable data connection is not available and a reliable cellular connection between the wireless device and the emergency dispatch center is available.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein a PSTN phone call is initiated between the wireless device and the emergency dispatch center when a reliable data connection and a reliable cellular connection are not available and a PSTN telephone connection between the wireless device and the emergency dispatch center is available.

56. The method of claim 48, further comprising obtaining an input from the user confirming the user location of the wireless device.

57. The method of claim 48, further comprising obtaining an input from the user selecting a location other than user location, and, responsive to the user selecting the location other than the user location, providing the location other than the user location to the emergency dispatch center.

58. The method of claim 48, further comprising verifying and managing user information stored on a user database, wherein the user information comprises location information.

59. The method of claim 48, wherein the user location is sent to the emergency dispatch center via a wireless communication link using Wi-Fi, a cellular network, or a Bluetooth network.

60. The method of claim 48, wherein the location information comprises a geographic location of the wireless device obtained from a GPS receiver.

61. A wireless device for requesting emergency assistance comprising a user interface and a processor configured to create an application client comprising:

(a) an interface module configured to receive a request for assistance from a user;

(b) a location determination module configured to use location services to determine a user location for the wireless device based on location information from the wireless device; and

(c) a communications module configured to provide the user location of the wireless device to an emergency dispatch center to associate the user location with a telephone number of the wireless device.

62. The device of claim 61, wherein the communications module is configured to provide the user location of the wireless device to the emergency dispatch center by updating a database referenced by the emergency dispatch center.

63. The device of claim 62, wherein the communications module is configured to update the database by providing the user location to an application programming interface of a routing service provider for insertion into the database, wherein the database is an automatic location identification database.

64. The device of claim 61, wherein the communications module obtains identifying information associated with the emergency dispatch center, the identifying information comprising location and infrastructure capabilities.

65. The device of claim 61, wherein the communications module is configured to route an emergency communication to the emergency dispatch center through an emergency management system, wherein the emergency communication to the emergency dispatch center is provided in a format compatible with the emergency dispatch center based on the infrastructure capabilities of the emergency dispatch center.

66. The device of claim 61, wherein the communications module is configured to determine whether a reliable data connection to the emergency dispatch center is available, wherein the communications module sends the user location over an IP network when a reliable data connection to the database is available.

67. The device of claim 66, wherein the communications module is configured to send the user location via SMS directly to the emergency dispatch center when the communications module determines that a reliable data connection is not available and that a reliable cellular connection between the wireless device and the emergency dispatch center is available.

68. The device of claim 67, wherein the communications module initiates a PSTN phone call between the wireless device and the emergency dispatch center when the communications module determines that a reliable data connection and a reliable cellular connection are not available and that a PSTN telephone connection between the wireless device and the emergency dispatch center is available.

69. The device of claim 61, wherein the device is configured to receive an input from the user selecting a location other than the user location, and, responsive to the user selecting the location other than the user location, provide the location other than the user location to the emergency dispatch center.

70. A system for managing emergency communications, the system comprising:

(a) at least one input/output system configured to receive a request for assistance from a wireless device and receive location information of the wireless device;

(b) at least one processing unit in communication with the at least one input/output system and configured to;

i) receive the request for assistance from the at least one input/output system;

ii) use location services to determine a user location to be provided to an emergency dispatch center based on the location information from the wireless device; and

iii) associate the user location with a telephone number of the wireless device, wherein the location is provided to an emergency dispatch center.

71. The system of claim 70, wherein the at least one processing unit is configured to provide the user location to the emergency dispatch center by updating a database referenced by the emergency dispatch center.

72. The system of claim 71, wherein the at least one processing unit is configured to update the database by sending the user location to an application programming interface of a routing service provider for insertion into the database, wherein the database is an automatic location identification database.

73. The system of claim 70, wherein the at least one processing device obtains identifying information associated with the emergency dispatch center, the identifying information comprising location and infrastructure capabilities.

74. The system of claim 70, wherein the at least one processing unit is configured to determine whether a reliable data connection to the emergency dispatch center is available, wherein the user location is provided to the emergency dispatch center over an IP network when a reliable data connection to the emergency dispatch center is available.

75. The system of claim 74, wherein the user location is provided via SMS directly to the emergency dispatch center when the at least one processing device determines that a reliable data connection is not available and that a reliable cellular connection between the wireless device and the emergency dispatch center is available.

76. The system of claim 70, wherein the system is configured to receive an input from the user selecting a location other than the user location, and, responsive to the user selecting the location other than the user location, provide the location other than the user location to the emergency dispatch center.

77. The system of claim 70, wherein the system further comprises a user database for verifying and managing user information, wherein the user information comprises the location information.