Method and system for managing communication in emergency communication system

• US 7,324,802 B2
• Filed: 01/20/2005
• Issued: 01/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: STA Group, LLC
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jennings, Cullen
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid; Lester G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HERRERA, DIEGO D
• Application Number:
  US11/039,569
• Publication Number:
  US 20060160522A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,104 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.1
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/04 for emergency applications
• 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 72/56 based on priority criteria
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections

Abstract

A method and system for managing communication in an emergency communication network is described. The emergency communication network receives a plurality of radio messages from a plurality of channels. The incoming radio messages sometimes overlap in time. Incoming radio messages can be prioritized and played back on the basis of the priority and the time of receipt. In case of overlap of the incoming radio messages in time, the radio message with the highest priority is played first, while the remaining radio messages are stored in a queue. The queue is formed again on the basis of priority. The stored radio messages are played subsequent to the completion of the radio message with the higher priority.

Claims

1. A method of managing communication in a communication system, the communication system receiving messages from a plurality of channels, the method comprising:

receiving a first message on a first dedicated channel from amongst the plurality of channels at the communication system, the plurality of channels being dedicated to different entities, the first dedicated channel being dedicated to receiving messages from a first entity;

receiving a second message on a second dedicated channel being dedicated to receiving messages from a second entity from amongst the plurality of channels at the communication system, the second message overlapping with the first message in time;

determining one or more priorities for the first message received on the first dedicated channel from the first entity and the second message received on the second dedicated channel from the second entity based on at least one pre-defined parameter;

determining which message out of the first message and the second message should be stored and subsequently played based on the second message overlapping with the first message in time and one or more priorities assigned to the first and the second message;

playing the message having a higher priority between the first and the second message;

storing at least one message having a lower priority between the first and the second message based on the determination; and

playing the stored message subsequent to completing playing of the message having higher priority.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining which message out of the first message and the second message should be stored and subsequently played comprises:

calculating the priorities of the received messages; and

comparing the priorities of the received messages.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the predefined parameter comprises a bandwidth requirement of the received messages.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the predefined parameter comprises a type of the received messages.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the type of received messages being one of a group comprising audio, video, text, and image.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the priority comprises assigning priorities to the first message and the second message based on inputs from a user.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising informing an operator the time of receipt of a message while playing the first message and the second message.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein a message includes voice over internet protocol communications.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein a message includes mobile phone communications.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein a message includes radio communications.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein playing the message comprises playing the message having a higher priority between the first and second message without storing the message having the higher priority if no other message is being played.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the priority comprises determining the priority based on the dedicated channel the first message and/or the second message is received on.

11. A method of managing communication in a communication system, the communication system receiving messages from a plurality of channels, the method comprising:

receiving a first message on a first dedicated channel from amongst the plurality of channels at communication system, the plurality of channels being dedicated to different entities, the first dedicated channel being dedicated to receiving messages from a first entity;

receiving a second message on a second dedicated channel being dedicate to receiving messages from a second entity at the communication system, the second message overlapping with the first message in time;

prioritizing the first and second messages based on at least one predefined parameter;

determining which message of the first message and the second message should be stored and subsequently played based on the second message overlapping with the first message in time and one or more priorities assigned to the first and the second message;

playing the message having the highest priority;

storing the message having lower priority in a queue on the basis of the determination and the prioritization;

checking periodically the status of the message being played; and

playing the stored message having the highest priority.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising informing a user the time of receipt of a message while plying the message.

13. A communication system for managing communication, the communication system receiving messages from a plurality of channels, the communication system comprising:

means for receiving a plurality of messages on the plurality of channels, the plurality of messages received including a first message received from a first dedicated channel dedicated to receiving messages from a first entity and a second message received from a second dedicated channel dedicated to receiving messages from a second entity;

means for playing a received messages having the highest priority, the plurality of received messages being prioritized based on at least one predefined parameter;

a central conferencing system comprising;

means for prioritizing the received plurality of messages including the first message from the first dedicated channel and the second message from the second dedicated channel based on the predefined parameter;

means for determining which messages out of the received messages should be stored and subsequently played based on messages overlapping in time and one or more priorities assigned to the first and the second message;

means for sending the messages for playing based on the associate priority; and

means for storing the messages other than the one sent for playing in a queue based upon the associated priority.

14. A communication system for managing communication, the communication system receiving messages from a plurality of channels, the communication system comprising:

a receiver module configured to receive a plurality of messages on the plurality of channels, the plurality of messages received including a first message received from a first dedicated channel dedicated to receiving messages from a first entity and a second message received from a second dedicated channel dedicated to receiving messages from a second entity;

a player module for playing a received message having the highest priority, the plurality of received messages being prioritized based on at least one predefined parameter;

a central conferencing system comprising;

a prioritizing module configured to prioritize of messages including the first message received on the first dedicated channel and the second message received on the second dedicated channel based on the predefined parameter;

a determiner configured to determine which messages out of the received messages should be stored and subsequently played based on the second message overlapping with the first message in time and one or more priorities assigned to the first and the second message;

a sender module to send a message for playing based on the associated priority; and

a storage medium configured to store the messages in a queue based upon the associated priority and the determination.

15. The communication system of claim 14, wherein the prioritizing module comprises:

a priority calculator for calculating the priority of the received messages; and

a comparison module for comparing the priorities of the plurality of received messages.

16. The communication system of claim 14, wherein the central conferencing system further comprises an alert module for informing an operator the time of receipt of a message while playing the message.

17. A central conferencing system for managing a plurality of messages received by a communication system, the central conferencing system comprising:

a receiver module configured to receive a plurality of messages on the plurality of channels, the plurality of messages received including a first message received from a first dedicated channel dedicated to receiving messages from a first entity and a second message received from a second dedicated channel dedicated to receiving message from a second entity;

a prioritizing module for prioritizing the received messages based on at least one predefined parameter, the prioritizing module comprises;

a priority calculator for calculating the priority of the received messages including the first message received on the first dedicated channel and the second message received on the second dedicated channel; and

a comparison module for comparing the priorities of the plurality of received messages;

a sender module for sending the messages with the highest priority to the player module for playing;

a determiner configured to determine which messages out of the received messages should be stored and subsequently played based on the second message overlapping with the first message in time and one or more priorities assigned to the first and the second message;

a storage module for storing the messages from amongst the plurality of messages that are not being played; and

an alert module for informing a user the time of receipt of a message while playing the message.

18. An apparatus for managing communication in a communication system, the communication system receiving messages on a plurality of channels, the apparatus comprising:

a processing system including a processor coupled to a display and user input device; and

a machine-readable medium including instructions executable by the processor comprising;

one or more instructions for receiving a plurality of messages on the plurality of channels, the plurality of messages received including a first message received from a first dedicated channel to receiving messages from a first entity and a second message received from a second dedicated channel dedicated to receiving messages from a second entity;

one or more instructions for playing the message having the highest priority, the priority of the received messages including the first message and the second message being determined based on at least one predefined parameter;

one or more instructions for determining which messages out of the received m messages should be stored and subsequently played based on messages overlapping in time and one or more priorities assigned to the first and the second message;

one or more instructions for playing the stored messages subsequent to completing playing of the message having higher priority.

19. A machine-readable medium including instructions executable by the processor comprising:

one or more instructions for receiving a plurality of messages on the plurality of channels, the plurality of messages received including a first message received from a first dedicated channel dedicated to receiving messages from a first entity and a second message received from a second dedicated channel dedicated to receiving messages from a second entity;

one or more instructions for playing the message having the highest priority, the priority of the received messages being including the first message and the second message being determined based on at least one predefined parameter;

one or more instructions for determining which messages out of the received messages should be stored and subsequently played based on message overlapping in time and one or more priorities assigned to the first and the second message;

one or more instructions for storing at least one message having a lower priority; and

one or more instructions for playing the stored messages subsequent to completing playing of the message having higher priority.