First responder wireless emergency alerting with automatic callback and location triggering

• US 7,548,158 B2
• Filed: 02/03/2006
• Issued: 06/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/08/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Original Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Inventors: Titus, Mark A., Pohutsky, Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US11/346,163
• Publication Number:
  US 20070030144A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,229 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.1, 340/539.11, 340/539.14, 340/539.17, 340/539.18, 340/539.2, 340/500, 340/502, 340/506, 340/534, 340/539.13, 340/286.04, 340/286.05, 379/37, 379/42, 455/435.1, 455/456.1
• US Class Current: 340/539.13
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/006 Alarm destination chosen according to type of event, e.g. in case of fire phone the fire service, in case of medical emergency phone the ambulance
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/10 using wireless transmission systems G08B25/009 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/04 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/14 with services dependent on location where the service is an information service H04M2242/15; services independent of location H04M3/42229
• 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 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]

Abstract

Using wireless features, a public service agency is enabled to provide alert information to first responders. An automatic call back from the first responder triggers a voice call launching a location fix on the current location of the first responder. Preferably delivery confirmation that the responder has received the message is received. Once the location fix has been completed, then driving directions with map images are sent to the first responder based on their current location and desired destination for response.

Claims

1. Apparatus to provide alert information to an emergency responder in an emergency situation, comprising:

an alerts engine to trigger an association of an emergency content type with a telephone number, and communication of an alert message to at least one said emergency responder based on a remotely monitored current location of said at least one said emergency responder;

a remote agent to communicate said alert message and said telephone number based on said remotely monitored current location of said at least one said emergency responder to said at least one emergency responder via a data message gateway, said data message gateway adapted to determine said remotely monitored current location of said at least one emergency responder from a wireless location service; and

an emergency responder database to store information for use by said alerts engine relating to provisions of said at least one emergency responder.

2. The apparatus to provide alert information to an emergency responder in an emergency situation according to claim 1, wherein:

said remote agent is adapted to receive location information relating to a current position of said at least one emergency responder.

3. The apparatus to provide alert information to an emergency responder in an emergency situation according to claim 1, wherein:

said remote agent is adapted to receive an acknowledgement that said at least one emergency responder has received said alert message.

4. The apparatus to provide alert information to an emergency responder in an emergency situation according to claim 3, wherein:

said acknowledgement is initiated with a voice callback call from said at least one emergency responder to said remote agent.

5. The apparatus to provide alert information to an emergency responder in an emergency situation according to claim 4, wherein:

said voice callback call is routed at least in part using a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).

6. The apparatus to provide alert information to an emergency responder in an emergency situation according to claim 3, wherein:

said acknowledgement is routed to a location service.

7. The apparatus to provide alert information to an emergency responder in an emergency situation according to claim 1, further comprising:

a content manager to provide a content of said alert message.

8. The apparatus to provide alert information to an emergency responder in an emergency situation according to claim 1, wherein:

said alert message is a multimedia message.

9. The apparatus to provide alert information to an emergency responder in an emergency situation according to claim 1, wherein:

said alert message includes map information based on said remotely monitored current location of said at least one emergency responder.

10. The apparatus to provide alert information to an emergency responder in an emergency situation according to claim 1, wherein:

said data message includes driving instructions relevant to said at least one emergency responder.

11. A method for providing alert information to an emergency responder in an emergency situation, comprising:

associating an emergency content type with a telephone number;

communicating an emergency message and said telephone number to at least one said emergency responder, said emergency message being relevant to a specific remotely monitored current location of said at least one emergency responder;

initiating an automatic call back to a sender of said emergency message;

triggering a voice call from said at least one emergency responder; and

launching a location fix to determine said specific remotely monitored current location of said at least one emergency responder from a wireless location service.

12. The method for providing alert information to an emergency responder in an emergency situation according to claim 11, further comprising:

once said location fix has been completed, then sending location-based information based on a current position of said at least one emergency responder.

13. The method for providing alert information to an emergency responder in an emergency situation according to claim 12, wherein said location-based information comprises:

driving directions from a current position of said at least one emergency responder to an intended destination of said at least one emergency responder.

14. The method for providing alert information to an emergency responder in an emergency situation according to claim 12, wherein said location-based information comprises:

a map image based on said specific remotely monitored current location of said at least one emergency responder.

15. The method for providing alert information to an emergency responder in an emergency situation according to claim 12, wherein:

said location-based information is based on both a current position of said at least one emergency responder as well as an intended destination of said at least one emergency responder.

16. The method for providing alert information to an emergency responder in an emergency situation according to claim 11, wherein:

said voice call triggers said launched location fix.

17. The method for providing alert information to an emergency responder in an emergency situation according to claim 11, further comprising:

receiving delivery confirmation that said at least one emergency responder has received said alert information.

18. The method for providing alert information to an emergency responder in an emergency situation according to claim 11, further comprising:

initiating said alert from a public service agency.

19. The method for providing alert information to an emergency responder in an emergency situation according to claim 11, wherein:

said public service agency is a public service access point (PSAP).

20. Apparatus for providing alert information to an emergency responder in an emergency situation, comprising:

associating an emergency content type with a telephone number;

means for communicating an emergency message and said telephone number to at least one emergency responder, said emergency message being relevant to a specific remotely monitored current location of said at least one emergency responder;

means for initiating an automatic call back to a sender of said emergency message;

means for triggering a voice call from said at least one emergency responder; and

means for launching a location fix to determine said specific remotely monitored current location of said at least one emergency responder from a wireless location service.

21. The apparatus for providing alert information to an emergency responder in an emergency situation according to claim 20, further comprising:

means for sending location-based information based on a current position of said at least one emergency responder, once said location fix has been completed.

22. The apparatus for providing alert information to an emergency responder in an emergency situation according to claim 21, wherein said location-based information comprises:

driving directions from a current position of said at least one emergency responder to an intended destination of said at least one emergency responder.

23. The apparatus for providing alert information to an emergency responder in an emergency situation according to claim 21, wherein said location-based information comprises:

a map image based on said specific remotely monitored current location of said at least one emergency responder.

24. The apparatus for providing alert information to an emergency responder in an emergency situation according to claim 21, wherein:

said location-based information is based on both a current position of said at least one emergency responder as well as an intended destination of said at least one emergency responder.

25. The apparatus for providing alert information to an emergency responder in an emergency situation according to claim 20, wherein:

said voice call triggers said launched location fix.

26. The apparatus for providing alert information to an emergency responder in an emergency situation according to claim 20, further comprising:

means for receiving delivery confirmation that said at least one emergency responder has received said alert information.

27. The apparatus for providing alert information to an emergency responder in an emergency situation according to claim 20, further comprising:

means for initiating said alert from a public service agency.

28. The apparatus for providing alert information to an emergency responder in an emergency situation according to claim 20, wherein:

said public service agency is a public service access point (PSAP).