Emergency data message router database

• US 8,718,595 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2012
• Issued: 05/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ray, Amar Nath, Coppage, Carl M., Greene, Lynn T., Morrill, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid, Lester
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gu, Andy
• Application Number:
  US13/460,507
• Publication Number:
  US 20120214437A1
• Time in Patent Office: 736 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.1
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/00 Speech synthesis; Text to speech systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• 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 52/0261 managing power supply demand, e.g. depending on battery level
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0296 switching to a backup power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A system and method for providing information associated with public safety answering points may include storing a set of records including information associated with a plurality of PSAPs, each record may include (i) an identifier indicative of a PSAP available to service emergency communications, (ii) at least one cell code identifier indicative of cell sites in which the associated PSAP services, and (iii) at least one network address capable of receiving certain emergency data message types. In response to receiving a request, a PSAP local to a wireless communications device of a user who sent an emergency data message may be identified, and a network address associated with the identified local PSAP may be provided.

Claims

1. A method for routing a call from a communications device to a public safety answering point (PSAP), the method comprising:

receiving the call at an emergency data message router;

determining a location of the communications device;

determining an emergency data message type associated with the call;

determining, using a processor, a plurality of public safety answering points (PSAPs) appropriate to receive the call;

selecting a closest, by location, public safety answering point from the plurality of public safety answering points appropriate to receive the emergency call, based on data message format capabilities of the public safety answering points, wherein the data message format capabilities include one or more of text message capability, instant message capability, email capability, photo message capability or video message capability;

recognizing that the selected closest public safety answering point can only accept certain types of data messages;

translating the call from a first data message format to a second data message format, the second data message format being a type of data message the selected closest public safety answering point can accept, wherein the first and second data message format is one of text message, instant message, email, photo message, or video message; and

routing the translated call to the selected public safety answering point.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the plurality of public safety answering points appropriate to receive the call comprises accessing a database containing a set of records including information associated with the plurality of PSAPs, each record including:

an identifier indicative of a PSAP available to service emergency communications;

at least one cell code identifier indicative of cell sites; and

at least one network address capable of receiving certain emergency data message types.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the call includes receiving a cell code identifier identifying a cell tower in communication with the communications device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the call includes receiving an identifier indicative of the emergency data message type being a text message.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the plurality of public safety answering points appropriate to receive the call includes identifying at least one PSAP having a matching exchange code with an exchange code of the mobile directory number of the communications device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein selecting a closest public safety answering point from the plurality of public safety answering points appropriate to receive the call includes using at least one cell code identifier to identify a PSAP local to the communications device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the emergency data message type is an email.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the emergency data message type is an instant message.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the emergency data message type is an image file.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the emergency data message type is a video file.

11. A system for routing a call from a communications device to a public safety answering point (PSAP), the system comprising:

a network communication interface for receiving the call; and

a processor configured to;

determine a location of the communications device;

determine an emergency data message type associated with the call;

determine a plurality of public safety answering points (PSAPs) appropriate to receive the call;

select a closest, by location, public safety answering point from the plurality of public safety answering points appropriate to receive the call, based on data message format capabilities of the public safety answering points, wherein the data message format capabilities include one or more of text message capability, instant message capability, email capability, photo message capability or video message capability;

recognize that the selected closest public safety answering point can only accept certain types of data messages;

translate the call from a first data message format to a second data message format, the second data message format being a type of data message the selected closest public safety answering point can accept, wherein the first and second data message format is one of text message, instant message, email, photo message, or video message; and

route the call to the selected public safety answering point.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein determining the plurality of public safety answering points appropriate to receive the call comprises accessing a database containing a set of records including information associated with the plurality of PSAPs, each record including:

an identifier indicative of a PSAP available to service emergency communications;

at least one cell code identifier indicative of cell sites; and

at least one network address capable of receiving certain emergency data message types.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein receiving the call includes receiving a cell code identifier identifying a cell tower in communication with the communications device.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein receiving the call includes receiving an identifier indicative of the emergency data message type being a text message.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein determining the plurality of public safety answering points appropriate to receive the call includes identifying at least one PSAP having a matching exchange code with an exchange code of the mobile directory number of the communications device.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein selecting a closest public safety answering point from the plurality of public safety answering points appropriate to receive the call includes using at least one cell code identifier to identify a PSAP local to the communications device.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the emergency data message type is an email.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the emergency data message type is an instant message.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the emergency data message type is an image file or a video file.

20. A machine-readable tangible and non-transitory medium having information for routing a call from a communications device to a public safety answering point (PSAP), wherein the information, when read by the machine, causes the machine to perform the following:

determine a location of the communications device;

determine an emergency data message type associated with the call;

determine a plurality of public safety answering points (PSAPs) appropriate to receive the call;

select a closest, by location, public safety answering point from the plurality of public safety answering points appropriate to receive the call, based on data message format capabilities of the public safety answering points, wherein the data message format capabilities include one or more of text message capability, instant message capability, email capability, photo message capability or video message capability;

recognize that the selected closest public safety answering point can only accept certain types of data messages;

translate the call from a first data message format to a second data message format, the second data message format being a type of data message the selected closest public safety answering point can accept, wherein the first and second data message format is one of text message, instant message, email, photo message, or video message; and

route the call to the selected public safety answering point.