First responder wireless emergency alerting with automatic callback and location triggering

• US 9,342,975 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2014
• Issued: 05/17/2016
• 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:
  US14/504,981
• Publication Number:
  US 20150024704A1
• Time in Patent Office: 593 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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. A method for providing location-based information to a first responder device, comprising:

triggering an automatic callback, from a physical emergency services server, to a given callback phone number from a first responder wireless device, with a callback communication data message transmitted to said first responder wireless device;

obtaining, at said physical emergency services server, a current location fix on said first responder wireless device in response to said triggered automatic callback from said first responder wireless device; and

communicating location-based information to said first responder wireless device based on said location fix obtained by said physical emergency services server.

2. The method for providing location-based information to a first responder device according to claim 1, wherein:

said location-based information is communicated from said physical emergency services server, and includes a current location of said first responder wireless device.

3. The method for providing location-based information to a first responder device according to claim 1, wherein:

said location fix on said first responder wireless device is obtained from a remote physical location based services server.

4. The method for providing location-based information to a first responder device according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at said physical emergency services server, an acknowledgement message that said first responder wireless device has received said callback communication data message.

5. The method for providing location-based information to a first responder device according to claim 4, further comprising:

initiating said acknowledgement message with a voice callback call from said first responder wireless device.

6. The method for providing location-based information to a first responder device according to claim 5, further comprising:

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

7. The method for providing location-based information to a first responder device according to claim 4, further comprising:

routing said acknowledgement message to a location based services server.

8. A system to provide location-based information to a first responder device, comprising:

a physical emergency services server to trigger an automatic callback to a given callback phone number from a first responder wireless device, with a callback communication data message transmitted to said first responder wireless device;

a location engine to obtain a current location fix on said first responder wireless device in response to said triggered automatic callback from said first responder wireless device; and

a transmitter to transmit location-based information to said first responder wireless device based on said location fix obtained by said physical emergency services server.

9. The system to provide location-based information to a first responder device according to claim 8, wherein said first responder wireless device comprises:

a wireless telephone.

10. The system to provide location-based information to a first responder device according to claim 8, further comprising:

a responder device database to store information for use by said physical emergency services server relating to provisions of said first responder wireless device.

11. The system to provide location-based information to a first responder device according to claim 8, wherein:

said callback communication data message includes said a current location of said first responder wireless device.

12. The system to provide location-based information to a first responder device according to claim 8, wherein:

said current location of said first responder wireless device is retrieved from a location based services server.

13. The system to provide location-based information to a first responder device according to claim 8, wherein said callback communication data message comprises:

a map.

14. The system to provide location-based information to a first responder device according to claim 8, wherein said callback communication data message comprises:

navigation instructions.

15. The system to provide location-based information to a first responder device according to claim 8, further comprising:

an acknowledgement module to receive an acknowledgement message that said first responder wireless device has received said callback communication data message.

16. Apparatus for providing location-based information to a first responder device, comprising:

means for triggering an automatic callback, from a physical emergency services server, to a given callback phone number from a first responder wireless device, with a callback communication data message transmitted to said first responder wireless device;

means for obtaining, at said physical emergency services server, a current location fix on said first responder wireless device in response to said triggered automatic callback from said first responder wireless device; and

means for communicating location-based information to said first responder wireless device based on said location fix obtained by said physical emergency services server.

17. The apparatus for providing location-based information to a first responder device according to claim 16, wherein:

said location-based information is communicated from said physical emergency services server, and includes a current location of said first responder wireless device.

18. The apparatus for providing location-based information to a first responder device according to claim 16, wherein:

said location fix on said first responder wireless device is obtained from a remote physical location based services server.

19. The apparatus for providing location-based information to a first responder device according to claim 16, further comprising:

means for receiving, at said physical emergency services server, an acknowledgement message that said first responder wireless device has received said callback communication data message.

20. The apparatus for providing location-based information to a first responder device according to claim 19, further comprising:

means for initiating said acknowledgement message with a voice callback call from said first responder wireless device.

21. The apparatus for providing location-based information to a first responder device according to claim 20, further comprising:

means for routing said voice callback call at least in part using a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).

22. The apparatus for providing location-based information to a first responder device according to claim 19, further comprising:

means for routing said acknowledgement message to a location based services server.

23. The apparatus to provide alert information to a responder device according to claim 16, further comprising:

a content manager to provide content inserted into said callback communication data message.