Determination of non-voice emergency service availability

• US 9,432,827 B2
• Filed: 04/07/2015
• Issued: 08/30/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.), AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.), AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sennett, DeWayne, Daly, Brian, Musgrove, Charles, Stanek, George
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, DANH C
• Application Number:
  US14/680,620
• Publication Number:
  US 20150327040A1
• Time in Patent Office: 511 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.1, 455/550.1, 455/418, 379/45
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/04 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42382 Text-based messaging services in telephone networks such as PSTN/ISDN, e.g. User-to-User Signalling or Short Message Service for fixed networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5116 for emergency applications
• 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 76/50 for emergency connections

Abstract

Determining if non-voice emergency services (NOVES) are available is accomplished via an indicator provided via a control channel and/or via a query to a network entity. For example, a NOVES indicator can be provided, via a control channel message, to a communications device, indicating whether non-voice emergency services (NOVES) are available or not available. Additionally, capabilities of public safety answering points (PSAPs) providing NOVES can be included. For example, the indicator can include information as to whether an identified PSAP can receive a text based emergency message, an emergency message comprising an image, and emergency message comprising audio, and/or an emergency message comprising video. In another example configuration, a communications device can query a communications network to determine the availability of NOVES and PSAP capabilities. A response to the query can include an indication as to whether non-voice services are available, and, if appropriate, the types of NOVES services available.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

memory coupled to the processor, the memory comprising at least one executable instruction that when executed by the processor causes the processor to effectuate operations comprising;

receiving an indication as to whether non-voice emergency services are available;

analyzing the received indication to determine if non-voice emergency services are available; and

when it is determined that non-voice emergency services are available, initiating a non-voice emergency message; and

when it is determined that non-voice emergency services are not available, providing an indication that non-voice emergency services are not available.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the indication is received via a control channel.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, the operations further comprising:

providing an indication that non-voice emergency services are available.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, the operations further comprising:

providing at least one of;

a visual indication that non-voice emergency services are available;

an audible indication that non-voice emergency services are available;

or

a mechanical indication that non-voice emergency services are available.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, the operations further comprising:

providing at least two of;

a visual indication that non-voice emergency services are not available;

an audible indication that non-voice emergency services are not available;

or

a mechanical indication that non-voice emergency services are not available.

6. A method comprising:

receiving an indication as to whether non-voice emergency services are available;

analyzing the received indication to determine if non-voice emergency services are available; and

when it is determined that non-voice emergency services are available, initiating a non-voice emergency message; and

when it is determined that non-voice emergency services are not available, providing an indication of a lack of non-voice emergency services.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the indication of as to whether non-voice emergency services are available is received via a control channel.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

providing an indication that non-voice emergency services are available.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

providing at least one of;

a visual indication that non-voice emergency services are available;

an audible indication that non-voice emergency services are available;

or

a mechanical indication that non-voice emergency services are available.

10. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

providing at least two of;

a visual indication that non-voice emergency services are not available;

an audible indication that non-voice emergency services are not available;

or

a mechanical indication that non-voice emergency services are not available.

11. A computer-readable storage medium device comprising at least one executable instruction that when executed by a processor cause the processor to effectuate operation comprising:

receiving an indication as to whether non-voice emergency services are available;

analyzing the received indication to determine if non-voice emergency services are available; and

when it is determined that non-voice emergency services are available, initiating a non-voice emergency message; and

when it is determined that non-voice emergency services are not available, providing an indication of a lack of non-voice emergency services.

12. The computer-readable storage medium device of claim 11, wherein the indication is received via a control channel.

13. The computer-readable storage medium device of claim 11, the operations further comprising:

providing an indication that non-voice emergency services are available.

14. The computer-readable storage medium device of claim 11, the operations further comprising:

providing at least one of;

a visual indication that non-voice emergency services are available;

an audible indication that non-voice emergency services are available;

or

a mechanical indication that non-voice emergency services are available.

15. The computer-readable storage medium device of claim 11, the operations further comprising:

providing at least two of;

a visual indication that non-voice emergency services are not available;

an audible indication that non-voice emergency services are not available;

or

a mechanical indication that non-voice emergency services are not available.