Modular emergency communication flow management system

• US 10,375,558 B2
• Filed: 04/23/2018
• Issued: 08/06/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rapidsos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Rapidsos, Inc.
• Inventors: Katz, Henry, Ferentz, Zvika, Sternberg, Jeffrey, Horelik, Nicholas Edward, Martin, Michael John
• Primary Examiner(s): Phuong, Dai
• Application Number:
  US15/960,384
• Publication Number:
  US 20180310159A1
• Time in Patent Office: 470 Days
• Field of Search: 4554041-4042, 4554561-4563, 455457
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/42 Graphical user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/355 Interactive dialogue design tools, features or methods
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/04 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42161 via computer interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4217 Managing service interactions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5116 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0021 Details of Application Programming Interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]

Abstract

Disclosed are systems, methods, and media capable of generating and implementing emergency flows. The emergency flow is highly customizable and can connect with various stakeholders (user, emergency contacts, corporate representatives, emergency service provider personnel, etc.). The systems, methods, and media can be triggered in various ways including user input (e.g. voice command) or by sensors (e.g. by using sound detection capabilities).

Claims

1. An emergency flow management system comprising:

a) an emergency flow editor application providing a graphical user interface comprising;

i) a plurality of emergency flow building blocks available for selection, each of the plurality of emergency flow building blocks comprising instructions to perform an emergency response function, and at least one connector for linking emergency flow building blocks from the plurality of emergency flow building blocks; and

ii) an interactive digital environment within which two or more of the plurality of emergency flow building blocks and the at least one connector are visually assembled into an emergency flow script defining a pathway of execution of the two or more emergency flow building blocks, wherein the emergency flow script is associated with an identifier; and

b) an emergency response server configured to;

i) receive an emergency alert associated with an electronic device, the emergency alert comprising the identifier;

ii) identify the emergency flow script associated with the identifier; and

iii) execute the emergency flow script according to the pathway of execution of the two or more emergency flow building blocks.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the emergency flow script comprises an emergency flow building block configured with instructions to perform at least one emergency response function comprising prompting the emergency response server to call an emergency dispatch center (EDC), add the EDC to the communication session, and generate an output based on a response by the EDC.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the emergency flow script comprises at least one emergency flow building block having instructions to perform at least one emergency response function comprising prompting the emergency response server to perform steps comprising:

a) transmitting an interactive message to an account associated with a user of the electronic device;

b) receiving confirmation of receipt of the interactive message; and

c) establishing a communication link between an emergency responder and the account associated with the user in response to receiving the confirmation of receipt.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the account comprises a phone number, email address, messaging ID, device ID, or social media profile of the user or an emergency contact of the user.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the emergency flow script comprises at least one emergency flow building block having instructions to perform at least one emergency response function comprising prompting the emergency response server to establish a communication session with at least three participants selected from the group consisting of a user of the electronic device, an emergency contact, an emergency service provider personnel, a customer service representative, an organizational representative, and a first responder.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the emergency flow script comprises at least one emergency flow building block having instructions to perform at least one emergency response function comprising prompting the emergency response server to perform steps comprising:

a) accessing a prioritized list of accounts associated with a user of the electronic device;

b) attempting to connect with an account on the prioritized list in order of priority; and

c) attempting to connect with a next account on the prioritized list in order of priority when a connection with a preceding account on the prioritized list is unsuccessful.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein emergency flow building blocks in the emergency flow script are connected such that an output of a preceding building block forms an input for a succeeding building block in the pathway of execution.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the emergency flow script comprises a building block configured with instructions to perform at least one emergency response function comprising calling at least one emergency contact of a user of the electronic device in response to an input that is call timeout or call not answered.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the emergency alert is triggered by detection of at least one trigger sound or voice command by the electronic device.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a computer, a tablet, a mobile phone, a panic button, a smartphone, a laptop, a vehicle emergency system, a server, a wearable device, a sensor, an IoT device, a smart device, or a home security device.

11. A computer-implemented method for managing emergency flows, the method comprising:

a) providing, by an emergency flow management system (EFMS), a plurality of emergency flow building blocks available for selection, each of the plurality of emergency flow building blocks comprising instructions to perform an emergency response function, and at least one connector for linking emergency flow building blocks from the plurality of emergency flow building blocks;

b) providing, by the EFMS, an interactive digital environment within which two or more of the plurality of emergency flow building blocks and the at least one connector are visually assembled into an emergency flow script defining a pathway of execution of the two or more emergency flow building blocks, wherein the emergency flow script is associated with an identifier;

c) receiving, by the EFMS, an emergency alert associated with an electronic device, the emergency alert comprising the identifier;

d) identifying, by the EFMS, the emergency flow script associated with the identifier; and

e) executing, by the EFMS, the emergency flow script according to the pathway of execution of the two or more emergency flow building blocks.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the emergency flow script comprises an emergency flow building block configured with instructions to perform at least one emergency response function comprising calling an emergency dispatch center (EDC), adding the EDC to the communication session, and generating an output based on a response by the EDC.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the emergency flow script comprises at least one emergency flow building block having instructions to perform at least one emergency response function comprising:

a) transmitting an interactive message to an account associated with a user of the electronic device;

b) receiving confirmation of receipt of the interactive message; and

c) establishing a communication link between an emergency responder and the account associated with the user in response to receiving the confirmation of receipt.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the account comprises a phone number, email address, messaging ID, device ID, or social media profile of the user or an emergency contact of the user.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the emergency flow script comprises at least one emergency flow building block having instructions to perform at least one emergency response function comprising prompting the emergency response server to establish a communication session with at least three participants selected from the group consisting of a user of the electronic device, an emergency contact of the user, an emergency service provider personnel, a customer service representative, an organizational representative, and a first responder.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the emergency flow script comprises at least one emergency flow building block having instructions to perform at least one emergency response function comprising:

a) accessing a prioritized list of accounts associated with a user of the electronic device;

b) attempting to connect with an account on the prioritized list in order of priority; and

c) attempting to connect with a next account on the prioritized list in order of priority when a connection with a preceding account on the prioritized list is unsuccessful.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein emergency flow building blocks in the emergency flow script are connected such that an output of a preceding building block forms an input for a succeeding building block in the pathway of execution.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the emergency flow script comprises a building block configured with instructions to perform at least one emergency response function comprising calling at least one emergency contact of a user of the electronic device in response to an input that is call timeout or call not answered.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the emergency alert is triggered by detection of at least one trigger sound or voice command by the electronic device.

20. The method of claim 11, wherein the electronic device is a computer, a tablet, a mobile phone, a panic button, a smartphone, a laptop, a vehicle emergency system, a server, a wearable device, a sensor, an IoT device, a smart device, or a home security device.

21. Non-transitory computer readable storage media encoded with at least one computer program including instructions executable by at least one processor to perform steps comprising:

a) providing a plurality of emergency flow building blocks available for selection, each of the plurality of emergency flow building blocks comprising instructions to perform an emergency response function, and at least one connector for linking emergency flow building blocks from the plurality of emergency flow building blocks;

b) providing an interactive digital environment within which two or more of the plurality of emergency flow building blocks and the at least one connector are visually assembled into an emergency flow script defining a pathway of execution of the two or more emergency flow building blocks, wherein the emergency flow script is associated with an identifier;

c) receiving an emergency alert associated with an electronic device, the emergency alert comprising the identifier;

d) identifying the emergency flow script associated with the identifier; and

e) executing the emergency flow script according to the pathway of execution of the two or more emergency flow building blocks.

22. The media of claim 21, wherein the emergency flow script comprises an emergency flow building block configured with instructions to perform at least one emergency response function comprising calling an emergency dispatch center (EDC), adding the EDC to the communication session, and generating an output based on a response by the EDC.

23. The media of claim 21, wherein the emergency flow script comprises at least one emergency flow building block having instructions to perform at least one emergency response function comprising:

a) transmitting an interactive message to an account associated with a user of the electronic device;

b) receiving confirmation of receipt of the interactive message; and

c) establishing a communication link between an emergency responder and the account associated with the user in response to receiving the confirmation of receipt.

24. The media of claim 23, wherein the account comprises a phone number, email address, messaging ID, device ID, or social media profile of the user or an emergency contact of the user.

25. The media of claim 21, emergency flow script comprises at least one emergency flow building block having instructions to perform at least one emergency response function comprising establishing a communication session with at least three participants selected from the group consisting of a user of the electronic device, an emergency contact of the user, an emergency service provider personnel, a customer service representative, an organizational representative, and a first responder.

26. The media of claim 21, wherein the emergency flow script comprises at least one emergency flow building block having instructions to perform at least one emergency response function comprising:

a) accessing a prioritized list of accounts associated with a user of the electronic device;

b) attempting to connect with an account on the prioritized list in order of priority; and

c) attempting to connect with a next account on the prioritized list in order of priority when a connection with a preceding account on the prioritized list is unsuccessful.

27. The media of claim 21, wherein emergency flow building blocks in the emergency flow script are connected such that an output of a preceding building block forms an input for a succeeding building block in the pathway of execution.

28. The media of claim 21, wherein the emergency flow script comprises a building block configured with instructions to perform at least one emergency response function comprising calling at least one emergency contact of a user of the electronic device in response to an input that is call timeout or call not answered.

29. The media of claim 21, wherein the emergency alert is triggered by detection of at least one trigger sound or voice command by the electronic device.

30. The media of claim 21, wherein the electronic device is a computer, a tablet, a mobile phone, a panic button, a smartphone, a laptop, a vehicle emergency system, a server, a wearable device, a sensor, an IoT device, a smart device, or a home security device.