Data message service controller and method for handling emergency text messaging

• US 8,364,113 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2008
• Issued: 01/29/2013
• 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): Ngo, Chuong A
• Application Number:
  US12/257,574
• Publication Number:
  US 20100003947A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,558 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.1, 455/404.2, 455/521, 379 37- 51
• 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 communicating an emergency data message includes receiving a data message and determining whether an emergency abbreviated dialing code was received with the data message. If an emergency data message includes an abbreviated dialing code, an emergency data message short code associated with the abbreviated dialing code may be requested. A cell code identifier in which the wireless communications device is located may be determined, and the data message, emergency data message short code, and cell code identifier may be communicated via a communications network for the data message to be routed to a PSAP handling emergencies in an area in which the wireless communications device is located.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

an input/output (I/O) unit configured to receive voice and data communications from a wireless communications devices;

a memory, in the wireless communications device, storing abbreviated dialing codes, the abbreviated dialing codes including at least one emergency abbreviated dialing code the emergency abbreviated dialing code indicating that an emergency data message is being communicated;

a processing unit in communication with said I/O unit and memory, and, in response to receiving a data message from a wireless communications device, the processing unit being configured to;

determine that an emergency abbreviated dialing code was received with the data message;

request an emergency data message short code associated with the abbreviated dialing code;

determine a cell code identifier in which the wireless communications device is operating; and

communicate the data message, emergency data message short code, and cell code identifier via a communications network for the data message to be routed to a public safety answering point (PSAP) handling emergencies in an area in which the wireless communications device is located.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the emergency data message includes text message data.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein the emergency data message includes image data.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein the image data is representative of a photograph.

5. A system according to claim 3, wherein the emergency data message further includes text message data.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein said processing unit, in requesting the short code, communicates with an emergency message short code database that includes emergency data message short codes.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the emergency data message database is local to the mobile switching center.

8. The system according to claim 6, wherein the abbreviated dialing code and emergency data message short code are alphanumeric codes.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein said processing unit is further configured to:

receive a mobile directory number from the wireless communications device; and

communicate the mobile directory number with the data message.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein said processing unit, in response to determining that an emergency abbreviated dialing code was issued, prioritizing processing of the emergency data message.

11. A method for communicating an emergency data message, comprising:

receiving a data message from a wireless communications device comprising a memory having at least one emergency abbreviated dialing code stored therein, the emergency abbreviated dialing code indicating that an emergency data message is being communicated from the wireless communications device;

determining that an emergency abbreviated dialing code was received with the data message;

requesting an emergency data message short code associated with the abbreviated dialing code;

determining a cell code identifier in which the wireless communications device is located; and

communicating the data message, emergency data message short code, and cell code identifier via a communications network for the data message to be routed to a PSAP handling emergencies in an area in which the wireless communications device is located.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein receiving the data message includes receiving data representative of a text message.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein receiving the data message includes receiving image data.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein receiving image data includes receiving data representative of a photograph.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein receiving the data message further includes receiving data representative of a text message.

16. The method according to claim 11, wherein requesting the short code includes communicating with an emergency message short code database that includes emergency data message short codes.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein communicating with an emergency data message short code database includes communicating locally with the database.

18. The method according to claim 16, wherein receiving the abbreviated dialing code and emergency data message short codes include receiving alphanumeric codes.

19. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

receiving a mobile directory number from the wireless communications device; and

communicating the mobile directory number with the data message.

20. The method according to claim 11, wherein in response to determining that an emergency abbreviated dialing code was received, prioritizing processing of the data message.