Method and system for the fire response dispatch protocol of an emergency dispatch system

• US 8,417,533 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2002
• Issued: 04/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey J. Clawson
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey J. Clawson
• Inventors: Clawson, Jeffrey J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kira
• Application Number:
  US10/255,901
• Publication Number:
  US 20070055559A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,849 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1.1, 379/45
• US Class Current: 705/1.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/265 Personal security, identity or safety

Abstract

A method and system for receiving, processing, responding and managing firefighter request calls is described. A consistent, standard and systematic process is provided which in combination with adequate training, supervision and quality assurance service to provide a technique for classifying the criticality of calls into various determinate levels for appropriate response.

Claims

1. A method for managing the process of dispatching firefighters in response to calls for assistance, comprising the steps of:

providing instructions to a dispatcher on a medium readable by the dispatcher, said instructions adapted for use by the dispatcher in receiving a call from a caller for firefighter assistance regarding an incident, wherein said instructions comprise a logical tree comprising pre-scripted inquiries, and wherein said logical tree is traversable using caller responses to said pre-scripted inquiries;

automatically assigning by a processor a determinate value to said incident by traversing said logical tree, wherein assigning said determine value comprises,

automatically determining by the processor a type of said incident by traversing a first branch of said logical tree,

automatically determining by the processor a criticality of said incident by traversing one of a plurality of second branches of said logical tree, wherein said second branch is selected based on said incident type,

wherein said traversing of said first branch provides for automatically determining if the caller is in danger and, upon determining that the caller is in danger, traversing to a critical caller branch of said logical tree, wherein the critical caller branch comprises, pre-scripted instructions directing the dispatcher to,

inquire if the caller is entrapped,

inquire as to the location of the caller,

instruct the caller to safety if safe to do so, and

resume traversing said logical tree; and

directing a dispatch of firefighter assistance based on said determine value.

2. A method, as recited in claim 1, wherein said critical caller branch comprises pre-scripted instructions to instruct said dispatcher to provide repetitive persistence directives to calm the caller.

3. A method, as recited in claim 1, wherein automatically assigning a determinate value further comprises:

setting a value indicating most urgent response is required if said caller responses provided traversing said second branch indicate an immediate life threatening situation;

setting a value indicating urgent response required if said caller responses provided traversing said second branch indicate a person in danger;

setting a value indicating a less urgent response if said caller responses provided traversing said branch indicate a hazard without an immediate threat to a person;

setting a value indicating a safest arrival method available response if said caller responses provided traversing said logical tree indicate a least serious call; and

setting a value for referral if said caller responses provided traversing said logical tree indicate that no response is required.

4. A method, as recited in claim 1, wherein said second branch is related to an aircraft emergency.

5. A method, as recited in claim 1, wherein said second branch is related to an assistance request.

6. A method, as recited in claim 1, wherein said second branch is related to an alarm.

7. A method, as recited in claim 1, wherein said second branch is related to a confined space call.

8. A method, as recited in claim 1, wherein said second branch is related to an electrical hazard.

9. A method, as recited in claim 1, wherein said second branch is related to an elevator rescue.

10. A method, as recited in claim 1, wherein said second branch is related to an explosion.

11. A method, as recited in claim 1, wherein said second branch is related to an extraction.

12. A method, as recited in claim 1, wherein said second branch is related to a gas leak.

13. A method, as recited in claim 1, wherein said second branch is related to hazardous materials or a fuel spill.

14. A method, as recited in claim 1, wherein said second branch is related to a high angle rescue.

15. A method, as recited in claim 1, wherein said second branch is related to a marine fire.

16. A method, as recited in claim 1, wherein said second branch is related to mutual aid.

17. A method, as recited in claim 1, wherein said second branch is related to odors.

18. A method, as recited in claim 1, wherein said second branch is related to an outside fire.

19. A method, as recited in claim 1, wherein said second branch is related to a smoke investigation.

20. A method, as recited in claim 1, wherein said second branch is related to a train incident.

21. A method, as recited in claim 1, wherein said second branch is related to a vehicle fire.

22. A method, as recited in claim 1, wherein said second branch is related to a water rescue.

23. A method, as recited in claim 1, wherein the logical tree further comprises a post-dispatch branch comprising pre-scripted post-dispatch instructions.

25. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein said logical tree comprises a plurality of post-dispatch branches each comprising a plurality of pre-scripted instructions, the method further comprising selecting one of the plurality of post-dispatch branches using the determinate value.

24. A method for managing the process for responding to a call for firefighter assistance in a general purpose computer system comprising:

a central processing unit;

dynamic memory;

static memory;

a display device;

an input device;

an output device;

a mass storage device, which contains a logical tree configured to automatically assign a determinate value to an incident related to a call for firefighter assistance, the logical tree comprising;

a first branch comprising a plurality of pre-scripted inquiries, wherein said first branch is traversable using caller responses to said pre-scripted inquiries, and wherein said traversing of said first branch comprises determining an incident type,

a plurality of second branches, wherein each of said second branches comprises a plurality of pre-scripted instructions and is associated with a respective incident type, wherein each of said second branches is traversable using caller responses to said pre-scripted inquiries of said second branches, and wherein traversing a second branch comprises determining a criticality of an incident,

a critical caller branch comprising a plurality of pre-scripted instructions, the method comprising;

receiving a call from a caller for firefighter assistance regarding an incident;

assigning a determinate value to said call, wherein assigning the determinate value comprises,

traversing said first branch of said logical tree using caller responses to said pre-scripted inquiries of said first branch, wherein traversing said first branch comprises determining an incident type, and wherein traversing the first branch further comprises determining if the caller is in danger and upon determining that the caller is in danger, the first branch traversing to said critical caller branch, said critical caller branch comprising pre-scripted instructions directing the dispatcher to,

inquire if the caller is entrapped,

inquire as to the location of the caller,

instruct the caller to safety if safe to do so, and

resume traversing said logical tree,

selecting one of said plurality of second branches based on said incident type,

traversing said selected second branch using caller responses to said pre-scripted inquiries of said selected second branch, wherein traversing said second branch comprises determining a criticality of said incident,

assigning said determinate value using said incident type and said incident criticality, and

directing a dispatch of firefighter assistance based on said determinate value.