Ulllted States Patent [19]
`P0ns et al.
`
`USOO580567OA
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`5,805,670
`Sep. 8, 1998
`
`[54] PRIVATE NOTIFICATION SYSTEM FOR
`COMMUNICATING 9-1-1 INFORMATION
`
`[75] Inventors: Robert M. Pons; Jay T. Snider, both
`of wynnewood, Pa-
`_
`_
`_
`_
`[73] Asslgnee: Life Safety Solutlons, Inc., Klng of
`Prussla’ Pa’
`
`[21] Appl- N05 620,726
`[22] Filed:
`Mar. 19, 1996
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`“Dial 911 For Pro?ts”, Sound & Communications Paul
`Ruggieri, May 1984.
`Prospectus of MER Telemanagement Solutions Ltd. dated
`Feb. 18, 1997, p. 30.
`
`Primary Examiner—Curtis A. KuntZ
`Assistant Examiner—Stephen W. Palan
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Seide1, Gonda, Lavorgna &
`M°naC°> PC
`
`Int. Cl.6 .................................................. .. H04M 11/04
`[51]
`[52] U_-S- Cl- ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~
`379/45; 379/37
`
`ABSTRACT
`[57]
`A private noti?cation system designed to communicate
`
`
`
`Fleld of Search ................................ .. 379/49, 90, 90-01, 92-03, 92-04 38, 45,
`
`
`
`[56l
`
`_
`References Clted
`Us PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5,195,126
`
`3/1993 Carrier et a1. .......................... .. 379/45
`
`
`
`9-1-1 information to preselected recipients, Such as and friends, identi?ed by a subscriber to the system. The
`
`system includes a communications bridge receiving identi
`fying information about a person placing a 9-1-1 call, a
`private command control center receiving the identifying
`lnformatlon from the communlcatlons brldge, and a notl?
`Cation database accessible by the command control center to
`
`5:249:23 9/1993 vanaeole ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
`533113569
`5/1994 Brozovlch et a1‘ "
`5,334,974
`8/1994 Slmms et al. ...... ..
`5,379,337
`1/1995 Castillo et a1. ..
`
`~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ 379/45
`379/45
`340/990
`379/49
`
`provide subscriber data corresponding to the identifying
`information. One embodiment of the system operates in
`con-unction With a ublic Safet access Oint
`1
`p
`y
`p
`'
`
`5,388,147
`
`2/1995 Grimes . . . . . . . . . . . . .
`
`. . . . .. 379/59
`
`5,444,760
`
`8/1995 Russ ........................................ .. 379/37
`
`23 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets
`
`106
`
`107
`
`102
`
`BE]
`CH:
`
`Inrado Ex. 1031 - 1
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Sep. 8, 1998
`
`Sheet 1 0f 3
`
`5,805,670
`
`m
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`E F
`
`IG.
`
`1
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`Inrado Ex. 1031 - 2
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`Inrado Ex. 1031 - 2
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.8,1998
`
`Sheet 2 of3
`
`5,805,670
`
`WED
`IIIWHI
`
`moan-n
`
`Inrado Ex. 1031 - 3
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`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Sep.8,1998
`
`Sheet 3 of3
`
`5,805,670
`
`Send ACK
`or NAK
`
`ACK/NAK
`Sent
`
`Message
`Received
`
`NAK or Timeout
`(N0 retries left)
`
`Message
`to send
`
`ACK
`Received
`
`Send
`Message
`
`NAK
`Received
`0r Timeout
`
`Message Sent
`
`FIG. 3
`
`Inrado Ex. 1031 - 4
`
`

`

`1
`PRIVATE NOTIFICATION SYSTEM FOR
`COMMUNICATING 9-1-1 INFORMATION
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`This invention relates to a private noti?cation system
`designed to communicate 9-1-1 information to a predeter
`mined list of individuals (such as close family and friends)
`selected by a subscriber to the system. The system includes
`a private Command Control Center (“CCC”), a communi
`cations bridge, and a noti?cation database. One embodiment
`of the system Works in conjunction With a Public Safety
`Answering Point (“PSAP”) Which receives the emergency
`calls (“9-1-1 call”) and a PSAP noti?cation bridge. Another
`embodiment of the system includes an emergency care
`information database, a Computer Aided Dispatch (“CAD”)
`bridge, and an emergency ?eld unit bridge. That embodi
`ment of the system communicates emergency care informa
`tion to public emergency care personnel serving the sub
`scriber.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`Private noti?cation systems to communicate information
`to public safety of?cials have been used for many years.
`Alarm systems of various kinds have been used as part of
`such noti?cation systems, Where the activation of the alarm
`system is communicated to a private monitoring/dispatch
`center Which, in turn, noti?es the public safety officials and
`at the same time veri?es the circumstances of the activation.
`Personal security systems Which communicate emergency
`care information to dispatch centers are also knoWn in the
`art. Typically, such systems include a private command
`control or dispatch center, a set of alarm or emergency
`conditions, a communications link, a link to the public
`emergency authorities, and means for identifying the system
`subscriber’s location and identity. The communications link
`usually comprises a mobile radio (“Wireless”) telephone
`connection Which, together With a Wired telephone netWork,
`serves as the underlying communications frameWork for
`such a system. Personal security systems have been
`described in connection With a vehicle (see, e.g., US. Pat.
`No. 5,334,947).
`There is more to private noti?cation systems, hoWever,
`than simply communicating the alarm conditions regarding
`one’s home or vehicle. Close family and friends of a person
`placing a 9-1-1 call or for Whose emergency such call is
`being placed (“the 9-1-1 caller”) increasingly seek noti?ca
`tion about the emergency as soon it develops. Such noti?
`cation might be vital. By Way of example, parents of
`children Who are being cared for by a baby sitter might Wish
`to be noti?ed if someone calls 9-1-1 from their house When
`they are aWay. By Way of another example, if the 9-1-1 caller
`is incapacitated and thus unable to provide important medi
`cal information (such as his or her medical history) to
`emergency care personnel, close family and friends could
`provide such information. Vital medical information covers
`any medical condition ranging from, by Way of example,
`diabetes to an allergic reaction to penicillin. Close family
`and friends might also seek noti?cation so as to provide
`immediate personal support to the emergency caller by
`visiting With him or her in an emergency room or a hospital
`Where he or she is admitted.
`In addition to subscribers’ medical information, the pro
`vision of information important to police and ?re personnel
`might also be vital. Thus, ?re and police personnel might
`need to knoW the number of entrances to the house at the site
`of the emergency. They might also need to knoW whether
`
`25
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`35
`
`45
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`55
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`65
`
`5,805,670
`
`2
`there are children in the house and, if so, in Which rooms
`they sleep. The police might need to be aWare of Whether the
`home oWners have pets. The ?re engine en route to the scene
`of the emergency might need to have the bene?t of the blue
`prints of the house or a building at the scene or might need
`to be aWare of the presence of any haZardous Waste in the
`case of a commercial subscriber.
`The noti?cation of public emergency care personnel serv
`ing the 9-1-1 caller must conserve time. When public
`emergency care personnel arrive at the scene of the
`emergency, they are required to obtain the personal medical
`or other emergency care information, such as the details of
`any pre-existing medical problems Which might affect the
`required treatment. Such emergency care information is
`typically obtained through questioning the 9-1-1 caller or his
`or her close family and friends. The questioning invariably
`takes up valuable time Which can be better used for making
`decisions relating to the emergency, such as Whether to
`immediately transport the 9-1-1 caller to a hospital. If
`neither the 9-1-1 caller nor any close family member or
`friend is available or able to provide the required medical or
`other emergency care information, the 9-1-1 caller might be
`further endangered by being given medication or treatment
`Which is ill advised in light of the 9-1-1 caller’s medical
`history. The same concerns apply to the police and ?re
`information. A properly timed noti?cation of public emer
`gency care personnel about the 9-1-1 caller’s emergency
`care information should take place before they arrive at the
`scene of the emergency. Such noti?cation should alloW the
`emergency personnel ample time to prepare for the possible
`special handling of the emergency and the 9-1-1 caller.
`A timely noti?cation of hospital emergency room person
`nel about the 9-1-1 caller’s medical history, together With a
`noti?cation of the 9-1-1 caller’s primary care physician
`about the emergency, might also be vital. The noti?cation of
`the emergency room personnel provides not only the ben
`e?ts of time savings in a critical situation, but it prevents
`potential harm to the 9-1-1 caller from inappropriate treat
`ment as described above. Similarly, noti?cation of the
`primary care physician might provide the emergency care
`personnel With special insights developed by the primary
`care physician during his or her relationship With the 9-1-1
`caller. The noti?cation of the emergency room personnel
`about the 9-1-1 caller’s medical information should take
`place before the 9-1-1 caller’s arrival at a medical treatment
`facility such as an emergency room or a hospital for
`treatment, to alloW emergency room personnel ample time to
`prepare for the possible special handling of the 9-1-1 caller.
`The ability to notify close family and friends of an
`emergency in a manner Which both furnishes vital emer
`gency care information about the 9-1-1 caller and alloWs
`them to provide immediate personal support to the 9-1-1
`caller by visiting With him or her in an emergency room or
`a hospital Where he or she is admitted is an un?lled need in
`the art. LikeWise, the ability to timely notify the public
`emergency care personnel attending the 9-1-1 caller about
`the 9-1-1 caller’s emergency care information in a manner
`Which alloWs it to be shared With the emergency room
`personnel and the 9-1-1 caller’s primary care physician also
`remains an un?lled need in the art.
`Accordingly, there is a need for a private noti?cation
`system designed to communicate 9-1-1 information to a
`predetermined list of family and friends selected by the
`9-1-1 caller. Furthermore, there is a need to furnish the 9-1-1
`caller’s emergency care information to the public emergency
`care personnel attending the 9-1-1 caller, and then to the
`emergency room personnel and other emergency care pro
`viders of the 9-1-1 caller. The present invention ?lls those
`needs.
`
`Inrado Ex. 1031 - 5
`
`

`

`3
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention comprises a private CCC, a noti
`?cation database, and a communications bridge receiving
`identifying information about a person placing a 9-1-1 call.
`The system includes the communications bridge receiving
`the identifying information, the CCC receiving the identi
`fying information from the communications bridge, and the
`noti?cation database accessible by the command control
`center to provide subscriber data corresponding to the iden
`tifying information.
`One embodiment of the system operates in conjunction
`With a PSAP receiving 9-1-1 calls and a PSAP noti?cation
`bridge. The PSAP noti?cation bridge is in communication
`With the PSAP Which obtains identifying information such
`as a telephone number of a person placing the 9-1-1 call
`from the PSAP receiving the 9-1-1 call. The communica
`tions bridge is in communication With the PSAP noti?cation
`bridge Which obtains the identifying information from the
`PSAP noti?cation bridge. The CCC is in communication
`With the communications bridge, has a plurality of dispatch
`Workstations, dispatch softWare, and a noti?cation database
`access point, and receives the identifying information from
`the communications bridge. The noti?cation database is
`accessible by the CCC through the noti?cation database
`access point and includes data corresponding to a subscriber.
`The noti?cation database is also accessible by the dispatch
`softWare to provide subscriber data corresponding to the
`identifying information to the CCC through the noti?cation
`database access point.
`In one embodiment of the invention, the CCC includes an
`emergency care database access point, a CAD bridge, and an
`emergency care information database. The emergency care
`information database is accessible by the CCC through the
`emergency care database access point and includes a medi
`cal history, insurance, police, and ?re emergency informa
`tion provided by the subscriber. The emergency care infor
`mation database is accessible by the dispatch softWare to
`provide emergency care information corresponding to the
`identifying information to the CCC through the emergency
`care information database access point. The CAD bridge is
`in communication With the communications bridge receiv
`ing the emergency care information from the CCC Which
`makes the emergency care information available at the CAD
`bridge.
`In one embodiment, the CAD bridge uses a plurality of
`displays Which shoW the emergency care information
`obtained from the emergency care information database. In
`another embodiment, the CAD bridge formats the emer
`gency care information to be entered in the PSAP’s CAD
`system automatically.
`A further embodiment comprises an emergency ?eld unit
`bridge receiving the emergency care information from the
`CCC Which makes the emergency care information available
`at the emergency ?eld unit bridge.
`In a still further embodiment, the emergency ?eld unit
`bridge uses cellular telephone (“Wireless”), facsimile, and
`public data netWorks for the transmission of the emergency
`care information to the emergency ?eld units.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`25
`
`35
`
`45
`
`55
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`For the purpose of illustrating the invention, there is
`shoWn in the draWing a form Which is presently preferred; it
`being understood, hoWever, that this invention is not limited
`to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shoWn.
`FIG. 1 illustrates a 9-1-1 call as it is processed by the present
`
`65
`
`5,805,670
`
`4
`invention. FIG. 2 shoWs such processing in conjunction With
`a PSAP and the Way in Which the present invention further
`processes the call. FIG. 3 illustrates a state diagram of a
`CAD/CCC interaction.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENT
`
`While the invention is described herein in connection With
`a preferred embodiment, it is understood that it is not
`intended to limit the invention to that embodiment. On the
`contrary, it is intended to cover all alternatives,
`modi?cations, and equivalents as may be included Within
`the spirit and scope of the invention as de?ned by the
`appended claims.
`The present invention is a private noti?cation system
`designed to communicate 9-1-1 information to a predeter
`mined list of people (such as close family and friends)
`selected by the system’s subscriber. One embodiment of the
`system can also communicate the 9-1-1 information to
`public emergency care personnel attending the subscriber
`and to health care providers of the subscriber. The prede
`termined list of people as Well as the emergency care
`information from the system’s subscriber can be obtained by
`completing either a paper or an electronic form at the time
`of subscription. At the same time, the subscriber can provide
`the emergency care information (including telephone
`number, address, medical history, medical insurance, ?re,
`and police information). As emergency care information
`changes (e.g., the medical condition improves, there is a
`change in the medical insurance carrier, children move
`aWay, a burglar alarm is installed, a company-subscriber
`begins using haZardous materials), the emergency care infor
`mation is accordingly updated. The information is checked
`and updated, if necessary, on a regular basis.
`FIG. 1 illustrates a 9-1-1 call from a subscriber of the
`system as embodied in the present invention and the pro
`cessing of such a call. The system comprises a communi
`cations bridge 109, a private Command Control Center
`(“CCC”) 110, and a noti?cation database 113. In the pre
`ferred embodiment of the present invention, the communi
`cations bridge 109 comprises a personal computer controlled
`by a communication softWare application as later described.
`Although not shoWn in FIG. 1, the communications bridge
`109 contemplated by the present invention includes a device
`connected to the subscriber’s telephone. Such a device
`might detect that the subscriber placed the 9-1-1 call and
`then communicate the information about the subscriber,
`such as his or her telephone number and address
`(“indentifying information”), to the CCC via a satellite, local
`telephone, cable television, cellular telephone, or any other
`transmission mode. The communications bridge 109 con
`templated by the present invention also includes any device
`used by a local, long distance, or Wireless telephone com
`pany Which detects that the subscriber placed the 9-1-1 call
`and then communicates the identifying information to the
`CCC before the 9-1-1 call is passed on to the public 9-1-1
`infrastructure as later described.
`FIG. 2 shoWs one embodiment of the present invention
`Which Works in conjunction With a Public Safety AnsWering
`Point (“PSAP”). When a person places a 9-1-1 call from a
`telephone 100, indicating that (s)he is in distress and
`requires emergency care, the call is passed through a tele
`phone company central office to the PSAP 101. PSAP is a
`generic designation used to describe a location Where the
`9-1-1 telephone call is ansWered, processed, and the nature
`of the emergency is determined. After the appropriate deter
`
`Inrado Ex. 1031 - 6
`
`

`

`5,805,670
`
`6
`gency response information. This information is typically
`customiZed for the individual caller and comprises a name of
`a person Who subscribes to the telephone service (“service
`name”), service address and telephone number of the caller.
`The ALI record also contains pertinent police, ?re, and
`emergency medical service dispatch information. In
`addition, the record contains useful telephone service pro
`vider information such as the class of service (residential,
`business, coin, PBX, etc.) and the Emergency Service Num
`ber (“ESN”). The ANI/ALI databases are created and main
`tained by telephone companies. They comprise a compre
`hensive list of telephone numbers and their service or billing
`locations. The data contained in those databases is provided
`to the public safety agencies responding to the E-9-1-1 call.
`The data can also be used to alloW agencies to respond to
`calls Where the caller is unable to provide their location to
`the E-9-1-1 operator. The ANI/ALI data serves as identify
`ing information as to the 9-1-1 caller.
`The PSAP noti?cation bridge 108 obtains the ANI/ALI
`data through a serial port (and/or a connected “Y” cable)
`located on the E-9-1-1 controller 103. The connection to the
`E-9-1-1 controller is made via an RS-232 serial cable. The
`E-9-1-1 controller uses an asynchronous communication
`protocol. Data streams are normally ASCII format but their
`format is determined by the telephone company maintaining
`the ANI/ALI databases. The most common format com
`prises ?Xed length ?elds Within a record, normally With
`carriage return (CR -0D heX) characters marking the end of
`the ?eld. Some formats include a line feed (LF -0A heX)
`character after the CR. A record is normally delimited by a
`start-of-teXt (STX—02 heX) character at the beginning and
`end-of-teXt (ETX—03 heX) character at the end.
`Additionally, each record is normally folloWed by a block
`check character (BCC) Which is used to validate the cor
`rectness of the data transmission. The data format provided
`by Mountain Bell is as folloWs:
`
`5
`mination is made, the phone call is forwarded to the respon
`sible public agency, e.g. police, ?re, and/or emergency
`medical care agency. While many PSAP’s include call
`taking and dispatching operations, the term PSAP is gener
`ally de?ned by service providers as the location Where the
`9-1-1 telephone calls are terminated. The 9-1-1 calls are
`delivered to a PSAP With a telephone number (automatic
`number identi?cation or “ANI”, as Will be described later)
`and a service location (automatic location information or
`“ALI”, as Will be described later) of a caller. PSAP equip
`ment often includes an ANI/ALI controller, an automatic
`call distributor or a PBX telephone sWitch, a recording
`system, agent console positions, a computer aided dispatch
`interface, and dedicated poWer supplies. PSAPs can be
`differentiated into primary and secondary types, based upon
`Whether the 9-1-1 calls are delivered directly to the PSAP or
`transferred to it from another public safety agency. Atransfer
`mechanism can be manual, ?xed, or selective. Selective
`transfers speed up noti?cation of dispatching agencies by
`automatically picking the appropriate agency for the 9-1-1
`caller by using the ANI delivered With the call to the PSAP.
`The present invention Works With either transfer mechanism.
`At the PSAP 101, the phone call is passed into an
`Automatic Call Distributor (“ACD”) 102 and then to an
`E-9-1-1 controller 103. The basic function of the ACD is to
`deliver the E-9-1-1 call to the most available 9-1-1 call
`operator. The ACD is responsible for queuing calls When no
`9-1-1 call operators are available and then routing them to
`the ?rst available operator. Combined With the ANI/ALI
`controller, the ACD serves as control equipment for a PSAP
`telephone system. The ACD is thus responsible for call
`routing functions, While the ANI/ALI controller synchro
`niZes the presentation of ALI information to 9-1-1 call
`operators. Many companies manufacture ACDs, ANI/ALI
`controllers and various hybrids of the tWo.
`The folloWing is a list of vendors Who provide either
`softWare, hardWare, or both:
`AT&T Public Safety Systems
`CML Technologies, Inc.
`Emergitech, Inc.
`EXacom, Inc.
`Informer Computer Systems, Inc.
`Motorola
`Plant Equipment, Inc.
`Positron Industries
`Proctor and Associates Co.
`Public Safety Systems, Inc.
`Rockwell Telecommunications
`SCC Communications Corp.
`TCI
`Telident, Inc.
`The present invention Works With systems from any one
`of the above-noted vendors. The E-9-1-1 controller is a
`combination of softWare and hardWare Which Works in
`conjunction With and performs inquiries on the ANI/ALI
`database. The ACD 102 and the E-9-1-1 controller 103 Work
`in concert to pass to a 9-1-1 operator 105 the phone call, as
`Well as the caller’s telephone number and address obtained
`through the central of?ce functions of Automatic Number
`Identi?cation (“ANI”) 106 and Automatic Location Infor
`mation (“ALI”) 107, collectively referred to as ANI/ALI
`data. The Automatic Location Information (ALI) database is
`the central repository for all telephone service address
`information in a given service provider area. The area can be
`as small as a toWn or county or as large as a city or
`metropolitan area. The ALI record, transmitted to a PSAP
`When the 9-1-1 call is processed, contains signi?cant emer
`
`15
`
`25
`
`35
`
`45
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`55
`
`65
`
`Mountain Bell Node Format
`
`Character
`
`Length
`
`Comment
`
`1
`2
`3
`5
`6
`7
`1O
`11
`12
`15
`16
`20
`21
`25
`26
`28
`29
`31
`32
`34
`35
`37
`38
`66
`67
`75
`76
`8O
`81
`83
`84
`
`1
`1
`2
`1
`1
`3
`1
`1
`3
`1
`4
`1
`4
`1
`2
`1
`2
`1
`2
`1
`2
`1
`28
`1
`8
`1
`4
`1
`2
`1
`28
`
`ASCII STX #
`Link status (1,2, or 9)
`Attendant (O1 to 15)
`ASCII c/r #
`ASCII (#
`NPA
`ASCII) #
`ASCII Space #
`NXX
`ASCII - #
`Tel. No.
`ASCII Space #
`Class of Service i
`ASCII Spacr #
`Date (MO)
`ASCII / #
`Date (DAY)
`ASCII Space #
`Time (HR)
`ASCII : #
`Time (Min)
`ASCII C/R #
`Cust. Name
`ASCII C/R #
`House Number
`ASCII Space
`House Number Su?iX
`ASCII c/r #
`Direction
`ASCII Space #
`Street Name
`
`Inrado Ex. 1031 - 7
`
`

`

`5,805,670
`
`7
`-continued
`
`Mountain Bell Node Format
`
`Character
`
`Length
`
`Comment
`
`112
`113
`128
`130
`133
`134
`135
`136
`139
`140
`144
`145
`165
`166
`168
`169
`197
`198
`213
`214
`215
`216
`217
`218
`219
`ZXX
`ZXX
`ZXX
`
`1
`15
`2
`3
`1
`1
`1
`3
`1
`4
`1
`20
`1
`2
`1
`28
`1
`15
`1
`1
`1
`1
`1
`1
`70**
`1
`1
`1
`
`ASCII c/r #
`Street Name Cont.
`Psap Id
`ESN
`ASCII Space #
`ASCII P #
`ASCII #=#
`Pilot NXX
`ASCII - #
`Pilot TN
`ASCII c/r #
`Location Field
`ASCII c/r #
`State
`ASCII Space #
`City
`ASCII c/r #
`Free Field
`ASCII c/r #
`ASCII p #
`ASCII S
`ASCII A #
`ASCII P #
`ASCII - #
`Police, Fire, Amb. **
`ASCII c/r #
`ASCII etx #
`Block Check Character
`
`Note # at end of line denotes ?xed character in data stream
`* *Field maximum size is seventy characters. For each ASCII (C/R) character
`an additional ASCII (LF) character is added. This additional ASCII (LF)
`character does not count toward the seventy character limit.
`The PSAP noti?cation bridge also obtains an original
`answering location corresponding to the logical address of
`the 9-1-1 operator 105 handling a particular call from the
`E-9-1-1 controller. Thus, if there are twenty operators logi
`cally numbered 1—20 and operator 5 takes the 9-1-1 call, the
`logical operator address 5 comprises the original answering
`location.
`If the subscriber is not located at the given ALI address
`when the emergency occurs, the 9-1-1 caller may notify the
`9-1-1 operator 105 that the emergency involves a subscriber
`to the system and may provide to the 9-1-1 operator the
`subscriber’s telephone number. The telephone number might
`be on a card identifying the subscriber as a subscriber to the
`system, where his or her account number is also the tele
`phone number maintained by the system. Upon such
`noti?cation, the 9-1-1 operator 105 enters the subscriber’s
`telephone number into a predetermined ?eld in the E-9-1-1
`controller data record (see,e.g., telephone number ?eld No.
`16, in the Mountain Bell Node Format table).
`The PSAP noti?cation bridge 108 is in communication
`with the communications bridge 109. The PSAP noti?cation
`bridge 108 and the communications bridge 109 are compo
`nents of a single communication software application. Inter
`process communications (“IPC”) is used to pass messages
`between these two bridges. Depending on the version of the
`compiled communication software application, the IPC
`might take the form of object-to-object message passing or
`simple procedure calls. The PSAP noti?cation bridge 108
`then passes the ANI/ALI data to the communications bridge
`109. The PSAP noti?cation bridge 108 also passes the
`original answering location to the communications bridge
`109 which stores it for later processing. The communica
`tions bridge 109 in turn passes the ANI data to the CCC 110.
`The location information is obtained from the noti?cation
`database 113 as will be described later.
`One hardware platform of the present invention is an Intel
`based personal computer (“PC”), running under the
`
`10
`
`15
`
`25
`
`35
`
`45
`
`55
`
`65
`
`8
`Microsoft Windows operating environment. The communi
`cation application software may be deployed independent of
`the operating environment, e.g., it can run under a Unix
`operating system, such as IBM’s AIX operating system.
`The CCC is in communication with the communications
`bridge. The CCC communicates with the communications
`bridge via a dial-up telephone line utilizing asynchronous
`modem communications. The system is capable of operating
`through a dedicated leased line con?guration and is capable
`of supporting TCP/IP communication between the CCC and
`PSAP. The CCC 110 then deploys the dispatch software 111
`and the noti?cation database access point 112 to search the
`noti?cation database 113 using the ANI data to determine
`whether the 9-1-1 call was placed by a subscriber.
`The search produces two possible results. In one case, if
`the search determines the 9-1-1 call as not originating from
`a subscriber, the system takes no further action respecting
`the call. Of course, this does not affect the regular processing
`of the 9-1-1 call at the PSAP by the 9-1-1 operator 105 who
`?rst receives the 9-1-1 call.
`One of the bene?ts of the present invention is that it
`allows for the private communication of 9-1-1 information
`to operate in parallel with the public safety access points and
`the associated personnel. Thus, the system which embodies
`the present invention works in conjunction with and as a
`supplement to the public emergency system already in place.
`Such an arrangement provides an additional bene?t by
`conserving the scarce public emergency care resources.
`In the other case, if the search determines the 9-1-1 call
`as being originated by a subscriber, the dispatch software
`111 noti?es the CCC 110 call processing personnel 114,
`using the dispatch workstation 115, that a subscriber placed
`a 9-1-1 call. It also provides the subscriber’s preselected list
`of close family and friends which the subscriber wished be
`noti?ed during an emergency. The CCC 110 then noti?es the
`people listed on the preselected list of the emergency.
`The dispatch software 111 then uses the AN I/ALI data via
`the emergency care information access point 116 to retrieve
`the emergency care information of the subscriber from the
`emergency care information database 117. The retrieved
`emergency care information is furnished to the CCC 110 call
`processing personnel 114 using the dispatch workstation
`115. The retrieved emergency care information is also routed
`to the CAD bridge 118 through the communications bridge
`109. The CAD bridge 118 is in communication with the
`communications bridge 109. The CAD bridge and the com
`munications bridge are components of a single software
`application. The IPC is used to pass messages between these
`two bridges. Depending on the version of the compiled
`software, the IPC might take a form of object-to-object
`message passing or simple procedure calls. Once received at
`the CAD bridge 118, the original answering location
`obtained from the E-9-1-1 controller 103 and stored within
`the communications bridge 109 is used to route the emer
`gency care information via the CAD bridge 118 to the
`location of the 9-1-1 operator 105 who ?rst received the
`9-1-1 call.
`If the PSAP 101 is equipped with a Computer Aided
`Dispatch (“CAD”) 119 system, the subscriber’s emergency
`care information can be received directly into the CAD
`system 119 via the CAD bridge 118 and an application
`program interface for the CAD system 119. The CAD
`system is a tool used by many public emergency care
`agencies to keep track of incidents and emergency care
`units. Once the 9-1-1 call is received by a public safety
`agency equipped with a CAD system, the location and type
`of incident are entered into the system. The system then
`forwards this information to the appropriate dispatcher. The
`
`Inrado Ex. 1031 - 8
`
`

`

`5,805,670
`
`9
`dispatcher receives the information which the 9-1-1 call
`operator entered into the system, including the ANI/ALI
`data. The CAD system normally makes a recommendation
`to the dispatcher for the appropriate unit(s) to dispatch. A
`robust CAD system includes many mechanisms for com
`municating directly via a mobile data network.
`Several major providers eXist in the CAD market includ
`ing SHL, PRC, Tiburon, PSSI and Intergraph. The present
`invention de?nes an application program interface (“API”)
`speci?cation which CAD providers can use to interface with
`the present invention. This API is of a bi-directional nature.
`That is, it both provides information to and receives infor
`mation from the CCC 110. The information received, other
`than protocol and handshaking information, is the subscrib
`er’s emergency care information. The information sent,
`other than protocol and handshaking information, is infor
`mation about the public emergency care personnel units 121
`responding to the call. Asimple asynchronous acknowledge/
`negative acknowledge (ACK/NAK) protocol is used to
`underlay the API.
`The following table describes the messages that the CAD
`system may receive from CCC and their intended purpose.
`
`Message
`
`Contents
`
`Purpose
`
`Emergency care
`information
`
`Answering Position #
`Telephone #
`History
`
`Noti?cation
`Interest
`
`Answering Position #
`Telephone #
`
`This message allows the
`CAD system to display the
`subscriber emergency care
`information at the original
`answering location of the 9
`1-1 operator. Additionally,
`the CAD system can
`preserve the subscriber’s
`emergency care information
`and pass it to the
`appropriate dispatcher who
`can, in turn pass it to the
`?eld unit(s). This message
`also noti?es the CAD
`system that the CCC will
`have an ongoing interest in
`any further information
`(such as incident details, etc)
`created for this call;
`This message informs the
`CAD system that the CCC
`will have an ongoing
`interest in any incident
`created for this call.
`
`The following table describes the messages that the CAD
`system may send and their intended purpose.
`
`Message
`
`Contents
`
`Purpose
`
`Unit(s) Responding Telephone #
`Unit 1
`Unit 2 (optional)
`Unit 3 (optional)
`U