Crisis Negotiation Telephone Using Virtual Numbers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional throw phones used in crisis negotiations are costly, limited in availability, require specialized technicians, and hinder remote monitoring due to the need for physical presence, limiting the ability to establish immediate communication between negotiators and subjects in crisis situations.
Innovation Solution
A crisis negotiation system utilizing virtual numbers configured over wired and wireless networks, allowing negotiators to communicate with subjects via mobile or land-line devices, with monitoring parties able to dial in and receive audio or textual communications, enabling recording and real-time monitoring without the need for dedicated equipment or physical proximity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional throw phones are used for crisis negotiations, then secure direct communication is achieved, but device cost and complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a telephony network (PSTN, VoIP, or wireless carrier network) as an intermediary to establish secure communication between the negotiator and subject. Instead of using a dedicated proprietary throw phone system, the solution leverages existing public telephony infrastructure to carry encrypted communication traffic, thereby reducing device cost while maintaining security through network-layer encryption and authentication mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The invention enables standard mobile phones and telephony devices to function as crisis negotiation devices by implementing a crisis negotiation application that provides secure communication capabilities. This universal approach allows any telephony device to be used for crisis negotiations, eliminating the need for specialized expensive hardware while maintaining secure direct communication between negotiator and subject
2Reliability
If traditional throw phones are deployed, then dedicated communication channel is established, but availability and deployability decrease due to limited device quantity and specialized technician requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The crisis negotiation application implements automated authentication and connection establishment features that allow negotiators to independently set up secure communication without requiring specialized technicians. The system automatically provisions communication channels, manages encryption keys, and coordinates with the subject's device to establish secure connections, thereby improving deployability while maintaining channel security
Solution Approach 2:
The telephony network acts as a mediator that simplifies device deployment by providing pre-established communication infrastructure. Instead of deploying specialized throw phones that require technician configuration, the solution uses the existing telephony network to automatically route and secure communications between negotiator and subject, greatly enhancing availability and ease of deployment
3Reliability
If negotiators must be physically present to use traditional throw phones, then direct communication is possible, but remote monitoring and negotiation capabilities are hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds a remote access dimension to crisis negotiations by enabling monitoring parties to connect to the secure communication channel remotely through the telephony network. The crisis negotiation application provisions additional communication paths that allow remote personnel to monitor and participate in negotiations without being physically present at the scene, thereby maintaining communication directness while enhancing adaptability for remote operations
Data Source
AI summary
A negotiator makes and receives calls and SMS with a subject through a virtual number. Parties of individuals serving specialized functions are optionally dialed in to monitor the call/receive the SMS each time those communications occur. Alternatively, a member of a particular party can dial in ahead of a call and be placed in a waiting room for the party until the call happens. Different parties may have different functions. For example, one party may be configured such that members can discuss amongst themselves while hearing the negotiator and the subject communicate. Another party may be configured such that communications among the members is disabled such that each member only hears audio from the negotiator and subject.