Gateway for Concurrent Voice and SMS in Emergency Calls
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current text messaging systems, such as Short Messaging Service (SMS), are not compatible with today's emergency services, making it difficult for individuals to send and receive text messages during emergency situations effectively.
Innovation Solution
An application installed on mobile communications devices facilitates concurrent voice and text communication with public safety answering points (PSAPs) through a gateway that manages SMS messages over a voice channel, allowing users to send and receive text messages during calls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If current SMS systems are used for emergency communication, then text messaging capability is available, but compatibility with emergency services is lost
Solution Approach 1:
A gateway system is introduced as an intermediary between the SMS network and PSAP emergency services. The gateway receives SMS messages from mobile devices, translates them into appropriate formats, and forwards them to the PSAP, enabling compatibility without modifying standard SMS protocols or emergency service infrastructure
Solution Approach 2:
The gateway system performs multiple functions: it acts as an SMS receiver, message translator, emergency service interface, and call management system. This multi-functional approach allows a single system to bridge different communication protocols and services, making the solution adaptable to various emergency service architectures
2Reliability
If SMS messages are stored until recipient is located, then message delivery is ensured, but latency increases during emergencies
Solution Approach 1:
The gateway system is pre-configured with PSAP routing information and message formatting templates before emergencies occur. When an SMS arrives, the gateway immediately translates and forwards it without storage delays, having already prepared the communication pathways and message structures in advance
Solution Approach 2:
The system bypasses traditional SMS storage-and-forward mechanisms by implementing real-time message translation and immediate forwarding to the PSAP. The gateway processes messages in transit without queuing or storing them, rushing through the translation and delivery process to minimize latency during time-critical emergency situations
3Adaptability or versatility
If voice channel is used for SMS transmission, then existing voice infrastructure is utilized, but concurrent voice and text communication becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The communication session is segmented into separate voice and text channels that operate independently but are managed by a single gateway. The gateway handles voice calls through traditional circuit-switched channels while simultaneously managing text message translation and delivery through data channels, dividing the complex functionality into manageable segments
Data Source
AI summary
Concurrent text and voice communications can be maintained with an emergency call taker. An application executing on a mobile communications device in conjunction with a network gateway provide voice communication as well as an interactive Short Messaging System (SMS) session with a public safety answering point (PSAP). The gateway correlates and manages SMS messages with the PSAP and the mobile device. As such, a virtual session is generated over a traffic channel, that provides the advantages of a voice call as well as allowing text based communications.