MMS Emergency Request Text-Media Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Special number calls, such as emergency service requests, sent in Multi-media Messaging Service (MMS) format often cannot be handled by special number answering positions that are not equipped for MMS format messaging, leading to inefficiencies in communication.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that receive emergency service request messages in MMS format, separate text and media portions, create a media identifier to correlate them, and forward the text message with the identifier to the special number service answering position, enabling effective handling of MMS format messages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If special number answering positions use traditional text-only messaging systems, then they can handle simple text messages, but they cannot process MMS format messages containing media portions
Solution Approach 1:
The MMS message is divided into separate text portions and media portions. The text portions are extracted and forwarded to the special number answering position as a text message, while media portions are handled separately. This segmentation allows the answering position to process text without needing full MMS capability.
Solution Approach 2:
A gateway or intermediary system is introduced between the MMS sending position and the special number answering position. This intermediary performs the segmentation and conversion functions, translating MMS format into a format suitable for the answering position while preserving the ability to reconstruct the original message if needed.
2Loss of information
If MMS messages are sent to special number answering positions, then more information can be communicated, but the messages cannot be properly processed without MMS capability
Solution Approach 1:
The essential text information is extracted from the MMS message and separated from the media portions. This extracted text contains the critical information needed for emergency service handling and can be processed by traditional text messaging systems, ensuring information is not lost while simplifying processing.
Solution Approach 2:
A text copy or representation of the MMS message content is created and forwarded to the answering position. This copy contains the essential information in a format that can be easily processed, while the original MMS message with all media portions is preserved separately for reference if needed.
3Loss of information
If media portions are included in emergency service requests, then more contextual information is provided, but correlating media with text becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
Media identifiers are generated and associated with media portions before the message is forwarded to the answering position. This preliminary tagging or labeling system establishes the relationship between media and text in advance, making it easier for the answering position to correlate them without complex processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The intermediary system maintains the correlation between media portions and text portions through media identifiers. This intermediary manages the complex relationship between media and text, allowing the answering position to receive simplified text messages while the correlation is managed separately by the intermediary system.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for treating an emergency service request message sent by a requesting station to an emergency service answering position; the method includes: (a) receiving the emergency service request message in a multi-media messaging service (MMS) format wherein the emergency service request message includes a requesting station address and a timestamp; (b) separating the text portions from the media portions in the emergency service request message; (c) creating a single media identifier to effect correlating the media portions with the text portions; (d) formatting the text portions with the media identifier in a text message; (e) forwarding the text message toward the emergency service answering position; and (f) employing the media identifier to correlate the media portions with the text portions.