Emergency Call Feature Control via PSAP Switching
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional emergency 911 services in the public switched telephone network (PSTN) lack the flexibility to selectively enable or disable telephone service features on a case-by-case basis during emergency calls, as they are typically blocked or disabled for the entire duration without a suitable mechanism for re-enabling specific features as needed.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that allow a switching facility to recognize emergency calls and route them to a public safety answering point (PSAP), where a call taker can selectively enable or disable telephone service features such as call waiting and three-way calling, providing control over these features during emergency calls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If telephone service features are blocked or disabled for the entire duration of an emergency call, then the emergency call is protected from disruption, but the system lacks flexibility to selectively enable specific features on a case-by-case basis
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the control of telephone service features by creating separate control mechanisms for different feature types (call waiting, three-way calling, B-party hold) during emergency calls. Each feature can be independently controlled rather than blocked as a group, allowing selective enabling based on specific emergency circumstances.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a static blocking approach to a dynamic control approach where the call taker at the PSAP can adjust feature availability in real-time based on the evolving emergency situation. The control state of each feature becomes可变 rather than fixed for the entire call duration.
2Ease of operation
If all telephone service features are disabled during emergency calls, then call disruption is prevented, but case-by-case selective enabling of beneficial features becomes impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The call taker at the PSAP serves as an intermediary between the emergency caller and the telephone service feature control system. The call taker receives requests from the caller (or receives information about the emergency situation) and makes informed decisions about which features to enable or disable, acting as a mediator who balances call stability with feature availability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the control parameter of telephone service features from a binary blocked/unblocked state to a dynamically adjustable state where individual features can be selectively enabled or disabled based on the specific emergency situation, the caller's needs, and the call taker's judgment.
3Device complexity
If a uniform blocking policy is applied to all emergency calls, then system simplicity is maintained, but the ability to provide customized feature control for different emergency situations is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into modular components that can be independently configured for different feature types. This segmentation allows the system to maintain a relatively simple overall structure while enabling customized control decisions for specific features based on emergency circumstances.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables the call taker to make real-time control decisions based on the specific emergency situation, effectively allowing the system to adapt and customize feature control without requiring complex pre-programmed rules for every possible emergency scenario. The call taker uses their judgment to serve the specific needs of each emergency call.
Data Source
AI summary
A method of administering an emergency call service in a public switched telephone network (PSTN) (60) includes: receiving a call at a switching facility (70) from an end user terminal (EUT) (52) served by the facility (70), the facility (70) providing the EUT (52) access to a telephone service feature; disabling the telephone service feature for the EUT (52) in response to the facility (70) recognizing the received call as an emergency call; routing the emergency call to a public safety answering point (PSAP) (80) serving a geographic region in which the EUT (52) is located; and, providing a call taker (84) at the PSAP (80) control over the telephone service feature, such that the call taker (84) can selectively enable the telephone service feature.