Selective Call Waiting for E911 Calls

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current e911 call handling systems prevent users from receiving or managing incoming calls while on an emergency call, leading to potential distractions, delays, and inefficiencies, as they are automatically routed to voicemail without explanation.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a system that enables call-waiting for specific callers, such as public safety answering points (PSAPs) and preferred contacts, by using a new SIP response code to indicate when a user is on an e911 call, allowing users to choose whether to accept or reject incoming calls during emergency situations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If all incoming calls are automatically rejected during e911 calls, then user distraction is prevented, but call management flexibility and important communication are lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveemergency call reliabilityVSAvoidcall management flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies different call handling rules to different callers based on their identity. PSAPs and preferred contacts receive special treatment (call-waiting enabled) while other callers are rejected, creating localized quality variations in call management behavior

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system segments incoming calls into different categories: PSAP calls, preferred contact calls, and other calls. Each segment is handled differently, with the first two allowing call-waiting while the third is automatically rejected

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If call-waiting is enabled for all callers during e911 calls, then communication flexibility is improved, but emergency service safety and user focus are compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecall management flexibilityVSAvoiduser distraction during emergency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Call-waiting is selectively enabled only for specific caller types (PSAPs and preferred contacts) rather than all callers, applying different quality levels of call handling to different segments

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides feedback to users about incoming calls during e911 calls through notifications, allowing users to make informed decisions about whether to switch from the emergency call

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Device complexity

If incoming calls are sent directly to voicemail without explanation, then system complexity is reduced, but user understanding and communication quality deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecall handling system complexityVSAvoidcall rejection explanation

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces an intermediary notification mechanism that mediates between the automatic call rejection and the user. The notification provides explanatory information about why the call was rejected and what options are available

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary action by notifying the user before the call is fully rejected, giving the user a chance to respond or take action before the call goes to voicemail

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS10498892B2Optimized call handling during E911 calls

Publication Date: 2019.12.03 T MOBILE US INC

AI summary

Systems and methods for improved e911 call handling. The system enables users to create multiple categories of callers. When a user makes a 911 (emergency) call, different categories of users receive different treatment. A call from a public safety access point (PSAP), for example, can be routed to the user's user equipment (UE). A caller on a favorites list may also receive the same, or similar, treatment. General callers, on the other hand, can be sent directly to voicemail, as is currently the practice for all callers. The system can enable certain callers to be sent to the UE to activate call-waiting, even though the user is on an emergency call, rather than being sent to voicemail with no explanation. The system can be used to provide this service to family members, healthcare professionals, PSAPs, and other important callers.