911 data messaging

Abstract

A short messaging system {SMS) emergency services 911 system (SMS E911). Excess non-voice capacity is used to establish a Short Message Service (SMS) capability for generating an emergency 911 “equivalent” call, together with location information required by emergency services and to meet Federal 911 requirements. 911 requests for emergency assistance are delivered using non-voice centric sources such as SMS, email, and/or autonomous data/message generation devices. SMS 911 capability enables SMS savvy consumers to generate requests for emergency assistance to the local Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP). The SMS 911 emergency services request can be understood by an otherwise conventional PSAP, including provision of location information, and translated to provide first responders with the emergency services information they need to offer timely assistance.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of providing text message E911 emergency services, comprising:
 receiving a connectionless packet switched network based E911 emergency text message received from an end user emergency messaging device;   determining an originator of said E911 emergency text message;   establishing an ongoing two-way text communication channel with said originator of said E911 emergency text message;   staging a payload of said E911 emergency text message as a record in an automatic location identification (ALI) database; and   using SMDPP message to provide a location associated with said connectionless packet-switched network based E911 emergency text message to said PSAP.