REAL TIME TEXT MESSAGING METHOD AND DEVICE

1 . A method performed by a response system that is communicatively coupled with a communication network, the method comprising the steps of:

establishing communications with a communication device over the communication network;

transmitting information to the communication device that indicates that the response system is real time text (RTT) enabled;

receiving at least one message from the communication device that was transmitted according to an RTT protocol, wherein the at least one message includes at least one indication of a user input made by a user of the communication device; and

responding, by the response system, to the at least one indication of the user input.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein establishing communications comprises:

receiving a session invitation message from the communication device; and

acknowledging the session invitation message.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the response system comprises a server communicatively coupled with a response console, and the method further comprises the steps of:

determining, by the server, whether the response console is available to support the communications; and

when the response console is available, assigning the response console to support the communications.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein responding comprises displaying the at least one indication of the user input on a display device of the response system.

5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein the step of receiving the at least one message from the communication device comprises receiving multiple messages from the communication device, and wherein the step of displaying comprises:

concatenating, on the display device, an indication of at least one user input from a newly received message with a displayed indication of at least one user input from a previously received message, wherein each of the indication and the displayed indication includes an indication selected from a group consisting of: an indication of a character; and an indication of an editing input.

6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the indication of an editing input is selected from a group consisting of: an indication of a backspace selection; an indication of a deletion of one or more characters; and an indication of a character selection.

7 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising:

receiving, from the communication device, location information that indicates a location of the communication device; and

displaying the location information on the display device.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the response console includes a user interface, and the method further comprises:

receiving at least one responder-entered input through the user interface; and

transmitting a message that includes an indication of the responder-entered input to the communication device over the communication network.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein transmitting the message is performed according to a standard texting protocol selected from a group consisting of a Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) protocol, a Short Message Service (SMS) protocol, or a Session Initiation Protocol for Instant Messaging and Presence Leveraging Extensions (SIMPLE) protocol.

10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the message includes information selected from a group consisting of: an instruction; a question; a statement; a drop-down menu; a pop-up window; an option list; an image; a video clip; a video feed; and a map.

11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein responding to the at least one indication comprises generating or controlling an image, displayed on a display device, in response to the at least one indication.

12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein responding to the at least one indication comprises converting to speech the at least one indication.

13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein responding to the at least one indication comprises performing an automated dispatch operation responsive to the at least one indication.

14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein responding to the at least one indication comprises performing an automated data logging operation responsive to the at least one indication.

15 . A method performed in a system that includes a communication network, a response system that is communicatively coupled with the communication network, and a communication device that is communicatively coupled with the communication network, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting, by the communication device, that a text session has been initiated with a potential real time text (RTT) destination specified as a destination for text messages transmitted by the communication device;

performing a capabilities exchange process over the communication network between the communication device and the response system to determine whether the response system is RTT enabled;

when the response system is RTT enabled, receiving, by the response system, at least one message from the communication device that the communication device transmitted according to an RTT protocol, wherein the at least one message includes at least one indication of a user input made by a user of the communication device; and

responding, by the response system, to the at least one indication of the user input.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the response system includes a user interface, and the method further comprises:

receiving at least one responder-entered input through the user interface; and

transmitting a message that includes an indication of the responder-entered input to the communication device over the communication network.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein transmitting the message is performed according to a standard texting protocol.

18 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the response system comprises a server communicatively coupled with a response console, and the method further comprises the steps of:

determining, by the server, whether the response console is available to support the communications; and

when the response console is available, assigning the response console to support the communications.

19 . The method of claim 15 , wherein responding to the at least one indication comprises displaying the at least one indication on a display device of the response system.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the step of receiving the at least one message from the communication device comprises receiving multiple messages from the communication device, wherein each of the multiple messages includes an indication of at least one user input provided by a user of the communication device, and wherein the step of responding comprises:

concatenating, on the display device, an indication of at least one user input from a newly received message with a previously received and displayed indication of at least one user input.

21 . The method of claim 15 , wherein responding to the at least one indication comprises generating or controlling an image, displayed on a display device, in response to the at least one indication.

22 . The method of claim 15 , wherein responding to the at least one indication comprises converting to speech the at least one indication.

23 . The method of claim 15 , wherein responding to the at least one indication comprises performing an automated dispatch operation responsive to the at least one indication.

24 . A response system communicatively coupled to a communication network, the response system comprising:

at least one response console comprising

a processing system configured to receive at least one message over the communication network from a communication device, wherein the at least one message was transmitted according to a real time text (RTT) protocol, and the at least one message includes at least one indication of a user input made by a user of the communication device; and

a response component, coupled to the processing system, and configured to respond to the at least one indication of the user input.

25 . The response system of claim 24 , wherein the at least one response console further comprises:

a user interface, coupled to the processing system, and configured to enable a human responder to provide at least one responder-entered input, and

wherein the response system is further configured to transmit a message that includes an indication of the responder-entered input to the communication device over the communication network.

26 . The response system of claim 24 , further comprising:

a server, communicatively coupled with the at least one response console, and configured to communicate information originating from the at least one response console to the communication device via the communication network, and to communicate information received from the communication device via the communication network to the at least one response console.

27 . The response system of claim 26 , wherein the at least one response console comprises multiple response consoles, and wherein the server is further configured to determine that a particular response console of the at least one response console is available to support RTT communications received from the communication device in a context of an RTT session, and to assign the particular response console to support the RTT communications.

28 . The response system of claim 24 , wherein the response system is a call center responsible for answering calls from and supporting text communication sessions with network-connected communication devices.

29 . The response system of claim 24 , wherein the response component is a display configured generate or control an image in response to the at least one indication of the user input.

30 . The response system of claim 24 , wherein the response component is an audio system configured to convert to speech the at least one indication of the user input.

31 . The response system of claim 24 , wherein the response component is an automated dispatch system responsive to the at least one indication.

32 . The response system of claim 24 , wherein the response system is a Public Safety Answering Point.