Provision of text messages to emergency call takers
Concurrent text and voice communications can be maintained with an emergency call taker. An application executing on a mobile communications device in conjunction with a network gateway provide voice communication as well as an interactive Short Messaging System (SMS) session with a public safety answering point (PSAP). The gateway correlates and manages SMS messages with the PSAP and the mobile device. As such, a virtual session is generated over a traffic channel, that provides the advantages of a voice call as well as allowing text based communications.
1. A method comprising:
receiving a session initiation message for a text message session to be established between a device and public safety answering point (PSAP) equipment, wherein:
the session initiation message is received prior to establishing the text message session;
the session initiation message is received from other than an originator of the text message;
the session initiation message comprises:
an identification of the PSAP equipment; and
an identification of the device;
receiving a text message;
determining, based on the received text message, that the device provided the text message;
determining, based on the determination that the device provided the text message and the received session initiation message, that the PSAP equipment is processing the text messaging session; and
providing the text message, wherein an intended recipient of the provided text message is the device.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the text message is received responsive to a second text message indicating that a text messaging session has been established.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein an intermediate destination of the text message is an emergency service.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein the text message is immediately forwarded upon a determination that the destination address is an emergency service.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method is performed by a processor.
6. A gateway comprising:
memory having executable instructions stored thereon; and
a processor communicatively coupled to the memory, the processor configured to execute the executable instructions to perform operations comprising:
receiving a session initiation message for a text message session to be established between a device and public safety answering point (PSAP) equipment wherein:
the session initiation message is received prior to establishing the text messaging session;
the session initiation message is received from other than an originator of the text message;
the session initiation message comprises:
an identification of the PSAP equipment; and
an identification the device;
receiving a text message;
determining, based on the received text message, that the device provided the text message;
determining, based on the determination that the device provided the text message and the received session initiation message, that the PSAP equipment is processing the text messaging session; and
providing the text message, wherein an intended recipient of the provided text message is the device.
7. The gateway of claim 6 , wherein the text message is received responsive to a second text message indicating that a text messaging session has been established.
8. The gateway of claim 6 , wherein an intermediate destination of the text message is an emergency service.
9. The gateway of claim 8 , wherein the text message is immediately forwarded upon a determination that the destination address is an emergency service.
10. A computer readable storage medium that is not a transient signal, the computer readable storage medium having executable instructions stored thereon, the instructions, when executed, perform operations comprising:
receiving a session initiation message for a text message session to be established between a device and public safety answering point (PSAP) equipment, wherein:
the session initiation message is received prior to establishing the text message session;
the session initiation message is received from other than an originator of the text message;
the session initiation message comprises:
an identification of the PSAP equipment; and
an identification of the device;
receiving a text message;
determining, based on the received text message, that the device provided the text message;
determining, based on the determination that the device provided the text message and the received session initiation message, that the PSAP equipment is processing the text messaging session; and
providing the text message, wherein an intended recipient of the provided text message is the device.
11. The storage medium of claim 10 , wherein the text message is received responsive to a second text message indicating that a text messaging session has been established.
12. The storage medium of claim 10 , wherein an intermediate destination of the text message is 911.
13. The storage medium of claim 12 , wherein the text message is immediately forwarded upon a determination that the destination address is 911.