Mark J. Fletcher, ENP

Embodiments disclosed herein provide systems, methods, and computer readable media for identifying information pertinent to an emergent event through social media postings. In a particular embodiment, a method provides, in an emergency contact center, receiving a communication initiated by an individual in response to an emergent event and identifying the individual. The method further provides identifying social media data of the individual created prior to receiving the communication and… Show more

Embodiments disclosed herein provide systems, methods, and computer readable media for identifying information pertinent to an emergent event through social media postings. In a particular embodiment, a method provides, in an emergency contact center, receiving a communication initiated by an individual in response to an emergent event and identifying the individual. The method further provides identifying social media data of the individual created prior to receiving the communication and extracting first data pertinent to the emergent event from the social media data. Show less

An exemplary aspect relates an emergency response system and associated technologies. More specifically, an exemplary aspect relates to first responder and associated equipment access to one or more communications systems at, for example, an emergent event. Another exemplary aspect relates to an inference engine for first responders that assists with making inferences based on received information and/or more or more prior inference(s) and optionally automatically providing the inference and/or… Show more

An exemplary aspect relates an emergency response system and associated technologies. More specifically, an exemplary aspect relates to first responder and associated equipment access to one or more communications systems at, for example, an emergent event. Another exemplary aspect relates to an inference engine for first responders that assists with making inferences based on received information and/or more or more prior inference(s) and optionally automatically providing the inference and/or a recommendation(s) to one or more destinations, such as a communications device. Still another aspect relates to access point authentication and management for certain class(es) of personnel optionally based on location information. Show less

An exemplary aspect relates an emergency response system and associated technologies. More specifically, an exemplary aspect relates to first responder and associated equipment access to one or more communications systems at, for example, an emergent event(s). Still another aspect relates to access point authentication and management for certain class(es) of personnel optionally based on location information. Yet another aspect related to providing specific information based on location. One… Show more

An exemplary aspect relates an emergency response system and associated technologies. More specifically, an exemplary aspect relates to first responder and associated equipment access to one or more communications systems at, for example, an emergent event(s). Still another aspect relates to access point authentication and management for certain class(es) of personnel optionally based on location information. Yet another aspect related to providing specific information based on location. One illustrative example is providing advertising information based on a location relative to an access point(s). Another example, is providing or limiting access to information on the back side of a firewall based on a device's location relative to an access point(s). Yet another example is dynamically modifying an authentication/login page to an access point based, for example, on a location. Show less

Public safety access points (PSAP), such as 911 and e911 service providers, are often overwhelmed with information coming from a number of callers. As part of an initial assessment, a determination is often made as to whether two or more callers are calling about the same emergent event. If two or more callers are calling about the same emergent event, the callers and PSAP may interact at the same time but differently, such as different content or different media types. As a benefit, on-site… Show more

Public safety access points (PSAP), such as 911 and e911 service providers, are often overwhelmed with information coming from a number of callers. As part of an initial assessment, a determination is often made as to whether two or more callers are calling about the same emergent event. If two or more callers are calling about the same emergent event, the callers and PSAP may interact at the same time but differently, such as different content or different media types. As a benefit, on-site activities may be coordinated in a manner that helps reduce the demands on PSAP resources and helps to facilitate a more accurate and appropriate response to the emergent event. Show less

A Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) is disclosed. The PSAP is configured to enable the detection of language preferences, capabilities, or inabilities and, based on such detection, assist the PSAP agent in assisting the PSAP caller. The PSAP may additionally or alternatively utilize the detection of language information to assist in the decision to route or re-route the PSAP caller to appropriate PSAP resources.

When a PSAP receives a call from a cellular telephone in reference to an emergent event, the speed and quality of the response may be improved by the cellular service provider's provision to the PSAP of information that includes the geographic location of the caller's phone. In a typical scenario, in which the call is from a GPS-equipped phone, the GPS coordinates of the phone may be echoed back to the PSAP in response to a specialized open “ping” request from the service provider. Of… Show more

When a PSAP receives a call from a cellular telephone in reference to an emergent event, the speed and quality of the response may be improved by the cellular service provider's provision to the PSAP of information that includes the geographic location of the caller's phone. In a typical scenario, in which the call is from a GPS-equipped phone, the GPS coordinates of the phone may be echoed back to the PSAP in response to a specialized open “ping” request from the service provider. Of particular advantage to this approach is that GPS ping requests typically work regardless of whether a call is in progress, as long as the phone is turned on. Show less

Methods, apparatus, and systems are provided such that a Public Safety Answer Point (PSAP) may utilize a new model to handle Open Line emergency calls, including audio optimization, automation, analysis, and presentation. Embodiments of the present disclosure assist with the difficult task of identifying background noise while trying to listen and talk to a caller, and give the best possible audio from the caller to the emergency call-taker or dispatcher. More particularly, an audio stream is… Show more

Methods, apparatus, and systems are provided such that a Public Safety Answer Point (PSAP) may utilize a new model to handle Open Line emergency calls, including audio optimization, automation, analysis, and presentation. Embodiments of the present disclosure assist with the difficult task of identifying background noise while trying to listen and talk to a caller, and give the best possible audio from the caller to the emergency call-taker or dispatcher. More particularly, an audio stream is split into at least two instances, with a first instance being optimized for speech intelligibility and provided to a call-taker or dispatcher and a second instance being provided for background sound analysis. Accordingly, the new PSAP Open Line model may allow for significantly more efficient emergency assessment, location, and management of resources. Show less

A visual and/or audible beacon is provided by an access device or an external device to assist emergency response personnel to locate the person that initiated the emergency call. A communication server that handled the emergency call can cause lights on the access device to blink in a specified pattern, so that emergency personnel may more easily locate the access device that was used to place the emergency call. The communication server can also cause the access device to output a series of… Show more

A visual and/or audible beacon is provided by an access device or an external device to assist emergency response personnel to locate the person that initiated the emergency call. A communication server that handled the emergency call can cause lights on the access device to blink in a specified pattern, so that emergency personnel may more easily locate the access device that was used to place the emergency call. The communication server can also cause the access device to output a series of audible tones that may be used to locate the access device that was used to place the emergency call. Emergency response personnel may control the audible/visual beacon through the communication server to cause the beacon to be selectively activated or deactivated as necessary. Optionally the beacon may be turned off from the access device as well. Show less

An ice crushing apparatus for use in combination with an ice making machine which has an ice storage bin. The ice crusher includes a plurality of rotatable blades which are mounted on a motor-driven shaft and which pass, preferably in sequence, through slots in a grate, for crushing the ice in an ice crushing zone. A mechanism is provided for bypassing the ice crusher and dropping ice directly from the ice maker to the ice storage bin. A mechanism is also provided for moving the grate to change… Show more

An ice crushing apparatus for use in combination with an ice making machine which has an ice storage bin. The ice crusher includes a plurality of rotatable blades which are mounted on a motor-driven shaft and which pass, preferably in sequence, through slots in a grate, for crushing the ice in an ice crushing zone. A mechanism is provided for bypassing the ice crusher and dropping ice directly from the ice maker to the ice storage bin. A mechanism is also provided for moving the grate to change the size of crushed ice particles. In one embodiment, a device is provided for breaking apart large sheets or other chunks of ice before they reach the ice crushing zone. An electronic control system provides ice crusher operation only when ice is harvested in the ice making machine. Show less

Using IoT concepts and UC to probe premise alarm functionality and status using SIP and other communication mechanisms

A Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) is disclosed. The PSAP is configured to enable the detection of language preferences, capabilities, or inabilities and, based on such detection, assist the PSAP agent in assisting the PSAP caller. The PSAP may additionally or alternatively utilize the detection of language information to assist in the decision to route or re-route the PSAP caller to appropriate PSAP resources.

A Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) is configured to enable the detection of one or more clinical signs associated with a caller. The clinical signs may include both auditory and visual clinical signs and may be detected by analyzing a portion of the call information to determine one or more characteristics associated with the call information and comparing the one or more determined characteristics to known clinical sign characteristics. The PSAP may additionally or alternatively utilize… Show more

A Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) is configured to enable the detection of one or more clinical signs associated with a caller. The clinical signs may include both auditory and visual clinical signs and may be detected by analyzing a portion of the call information to determine one or more characteristics associated with the call information and comparing the one or more determined characteristics to known clinical sign characteristics. The PSAP may additionally or alternatively utilize the detection of the clinical signs to assist and/or provide an advisory recommendation in the decision of which, if any first responder resources should be dispatched; the recommendation may include which resources and at what priority the resources should be dispatched. Show less