8x8 (News - Alert) was awarded with a new patent in April, and like most patents, it’s filled with complex terminology that can be confusing for those unfamiliar with the jargon. As such, it might be helpful to take a look at 8x8’s 87th patent to understand what it can do.
The patent, “Systems, Methods, Devices, and Arrangements for Emergency Call Services Using Non-traditional Endpoint Devices” essentially lets various endpoint devices, which they describe as “non-traditional,” get more information across to emergency responders, allowing them to react with more details and knowledge at their disposal. That’s particularly useful for VoIP users, not to mention the 911 operators themselves.
With the solutions described in the patent, a caller’s location can be determined from data on the endpoint devices. It creates a location database, which is then tracked through data from servers, computers, smartphones and tablets, and transmitted to the 911 operators. Even if you’re lost while making an emergency call, the operators will know where you are and how to reach you.
This isn’t 8x8’s first step into helping improve the efficiency of 911 calls. It was among the first to get involved in e911 (News - Alert) when it created a customer database with Level 3 Communications to better relay information to 911 operators. But this new patent takes it a step further, using devices not normally associated with emergency communications to gather location information, which will help emergency services respond quickly and effectively.
While most new 911 services and information are connected to cellular devices, VoIP relies on IP addresses, rather than physical ones, making it difficult to relay location information to the operators. The new 8x8 patent can help work around that, gathering information from the devices and networks rather than a preset database to help emergency services reach you no matter where you are.
Edited by Rachel Ramsey