[VoiceOps] Fwd: 911 and Softphones

[C.Maj]

On 2020-05-14 14:23, Aaron C. de Bruyn via VoiceOps wrote:
> One possibility would be to go old-style and transmit the data in-band over
> the voice circuit similar to modems or DSL.  We're only talking a few bytes
> for GPS coordinates, elevation, and accuracy information.  Burst the data
> at the beginning of the call, or every 30 seconds, etc...
> 
> My motorola HT-1250 from two decades ago would transmit something like an
> 8-character radio identifier when you keyed up.  It only delayed the
> conversation by a third of a second.
> 
> Maybe the phone server could even add in some additional information (i.e.
> "123 West Main St / 3rd Floor / Room 42").

W00T for the OG in-band location relay methods!

Because the first question the PSAP operator asks is:

	*WHERE* is your emergency ?

I was struggling with automating the answer to that question,
and I considered Morse Code, but that requires the dispatcher
to understand... and bursting a couple bytes of data would
require the dispatcher's equipment to understand...

I think the common denominator -- even in worst-case scenarios
eg. GPS satellites offline, CAP system at PSAP is down, etc. --
is the phone audio path. No Phone == No 911.

So, I started cobbling together some dial plan configuration
for Asterisk, that uses Text-To-Speech to relay locations with
in-band audio, announcing info eg. the GPS, Plus Codes, and more,
at the start of the call (and then again when anybody presses *.)
It also allows conferencing in security and front desk phones,
which potentially gets even more useful in the worst-worst-case
scenario eg. external phone lines to PSAP are all down or busy.

It came from a business conferencing solution, thus the odd name,
but please give it a whirl -- Always Be Conferencing on GitHub:

	https://github.com/chrsmj/always-be-conferencing

Currently, it includes FreePBX integration examples, some IVRs
for IT to program desk phones on a per-phone basis (and help
them train users to do it themselves), lots of Caller ID
manipulation options (subnet based for branch offices, rotate
from temporary pool for lobby phones, reverse Caller ID to
help walk through the settings.) There's also focus on storing
the location information locally in encrypted formats on the
PBX itself instead of assigning a DID for each home office user
and the associated risks of publishing all of those previously
private whereabouts (until it is absolutely needed eg. emergency.)

Kind Regards,

-- 
🤠 C. Maj, Technology Captain @ Penguin PBX Solutions
📞 USA Toll Free 1-833-PNGNPBX (1-833-764-6729)
🤙 International & SMS Texting +1.720.32.42.72.9
🐧 Visit on the World Wide Web at PENGUINPBX.COM