At Artech House, we ask our authors what problems their books can help readers solve. In this series, we share what our authors aim to do in their writing. Read on to find out what Barbara Kemp and Bart Lovett, who wrote The Handbook of Next-Generation Emergency Services, had to say:
What are some problems your book can help technical professionals solve?
- Transition from E9-1-1 to NG9-1-1
- Anticipate and control Project hurdles unique to NG9-1-1
- Eliminate confusion over how the end-to-end functional elements fit together; it is not a simple “forklift” upgrade to NG9-1-1.
What are some important features of the book? What are the benefits to readers?
Feature: PROVIDE ANSWERS TO THE QUESTION: “WHAT IS NEXT GENERATION 9-1-1” AND DISTINGUISH NG9-1-1 FROM OTHER EMERGENCY SERVICES SOLUTIONS
Benefit: This Handbook explains NG9-1-1 networks: functions that they provide; the environments in which they are implemented; and the process by which they can be built and maintained. It provides a comparison to Basic 9-1-1 and E9-1-1 systems that dominate the field of emergency services today. Our approach builds on the experiences of the readers whether they be Implementers, PSAP Managers or IT and Telecommunications staff. It allows them to engage with the material based on their own experience, and will to lead them to new understandings and insights. We take the reader through an emergency call from its inception by the Caller to the Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) Call Taker to Dispatch to First Responders, explaining how Basic 9-1-1, E9-1-1 and NG9-1-1 support each leg of this journey. Chapters explaining the underlying networks and the service standards provide details to those who need them for their daily work or as reference.
Next Generation 9-1-1 services are carried over data networks that use the Internet Protocol (IP) to establish communications flows between the calling and called parties. These flows are created in a fundamentally different way than are those created on the circuit switched networks that carry Basic 9-1-1 and E9-1-1 calls. The differences between packet switched and circuit switched networks are explained and the challenges and opportunities offered by creating call flows using packet switched networks will be described. The reader may choose to read all or some of these technical descriptions depending on their needs and interests.
Feature: PROVIDE A GUIDE TO THE STANDARDS, LAWS AND RQUIREMENTS THAT APPLY TO NG9-1-1 SERVICES
Benefit: The book provides descriptions of- and references to standards, laws, and requirements that govern and support the delivery of NG9-1-1 services. These include: the core network and data centers; quality of service metrics, security and reliability; core services; the Emergency Services Internet Protocol standards, signaling protocols; access interconnection; and the diverse transport and delivery of the call from caller to answering point. When the authors were deploying the first NG9-1-1 solutions, the standards were incomplete. While a whole array of standards have moved into first and even second versions, some are still incomplete; and defacto standards or interim standard references are included for the reader to explore.
Feature: UNDERSTAND THE ROLE OF THE ACCESS CARRIER (ORGINATING SERVICE PROVIDER) IN PROVIDING NG9-1-1 SERVICE
Benefit: An Access Carrier or as described in the Handbook, Originating Service Provider (OSP) receives an incoming customer call from a Plain Old Telephone Service Wireline device, a cell phone or Wireless device, or from an intelligent device of some kind such as a smart speaker or a mobile or fixed-line that uses an over the top (OTT) provider of IP-based telephone calls. Calls from each type of OSP to the correct Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) to the Call Taker either directly or indirectly through transfers, and interconnecting datalinks and Databases and discussed and diagramed. Diagrams and discussion include diverse and non-diverse routing, and direct and indirect access. Federal and State laws pertaining to Emergency Services and Security are addressed.
Feature: UNDERSTAND HOW TO CONNECT TO EMERGENCY SERVICES NETWORKS NATIONALLY AND INTERNATIONALLY
Benefit: The handbook assists the reader in the transition to NG9-1-1 starting from the smallest of applications for a single PSAP through to Regional, State, National and International networks.
Feature: UNDERSTAND THE ROLE OF TESTING
Benefit: Vendors, OSPs and University laboratories provide testing, certification and future feature evaluation of Emergency Services applications. This handbook offers insight into present model used by the Standards organizations and OSPs, and vendors and provides test plan types and examples. This section includes infrastructure and environmental readiness testing
What are the audiences this book is aimed at?
- Students of IP communication technology
- Engineers, planners and other technical professionals who design and size the ESInets, the access to the ESInets, the Data Centers and the various network interfaces
- Technical Project Management Students
- Students involved in Cyber Security and or Government affairs related to Public Safety
- Systems Integrators who choose the products and services to implement NG9-1-1 and develop the plans, processes, testing, upgrades and other activities needed to implement, sustain and support these networks.
- 9-1-1 System Service Providers (9-1-1 SSP) who are responsible for end-to-end quality of service and who must meet the reporting criteria of multiple commissions 24x7x365.
- Operations Managers in Telecommunications and Information Technology who are responsible for network routing and translations, database management, switching, transport and signaling must fully understand Next Generation Emergency Services and be able to build to the new requirements while maintaining the existing Network.
- PSAP Managers and their leadership charged with developing RFIs and RFPs for Next Generation Transition Projects. There are over 6,000 PSAPs in the US alone to be converted
- Judges, Lawyers and Law makers, Commission(s) staff who must determine if the plans and procedures meet the criteria to protect their responsibilities to the Public for Providing Public Safety
- Researchers, Professors, and Innovators who teach in academic institutions and who want to lead their students to create and develop solutions to real-world problems
- Researchers, Professors, and Innovators who teach in technology-focused institutions and trade schools are preparing next generation of technologists who can operate, maintain and grow next generation emergency services systems
- Vendors of NG9-1-1 products and services who need to understand how their products and services fit into the end-to end service
- Application developers who need to understand the requirements associated with delivering next generation emergency services solutions so that their innovative ideas can be successfully integrated with the Next Generation architecture
- Database Managers who need to fully understand Next Generation Emergency Services\GIS Managers who must interact with and provide mapping services to Next Generation Emergency Services
- SS7 Vendors who need to understand their technical market and service Next Generation Clients and transition them to SIP and newer protocols
Click here for more information or to order.
