EMYNOS: Next generation emergency communication

Current emergency systems and 112 services are based on legacy telecommunication technologies, which cannot cope with IP-based services that European citizens use every day. Some of the related limitations are partial media support, the lack of integration of social media, and the use of an analog modem for providing eCall services with limited data amounts. As most operators have started migrating toward broadband IP-based infrastructures, current emergency systems also need to be upgraded and adapted in order to fulfill regulatory requirements in terms of next generation emergency services. This article presents the EMYNOS project, the goal of which is the design and implementation of a next generation platform capable of accommodating rich-media emergency calls that combine voice, text, and video, thus constituting a powerful tool for coordinating communication among citizens, call centers, and first responders. Additionally, issues such as call routing/redirection to the closest available call center, retrieval of caller location, support for people with disabilities, and integration of social media are detailed.