Recording Systems Play a Significant Role in Next Generation 9-1-1

During a recent podcast, Avaya (News - Alert) Tech Talk host Guy Clinch had a chance to speak with Voice Print International's (News - Alert) (VPI) VP of Workforce Optimization, Patrick Botz about a multitude of topics, including testing the National Emergency Number Association's (NENA) Next Generation 9-1-1 and the impact it is having on communications recording.

Next Gen 9-1-1 is one of the most significant changes being made in the public safety industry, a group known for the use of many different proprietary technologies in emergency response. The functional specification for the NENA i3 solution 08-003 calls for standardization of all multimedia communications and Public Safety Answering Points must be updated to be able to receive voice, text or other media such as mobile photos, text messages and videos. The SMS messages will be delivered via the SIP protocol standard over the Emergency Services IP Network. 

For VPI, recording systems play a significant role in Next Gen 9-1-1. “Regardless of call media type being transferred – whether it’s via phone call, text, video or IM – the media is converted to SIP signaling within the originating network,” said Botz.

 “Then, it is routed to the appropriate i3 PSAP. Once the call media has arrived to the most appropriate PSAP, VPI’s call recorder captures SIP Invite packets and begins recording media and logging events.”

When a call is completed, an event terminates the recording of the call. At that time, associated call data attributes, such as location information, are recorded and logged into VPI’s database and then authorized users are able to access recordings via a centralized, browser-based interface.

Botz noted that the company's VPI Capture call audio, text and data recording solution will enable government agencies to take advantage of the i3 network revision. NENA is planning on releasing a final version of the 08-003 i3 specification later this year.