DIGITAL TELEPHONY DISTRESSED SOUND DETECTION

A system and method for monitoring for a distressed sound is disclosed. The system comprises a noise detection module configured to monitor ambient noise through a microphone on a digital telephony device operating in an idle state and determine an ambient noise level. A sound processing module is configured to process sounds received from the microphone that have an amplitude a selected amount greater than an amplitude of the ambient noise and determine if the processed sounds match a predetermined statistical model of a distressed sound. An assistance request module is configured to send a request for assistance via the digital telephony device for processed sounds that match the predetermined statistical model of the distressed sound.