Determining a location of a device for calling via an access point

• US 10,070,466 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2017
• Issued: 09/04/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Livingood, Jason D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gauthier, Gerald
• Application Number:
  US15/589,797
• Publication Number:
  US 20170332415A1
• Time in Patent Office: 484 Days
• Field of Search: 370217, 370235, 370260, 370338, 370352, 370356, 370462, 370477, 379 37, 379 45, 379 52, 37921102, 37921501, 37922101, 4554042, 455518, 455 305, 704233, 713153, 725106, 358 115
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72418 for supporting emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/04 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/003 locating network equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections

Abstract

Methods and systems for facilitating a voice over packet (VoP) call involving a VoP device are disclosed.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a computing device and from a voice over packet (VoP) device via an access point, a message associated with VoP calling via the access point, wherein the message comprises information indicating a telephone number associated with the VoP device;

determining, based on a profile associated with the information indicating the telephone number, an associated calling device physical location for VoP calling by the VoP device;

causing display, via the VoP device, of a graphical interface indicating the associated calling device physical location for VoP calling by the VoP device;

receiving, from the VoP device and after the causing the display of the graphical interface, a message comprising a calling device physical location to be used for VoP calling by the VoP device; and

facilitating a VoP call involving the VoP device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the calling device physical location to be used for VoP calling by the VoP device corresponds to the associated calling device physical location for VoP calling by the VoP device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphical interface comprises a markup language-based graphical user interface.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

locating the profile by conducting a database search using the telephone number.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

causing storage, in the profile, of the calling device physical location to be used for VoP calling by the VoP device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

causing display of a list of physical locations, wherein the calling device physical location to be used for VoP calling by the VoP device is from the list of physical locations.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphical interface enables user confirmation of the associated calling device physical location for VoP calling by the VoP device.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting, by the computing device, a device type of the VoP device.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the VoP device is a wireless device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the VoP device is a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)-capable device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the message associated with VoP calling via the access point is sent by the VoP device after the VoP device connects to the access point.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the display of the graphical interface comprises:

sending, by the computing device and to the VoP device, the graphical interface.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the calling device physical location to be used for VoP calling by the VoP device comprises a confirmed physical location.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving, from an operator and for a user of the VoP device, the associated calling device physical location for VoP calling by the VoP device.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the graphical interface comprises a graphical web interface.

16. An apparatus comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to;

receive, from a voice over packet (VoP) device via an access point, a message associated with VoP calling via the access point, wherein the message comprises information indicating a telephone number associated with the VoP device;

determine, based on a profile associated with the information indicating the telephone number, an associated calling device physical location for VoP calling by the VoP device;

cause display, via the VoP device, of a graphical interface indicating the associated calling device physical location for VoP calling by the VoP device;

receive, from the VoP device and after causing the display of the graphical interface, a message comprising a calling device physical location to be used for VoP calling by the VoP device; and

facilitate a VoP call involving the VoP device.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the calling device physical location to be used for VoP calling by the VoP device corresponds to the associated calling device physical location for VoP calling by the VoP device.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the graphical interface comprises a markup language-based graphical user interface.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to:

locate the profile by conducting a database search using the telephone number.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to:

cause storage, in the profile, of the calling device physical location to be used for VoP calling by the VoP device.

21. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to:

cause display of a list of physical locations, wherein the calling device physical location to be used for VoP calling by the VoP device is from the list of physical locations.

22. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the graphical interface enables user confirmation of the associated calling device physical location for VoP calling by the VoP device.

23. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to:

detect a device type of the VoP device.

24. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the VoP device is a wireless device.

25. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the VoP device is a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)-capable device.

26. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the message associated with VoP calling via the access point is sent by the VoP device after the VoP device connects to the access point.

27. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to:

send the graphical interface to the VoP device as part of causing the display of the graphical interface.

28. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the calling device physical location to be used for VoP calling by the VoP device comprises a confirmed physical location.

29. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the apparatus to receive, from an operator and for a user of the VoP device, the associated calling device physical location for VoP calling by the VoP device.

30. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the graphical interface comprises a graphical web interface.

31. A method comprising:

sending, by a voice over packet (VoP) device and to a computing device via an access point, a message associated with VoP calling via the access point, wherein the message comprises information indicating a telephone number associated with the VoP device;

causing display of a graphical interface indicating, based on a profile associated with the information indicating the telephone number, an associated calling device physical location for VoP calling by the VoP device;

receiving, from a user and via the graphical interface, a calling device physical location to be used for VoP calling by the VoP device;

sending, by the VoP device and to the computing device, a message comprising the calling device physical location to be used for VoP calling by the VoP device; and

engaging, by the VoP device, in a VoP call via the access point.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the calling device physical location to be used for VoP calling by the VoP device corresponds to the associated calling device physical location for VoP calling by the VoP device.

33. The method of claim 31, wherein the graphical interface comprises a markup language-based graphical user interface.

34. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

causing, by the VoP device, output of a list of physical locations, wherein receiving the calling device physical location to be used for VoP calling by the VoP device comprises receiving, via the graphical interface, user input indicating a user selection from the list of physical locations.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein the graphical interface enables user confirmation of the associated calling device physical location for VoP calling by the VoP device.

36. The method of claim 31, wherein the sending of the message associated with VoP calling via the access point is performed by the VoP device in after the VoP device connects to the access point.

37. The method of claim 31, wherein the VoP device is a wireless device.

38. The method of claim 31, wherein the VoP device is a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)-capable device.

39. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

receiving, by the VoP device and from the computing device, the graphical interface.

40. The method of claim 31, wherein the calling device physical location to be used for VoP calling by the VoP device comprises a confirmed physical location.

41. The method of claim 31, wherein the graphical interface comprises a graphical web interface.

42. A voice over packet (VoP) device comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the VoP device to;

send, to a computing device and via an access point, a message associated with VoP calling via the access point, wherein the message comprises information indicating a telephone number associated with the VoP device;

cause display of a graphical interface indicating, based on a profile associated with the information indicating the telephone number, an associated calling device physical location for VoP calling by the VoP device;

receive, from a user and via the graphical interface, a calling device physical location to be used for VoP calling by the VoP device;

send, to the computing device, a message comprising the calling device physical location to be used for VoP calling by the VoP device; and

engage in a VoP call via the access point.

43. The VoP device of claim 42, wherein the calling device physical location to be used for VoP calling by the VoP device corresponds to the associated calling device physical location for VoP calling by the VoP device.

44. The VoP device of claim 42, wherein the graphical interface comprises a markup language-based graphical user interface.

45. The VoP device of claim 42, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the VoP device to:

cause display of a list of physical locations; and

receive, via the graphical interface, user input indicating user selection, from the list of physical locations, of the calling device physical location to be used for VoP calling by the VoP device.

46. The VoP device of claim 42, wherein the graphical interface enables user confirmation of the associated calling device physical location for VoP calling by the VoP device.

47. The VoP device of claim 42, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the VoP device to send the message associated with VoP calling via the access point after the VoP device connects to the access point.

48. The VoP device of claim 42, wherein the VoP device is a wireless device.

49. The VoP device of claim 42, wherein the VoP device is a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)-capable device.

50. The VoP device of claim 42, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, further cause the VoP device to:

receive, from the computing device, the graphical interface.

51. The VoP device of claim 42, wherein the calling device physical location to be used for VoP calling by the VoP device comprises a confirmed physical location.

52. The VoP device of claim 42, wherein the graphical interface comprises a graphical web interface.

53. A system comprising:

a computing device and a voice over packet (VoP) device,

wherein the computing device comprises;

one or more processors; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computing device to;

receive, from the VoP device via an access point, a message associated with VoP calling via the access point, wherein the message comprises information indicating a telephone number associated with the VoP device;

determine, based on a profile associated with the information indicating the telephone number, an associated calling device physical location for VoP calling by the VoP device;

receive, from the VoP device, a message comprising a calling device physical location to be used for VoP calling by the VoP device; and

facilitate a VoP call involving the VoP device; and

wherein the VoP device comprises;

one or more processors; and

memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors of the VoP device, cause the VoP device to;

cause display of a graphical interface indicating the associated calling device physical location for VoP calling by the VoP device.

54. The system of claim 53, wherein the calling device physical location to be used for VoP calling by the VoP device corresponds to the associated calling device physical location for VoP calling by the VoP device.

55. The system of claim 53, wherein the graphical interface comprises a markup language-based graphical user interface.

56. The system of claim 53, wherein the instructions in the memory of the computing device, when executed by the one or more processors of the computing device, further cause the computing device to:

locate the profile by conducting a database search using the telephone number.

57. The system of claim 53, wherein the instructions in the memory of the computing device, when executed by the one or more processors of the computing device, further cause the computing device to:

cause storage, in the profile, of the calling device physical location to be used for VoP calling by the VoP device.

58. The system of claim 53, wherein the instructions in the memory of the VoP device, when executed by the one or more processors of the VoP device, further cause the VoP device to:

cause display a list of physical locations; and

receive, via the graphical interface, user input indicating user selection, from the list of physical locations, of the calling device physical location to be used for VoP calling by the VoP device.

59. The system of claim 53, wherein the graphical interface enables user confirmation of the associated calling device physical location for VoP calling by the VoP device.

60. The system of claim 53, wherein the instructions in the memory of the computing device, when executed by the one or more processors of the computing device, further cause the computing device to:

detect a device type of the VoP device.

61. The system of claim 53, wherein the instructions in the memory of the VoP device, when executed by the one or more processors of the VoP device, further cause the VoP device to send the message associated with VoP calling via the access point after the VoP device connects to the access point.

62. The system of claim 53, wherein the VoP device is a wireless device.

63. The system of claim 53, wherein the VoP device is a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)-capable device.

64. The system of claim 53, wherein the instructions in the memory of the VoP device, when executed by the one or more processors of the VoP device, further cause the VoP device to:

receive, from the computing device, the graphical interface.

65. The system of claim 53, wherein the calling device physical location to be used for VoP calling by the VoP device comprises a confirmed physical location.

66. The system of claim 53, wherein the instructions in the memory of the computing device, when executed by the one or more processors of the computing device, further cause the computing device to receive, from an operator and for a user of the VoP device, the associated calling device physical location for VoP calling by the VoP device.

67. The system of claim 53, wherein the graphical interface comprises a graphical web interface.