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

• US 10,517,140 B2
• Filed: 08/01/2018
• Issued: 12/24/2019
• 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:
  US16/052,201
• Publication Number:
  US 20190132904A1
• Time in Patent Office: 510 Days
• Field of Search: 370352, 370389, 3703952, 370401, 379 37, 379 45, 37922101, 379 8812, 4554041, 4554561, 709220, 709205, 701410
• 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 are described for voice over packet communications.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

sending, for output via a voice over packet (VoP) device, an indication of a plurality of physical locations associated with the VoP device;

receiving, from the VoP device, a selection of a physical location of the plurality of physical locations;

storing information indicating the selected physical location; and

sending, based on the selected physical location, an indication of a current physical location of the VoP device for a VoP communication involving the VoP device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising causing display of a list, of the plurality of physical locations, that is sorted based on an estimate of the current physical location of the VoP device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the indication of the plurality of physical locations is based on an estimate of the current physical location of the VoP device, and wherein the method comprises determining the estimate based on a network address associated with an access point that is connected to the VoP device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, based on the selected physical location and for a VoP call initiated by the VoP device, the current physical location of the VoP device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing information indicating a physical location of each of a plurality of access points that are associated with the VoP device for VoP calling.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing, in a profile associated with the VoP device, information indicating the plurality of physical locations.

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

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

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining, prior to the sending the indication of the plurality of physical locations associated with the VoP device, that the VoP device has connected to an access point for VoP communication.

10. An apparatus comprising:

one or more processors; and

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

send, for output via a voice over packet (VoP) device, an indication of a plurality of physical locations associated with the VoP device;

receive, from the VoP device, a selection of a physical location of the plurality of physical locations;

store information indicating the selected physical location; and

send, based on the selected physical location, an indication of a current physical location of the VoP device for a VoP communication involving the VoP device.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to cause display of a list, of the plurality of physical locations, that is sorted based on an estimate of the current physical location of the VoP device.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the indication of the plurality of physical locations is based on an estimate of the current physical location of the VoP device, and wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to determine the estimate based on a network address associated with an access point that is connected to the VoP device.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to determine, based on the selected physical location and for a VoP call initiated by the VoP device, the current physical location of the VoP device.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to store information indicating a physical location of each of a plurality of access points that are associated with the VoP device for VoP calling.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to store, in a profile associated with the VoP device, information indicating the plurality of physical locations.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the VoP device is a wireless device.

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

18. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the apparatus to determine, prior to the sending the indication of the plurality of physical locations associated with the VoP device, that the VoP device has connected to an access point for VoP communication.

19. A system comprising:

a computing device and an access point,

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;

send, for output via a voice over packet (VoP) device, an indication of a plurality of physical locations associated with the VoP device;

receive, from the VoP device, a selection of a physical location of the plurality of physical locations;

store information indicating the selected physical location; and

send, based on the selected physical location, an indication of a current physical location of the VoP device for a VoP communication involving the VoP device, and

wherein the access point is configured to conduct the VoP communication involving the VoP device.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computing device to cause display of a list, of the plurality of physical locations, that is sorted based on an estimate of the current physical location of the VoP device.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the indication of the plurality of physical locations is based on an estimate of the current physical location of the VoP device, and wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computing device to determine the estimate based on a network address associated with the access point.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computing device to determine, based on the selected physical location and for a VoP call initiated by the VoP device, the current physical location of the VoP device.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computing device to store information indicating a physical location of each of a plurality of access points that are associated with the VoP device for VoP calling.

24. The system of claim 19, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computing device to store, in a profile associated with the VoP device, information indicating the plurality of physical locations.

25. The system of claim 19, wherein the VoP device is a wireless device.

26. The system of claim 19, wherein the VoP device is a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)-capable device.

27. The system of claim 19, wherein the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computing device to determine, prior to the sending the indication of the plurality of physical locations associated with the VoP device, that the VoP device has connected to the access point for VoP communication.

28. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions that, when executed, cause:

sending, for output via a voice over packet (VoP) device, an indication of a plurality of physical locations associated with the VoP device;

receiving, from the VoP device, a selection of a physical location of the plurality of physical locations;

storing information indicating the selected physical location; and

sending, based on the selected physical location, an indication of a current physical location of the VoP device for a VoP communication involving the VoP device.

29. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 28, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause display of a list, of the plurality of physical locations, that is sorted based on an estimate of the current physical location of the VoP device.

30. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 28, wherein the indication of the plurality of physical locations is based on an estimate of the current physical location of the VoP device, and wherein the instructions, when executed, cause determining of the estimate based on a network address associated with an access point that is connected to the VoP device.

31. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 28, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause determining, based on the selected physical location and for a VoP call initiated by the VoP device, the current physical location of the VoP device.

32. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 28, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause storing of information indicating a physical location of each of a plurality of access points that are associated with the VoP device for VoP calling.

33. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 28, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause storing, in a profile associated with the VoP device, of information indicating the plurality of physical locations.

34. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 28, wherein the VoP device is a wireless device.

35. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 28, wherein the VoP device is a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)-capable device.

36. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 28, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause determining, prior to the sending the indication of the plurality of physical locations associated with the VoP device, that the VoP device has connected to an access point for VoP communication.