Solution to enhanced emergency services (e.g. 911) for IP telephony systems

• US 20030156577A1
• Filed: 02/19/2002
• Published: 08/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mitel Knowledge Corporation (Mitel Networks Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Mitel Knowledge Corporation (Mitel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Pucyk, Andre Joseph, Kittle, George Thomas, Dunlap, Edward Darl
• Application Number:
  US10/080,039
• Publication Number:
  US 20030156577A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0213 Standardised network management protocols, e.g. simple network management protocol [SNMP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/35 involving non-standard use of addresses for implementing network functionalities, e.g. coding subscription information within the address or functional addressing, i.e. assigning an address to a function
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1046 Call controllers; Call servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/04 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42348 Location-based services which utilize the location information of a target
• 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: H04M 7/0075 Details of addressing, directories or routing tables

Abstract

There is provided a method of maintaining physical location association with an IP telephony instrument. When a change of an Ethernet MAC address on a switch port is detected, an IP telephony call controller is notified of the change. At least one information prompt is sent from the IP telephony call controller to the IP telephony instrument. A response including a physical location of the IP telephony instrument is received and the physical location associated with the IP telephony instrument is maintained.

Claims

1. A method of maintaining physical location association with an IP telephony instrument, comprising the steps of:

detecting a change of an Ethernet MAC address on a switch port;

notifying an IP telephony call controller of said change;

sending at least one information prompt from the IP telephony call controller to the IP telephony instrument;

receiving a response to said at least one information prompt, said response including a physical location of said IP telephony instrument; and

maintaining said physical location in association with said IP telephony instrument.

2. The method of maintaining physical location association according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

flagging the Ethernet MAC address within the telephony call controller; and

determining said IP telephony instrument is in an off-hook condition, prior to the step of sending said at least one information prompt to the IP telephony instrument, wherein said step of sending said at least one information prompt is performed when said IP telephony instrument is in the “

off-hook”

condition.

3. The method of maintaining physical location association according to claim 2, wherein the step of notifying a telephony call controller of said change comprises:

generating a standard network management protocol alarm in response to said change; and

sending the SNMP alarm and the physical Ethernet MAC address on the switch port to an IP telephony call controller.

4. The method of maintaining physical location association according to claim 2 wherein the step of notifying a telephony call controller of said change comprises:

generating a proprietary message including the Ethernet MAC address; and

sending said proprietary message from the switch to the IP telephony call controller.

5. The method of maintaining physical location association according to one of claims 3 and 4 wherein said IP telephony instrument is an IP telephone.

6. The method of maintaining physical location association according to one of claims 3 and 4 wherein said at least one information prompt is an audible prompt.

7. The method of maintaining physical location association according to claim 6 wherein said response is entered on a keypad of the IP telephony instrument.

8. The method of maintaining physical location association according to claim 6 wherein said response is a voice response and said method further comprises the step of converting said response into numeric location information using voice recognition software.

9. A method of maintaining physical location association with an IP telephony instrument having an Ethernet MAC address in an IP system, comprising the steps of:

sending at least one information prompt from a call controller to the IP telephony instrument, in response to rebooting of the IP system;

receiving a response to said at least one information prompt, said response including a physical location of said IP telephony instrument; and

maintaining said physical location in association with said IP telephony instrument.

10. The method of maintaining physical location association according to claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

flagging the Ethernet MAC address within the telephony call controller; and

determining when said IP telephony instrument is in an off-hook condition, prior to the step of sending said at least one information prompt to the IP telephony instrument, wherein said step of sending at least one information prompt is performed when said IP telephony instrument is in the “

off-hook”

condition.