Enhanced E911 location information using voice over internet protocol (VoIP)

• US 20060280164A1
• Filed: 06/13/2005
• Published: 12/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Original Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Inventors: Marshall, Roger, Dickinson, Richard, Helme, Steven P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,903,791 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/103 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/104 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1043 Gateway controllers, e.g. media gateway control protocol [MGCP] controllers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel
• 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 40/20 based on geographic position or location
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements

Abstract

An E-9-1-1 voice-over-IP (VoIP) solution is provided wherein a 911 call from a wireless VoIP device is routed directly to the correct Public Safety Answer Point (PSAP) via dedicated trunks, together with correct location information and call-back number. VoIP gateways are implemented locally, at least one per LATA, and accept VoIP packetized data inbound, and convert it to standard wireline voice calls. Calls are routed to an IP address at the VoIP gateway, which then egresses the call to a voice port at a selective router. Dedicated voice trunks (CAMA, SS7, FG-D) are installed between each local VoIP gateway and appropriate selective routers. An Automatic Location Identification (ALI) database is provisioned with ESRKs dedicated for VoIP use. TCP/IP circuits may be established between some or all of the various local VoIP gateways.

Claims

1. A method of providing location information to a public safety answer point (PSAP) relating to a call from a VoIP device, comprising:

provisioning a first local voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP) gateway;

establishing a first dedicated trunk line between said provisioned first local VoIP gateway and a first selective router associated with a specific PSAP;

using an identifier associating a specific PSAP to a location of said VoIP device from which said E911 call originates; and

routing said E911 call and said location information to a specific PSAP responsible for receiving a given E911 call from said location from which said given E911 call originates on said VoIP device.

11. The method of providing location information to a public safety answer point (PSAP) relating to a call from a VoIP device according to claim 1, wherein:

said identifier is an emergency services key.

12. The method of providing location information to a public safety answer point (PSAP) relating to a call from a VoIP device according to claim 1, further comprising:

querying a positioning center for routing information.

13. The method of providing location information to a public safety answer point (PSAP) relating to a call from a VoIP device according to claim 12, wherein said routing information comprises:

an emergency services key.

14. The method of providing location information to a public safety answer point (PSAP) relating to a call from a VoIP device according to claim 12, further comprising:

sending said routing information to said VoIP gateway from said positioning center.

15. The method of providing location information to a public safety answer point (PSAP) relating to a call from a VoIP device according to claim 14, further comprising:

after a query from said PSAP, sending payload data including a callback number and said location information to an automatic location identifier (ALI) database from said positioning center.

16. The method of providing location information to a public safety answer point (PSAP) relating to a call from a VoIP device according to claim 1, further comprising:

responding to a query from said VoIP gateway with an emergency services key.

17. The method of providing location information to a public safety answer point (PSAP) relating to a call from a VoIP device according to claim 1, further comprising:

responding to a query from said PSAP with said location information and a callback number.

18. The method of providing location information to a public safety answer point (PSAP) relating to a call from a VoIP device according to claim 17, wherein:

said ESRK is a 10-digit number compatible with the selective router that serves said specific PSAP.

19. The method of providing location information to a public safety answer point (PSAP) relating to a call from a VoIP device according to claim 1, wherein:

said routing information is internet protocol (IP) routing instructions identifying an IP address of a correct local VoIP gateway serving said specific PSAP.

20. The method of providing location information to a public safety answer point (PSAP) relating to a call from a VoIP device according to claim 1, further comprising:

querying an ALI database for said location of said caller, and for callback information.

21. The method of providing location information to a public safety answer point (PSAP) relating to a call from a VoIP device according to claim 20, wherein:

said querying is performed from said specific PSAP.

22. The method of providing location information to a public safety answer point (PSAP) relating to a call from a VoIP device according to claim 20, wherein:

said querying of said ALI database uses an emergency services key.

23. The method of providing location information to a public safety answer point (PSAP) relating to a call from a VoIP device according to claim 22, further comprising:

steering said emergency services key to said positioning center; and

responding to said ALI query with location and callback information of said caller.

24. The method of providing location information to a public safety answer point (PSAP) relating to a call from a VoIP device according to claim 1, further comprising:

initiating a GPOSREQ to position determining equipment.

2-10. -10. (canceled)

25. Apparatus for providing location information to a public safety answer point (PSAP) relating to a call from a VoIP device, comprising:

means for provisioning a first local voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP) gateway;

means for establishing a first dedicated trunk line between said provisioned first local VoIP gateway and a first selective router associated with a specific PSAP;

means for using an identifier associating a specific PSAP to a location of said VoIP device from which said E911 call originates; and

means for routing said E911 call and said location information to a specific PSAP responsible for receiving a given E911 call from said location from which said given E911 call originates on said VoIP device.

26. The apparatus for providing location information to a public safety answer point (PSAP) relating to a call from a VoIP device according to claim 25, wherein:

said identifier is an emergency services key.

27. The apparatus for providing location information to a public safety answer point (PSAP) relating to a call from a VoIP device according to claim 25, further comprising:

means for querying a positioning center for routing information.

28. The apparatus for providing location information to a public safety answer point (PSAP) relating to a call from a VoIP device according to claim 27, wherein said routing information comprises:

an emergency services key.

29. The apparatus for providing location information to a public safety answer point (PSAP) relating to a call from a VoIP device according to claim 27, further comprising:

means for sending said routing information to said VoIP gateway from said positioning center.

30. The apparatus for providing location information to a public safety answer point (PSAP) relating to a call from a VoIP device according to claim 29, further comprising:

means for sending, after a query from said PSAP, payload payload data including a callback number and said location information, to an automatic location identifier (ALI) database from said positioning center.

31. The apparatus for providing location information to a public safety answer point (PSAP) relating to a call from a VoIP device according to claim 25, further comprising:

means for responding to a query from said VoIP gateway with an emergency services key.

32. The apparatus for providing location information to a public safety answer point (PSAP) relating to a call from a VoIP device according to claim 25, further comprising:

means for responding to a query from said PSAP with said location information and a callback number.

33. The apparatus for providing location information to a public safety answer point (PSAP) relating to a call from a VoIP device according to claim 32, wherein:

said ESRK is a 10-digit number compatible with the selective router that serves said specific PSAP.

34. The apparatus for providing location information to a public safety answer point (PSAP) relating to a call from a VoIP device according to claim 25, wherein:

said routing information is internet protocol (IP) routing instructions identifying an IP address of a correct local VoIP gateway serving said specific PSAP.

35. The apparatus for providing location information to a public safety answer point (PSAP) relating to a call from a VoIP device according to claim 25, further comprising:

means for querying an ALI database for said location of said caller, and for callback information.

36. The apparatus for providing location information to a public safety answer point (PSAP) relating to a call from a VoIP device according to claim 35, wherein:

said querying is performed from said specific PSAP.

37. The apparatus for providing location information to a public safety answer point (PSAP) relating to a call from a VoIP device according to claim 35, wherein:

said querying of said ALI database uses an emergency services key.

38. The apparatus for providing location information to a public safety answer point (PSAP) relating to a call from a VoIP device according to claim 37, further comprising:

means for steering said emergency services key to said positioning center; and

means for responding to said ALI query with location and callback information of said caller.

39. The apparatus for providing location information to a public safety answer point (PSAP) relating to a call from a VoIP device according to claim 25, further comprising:

means for initiating a GPOSREQ to position determining equipment.