GPS-assisted architecture for VoIP 9-1-1

• US 20070140216A1
• Filed: 12/16/2005
• Published: 06/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MCI Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Edelmann, Paul, Durmer, John
• Granted Patent: US 8,280,341 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/6418 Hybrid transport

Abstract

A system receives a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) 9-1-1 call and Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) data from a first network device and identifies a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) using the received GPS data.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a first network device configured to;

detect a placing of a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) 9-1-1 call,

capture current Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) data in response to the detecting, and

transmit the GPS data and 9-1-1 digits.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein, when transmitting the GPS data and the 9-1-1 digits, the first network device is configured to:

transmit identification information associated with the first network device.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the identification information includes a telephone number.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a second network device configured to;

receive the GPS data and the 9-1-1 digits from the first network device, and

identify a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) using the GPS data.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the second network device is further configured to:

obtain a pseudo telephone number for the identified PSAP, the pseudo telephone number being used to route the VoIP 9-1-1 call to the identified PSAP.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein the second network device is further configured to:

forward the VoIP 9-1-1 call to the identified PSAP.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the second network device is further configured to:

convert the GPS data to a first format, and

forward the converted GPS data to the identified PSAP.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the first format includes a wireless Phase I format.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein the first format includes a wireless Phase II format.

10. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a second network device configured to;

receive the GPS data and identification information from the first network device, and

update an Automatic Location Identification (ALI) database using the received GPS data and identification information.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the identification information includes a telephone number associated with the first network device.

12. A method comprising:

receiving a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) 9-1-1 call and Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) data from a first network device; and

identifying a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) using the received GPS data.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

obtaining a pseudo telephone number for the identified PSAP based on the received GPS data, the pseudo telephone number being used to route the VoIP 9-1-1 call to the identified PSAP.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

forwarding the VoIP 9-1-1 call to the identified PSAP.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the forwarding includes:

forwarding location information for the first network device to the PSAP with the VoIP 9-1-1 call.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the location information includes the GPS data.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the location information includes a converted version of the GPS data.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein the receiving a VoIP 9-1-1 call and the GPS data includes:

receiving identification information for the first network device with the VoIP 9-1-1 call and the GPS data, and

wherein the method further comprises;

updating an Automatic Location Identification (ALI) database using the identification information and the GPS data.

19. A system comprising:

a first network device configured to;

periodically capture Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) data when the first network device is connected to a network, and

transmit the captured GPS data and information identifying the first network device to a second network device.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein, when transmitting the captured GPS data and identifying information, the first network device is configured to:

transmit the captured GPS data and identifying information to the second network device via the network.

21. The system of claim 19 wherein the second network device is configured to:

update an Automatic Location Identification (ALI) database using the captured GPS data and the identifying information, the ALI database providing location information for 9-1-1 calls.

22. A method comprising:

detecting, via a first device, a placing of a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) 9-1-1 call;

obtaining, via the first device, Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) data in response to the detecting;

transmitting the GPS data, information identifying the first device, and information identifying the VoIP 9-1-1 call as a 9-1-1 call to a second device;

identifying, via the second device, a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) based on the GPS data; and

forwarding the VoIP 9-1-1 call and the location information relating to the GPS data to the identified PSAP.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the location information includes Phase I formatted location information.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein the location information includes Phase II formatted location information.

25. The method of claim 22 further comprising:

obtaining a pseudo telephone number for the identified PSAP, the pseudo telephone number being used to forward the VoIP 9-1-1 call and the location information to the identified PSAP.

26. The method of claim 22 further comprising:

updating, via the second device, an Automatic Location Identification (ALI) database using the GPS data and the information identifying the first device.