Method for sending calling communication terminal location data to a call center

• US 20070201645A1
• Filed: 01/26/2005
• Published: 08/30/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sound View Innovations, LLC (Sound View Innovation Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Gass, Raymond, Le Creff, Michel
• Granted Patent: US 7,783,020 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/142.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/7163 using impulse radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/51 Centralised call answering arrangements requiring operator intervention , e.g. call or contact centers for telemarketing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

This method is used to send data representative of the location of communication terminals (T) to a call center (ECC) without using information processing means in the terminals and to send via heterogeneous communication networks (RP, RPT). This method consists, in the event of requesting the setting up of a telephone call between a terminal (T) and the call center (ECC) by means of a dedicated calling number, in sending the call center a signaling message for setting up the connection and comprising a selected call identifier and a text type message including data representative of the location of the calling terminal (T) and the selected call identifier. At the call center, the method consists in associating the signaling message received by the call center with the location data contained in the text message received by the call center if the signaling message and the text message include the same call identifier.

Claims

1. Method of sending a call center (ECC) data representative of the location of a communication terminal (T), consisting, in the event of a request to set up a call between that terminal (T) and that call center (ECC), in:

constituting and then sending to the call center;

a signaling message requesting the setting up of a call between this terminal (T) and a call center (ECC) and comprising an unambiguous call identifier, and

a location message comprising data representative of the location of the calling terminal (T) and the same call identifier, and

in the call center, associating a signaling message and a location message received by the call center and comprising a same call identifier,

characterized in that, to constitute the signaling message comprising an unambiguous call identifier, an unambiguous call identifier is generated in a network node receiving the signaling message sent by this terminal and requesting the setting up of a call and that unambiguous call identifier is then integrated into a signaling message aimed at the call center and requesting the setting up of a call, and, to constitute the location message comprising the call identifier, a location message is generated and the same call identifier is integrated into that location message.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that said signaling message is a text message.

3. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that the user-to-user signaling channel is used to send the text message over an integrated services digital network using synchronous time division multiplexing.

4. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that said text message is sent in the form of electronic mail.

5. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that said text message is sent in the form of an SMS type short message.

6. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that location data of the calling terminal (T) is determined by a location server (SL) belonging to a network (RP) to which said calling terminal (T) is connected, after which said text message is generated and sent by a text message server (CC1 ) belonging to said network (RP).

7. Method according to claim 2, characterized in that said text message includes a field dedicated to data representative of the nature of the call identifier followed by a field dedicated to said call identifier and at least one field dedicated to data representative of said location.

8. Method according to claim 7, characterized in that said nature of the call identifier designates at least one number selected from:

a direct dialing inwards number integrated into said signaling message and representing said calling terminal (T) in the network (RP) to which it is connected,

a pseudo-direct dialing inwards number integrated into said signaling message and representing said calling terminal (T) in the network (RP) to which it is connected,

a generic number integrated into said signaling message and representing an entity to which said calling terminal (T) is attached,

a generic number and a pseudo-direct dialing inward number, both integrated into said signaling message and respectively representing an entity to which said calling terminal (T) is attached and said calling terminal (T) in the network (RP) to which it is connected,

a generic number and an area identifier, both integrated into said signaling message and respectively representing an entity to which said calling terminal (T) is attached and a geographical area in which said calling terminal (T) is situated.

9. Method according to claim 7, characterized in that said text message includes at least three fields dedicated to location data, a first field being dedicated to a latitude measurement, a second field being dedicated to a longitude measurement and a third field being dedicated to an altitude measurement.

10. Method according to claim 9, characterized in that said text message includes at least three fields respectively dedicated to the resolutions of the latitude, longitude and altitude measurements and respectively associated with said first, second and third location fields.

11. Method according to claim 8, characterized in that said text message includes a field dedicated to data representative of the altitude measurement type.

12. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that said call identifier is placed in d free field of said signaling message requesting the setting up of a call between the terminal (T) and a call center (ECC).

13. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that said call identifier is a number selected from a selected set of numbers.

14. Method according to claim 13, characterized in that said set is specific to the network to which said calling terminal (T) is connected.

15. Device (D) for aiding the location of a communication terminal (T) by a call center (ECC), characterized in that it comprises means (MT) for:

receiving a signaling message sent by the terminal and requesting the setting up of a call between the terminal (T) and a call center (ECC) and then determining an unambiguous call identifier,

then instructing the sending of that call identifier to said call center (ECC) in a signaling message requesting the setting up of a call,

generating a text type message including data representative of the location of said calling terminal (T) and the same calling identifier, and

instructing the sending of said text message to said call center (ECC) so that said call center (ECC) can associate the location data that it contains with said signaling message requesting the setting up of a call.