Methods, computer programs, and apparatus for providing emergency number compliant VoIP devices

• US 20070274299A1
• Filed: 05/12/2006
• Published: 11/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Propety Corporation
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Propety Corporation
• Inventors: Ruckart, John
• Application Number:
  US11/433,501
• Publication Number:
  US 20070274299A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/356
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/40 Support for services or applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• 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 3/5116 for emergency applications
• 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

Abstract

An emergency number compliant device is capable of implementing a VoIP call from a registered geographic location with access to an emergency services operator. A power source applied to the device is detected, and an automated prompt is issued asking if a user of the device is at the registered geographic location.

Claims

1. A method for providing an emergency number compliant device to be used to implement a VoIP call at a registered geographic location with access to an emergency services operator, the method comprising:

detecting a power source being applied to the device, and

issuing an automated prompt asking if a user of the device is at the registered geographic location.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein a public safety answering point (PSAP) provides the device at the registered location with access to an E911 emergency services operator.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a response indicating that the user is at the registered geographic location, and enabling VoIP functionality so as to permit one or more VoIP calls to be placed.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising placing a VoIP call to 911 and thereby accessing a local emergency services operator for the registered geographic location.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising disabling VoIP functionality if a response indicating that the user is at the registered geographic location is not received, such that a VoIP call cannot be placed.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising issuing an automated prompt instructing the user to register their current geographic location.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising providing information indicative of the user'"'"'s present geographic location to a location registration server.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the information is used to update a registration database that associates each of a plurality of respective identifiers specifying a VoIP user with a corresponding geographic identifier specifying a registered geographic location.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the information comprises caller identity information indicative of the current geographic location of the user.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the information is provided via a website.

11. A computer program product for establishing a trusted network, the computer program product comprising:

a storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for facilitating a method of providing an emergency number compliant device to be used to implement a VoIP call at a registered geographic location with access to an emergency services operator, the method comprising;

detecting a power source being applied to the device, and

issuing an automated prompt asking if a user of the device is at the registered geographic location.

12. The computer program product as recited in claim 11, wherein a public safety answering point (PSAP) provides the device at the registered location with access to an E911 emergency services operator.

13. The computer program product as recited in claim 11 wherein, if the device receives a response indicating that the user is at the registered geographic location, the instructions enable VoIP functionality so as to permit the device to be used for placing one or more VoIP calls.

14. The computer program product as recited in claim 11 wherein the instructions enable a VoIP call to be placed to 911 to thereby access a local emergency services operator for the registered geographic location.

15. The computer program product as recited in claim 11 further including instructions wherein, if the device does not receive a response indicating that the user is at the registered geographic location, a VoIP call cannot be placed.

16. The computer program product as recited in claim 15 further comprising instructions for issuing an automated prompt instructing the user to register their current geographic location.

17. The computer program product as recited in claim 16 further comprising instructions for receiving information at a location registration server indicative of the user'"'"'s present geographic location.

18. The computer program product as recited in claim 17 further comprising instructions for using the received information to update a registration database, wherein the registration database associates each of a plurality of respective user identifiers specifying a VoIP user, with a corresponding geographic identifier specifying a registered geographic location.

19. The computer program product as recited in claim 17 wherein the received information comprises caller identity information indicative of the current geographic location of the user.

20. The computer program product of claim 17 wherein the received information is received by a website.

21. The computer program product of claim 20 wherein the received information updates the registration database using a location registration server.

22. A VoIP device capable of providing access to an emergency services operator from a registered geographic location, the device comprising:

a detection mechanism for detecting a power source being applied to the device, and

an output mechanism, responsive to the detection mechanism detecting a power source being applied to the device, for issuing an automated prompt asking if a user of the device is at the registered geographic location.

23. The VoIP device of claim 22 further comprising an input mechanism operatively coupled to a processing mechanism, wherein the input mechanism is capable of receiving a response indicating that the user is at the registered geographic location and, in response thereto, the processing mechanism enables VoIP functionality so as to permit one or more VoIP calls to be placed.

24. The VoIP device of claim 23 wherein the processing mechanism is programmed to disable VoIP functionality if the input mechanism does not receive a response indicating that the user is at the registered geographic location, such that a VoIP call cannot be placed.

25. The VoIP device of claim 24 wherein, if VoIP functionality is disabled, the processing mechanism is programmed to activate the output mechanism to issue an automated prompt instructing the user to register their current geographic location.