TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR WIRELESS E-911 CALL TESTING

• US 20080254790A1
• Filed: 04/12/2007
• Published: 10/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Dave Koons, Eric Baldridge, Lien Dao
• Original Assignee: Dave Koons, Eric Baldridge, Lien Dao
• Inventors: Dao, Lien, Baldridge, Eric, Koons, Dave
• Application Number:
  US11/734,586
• Publication Number:
  US 20080254790A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/424
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/04 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/323 for the arrangements providing the connection (test connection, test call, call simulation)
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5116 for emergency applications

Abstract

The technology described herein provides systems and methods for remote emergency wireless E-911 call testing. The wireless E-911 call testing system includes a remote call testing unit (RCTU) which, in combination with an Automated Emergency Operator Server (AEOS), allows for verification of 911 call functionality without the need for in-person, on-site testing at each cellular site.

Claims

1. A wireless E-911 call-testing method for verifying 911 call functionality without the need for in-person, on-site testing at each cellular site in a wireless carrier network, the method comprising:

initiating a test call from a remote location by accessing a number assigned to a remote call-testing apparatus, the remote call-testing apparatus located within a wireless carrier'"'"'s cellular tower site base station to automatically answer an incoming emergency 911 test call, dial 911 in a new call, combine the two calls into a single combined call, and to subsequently reroute the combined call to a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP);

answering automatically the test call at the remote call-testing apparatus;

dialing 911 in a new call at the remote call-testing apparatus;

combining the test call and the 911 call into a single call at the remote call-testing apparatus;

routing the combined call to a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP); and

wherein verification of 911 call functionality is completed without the need for in-person, on-site testing at each cellular site

2. The wireless E-911 call-testing method of claim 1, further comprising:

answering automatically the test call with a mobile phone unit located within the remote call-testing apparatus;

dialing 911 in a new call with a processor located within the remote call-testing apparatus;

combining the test call and the 911 call into a single call with the processor located within the remote call-testing apparatus; and

rerouting the combined call to a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) with the processor located within the remote call-testing apparatus.

3. The wireless E-911 call-testing method of claim 1, further comprising:

utilizing an Automated Emergency Operator Server (AEOS), to electronically and automatically act as an emergency operator having access to E911 critical databases; and

wherein the AEOS is contacted by the RCTU via a unique a routing number over a dedicated trunk.

4. The wireless E-911 call-testing method of claim 3, further comprising:

identifying, at the AEOS, the call-back number and the E911 location data from an existing PSAP database; and

transmitting, from the AEOS, the E911 location data via a web client to a graphical user interface (GUI) for the call tester to verify.

5. The wireless E-911 call-testing method of claim 3, further comprising:

presenting, via the AEOS and a return data path, the following E911 data to a user/call tester;

a unique routing number, a physical address of the RCTU, a latitude and a longitude of the RCTU, and a calling number of the call tester.

6. The wireless E-911 call-testing method of claim 3, further comprising:

establishing a voice channel, via the public switched telephone network (PSTN);

representing the voice channel in a return path for voice channel setup verification; and

transmitting a verification to the test caller verifying voice channel integrity.

7. A wireless E-911 call-testing method, for verifying 911 call functionality without the need for in-person, on-site testing at each cellular site in a wireless carrier network, the method comprising:

initiating a test call from a remote location by accessing a number assigned to a remote call-testing apparatus, the remote call-testing apparatus located within a wireless carrier'"'"'s cellular tower site base station to automatically answer an incoming emergency 911 test call, dial 911 in a new call, combine the two calls into a single combined call, and to subsequently reroute the combined call to a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP);

answering automatically the test call at the remote call-testing apparatus and placing the test call on hold;

placing the test call on hold via an AT command string at the remote call-testing apparatus;

prompting audibly a test caller to select one of two options, wherein the test caller selects one of;

entering 1, to execute a test call, or entering 2, to provide the test caller with an SMS message from the remote call-testing apparatus displaying test results data from the wireless carrier'"'"'s cellular tower site.

8. The wireless E-911 call-testing method of claim 7, further comprising:

answering automatically the test call with a mobile phone unit located within the remote call-testing apparatus;

placing, with a processor located within the remote call-testing apparatus, the test call on hold via an AT command string at the remote call-testing apparatus;

prompting, with a processor located within the remote call-testing apparatus, audibly a test caller to select one of two options, wherein the test caller selects one of;

entering 1, to execute a test call, or entering 2, to provide the test caller with an SMS message from the remote call-testing apparatus displaying test results data from the wireless carrier'"'"'s cellular tower site.

9. The wireless E-911 call-testing method of claim 7, further comprising:

selecting 1, by the test caller when prompted, thus executing a test call process;

prompting the test caller with one of a prerecorded message or a tone, issued by the remote call-testing apparatus, to enter a 10-digit number, the number being a telephone number to be tested;

entering the 10-digit number, by the test caller;

removing, at the remote call-testing apparatus, the automatically answered test call from hold;

executing, at the remote call-testing apparatus, AT command functions and combining the automatically answered test call and a call with the 10-digit number entered;

confirming, at the remote call-testing apparatus, whether the combined call was completed successfully; and

routing, at the remote call-testing apparatus, the combined call to a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) operator.

10. The wireless E-911 call-testing method of claim 7, further comprising:

selecting 2, by the test caller when prompted, thus initiating a test call process;

prompting the test caller with one of a prerecorded message or a tone, issued by the remote call-testing apparatus, to enter a 10-digit number, the number being a telephone number of a calling device of the test caller to which the caller wishes to receive an SMS message;

entering the 10-digit number, by the test caller;

initiating, at the remote call-testing apparatus, the SMS message, using AT command strings;

sending, from the remote call-testing apparatus, the SMS message to the entered 10-digit number, the SMS message containing CGI data and signal levels of the wireless carrier'"'"'s cellular tower site base station.

11. The wireless E-911 call-testing method of claim 7, further comprising:

selecting 1, by the test caller when prompted, thus executing a test call process;

prompting the test caller with one of a prerecorded message or a tone, issued by the remote call-testing apparatus, to enter a 10-digit number, the number being a telephone number to be tested;

entering the 10-digit number, by the test caller;

removing, at the remote call-testing apparatus, the automatically answered test call from hold;

executing, at the remote call-testing apparatus, AT command functions and combining the automatically answered test call and a call with the 10-digit number entered;

confirming, at the remote call-testing apparatus, whether the combined call was completed successfully; and

routing, at the remote call-testing apparatus, the combined call to a an Automated Emergency Operator Server (AEOS), to electronically and automatically act as an emergency operator having access to E911 critical databases; and

routing to a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) operator when the AEOS is offline or otherwise unavailable.

12. A wireless E-911 call-testing system, for verifying 911 call functionality without the need for in-person, on-site testing at each cellular site in a wireless carrier network, the system comprising:

a remote call-testing apparatus, the remote call-testing apparatus located within a wireless carrier'"'"'s cellular tower site base station to automatically answer an incoming emergency 911 test call, dial 911 in a new call, combine the two calls into one, and to subsequently reroute the combined call to a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP);

a remote calling device, the remote calling device selectively connected to the remote call-testing apparatus to conduct the incoming emergency 911 test call;

wherein verification of 911 call functionality is completed without the need for in-person, on-site testing at each cellular site.

13. The wireless E-911 call-testing system of claim 12, the remote call-testing apparatus further comprising:

one or more of a mobile phone unit (MPU), located within the remote call-testing apparatus, the one or more MPU being operative to automatically answer an incoming emergency 911 test call; and

a processor, located within the remote call-testing apparatus, the processor to perform AT command functions to place the incoming emergency 911 test call on hold, dial 911, and subsequently join both calls.

14. The wireless E-911 call-testing system of claim 12, further comprising:

an Automated Emergency Operator Server (AEOS), and to electronically and automatically act as an emergency operator having access to E911 critical databases.

15. The wireless E-911 call-testing system of claim 14, wherein the AEOS is contacted by the RCTU via a unique a routing number over a dedicated trunk.

16. The wireless E-911 call-testing system of claim 14, wherein the AEOS returns, via a data path, presenting the following E911 data to a user/call tester:

a unique routing number, a physical address of the RCTU, a latitude and a longitude of the RCTU, and a calling number of the call tester.

17. The wireless E-911 call-testing system of claim 13, wherein the remote call-testing apparatus further comprises:

one or more of an antenna connector; and

one or more of an antenna feed, entering the remote call-testing apparatus through the one or more of an antenna connector; and

wherein the one or more of an antenna feed electronically connects to the one or more of a mobile phone unit (MPU), located within the remote call-testing apparatus.

18. The wireless E-911 call-testing system of claim 13, wherein the remote call-testing apparatus further comprises:

a cooling fan unit, located with remote call-testing apparatus, providing cool air to the one or more mobile phone units (MPU), located within the remote call-testing apparatus, and the processor, located within the remote call-testing apparatus.

19. The wireless E-911 call-testing system of claim 13, wherein the remote call-testing apparatus further comprises:

a power supply, the power supply providing power to the MPUs and to the processor located within the remote call-testing apparatus.