EMERGENCY DATA MESSAGE ROUTER DATABASE

• US 20100003949A1
• Filed: 10/24/2008
• Published: 01/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Embarq Holdings Company LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ray, Amar Nath, Morrill, Robert J., Coppage, Carl M., Greene, Lynn T.
• Granted Patent: US 8,320,871 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/00 Speech synthesis; Text to speech systems
• 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: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• 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 52/0261 managing power supply demand, e.g. depending on battery level
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0296 switching to a backup power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A system and method for providing information associated with public safety answering points may include storing a set of records including information associated with a plurality of PSAPs, each record may include (i) an identifier indicative of a PSAP available to service emergency communications, (ii) at least one cell code identifier indicative of cell sites in which the associated PSAP services, and (iii) at least one network address capable of receiving certain emergency data message types. In response to receiving a request, a PSAP local to a wireless communications device of a user who sent an emergency data message may be identified, and a network address associated with the identified local PSAP may be provided.

Claims

1. A database configured to store information associated with public safety answering points (PSAPs), said database comprising:

a set of records including information associated with a plurality of PSAPS, each record including;

an identifier indicative of a PSAP available to service emergency communications;

at least one cell code identifier indicative of cell sites in which the associated PSAP services; and

at least one network address capable of receiving certain emergency data message types.

2. The database according to claim 1, wherein each record further includes at least one capabilities identifier indicative of forms of emergency communications at the respective PSAP is equipped to receive.

3. The database according to claim 1, wherein each record further includes at least one exchange code of a geographic area that is serviced by the respective PSAP.

4. The database according to claim 1, wherein the at least one network address includes a telephone number for receiving text messages.

5. The database according to claim 4, wherein the telephone number is a network address for additionally receiving images.

6. The database according to claim 4, wherein the at least one network address further includes an IP address for receiving e-mail.

7. A method for providing information associated with PSAPs, said method comprising:

storing a set of records including information associated with a plurality of PSAPs, each record including;

an identifier indicative of a PSAP available to service emergency communications;

at least one cell code identifier indicative of cell sites in which the associated PSAP services; and

at least one network address capable of receiving certain emergency data message types;

identifying, in response to receiving a request, a PSAP local to a wireless communications device of a user who sent an emergency data message; and

providing a network address associated with the identified local PSAP.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising:

receiving a cell code identifier in which the user is located and emergency data message type; and

based on the received cell code identifier and emergency data message type, identifying a PSAP local to the wireless communications device and capable of receiving the emergency message type.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein receiving the emergency message type includes receiving an identifier indicative of the emergency data message being a text message.

10. The method according to claim 7, further comprising:

storing at least one exchange code of a geographic area that is serviced by each respective PSAP;

in response to receiving a mobile directory number associated with the wireless communications device, determining whether an exchange code in the mobile directory number of the wireless communications device matches an exchange code of any of the PSAPs; and

if so, identifying one or more PSAPs of which have matching exchange codes with the mobile directory number to determine a PSAP local to the wireless communications device;

otherwise, using the at least one cell code identifier to identify a PSAP local to the wireless communications device.

11. The method according to claim 7, wherein in identifying a local PSAP, further determining whether the at least one network address of an identified PSAP local to the wireless communications device includes a telephone number for receiving text messages.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising determining whether the telephone number is a network address for additionally receiving images.

13. The method according to claim 7, further comprising determining whether the at least one network address of an identified PSAP local to the wireless communications device includes an IP address for receiving e-mail.

14. A system for providing information associated with public safety answering points (PSAPs), said network node comprising:

a database including a set of records including information associated with a plurality of PSAPs, each record including;

an identifier indicative of a PSAP available to service emergency communications;

at least one cell code identifier indicative of cell sites in which the associated PSAP services; and

at least one network address capable of receiving certain emergency data message types;

a processing unit configured to;

identify, in response to receiving a request, a PSAP local to a wireless communications device of a user who sent an emergency data message; and

provide a network address associated with the identified local PSAP.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein said processing unit is further configured to:

receive a cell code identifier in which the user is located and emergency data message type; and

based on the received cell code identifier and emergency data message type, identify a PSAP local to the wireless communications device and capable of receiving the emergency message type.

16. The system according to claim 14, wherein the emergency message type is indicative of the emergency data message being a text message.

17. The system according to claim 14, wherein the set of records of said database further includes at least one exchange code of a geographic area that is serviced by each respective PSAP;

and

in response to receiving a mobile directory number associated with the wireless communications device, said processing unit further being configured to;

determine whether an exchange code in the mobile directory number of the wireless communications device matches an exchange code of any of the PSAPs; and

if so, identify one or more PSAPs of which have matching exchange codes with the mobile directory number to determine a PSAP local to the wireless communications device;

otherwise, use the at least one cell code identifier to identify a PSAP local to the wireless communications device.

18. The system according to claim 14, wherein in identifying a local PSAP, said processing unit is further configured to determine whether the at least one network address of an identified PSAP local to the wireless communications device includes a telephone number for receiving text messages.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein in identifying a local PSAP, said processing unit is further configured to determine whether the telephone number is a network address for additionally receiving images.

20. The system according to claim 14, wherein in identifying a local PSAP, said processing unit is further configured to determine whether the at least one network address of an identified PSAP local to the wireless communications device includes an IP address for receiving e-mail.