Utilizing Emergency Procedures to Determine Location Information of a Voice Over Internet Protocol Device

• US 20110292870A1
• Filed: 06/28/2010
• Published: 12/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ribbon Communications Operating Company, Inc. (Ribbon Communications, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sonus Networks Incorporated (Ribbon Communications, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sharma, Ashish, Nagpal, Ashish
• Granted Patent: US 8,605,653 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel
• 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 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections

Abstract

Described are methods and apparatuses, including computer program products for utilizing emergency procedures to determine location information for a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) device. A wireless access gateway (WAG) determines location information of the VOIP device and stores the location information. A request for a location of the VOIP device from a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) is received by the WAG. The WAG translates the stored location information into a format used by the MSC to receive location information from a Radio Access Network (RAN). The WAG provides the translated location information to the MSC.

Claims

1. A method of utilizing emergency procedures to determine location information for a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) device, comprising:

determining, by a wireless access gateway, location information of the VOIP device;

storing, by the wireless access gateway, the location information;

receiving, by the wireless access gateway, a request for a location of the VOIP device from a Mobile Switching Center (MSC);

translating, by the wireless access gateway, the stored location information into a format used by the MSC to receive location information for a Radio Access Network (RAN); and

providing, by the wireless access gateway, the translated location information to the MSC.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the location information is a physical location of the VOIP device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the location information is a location key.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising querying, by the wireless access gateway, a Location Information Server (LIS) for a physical location of the VOIP device by transmitting the location key to the LIS.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the stored location information is stored in a format of session initiation protocol'"'"'s geolocation header.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein translating the stored location information further comprises:

interworking the session initiation protocol'"'"'s geolocation header into at least one of 3GGP TS 48.008'"'"'s location estimate, positioning data, velocity estimate, or GANSS positioning data.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein storing the location information further comprises receiving a session initiation protocol'"'"'s GEOPRIV header from the VOIP device.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the location information further comprises utilizing National Emergency Number Association'"'"'s enhanced 9-1-1 service for VOIP based network standard.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the location information further comprises utilizing NICC'"'"'s location for Emergency Calls standard.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the RAN includes a Base Station Controller (BSC).

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the RAN includes a Radio Network Controller (RNC).

12. A computer program product for utilizing emergency procedures to determine location information for a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) device, the computer program product being operable to cause a wireless access gateway to:

determine location information of the VOIP device;

store the location information;

receive a request for a location of the VOIP device from a Mobile Switching Center (MSC);

translate the stored location information into a format used by the MSC to receive location information for a Radio Access Network (RAN); and

provide, by the wireless access gateway, the translated location information to the MSC.

13. The computer program product of claim 12 wherein the location information is a physical location of the VOIP device.

14. The computer program product of claim 12 wherein the location information is a location key.

15. The computer program product of claim 14 further comprising querying, by the wireless access gateway, a Location Information Server (LIS) for the physical location of the VOIP device by transmitting the location key to the LIS.

16. A computer-implemented system for utilizing emergency procedures to determine location information for a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) device comprising:

means for determining, by a wireless access gateway, location information of the VOIP device;

means for storing, by the wireless access gateway, the location information;

means for receiving, by the wireless access gateway, a request for a location of the VOIP device from a Mobile Switching Center (MSC);

means for translating, by the wireless access gateway, the stored location information into a format used by the MSC to receive location information for a Radio Access Network (RAN); and

means for providing, by the wireless access gateway, the translated location information to the MSC.