SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ROUTING A SPECIAL NUMBER CALL FROM A CALLING UNIT TO AN ANSWERING POINT

• US 20130203375A1
• Filed: 01/30/2013
• Published: 08/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intrado Life & Safety Incorporated
• Original Assignee: West Corporation
• Inventors: Snapp, John Lawrence, Zacek, Daniel
• Granted Patent: US 9,462,534 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/404.2
• 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: H04W 40/20 based on geographic position or location

Abstract

A system for routing a special number call from a calling unit to an answering point based upon location of the calling unit includes: (a) a communication network configured for effecting communicative coupling between the calling unit and one or more receiving answering point; each receiving answering point having a respective responsibility area; (b) a mobile positioning center coupled with the communication network; the mobile positioning center determining the location of the calling unit within a first location area; (c) a communication switch coupled with the communication network and coupled with the answering point; and (d) a controller unit coupled with the communication switch for controlling selected operations of the communication switch. The mobile positioning center and the controller unit cooperate to effect routing a call from the calling unit to each respective answering point having a respective responsibility area at least partly common with the first location area.

Claims

1. A system for routing a special number call from a calling unit to at least one answering point based upon geographic location of said calling unit;

the system comprising;

(a) at least one communication network;

each respective communication network of said at least one communication network being configured for effecting communicative coupling between said calling unit and one or more receiving answering point of said at least one answering point;

each of said one or more receiving answering point having a respective geographic responsibility area;

(b) at least one mobile positioning center coupled with said at least one communication network;

said at least one mobile positioning center determining said geographic location of said calling unit within a first geographic location area;

(c) at least one communication switch coupled with said at least one communication network and coupled with said at least one answering point; and

(d) at least one controller unit coupled with said at least one communication switch for controlling selected operations of said at least one communication switch;

said at least one mobile positioning center and said at least one controller unit cooperating to effect routing a call from said calling unit to each said respective answering point having a respective geographic responsibility area at least partly common with said first geographic location area.

2. The system for routing a special number call from a calling unit to at least one answering point based upon geographic location of said calling unit as recited in claim 1 wherein when said at least one mobile positioning center re-determines said geographic location of said calling unit to be within a second geographic location area, said at least one mobile positioning center and said at least one controller unit cooperating to effect routing subsequent calls from said calling unit to each said respective answering point having a respective geographic responsibility area at least partly common with said second geographic location area.

3. The system for routing a special number call from a calling unit to at least one answering point based upon geographic location of said calling unit as recited in claim 1 wherein when said at least one mobile positioning center re-determines said geographic location of said calling unit to be within a second geographic location area smaller than said first geographic location area, said at least one mobile positioning center and said at least one controller unit cooperating to effect routing subsequent calls from said calling unit to each said respective answering point having a respective geographic responsibility area at least partly common with said second geographic location area.

4. The system for routing a special number call from a calling unit to at least one answering point based upon geographic location of said calling unit as recited in claim 1 wherein when said at least one mobile positioning center re-determines said geographic location of said calling unit to be within a second geographic location area smaller than said first geographic location area before said call is answered by a respective answering point, said at least one mobile positioning center and said at least one controller unit cooperating to effect routing said call from said calling unit only to each said respective answering point having a respective geographic responsibility area at least partly common with said second geographic location area.

5. The system for routing a special number call from a calling unit to at least one answering point based upon geographic location of said calling unit as recited in claim 1 wherein when said at least one mobile positioning center re-determines said geographic location of said calling unit to be within a second geographic location area smaller than said first geographic location area after said call is answered by a particular said answering point, said at least one mobile positioning center and said at least one controller unit cooperating to permit said particular respective answering point to choose whether to transfer said call to another respective answering point having a respective geographic responsibility area at least partly common with said second geographic location area.

6. The system for routing a special number call from a calling unit to at least one answering point based upon geographic location of said calling unit as recited in claim 4 wherein said at least one communication switch is a tandem switch coupled with an emergency service network

7. The system for routing a special number call from a calling unit to at least one answering point based upon geographic location of said calling unit as recited in claim 5 wherein said at least one communication switch is a tandem switch coupled with an emergency service network

8. A system for routing a special number call from a calling unit to at least one answering point based upon geographic location of said calling unit;

the system comprising;

(a) a communication network configured for effecting communicative coupling between said calling unit and one or more receiving answering point of said at least one answering point;

each of said one or more receiving answering point having a respective geographic responsibility area;

(b) a mobile positioning center coupled with said communication network;

said mobile positioning center determining said geographic location of said calling unit within a first geographic location area;

(c) a communication switch coupled with said communication network and coupled with said at least one answering point; and

(d) a controller unit coupled with said communication switch for controlling selected operations of said communication switch;

said mobile positioning center and said controller unit cooperating to effect routing a call from said calling unit to each said respective answering point having a respective geographic responsibility area at least partly common with said first geographic location area.

9. The system for routing a special number call from a calling unit to at least one answering point based upon geographic location of said calling unit as recited in claim 8 wherein when said mobile positioning center re-determines said geographic location of said calling unit to be within a second geographic location area, said mobile positioning center and said controller unit cooperating to effect routing subsequent calls from said calling unit to each said respective answering point having a respective geographic responsibility area at least partly common with said second geographic location area.

10. The system for routing a special number call from a calling unit to at least one answering point based upon geographic location of said calling unit as recited in claim 8 wherein when said mobile positioning center re-determines said geographic location of said calling unit to be within a second geographic location area smaller than said first geographic location area, said mobile positioning center and said controller unit cooperating to effect routing subsequent calls from said calling unit to each said respective answering point having a respective geographic responsibility area at least partly common with said second geographic location area.

11. The system for routing a special number call from a calling unit to at least one answering point based upon geographic location of said calling unit as recited in claim 8 wherein when said mobile positioning center re-determines said geographic location of said calling unit to be within a second geographic location area smaller than said first geographic location area before said call is answered by a respective answering point, said mobile positioning center and said controller unit cooperating to effect routing said call from said calling unit only to each said respective answering point having a respective geographic responsibility area at least partly common with said second geographic location area.

12. The system for routing a special number call from a calling unit to at least one answering point based upon geographic location of said calling unit as recited in claim 8 wherein when said mobile positioning center re-determines said geographic location of said calling unit to be within a second geographic location area smaller than said first geographic location area after said call is answered by a particular said answering point, said mobile positioning center and said controller unit cooperating to permit said particular respective answering point to choose whether to transfer said call to another respective answering point having a respective geographic responsibility area at least partly common with said second geographic location area.

13. The system for routing a special number call from a calling unit to at least one answering point based upon geographic location of said calling unit as recited in claim 11 wherein said communication switch is a tandem switch coupled with an emergency service network

14. The system for routing a special number call from a calling unit to at least one answering point based upon geographic location of said calling unit as recited with claim 12 wherein said communication switch is a tandem switch coupled in an emergency service network

15. A method for routing a special number call from a calling unit to at least one answering point based upon geographic location of said calling unit;

the method comprising;

(a) in no particular order;

(1) providing at least one communication network;

each respective communication network of said at least one communication network being configured for effecting communicative coupling between said calling unit and one or more receiving answering point of said at least one answering point;

each of said one or more receiving answering point having a respective geographic responsibility area;

(2) providing at least one mobile positioning center coupled with said at least one communication network;

said at least one mobile positioning center determining said geographic location of said calling unit within a first geographic location area;

(3) providing at least one communication switch coupled with said at least one communication network and coupled with said at least one answering point; and

(4) providing at least one controller unit coupled with said at least one communication switch for controlling selected operations of said at least one communication switch; and

(b) operating said at least one mobile positioning center and said at least one controller unit cooperatively to effect routing a call from said calling unit to each said respective answering point having a respective geographic responsibility area at least partly common with said first geographic location area.

16. The method for routing a special number call from a calling unit to at least one answering point based upon geographic location of said calling unit as recited in claim 15 wherein when said at least one mobile positioning center re-determines said geographic location of said calling unit to be within a second geographic location area, said at least one mobile positioning center and said at least one controller unit operate cooperatively to effect routing subsequent calls from said calling unit to each said respective answering point having a respective geographic responsibility area at least partly common with said second geographic location area.

17. The method for routing a special number call from a calling unit to at least one answering point based upon geographic location of said calling unit as recited in claim 15 wherein when said at least one mobile positioning center re-determines said geographic location of said calling unit to be within a second geographic location area smaller than said first geographic location area, said at least one mobile positioning center and said at least one controller unit operate cooperatively to effect routing subsequent calls from said calling unit to each said respective answering point having a respective geographic responsibility area at least partly common with said second geographic location area.

18. The method for routing a special number call from a calling unit to at least one answering point based upon geographic location of said calling unit as recited in claim 15 wherein when said at least one mobile positioning center re-determines said geographic location of said calling unit to be within a second geographic location area smaller than said first geographic location area before said call is answered by a respective answering point, said at least one mobile positioning center and said at least one controller unit operate cooperatively effect routing said call from said calling unit only to each said respective answering point having a respective geographic responsibility area at least partly common with said second geographic location area.

19. The method for routing a special number call from a calling unit to at least one answering point based upon geographic location of said calling unit as recited in claim 15 wherein when said at least one mobile positioning center re-determines said geographic location of said calling unit to be within a second geographic location area smaller than said first geographic location area after said call is answered by a particular said answering point, said at least one mobile positioning center and said at least one controller unit operate cooperatively to permit said particular respective answering point to choose whether to transfer said call to another respective answering point having a respective geographic responsibility area at least partly common with said second geographic location area.

20. The method for routing a special number call from a calling unit to at least one answering point based upon geographic location of said calling unit as recited in claim 19 wherein said at least one communication switch is a tandem switch coupled with an emergency service network