SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR CALL MANAGEMENT

• US 20170171735A1
• Filed: 02/17/2017
• Published: 06/15/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Rapidsos, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Rapidsos, Inc.
• Inventors: ANAND, Preet, ANTYPAS, Peter, OSIPOVAS, Motiejus
• Granted Patent: US 9,992,655 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/46 the supplementary measurement being of a radio-wave signal type
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/14 Determining absolute distances from a plurality of spaced points of known location
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/025 using location based information parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• 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 76/50 for emergency connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/12 Application layer protocols, e.g. WAP [Wireless Application Protocol]

Abstract

A system and method are provided in accordance with the various aspects of the invention that enhance the information regarding a caller and a call location. Such calls are typically sent to a dispatcher that handles urgent or emergency calls. The information provided can be in the form of a message that is includes specifics about the call initiator and the nature of and/or reason for the call; a message that is converted to verbal form from text-to-speech; and/or the message may include location information, especially as it relates to representing a wireless device as a landline location based on nearby communication options, such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth beacons.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for determining a location of a wireless device and providing the location to an emergency service, the method comprising:

(a) receiving a user request from the wireless device to send an emergency communication;

(b) obtaining location information for the wireless device;

(c) determining a location of the wireless device based on the location information, wherein initial latitude and longitude coordinates of the device are refined by referencing nearby access points to obtain a more accurate location; and

(d) providing the location of the wireless device to the emergency service by writing the location to an emergency database associated with the emergency communication.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the location information for the wireless device comprises a geographical location and a beacon ID of a wireless network transmitter (beacon), wherein the location of the wireless device is enhanced using timing information of a signal path between the wireless device and the wireless network transmitter.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the coordinates of the wireless device are enhanced using a power-difference-of-arrival technique with multiple beacons, each beacon comprising a beacon ID and signal power level.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining location information comprises accessing a database comprising beacon IDs, beacon power levels, beacon geographical locations, or any combination thereof.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the beacon ID comprises a Media Access Control (MAC) address, a Temporary Mobile Station Identifier, or an Internet Protocol address.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the location of the wireless device is written to the emergency database associated with the emergency communication before the emergency communication is routed to the emergency service.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the initial latitude and longitudinal coordinates are GPS coordinates.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein in (c), determining a location comprises referencing Wi-Fi refined longitude and latitude GPS coordinates against a database that stores lookup information to obtain an address by reverse geo-coding.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the location information comprises coordinates that are transformed into an address via a database that stores lookup information, wherein the database that stores lookup information comprises physical locations of nearby Wi-Fi and Bluetooth networks.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the location of the wireless device is determined using radio messaging between the wireless device and nearby networks, wherein the networks are selected from a the group consisting of cellular system, WiMAN, WiMAX, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, NFC, and any combination thereof.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the location information and an identity of the wireless device is determined from physical or virtual network identifiers.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless device is identified by USIM, IMEI, Cell ID, or a telephone number.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the wireless device transmits and receives the location as web content information using WAP or HTTP technology.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the emergency communication is routed to the emergency service and a third party.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium having a series of instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

(a) receive a user request from a wireless device to send an emergency communication to an emergency service;

(b) obtain location information for the wireless device;

(c) determine a location of the wireless device based on the location information, wherein initial latitude and longitude coordinates of the device are refined by referencing nearby access points to obtain a more accurate location; and

(d) provide the location of the wireless device to the emergency service by writing the location to an emergency database associated with the emergency communication.

16. The medium of claim 15, wherein the location is written to the emergency database associated with the emergency communication before the emergency communication is routed to the emergency service.

17. The medium of claim 15, wherein the location information for the wireless device comprises a geographical location and a beacon ID of a wireless network transmitter (beacon), wherein the location of the wireless device is enhanced using timing information of a signal path between the wireless device and the wireless network transmitter.

18. The medium of claim 15, wherein the coordinates of the wireless device are enhanced using a power-difference-of-arrival technique with multiple beacons, each beacon comprising a beacon ID and signal power level.

19. The medium of claim 15, wherein the series of instructions cause the processor to obtain location information by accessing a database comprising beacon IDs, beacon power levels, beacon geographical locations, or any combination thereof.

20. The medium of claim 15, wherein in (c), determining a location comprises referencing Wi-Fi refined longitude and latitude GPS coordinates against a database that stores lookup information to obtain an identifiable address by reverse geo-coding.

21. The medium of claim 15, wherein the series of instructions cause the processor to update the location in the emergency database.

22. A wireless device for providing information regarding a user and a user location to an emergency service, the device comprising at least one processor, at least one receiver operably connected to the at least one processor, and at least one memory, wherein the device further comprises:

(a) an interface module receiving a request from a user to send an emergency communication to an emergency service;

(b) a control module obtaining location information for the wireless device and determining a location of the device based on the location information; and

(c) a communication module providing the location of the wireless device to the emergency service by writing the location to an emergency database associated with the emergency communication.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein the location information comprises a geographical location and a beacon ID of a wireless network transmitter (beacon), wherein the location of the wireless device is enhanced using timing information of a signal path between the wireless device and the wireless network transmitter.

24. The device of claim 22, wherein the coordinates of the wireless device are enhanced using a power-difference-of-arrival technique with multiple beacons, each beacon comprising a beacon ID and signal power level.

25. The device of claim 22, the control module obtains location information by accessing a database comprising beacon IDs, beacon power levels, network transmitter geographical locations, or any combination thereof.

26. The device of claim 22, wherein the beacon is configured to communicate with the wireless device using IEEE 802.11, IEEE 802.16, IEEE 802.15, Bluetooth, ultra wideband, RF, RFID, IRDA, WLAN, WiMax, or WPAN.

27. The device of claim 22, wherein in (c), determining a location comprises referencing Wi-Fi refined longitude and latitude coordinates against a database that stores lookup information to obtain an identifiable address by reverse geo-coding.

28. The device of claim 22, wherein the location is written to the emergency database associated with the emergency communication before the emergency communication is routed to the emergency service.

29. The device of claim 22, wherein the communication module updates the location of the wireless device on the emergency database.

30. A system for providing information regarding a caller and a call location to an emergency service, the system comprising:

(a) a wireless device comprising a user interface for receiving a request to send an emergency communication to an emergency service;

(b) a database storing location information for the wireless device, the location information comprising latitude and longitudinal coordinates of the wireless device; and

(c) a computing device configured for;

i) receiving a request to send an emergency communication to the emergency service;

ii) determining a location based on the location information, wherein initial latitude and longitude coordinates of the device are refined by referencing nearby access points to obtain a more accurate location; and

iii) providing the location of the wireless device to the emergency service by writing the location to an emergency database associated with the emergency communication.