Methods and apparatus for transmitting accurate emergency location identification numbers (ELINs) from behind a multi-line telephone system (MLTS) after an emergency caller disconnects

• US 6,724,860 B2
• Filed: 03/23/2001
• Issued: 04/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Unify Inc. (Atos SE)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Information And Communication Networks, Inc.
• Inventors: Stumer, Peggy M., Ozery, Nissim, Siu, Jorge Waimin, Schmitt, Heinz
• Primary Examiner(s): CHAN, WING F
• Application Number:
  US09/816,823
• Publication Number:
  US 20020136362A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,124 Days
• Field of Search: 379/37-51, 379/93.26, 379/156, 379/157, 379/167.01, 379/201.01
• US Class Current: 379/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/04 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42042 Notifying the called party of information on the calling party details within substation equipment H04M1/57, signalling details H04Q3/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/487 Arrangements for providing information services, e.g. recorded voice services or time announcements

Abstract

The invention is directed to methods for accurate transmission of ELIN/callback number from an emergency caller calling from behind a PBX/MLTS include assigning a port equipment number to each device/trunk of the PBX/MLTS and associating ports/devices with ELINs and callback numbers. The apparatus of the invention detects an emergency number, assigns the call priority, and uses the port/device number to determine the ELIN/callback number and properly transmit the ELIN/callback number optionally first over a private network and to the public network PSAP.

Claims

1. A method for processing an emergency call made from behind a PBX/MLTS using an analog or digital telephonic device, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) retrieving attributes of the telephonic device from which said emergency call was made from a database of attributes associated with each of said telephonic devices, said attributes comprising at least one ELIN and callback number for each telephonic device;

(b) storing one or more of said attributes in an emergency call information buffer at the PBX/MLTS;

(c) upon detecting an on-hook event, at the telephonic device from which the emergency call was made, autonomously transmitting one or more of said attributes from the buffer to an emergency call handling center prior to disconnecting the call at the PBX/MLTS.

2. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of disconnecting the emergency call after said step of transmitting.

3. The method according to claim 2 further comprising the step of prior to said step of transmitting, initiating a timer, wherein said step of disconnecting is performed after the timer expires.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein said step of transmitting to the public network (PRI) is accomplished via an ISDN SETUP message.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein said step of transmitting is accomplished over a private network via QSIG ISDN SETUP message signaling.

6. The method according to claim 2 wherein said step of disconnecting is accomplished via an ISDN DISConnect message.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein said step of transmitting over a private network and/or public network is accomplished via DTMF signaling.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein said step of transmitting is accomplished via CAMA trunk type signaling.

9. The method according to claim 2 wherein said step of disconnecting is accomplished via a trunk release.

19. The method according to claim 1 wherein said emergency call handling center is a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP).

10. An apparatus for processing an emergency call made from behind a PBX/MLTS using an analog or digital telephonic device, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a database of attributes associated with each of the telephonic devices from which said emergency call was made, said attributes comprising at least one ELIN and callback number associated with each of the devices/trunks coupled to the PBX/MLTS;

(b) retrieval means coupled to said database for retrieving one or more of said attributes from said database;

(c) buffer means coupled to said retrieval means for temporarily storing one or more of retrieved attributes at the PBX/MLTS;

(d) transmitting means coupled to said buffer means for autonomously transmitting one or more of said retrieved attributes to an emergency call handling center upon detecting an on-hook event at the telephonic device and prior to disconnecting the call at the PBX/MLTS.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 further comprising disconnect means coupled to said transmitting means for disconnecting the emergency call after said transmitting means transmits the retrieved ELIN and/or callback number.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11 further comprising a timer coupled to said disconnect means, wherein said disconnect means disconnects the emergency call after said timer expires.

13. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said transmitting means includes means for sending the ISDN SETUP message.

14. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said transmitting means includes means for QSIG signaling.

15. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said disconnect means includes means for sending an ISDN DISConnect message.

16. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said transmitting means includes means for DTMF signaling.

17. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said transmitting means includes means for CAMA trunk type signaling.

18. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein said disconnect means includes means for sending a trunk release.

20. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said emergency call handling center is a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP).