System and method for disseminating global positioning information through a telecommunications infrastructure

• US 6,725,049 B1
• Filed: 05/26/1999
• Issued: 04/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Avaya Technology Corporation Miami Lakes FLA US
• Inventors: Williams, Marvin L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Nay
• Assistant Examiner(s): Orgad, Edan
• Application Number:
  US09/320,324
• Time in Patent Office: 1,791 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456, 455/465, 455/422, 455/457, 455/554, 455/555, 455/456--45, 455/461-463, 455/554.2, 342/357.13, 342/357.12, 701/208, 701/209, 379/142.01, 379/142.02, 379/142.04, 379/93.17
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/007 for management of a communication system
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/008 using a mobile telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile

Abstract

A system for, and method of, disseminating global positioning information through a telecommunications network. In one embodiment, the system includes: (1) a receiver that collects global positioning signals and generates global positioning information based thereon and (2) a mixer, coupled to the receiver, that combines the global positioning information with user traffic to allow the global positioning information to be communicated with the user traffic through the telecommunications network to a recipient.

Claims

1. A system for disseminating global positioning information through a telecommunications network, comprising:

a receiver that collects global positioning signals and generates global positioning information based thereon; and

a mixer, coupled to said receiver, that combines said global positioning information with user traffic between a caller and a call recipient to allow said global positioning information to be communicated with said user traffic through said telecommunications network to said recipient, wherein said recipient employs said global positioning information to confirm an identity of said caller.

2. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said mixer combines said global positioning information with said user traffic by employing a signal selected from the group consisting of:

an out-of-band channel associated with said user traffic, and

an in-band signal associated with said user traffic.

3. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said receiver and said mixer are located without a telephone.

4. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said global positioning information and said user traffic are routed through a private branch exchange (PBX) before being communicated to said recipient.

5. The system as recited in claim 1 further comprising a display, coupled to said receiver, that displays at least a portion of said global positioning information.

6. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said recipient employs said global positioning information as an encryption key.

7. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said telecommunications network is a wireline telecommunications network.

8. A method of disseminating global positioning information through a telecommunications network, comprising:

collecting global positioning signals;

generating global positioning information based thereon;

combining said global positioning information with user traffic between a caller and a call recipient to allow said global positioning information to be communicated with said user traffic through said telecommunications network to said recipient; and

employing said global positioning information to confirm an identity of said caller.

9. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said combining comprises employing a signal selected from the group consisting of:

an out-of-band channel associated with said user traffic, and

an in-band signal associated with said user traffic.

10. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said collecting, generating and combining are carried out without a telephone.

11. The method as recited in claim 8 further comprising:

routing said global positioning information and said user traffic are through a private branch exchange (PBX); and

subsequently communicating said global positioning information and said user traffic to said recipient.

12. The method as recited in claim 8 further comprising displaying at least a portion of said global positioning information.

13. The method as recited in claim 8 further comprising employing said global positioning information as an encryption key.

14. The method as recited in claim 8 wherein said telecommunications network is a wireline telecommunications network.

15. A telecommunications infrastructure, comprising:

a telecommunications network; and

a plurality of telephones couplable to said telecommunications network, each of said plurality of telephones being associated with;

a receiver that collects global positioning signals and generates global positioning information based thereon, and

a mixer, coupled to said receiver, that combines said global positioning information with user traffic between a caller and a call recipient and communicates said global positioning information with said user traffic through said telecommunications network to said recipient, wherein said recipient employs said global positioning information to confirm an identity of said caller.

16. The infrastructure as recited in claim 15 wherein said mixer combines said global positioning information with said user traffic by employing a signal selected from the group consisting of:

an out-of-band channel associated with said user traffic, and

an in-band signal associated with said user traffic.

17. The infrastructure as recited in claim 15 wherein said receiver and said mixer are located without said plurality of telephones.

18. The infrastructure as recited in claim 15 further comprising a private branch exchange interposed between at least some of said plurality of telephones and said telecommunications network.

19. The infrastructure as recited in claim 15 wherein said plurality of telephones are further associated with a display, coupled to said receiver, that displays at least a portion of said global positioning information.

20. The infrastructure as recited in claim 15 wherein said recipient employs said global positioning information as an encryption key.

21. The infrastructure as recited in claim 15 wherein said telecommunications network is a wireline telecommunications network.