Priority based methods and apparatus for transmitting accurate emergency location identification numbers (ELINs) from behind a multi-line telephone system (MLTS)

• US 6,868,139 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2003
• Issued: 03/15/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Enterprise Systems Technologies S.a.r.l. (Atos SE)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Communications Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Stumer, Peggy M., Ozery, Nissim, Vander Meiden, David A., Frank, Richard, Kucmerowski, Dennis
• Primary Examiner(s): WOO, STELLA L
• Application Number:
  US10/449,653
• Publication Number:
  US 20030194060A1
• Time in Patent Office: 655 Days
• Field of Search: 379/37, 379/40, 379/45, 379/39, 379/38, 379/157, 379/165, 379/234
• 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 3/42195 Arrangements for calling back a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy H04M3/48

Abstract

Methods for accurate transmission of ELIN/callback number from an emergency caller calling from behind a PBX/MLTS include prioritizing the emergency call, 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.

Claims

1. A method for processing an emergency call made from behind a PBX/MLTS, said method comprising the steps of:

a) within the PBX/MLTS determining whether dialed digits represent an emergency number; and

b) assigning priority within the PBX/MLTS to a call determined to be an emergency call without interrupting any existing calls and sending the emergency call to a central office.

2. An apparatus for processing an emergency call made from behind a PBX/MLTS, said apparatus comprising:

a) means within the PBX/MLTS for determining whether dialed digits represent an emergency number; and

b) means for assigning priority within the PBX/MLTS to a call determined to be an emergency call without interrupting any existing calls and sending the emergency call to a central office.

3. An apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising:

c) means for storing a port equipment number for each device/trunk in the PBX/MLTS; and

d) means for associating an emergency location identification number (ELIN) with each port equipment number.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3 further comprising:

d) means for determining from which port the emergency call originated; and

f) means for transmitting to a public safety answering point the ELIN associated with the port from which the emergency call originated.

5. An apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising:

c) means for storing a port equipment number for each device/trunk in the PBX/MLTS; and

d) means for associating a callback number with each port equipment number.

6. An apparatus according to claim 5 further comprising:

e) means for determining from which port the emergency call originated; and

f) means for transmitting to a public safety answering point the callback number associated with the port from which the emergency call originated.

7. An apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising:

c) means for storing a port equipment number for each device/trunk in the PBX/MLTS; and

d) means for associating an emergency location identification number (ELIN) and a callback number with each port equipment number.

8. An apparatus according to claim 7 further comprising:

e) means for determining from which port the emergency call originated; and

f) means for transmitting to a public safety answering point the ELIN and the callback number associated with the port from which the emergency call originated.