Wireless peripheral device for allowing an IP softphone to place calls to a public safety answering point

• US 6,990,328 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2001
• Issued: 01/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Avaya Technology Corporation Miami Lakes FLA US
• Inventors: Crandall, Pamme Lynn, Donley, Christopher Jason
• Primary Examiner(s): Gelin, Jean
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Huy D.
• Application Number:
  US10/059,951
• Publication Number:
  US 20030096589A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,530 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.1, 455/404.2, 379/37, 379/45
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• 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

Abstract

Upon detecting the origination of an emergency call to a public safety answering point (PSAP), an IP softphone places this call over a cellular network rather than utilizing data communication. By placing the emergency call over the cellular system, the call is automatically routed by the cellular system to the appropriate PSAP, and the cellular system also provides to the PSAP the location of the IP softphone. The IP softphone utilizes a peripheral that provides the radio frequency circuitry necessary to place the emergency call to the PSAP.

Claims

1. A method for routing emergency telephone calls via an IP softphone to a public safety answering point, comprising the steps of:

communicating non-emergency telephone calls via a wide area network by the IP softphone;

detecting an emergency telephone call being originated by the IP softphone;

originating always a direct communication path for the emergency telephone call via an cellular radio interface and a cellular network to the public safety answering point whereby the emergency telephone calls are always communicated via the cellular radio interface and the cellular network to the public safety answering point;

communicating the emergency telephone call via the communication path via the cellular network to the public safety answering point whereby the public safety answering point responds to the emergency telephone call and determines a location of the IP Softphone;

detecting a termination of the emergency telephone call by the IP softphone; and

re-communicating non-emergency telephone calls via the wide area network by the IP Softphone whereby non-emergency telephone calls are always communicated via the wide area network.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the cellular radio interface is an integral part of the IP softphone.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the cellular radio interface is external to the IP softphone.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprises connecting the cellular radio interface to the IP softphone via an universal serial bus interface.

5. A method for routing emergency telephone calls via an IP softphone to a public safety answering point, comprising the steps of:

communicating always non-emergency telephone calls via a wide area network to an enterprise communication switching system by the IP softphone;

detecting an emergency telephone call being originated by the IP Softphone;

originating always a direct communication path for the emergency telephone call via an cellular radio interface and a cellular network to the public safety answering point whereby the emergency telephone calls are always communicated via the cellular radio interface and the cellular network to the public safety answering point;

communicating the emergency telephone call via the communication path via the cellular network to the public safety answering point whereby the public safety answering point responds to the emergency telephone call and determines a location of the IP Softphone;

detecting a termination of the emergency telephone call by the IP softphone; and

re-communicating non-emergency telephone calls via the wide area network to the enterprise communication switching system by the IP Softphone whereby non-emergency telephone calls are always communicated via the wide area network.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the cellular radio interface is an integral part of the IP softphone.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the cellular radio interface is external to the IP softphone.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprises connecting the cellular radio interface to the IP softphone via an universal serial bus interface.

9. An IP softphone for routing emergency telephone calls to a public safety answering point, comprising:

a first interface communicating non-emergency telephone calls via a wide area network;

a personal computer for detecting an emergency telephone call being originated by the IP softphone;

the personal computer further always originating a direct communication path for the emergency telephone call via a second interface and a cellular network to the public safety answering point whereby the emergency telephone calls are always communicated via the cellular radio interface and the cellular network to the public safety answering point;

the second interface under control of the personal computer communicating the emergency telephone call via the communication path via the cellular network to the public safety answering point whereby the public safety answering point responds to the emergency telephone call and determines a location of the IP Softphone;

the second interface detecting under control of the personal computer a termination of the emergency telephone call; and

the first interface re-communicating non-emergency telephone calls under control of the personal computer via the wide area network whereby non-emergency telephone calls are always communicated via the wide area network.

10. The IP softphone of claim 9 wherein the second interface is an integral part of the personal computer.

11. The IP softphone of claim 9 wherein the second interface is external to the personal computer.

12. The IP softphone of claim 11 wherein the first interface is an universal serial bus interface.

13. An IP softphone for routing emergency telephone calls to a public safety answering point, comprising:

a first interface communicating non-emergency telephone calls via a wide area network to an enterprise communication switching system;

a personal computer for detecting an emergency telephone call being originated by the IP softphone;

the personal computer further always originating a direct a communication path for the emergency telephone call via a second interface and a cellular network to the public safety answering point whereby the emergency telephone calls are always communicated via the cellular radio interface and the cellular network to the public safety answering point;

the second interface under control of the personal computer communicating the emergency telephone call via the communication path via the cellular network to the public safety answering point whereby the public safety answering point responds to the emergency telephone call and determines a location of the IP Softphone;

the second interface detecting under control of the personal computer a termination of the emergency telephone call; and

the first interface re-communicating non-emergency telephone calls under control of the personal computer via the wide area network whereby non-emergency telephone calls are always communicated via the wide area network.

14. The IP softphone of claim 13 wherein the second interface is an integral part of the personal computer.

15. The IP softphone of claim 13 wherein the second interface is external to the personal computer.

16. The IP softphone of claim 15 wherein the first interface is an universal serial bus interface.