Method, system and computer program product for providing a regional E911 network

• US 7,042,985 B1
• Filed: 08/27/2003
• Issued: 05/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Wright, Ronald Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah, Melur
• Application Number:
  US10/650,437
• Time in Patent Office: 986 Days
• Field of Search: 379 37- 49, 379/90.01, 379/221.08, 379/221.09, 379/221.1, 379/221.12, 370/352, 455/575, 709/206
• US Class Current: 379/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/04 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42348 Location-based services which utilize the location information of a target
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42

Abstract

A method for providing a regional E911 edge network. The method includes assigning public safety answering points (PSAPs) to ports located in a telephone network, where each of the ports is associated with a calling party number (CPN) and a geographic location. The method also includes identifying an incoming emergency call from an IP device. The IP device corresponds to a unique machine access code address and the incoming emergency call includes an incoming CPN. The entry port associated with the IP device is determined based on the unique machine access code address and the incoming CPN. The incoming emergency call is connected to the PSAP corresponding to the entry port. The CPN and the geographic location data are transmitted to the PSAP corresponding to the entry port.

Claims

1. A method for providing a regional E911 network, said method comprising:

assigning public safety answering points (PTAPs) to ports located in a telephone network, wherein each said port is associated with a calling party number (CPN) and a geographic location;

identifying an incoming emergency call from an IP device, said IP device corresponding to a unique machine access code address and said incoming emergency call including an incoming CPN;

determining which said port is an entry port associated with said IP device, wherein input to said determining includes said unique machine access code address and said incoming CPN;

connecting said incoming emergency call to one of PSAPs corresponding to said entry port; and

transmitting said CPN and said geographic location data to one of said PSAPs corresponding to said entry port; and

mapping a physical location and address to said IP device and said entry port, in response to a moving of said IP device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said determining includes:

searching a local automatic location information (ALI) database for said entry port corresponding to said incoming CPN and to said machine access code address; and

if said incoming CPN is not located in said local ALI databases then searching a regional ALI database for said entry port corresponding to said incoming CPN and to said machine access code address.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said local ALI database is updated in response to said IP device being connected to one of said port.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said regional ALI database is updated in response to said IP device being connected to one of said ports.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein said local ALI database is updated in response to said IP device being disconnected from one of said ports.

6. The method of claim 2 wherein said regional ALI database is updated in response to said IP device being disconnected from one of said ports.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said incoming emergency call is from an advanced features customer.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said incoming emergency call is from an E911 service handling customer.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said incoming emergency call is from a wireless device.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said geographic location data is an emergency location identification number.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein said geographic location data is geodetic.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said geodetic data includes GPS data.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein said goedetic data includes a geo-location code including a country field, a state field, a county field, a mile field, an acre field, a sector field and a floor field.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said country field is three digits, said state field is three digits, said county field is three digits, said mile field is four digits, said acre field is three digits, said sector field is one digit and said floor field is three digits.

15. A system for providing a regional E911 network, said system comprising:

one or more PSAPs;

an ISCP including a regional ALI database;

a switch;

a router including one or more ports and in communication with a switch;

an IP device in communication with one of said ports in said router; and

a network location server (NLS) including a local ALI database, said NLS in communication with said PSAP, said ISCP and said switch, wherein said NLS includes instructions to implement a method comprising;

identifying an incoming emergency call from said IP device, said IP device corresponding to a unique machine access code address and said incoming emergency call including an incoming CPN;

determining which said port is an entry port associated with said IP device, wherein input to said determining includes said unique machine access code address and said incoming CPN;

connecting said incoming emergency call one of said PSAPs corresponding to said entry port; and

transmitting said CPN and said geographic location data to one of said PSAPs corresponding to said entry port; and

mapping a physical location and address to said IP device and said entry port in response to a moving of said IP device.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein said determining includes:

searching said local automatic location information (ALI) database for said entry port corresponding to said incoming CPN and to said machine access code address; and

if said incoming CPN is not located in said local ALI databases then transmitting a request to search said regional ALI database for said entry port corresponding to said incoming CPN and to said machine access code address.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein said NLS further includes a NLS switch, a gateway server, a network file server and a call management server.

18. The system of claim 15 further including a firewall in communication with said router and said switch.

19. The system of claim 15 wherein said switch of a class 5 switch.

20. The system of claim 15 wherein said IP device is a wireless telephone.

21. The system of claim 15 wherein said IP device is a wired telephone.

22. The system of claim 15 wherein said IP device is a cellular telephone.

23. The system of claim 15 wherein said switch uses SS7 signaling.

24. The system of claim 15 wherein said connecting said incoming emergency call to one of said PSAPs is performed using SS7.

25. A computer program product for providing a regional E911 network, the computer program product comprising:

a storage medium readable by a processing circuit and storing instructions for execution by the processing circuit for facilitating a method comprising;

assigning public safety answering points (PSAPs) to ports located in a telephone network, wherein each said port is associated with a calling party number (CPN) and a geographic location;

identifying an incoming emergency call from an IP device, said IP device corresponding to a unique machine access code address and said incoming emergency call including an incoming CPN;

determining which said port is an entry port associated with said IP device, wherein input to said determining includes said unique machine access code address and said incoming CPN;

connecting said incoming emergency call to one of said PSAPs corresponding to said entry port; and

transmitting said CPN and said geographic location data to one of said PSAPs corresponding to said entry port; and

mapping a physical location and address to said IP device and said entry port, in response to a moving of said IP device.