Emergency calling with a VoIP device in a VLAN environment

• US 7,099,332 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2000
• Issued: 08/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Leung, Mun Keung
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Chi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Phan, Tri H.
• Application Number:
  US09/752,004
• Publication Number:
  US 20020085538A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,069 Days
• Field of Search: 370351-352, 370/338, 370/349, 370/395.52, 370/230, 370/395.53, 370395- 53, 370461-462, 370412-418, 370/395.2, 379 37- 50
• US Class Current: 370/395.42
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/4641 Virtual LANs, VLANs, e.g. virtual private networks [VPN] LAN interconnection over a bridge based backbone H04L12/462; encapsulation techniques H04L12/4633; routing of packets H04L45/00; packet switches H04L49/00; virtual private networks for security H04L63/0272
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1043 Gateway controllers, e.g. media gateway control protocol [MGCP] controllers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1106 Call signalling protocols; H.323 and related
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/401 wherein the services involve a main real-time session and one or more additional parallel real-time or time sensitive sessions, e.g. white board sharing or spawning of a subconference
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/80 Responding to QoS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/61 taking into account QoS or priority requirements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

Method (130) for optimizing emergency call service in a Virtual Local Area Network including at least one Voice over Internet Protocol device. A range of port numbers is reserved for use during emergencies (134). Next, a VoIP device transmits an emergency call within the VLAN using a port in the specified range (136). Extra resources are reserved for handling the calls using ports within the specified range (138).

Claims

1. In a virtual local area network (VLAN), a method of handling emergency voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) calls comprising the steps of:

reserving a range of specific port numbers for use during emergencies;

detecting a call within the VLAN having a port number falling within said range of specific port numbers;

classifying the call as an emergency call;

reserving extra resources for handling the emergency call;

determining an actual priority value of the call; and

routing the emergency call packets to a queue requiring a higher priority than the actual priority value of the emergency call.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of reserving a range of specific port numbers further comprises

reserving a specific range of port numbers so that when a port number within the range of specific port numbers is detected, the priority value of the call is raised.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of reserving a range of specific port numbers further includes the step of increasing the priority value of said call to seven.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of reserving extra resources is followed by the step of transmitting the call to a 911 operator.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of reserving extra resources is followed by the step of transmitting the call to a fire department.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of reserving extra resources is followed by the step of transmitting the call to an ambulance.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of reserving extra resources is followed by the step of transmitting the call to a police department.

8. In a virtual local area network (VLAN), a module for managing emergency voice over internet protocol (VoIP) calls, comprising:

means for reserving a range of specific port numbers for use during emergencies;

means for detecting a call within the VLAN having a port number falling within said range of specific port numbers;

means for classifying the call as an emergency call;

means for determining an actual priority value of the call; and

means for routing the emergency call packets to a queue requiring a higher priority than the actual priority value of the emergency call.

9. The module of claim 8 wherein said means for reserving a range of specific port numbers further comprises

means for reserving a range of specific port numbers so that when a port number within the range of specific port numbers is detected, the priority value of the call is raised.

10. The module of claim 8 wherein said means for reserving a range of specific port numbers further comprises means for increasing the priority value of said call to seven.

11. The module of claim 8 further comprising means for transmitting the call to a 911 operator.

12. The module of claim 8 further comprising means for transmitting the call to a fire department.

13. The module of claim 8 further comprising means for transmitting the call to an ambulance dispatcher.

14. The module of claim 8 further comprising means for transmitting the call to a police department.