Telephone system and method for reliable emergency services calling

• US 7,103,151 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2002
• Issued: 09/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MCI Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Lass, Steven L., Truetken, John L., Gallant, John K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah, Melur
• Application Number:
  US10/157,371
• Publication Number:
  US 20030198331A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,560 Days
• Field of Search: 379 37- 45, 379/90.01, 379/93.15, 379/221.01, 370/410, 370/401, 370/352, 709/227, 709/225
• US Class Current: 379/37
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27485 Appending a prefix to or inserting a pause into a dialling sequence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72418 for supporting emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/04 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42314 in private branch exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0057 Services where the data services network provides a telephone service in addition or as an alternative, e.g. for backup purposes, to the telephone service provided by the telephone services network
• 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
• 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

A method of routing a telephone call includes receiving an indication, at a handset device 112, to initiate a telephone call. It is then determined, preferably by the handset device 112, whether the telephone call is an emergency services telephone call. If the telephone call is not an emergency services telephone call, it is routed to a proxy server 134. On the other hand, if the telephone call is an emergency services telephone call, it is routed to a local gateway 116 without first accessing the proxy server 134.

Claims

1. A method of routing a telephone call at a local customer premise, the method comprising:

receiving, at a handset device, an indication to initiate a telephone call;

determining, at the handset device, if the telephone call is a first type of telephone call;

if the telephone call is not a first type of telephone call, routing the telephone call to a proxy server without passing through a local gateway, and

if the telephone call is a first type of telephone call, routing the telephone call from the handset device to the local gateway without first accessing the proxy server.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first type of telephone call is an emergency services telephone call.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the handset device determines that telephone call is an emergency services telephone call when the indication comprises a character string of“

9-1-1”

entered into a keypad by a user.

4. The method of claim 3 and further comprising translating the character string “

9-1-1”

into a different telephone number before routing the telephone call to a local gateway.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the handset device includes a lookup table and wherein determining if the telephone call is an emergency services telephone call comprises performing a lookup in the lookup table.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein routing the telephone call from the handset to a local gateway comprises addressing a message with an IP address of the local gateway, the message being routed to the local gateway.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising routing the telephone call from the local gateway to a Class 5 switch.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein routing the telephone call to a proxy server comprises routing the telephone call to a proxy server located remotely from the handset.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the indication comprises a telephone number.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the first type of telephone call comprises a telephone service notification call.

11. A telephone system comprising:

a router coupled to a local area network, the router including an output port that is operable to be coupled to a proxy server;

at least one handset coupled to the local area network, the handset including a user interface; and

a local network gateway coupled to the local area network, the local network gate including an output port operable to be coupled to an element of a circuit-switched telephone network, wherein the handset routes a telephone call directly to the local network gateway when an indication from the user interface indicates that the telephone call is a telephone call of a first type,

wherein the handset routes the telephone call to the proxy server without passing through the local network gateway when an indication from the user interface indicates that the telephone call is not a telephone call of a first type.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the handset receives the indication from the user and translates the indication into a first type telephone number prior to routing the telephone call directly to the local network gateway.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the element of the circuit-switched telephone network comprises a Class 5 switch.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the system further includes the Class 5 switch.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein the system further includes the proxy server.

16. The system of claim 15 and further comprising a plurality of Class 3 switches coupled to the proxy server through a network.

17. The system of claim 11 wherein the handset comprises:

a controller coupled to the user interface; and

a memory storing a table including an indication of the first type of telephone call and a destination address corresponding with the first type of telephone call.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the first type of telephone call comprises an emergency services telephone call.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the controller receives a user indication from the user interface and determines if the user indication is the same as the indication of a emergency services telephone call and wherein, if the user indication is the same as the indication of a emergency services telephone call indication, the controller routes a telephone message to the destination address in the table.

20. The system of claim 11 wherein the first type of telephone call comprises an emergency services telephone call.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the indication from the user comprises a dialed sequence of “

9-1-1.”