Method and apparatus for increasing the reliability of an emergency call communication network

• US 7,123,693 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2004
• Issued: 10/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intrado Life & Safety Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Intrado Incorporated (West Corporation)
• Inventors: Sherry, Robert Allen, Bruening, Gregory Wilfred, Nelson, Michael Jay, Meer, Stephen Marc, Schmidt, Peter Roy
• Primary Examiner(s): WOO, STELLA L
• Application Number:
  US10/816,735
• Publication Number:
  US 20050201529A1
• Time in Patent Office: 928 Days
• Field of Search: 379/45, 379/37, 379/38, 379/39, 379/40, 379/93.17, 379/93.25, 379/90.01
• US Class Current: 379/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5116 for emergency applications

Abstract

The invention includes an emergency services network comprising a plurality of resources, a plurality of emergency services, and a Service/Name Resolution (SNR) system connected to a transport network. In operation, one of the resources receives a retrieval key for an emergency event from a conforming emergency system. The resource transmits the retrieval key to the transport network. The SNR system receives the retrieval key over the transport network and identifies at least one of the emergency services corresponding with the retrieval key. The SNR system initiates the transfer of the retrieval key to the identified emergency services. The identified emergency services then perform services corresponding with the retrieval key.

Claims

1. An emergency services network for providing emergency services for a conforming emergency system, the emergency services network comprising:

a plurality of emergency services connected to a transport network;

a plurality of resources connected to the transport network and to the conforming emergency system, wherein at least one of the plurality of resources is configured to receive a retrieval key from the conforming emergency system and to forward the retrieval key to the transport network; and

a service/name resolution (SNR) system connected to the transport network configured to receive the retrieval key over the transport network, to identify at least one of the emergency services associated with the retrieval key, and to forward the retrieval key to the identified emergency services via the transport network.

2. The emergency services network of claim 1 wherein:

each identified emergency service receiving the retrieval key is configured to perform a service associated with the retrieval key.

3. The emergency services network of claim 2 wherein:

at least one emergency service transmits information associated with the retrieval key to the one resource, the SNR system, or the conforming emergency system responsive to receiving the retrieval key.

4. The emergency services network of claim 3 wherein the information comprises one of streaming video, streaming audio, graphics data, voice, text or binary data, or executable instructions or scripts.

5. The emergency services network of claim 2 wherein:

at least one emergency service initiates a notification service responsive to receiving the retrieval key.

6. The emergency services network of claim 1 wherein the SNR system is further configured to determine if the identified emergency services are available.

7. The emergency services network of claim 1 wherein the SNR system being configured to forward the retrieval key to the identified emergency services comprises:

the SNR system is configured to transmit a message to the one resource indicating the identified emergency services via the transport network; and

the one resource is configured to receive the message from the SNR system, and to transmit queries that include the retrieval key to the identified emergency services via the transport network.

8. The emergency services network of claim 7 wherein:

at least one of the identified emergency services is configured to be responsive to the queries by transmitting information associated with the retrieval key to the one resource via the transport network; and

the one resource is configured to receive the information associated with the retrieval key and to transmit the information to the conforming emergency system to facilitate the conforming emergency system in handling an emergency event.

9. The emergency services network of claim 7 wherein at least one of the identified emergency services is configured to be responsive to the queries by transmitting information associated with the retrieval key to the conforming emergency system via the transport network to facilitate the conforming emergency system in handling an emergency event.

10. The emergency services network of claim 7 wherein one of the identified emergency services is configured to initiate a notification service for notifying third parties of an emergency event responsive to a query.

11. The emergency services network of claim 1 wherein the SNR system being configured to forward of the retrieval key to the identified emergency services comprises:

the SNR system is configured to transmit queries that include the retrieval key to the identified emergency services.

12. The emergency services network of claim 11 wherein:

at least one of the identified emergency services is configured to respond to the queries by transmitting information associated with the retrieval key to the SNR system via the transport network;

the SNR system is configured to receive the information corresponding with the retrieval key and to transmit the information to the one resource via the transport network; and

the one resource is configured to receive the information associated with the retrieval key and to transmit the information via the transport network to the conforming emergency system to facilitate the conforming emergency system in handling an emergency event.

13. The emergency services network of claim 11 wherein one of the identified emergency services is configured to initiate a notification service for notifying third parties of the emergency event responsive to a query.

14. The emergency services network of claim 11 wherein at least one of the queries to one of the identified emergency services includes an instruction to transmit information to the one resource.

15. The emergency services network of claim 14 wherein:

the one identified emergency service is configured to respond to the one query by transmitting information corresponding with the retrieval key to the one resource via the transport network; and

the one resource is configured to receive the information associated with the retrieval key and to transmit the information to the conforming emergency system via the transport network to facilitate the conforming emergency system in handling an emergency event.

16. The emergency services network of claim 11 wherein at least one of the queries to one of the identified emergency services includes an instruction to transmit information to the conforming emergency system.

17. The emergency services network of claim 16 wherein:

the one identified emergency service is configured to respond to the one query by transmitting information corresponding with the retrieval key to the conforming emergency system via the transport network.

18. The emergency services network of claim 1 wherein:

the SNR system is configured to receive connection data for a new emergency service to establish communications with the new emergency service.

19. The emergency services network of claim 18 wherein the connection data includes a network address in the transport network for the new emergency service.

20. The emergency services network of claim 18 wherein:

the SNR system is configured to receive a list of retrieval keys having a subscription in the new emergency service, and registers the list of retrieval keys in a database.

21. The emergency services network of claim 1 wherein the one resource comprises a response gateway.

22. The emergency services network of claim 1 wherein the conforming emergency system comprises a computer system in one of a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP), a hospital, a police department, a fire station, a fire alarm company, a security company, an ambulance service, a state 9-1-1 coordinator, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Department of Homeland Security, the National Geophysical Data Center, or the Center for Disease Control (CDC).

23. The emergency services network of claim 1 wherein the plurality of emergency services includes at least one of an ALI database, a Mobile Positioning Center (MPC), a Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC), an Emergency Auxiliary Service Provider (EASP), and a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) server.

24. The emergency services network of claim 1 wherein the retrieval key comprises one of a telephone number, a network address, a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) address, a trunk ID, a social security number, a street address, an employee ID, an email address, and an incident ID.

25. The emergency services network of claim 1 wherein the transport network comprises a packet network.

26. The emergency services network of claim 25 wherein the packet network comprises an Internet Protocol (IP) network.

27. The emergency services network of claim 1 wherein at least one of the emergency services receives update information pushed by the conforming emergency system.

28. A method of operating an emergency services network for providing emergency services, the emergency services network comprising a transport network, a plurality of resources connected to the transport network, a plurality of emergency services connected to the transport network, and an SNR system connected to the transport network, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a retrieval key in one of the plurality of resources from a conforming emergency system (CES);

transmitting the retrieval key from the one resource to the transport network; and

receiving the retrieval key in the SNR system over the transport network, identifying at least one of the emergency services that corresponds with the retrieval key, and transferring the retrieval key to the identified emergency services over the transport network.

29. The method of claim 28 further comprising the step of:

performing a service associated with the retrieval key in each identified emergency service receiving the retrieval key.

30. The method of claim 29 further comprising the step of:

transmitting information associated with the retrieval key over the transport network from at least one emergency service to the one resource, the SNR system, or the conforming emergency system responsive to receiving the retrieval key.

31. The method of claim 29 further comprising the step of:

initiating a notification service responsive to receiving the retrieval key in at least one emergency service.

32. The method of claim 28 further comprising the step of:

determining if the identified emergency services are available in the SNR system.

33. The method of claim 28 wherein the step of initiating the transfer of the retrieval key to the identified emergency services comprises:

transmitting a message over the transport network from the SNR system to the one resource indicating the identified emergency services; and

receiving the message in the one resource from time SNR system, and transmitting queries over the transport network that include the retrieval key to the identified emergency services.

34. The method of claim 33 further comprising the steps of:

responding to the queries in at least one of the identified emergency services by transmitting information over the transport network associated with the retrieval key to the one resource; and

receiving the information associated with the retrieval key in the one resource and transmitting the information over the transport network to the conforming emergency system to facilitate the conforming emergency system in handling an emergency event.

35. The method of claim 33 further comprising the step of:

responding to the queries in at least one of the identified emergency services by transmitting information over the transport network associated with the retrieval key to the conforming emergency system to facilitate the conforming emergency system in handling an emergency event.

36. The method of claim 33 further comprising the step of:

initiating a notification service in one of the identified emergency services for notifying third parties of an emergency event responsive to a query.

37. The method of claim 28 wherein the step of transferring the retrieval key to the identified emergency services comprises:

transmitting queries over the transport network that include the retrieval key from the SNR system to the identified emergency services.

38. The method of claim 37 further comprising the steps of:

responding to the queries in at least one of the identified emergency services by transmitting information over the transport network associated with the retrieval key to the SNR system;

receiving the information associated with the retrieval key in the SNR system and transmitting the information to the one resource over the transport network; and

receiving the information associated with the retrieval key in the one resource and transmitting the information over the transport network to the conforming emergency system to facilitate the conforming emergency system in handling an emergency event.

39. The method of claim 37 further comprising the step of:

initiating a notification service in one of the identified emergency services for notifying third parties of the emergency event responsive to a query.

40. The method of claim 37 further comprising the steps of:

responding to the query in the identified emergency service by transmitting information corresponding with the retrieval key to the one resource; and

receiving the information corresponding with the retrieval key in the one resource and transmitting the information to the conforming emergency system to facilitate the conforming emergency system in handling an emergency event.

41. The method of claim 28 further comprising the step of:

receiving connection data for a new emergency service in the SNR system to establish communications with the new emergency service.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein receiving connection data includes receiving a network address for the new emergency service.

43. The method of claim 41 further comprising the steps of:

receiving a list of retrieval keys having a subscription in the new emergency service; and

registering the list of retrieval keys in a database.

44. The method of claim 28 further comprising the step of:

receiving update information in at least one of the emergency services pushed by the conforming emergency system.

45. A service/name resolution (SNR) system for use in an emergency services network, said emergency services network comprising a transport network, a plurality of resources connected to the transport network and a plurality of emergency services connected to the transport network, the SNR system comprising:

a database comprising a directory correlating retrieval keys to the emergency services in the emergency services network; and

a processing system connected to the database, configured to access the database to identify at least one of a plurality of emergency services in the emergency services network that corresponds with a received retrieval key, and configured to transfer the retrieval key to the identified emergency services via the transport network.

46. The SNR system of claim 45 wherein:

the processing system is configured to access the database to determine if the identified emergency services are available.

47. The SNR system of claim 45 wherein the processing system being configured to transfer the retrieval key to the identified emergency services comprises:

the processing system is configured to transmit a message to a resource of the emergency services network indicating the identified emergency services.

48. The SNR system of claim 45 wherein the processing system being configured to transfer the retrieval key to the identified emergency services comprises:

the processing system is configured to transmit queries that include the retrieval key to the identified emergency services.

49. The SNR system of claim 48 wherein:

the processing system receives the information from at least one of the identified emergency services, and transmits the information to a resource of the emergency services network.

50. The SNR system of claim 48 wherein:

the processing system is configured to receive information from at least one of the identified emergency services, and is configured to transmit the information to a conforming emergency system connected to the emergency services network.

51. The SNR system of claim 48 wherein at least one of the queries includes an instruction to transmit the information to a resource of the emergency services network.

52. The SNR system of claim 48 wherein at least one of the queries includes an instruction to transmit the information to a conforming emergency system connected to the emergency services network.

53. The SNR system of claim 45 wherein:

the processing system is configured to receive connection data for a new emergency service to establish communications with the new emergency service.

54. The SNR system of claim 53 wherein connection data includes a network address for the new emergency service.

55. The SNR system of claim 53 wherein:

the processing system is configured to receive a list of retrieval keys having a subscription in the new emergency service, and is confirmed to register the list of retrieval keys in the database.

56. The SNR system of claim 45 wherein the plurality of emergency services includes at least one of an ALI database, a Mobile Positioning Center (MPC), a Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC), an Emergency Auxiliary Service Provider (EASP), and a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) server.

57. The SNR system of claim 45 wherein the retrieval key comprises one of a telephone number, a network address, a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) address, a trunk ID, a social security number, a street address, an employee ID, an email address, and an incident ID.

58. A method of operating an SNR system in an emergency services network, said emergency services network comprises a transport network, a plurality of resources connected to the transport network and a plurality of emergency services connected to the transport network, the SNR system comprising a database having a directory that correlates retrieval keys to emergency services in the emergency services network, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving a retrieval key;

accessing the database to identify at least one of a plurality of emergency services in the emergency services network that corresponds with the retrieval key; and

initiating the transfer of the retrieval key to the identified emergency services via the transport network.

59. The method of claim 58 further comprising the step of:

accessing the database to determine if the identified emergency services are available.

60. The method of claim 58 wherein the step of initiating the transfer of the retrieval key to the identified emergency services comprises:

transmitting a message to a resource of the emergency services network indicating the identified emergency services via the transport network.

61. The method of claim 58 wherein the step of initiating the transfer of the retrieval key to the identified emergency services comprises:

transmitting queries that include the retrieval key to the identified emergency services via the transport network.

62. The method of claim 61 further comprising the step of:

receiving the information from at least one of the identified emergency services, and transmitting the information to a resource of the emergency services network via the transport network.

63. The method of claim 61 further comprising the step of:

receiving the information from at least one of the identified emergency services, and transmitting the information to a conforming emergency system connected to the emergency services network via the transport network.

64. The method of claim 61 wherein at least one of the queries includes an instruction to transmit the information to a resource of the emergency services network via the transport network.

65. The method of claim 61 wherein at least one of the queries includes an instruction to transmit the information to a conforming emergency system connected to the emergency services network via the transport network.

66. The method of claim 58 further comprising the step of:

receiving connection data for a new emergency service to establish communications with the new emergency service.

67. The method of claim 66 wherein connection data includes a network address for the new emergency service.

68. The method of claim 66 further comprising the step of:

receiving a list of retrieval keys having a subscription in the new emergency service; and

registering the list of retrieval keys in the database.