Systems and methods for location identification of endpoints

• US 7,515,907 B2
• Filed: 05/31/2005
• Issued: 04/07/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Unify Patente GmbH & Co. KG (Atos Se)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Communications Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Sahim, Faramarz F., Skeldon, Bruce M., Stumer, Peggy Marie, Aziz, Nibal T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ly, Nghi H
• Application Number:
  US11/141,577
• Publication Number:
  US 20060270384A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,407 Days
• Field of Search: 455/435.1, 455/404.1, 455/521, 455/435, 379/45, 370/389
• US Class Current: 455/435.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/20 hybrid systems
• 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 3/5116 for emergency applications
• 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 8/10 between location register and external networks

Abstract

Devices, systems and methods for transient endpoint location identification are disclosed. The exemplary method may include transmitting a registration request from an endpoint to a server. The server requests a location identification number from the endpoint. The server associates the address of the endpoint with the location identification number provided by the endpoint. When the endpoint contacts emergency personnel, the server provides the location identification number associated with the endpoint, allowing emergency personnel to locate the endpoint.

Claims

1. A method for endpoint location and identification comprising:

receiving a registration request from an endpoint to a server;

determining whether the endpoint sending the registration request is a transient endpoint, said transient endpoint being at least one of a VoIP telephone or mobile phone;

storing an address of the endpoint;

requesting a location identification number from the endpoint;

receiving the location identification number, said location identification number being received through at least one of keypad input from said endpoint or voice recognition;

storing the location identification number;

associating the address of the endpoint with the location identification number; and

detecting a change in a location of said endpoint, said detecting said change in said location including at least one of recognizing that said endpoint is no longer connected within a local area network and is connected across a wide area network or recognizing that a local internet protocol address has changed and a new location identification number has not been entered for the local internet protocol address.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an emergency number contact from the endpoint;

routing the emergency number contact to the server;

retrieving the location identification number address associated with the address of the endpoint;

connecting the endpoint to the emergency number contact; and

transmitting the location identification number associated with the address of the endpoint to the emergency number contact.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining from the location identification number an appropriate public safety answering point to connect the endpoint.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the address of the endpoint is an IP address.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a user with a list of location identification numbers associated with the user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the endpoint and the server use session initiation protocol.

7. A system for endpoint location identification comprising:

a module for receiving a registration request from an endpoint to a server;

a module for determining if the endpoint sending the registration request is a transient endpoint, said transient endpoint being at least one of a VoIP telephone or mobile phone;

a module for requesting a location identification number from the endpoint;

a module for receiving the location identification number, said location identification number being received through at least one of keypad input from said endpoint or voice recognition;

a database for storing an address of the endpoint and the location identification number; and

a module for detecting a change in a location of said endpoint, said module for detecting said change in location including at least one of a module for recognizing that said endpoint is no longer connected within a local area network and is connected across a wide area network or a module for recognizing that a local internet protocol address has changed and a new location identification number has not been entered for the local internet protocol address.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

a module for receiving an emergency number contact from the endpoint to the server;

a module for retrieving the location identification number from the database;

a module for connecting the endpoint to the emergency number contact; and

a module for transmitting the location identification number associated with the address of the endpoint to the emergency number contact.

9. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

a module for determining from the location identification number an appropriate public safety answering point to connect the endpoint.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the address of the endpoint is an IP address.

11. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

a module for providing a user with a list of location identification numbers associated with the user.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the endpoint and the server use session initiation protocol.

13. A system for location identification comprising:

a means for receiving a registration request from a means for communicating to a server;

a means for determining if the means for communication sending the registration request is a transient means for communication, said transient endpoint being at least one of a VoIP telephone or mobile phone;

a means for requesting a location identification number from the means for communication;

means for receiving the location identification number, said location identification number being received through at least one of keypad input from said endpoint or voice recognition;

a means for storing an address of the means for communication and the location identification number in a database; and

a means for detecting a change in a location of said endpoint, said means for detecting said change in location including at least one of means for recognizing that said endpoint is no longer connected within a local area network and is connected across a wide area network or means for recognizing that a local internet protocol address has changed and a new location identification number has not been entered for the local internet protocol address.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

a means for receiving an emergency number contact from the means for communicating to the server;

a means for retrieving the location identification number from the database;

a means for connecting the means for communication to the emergency number contact; and

a means for transmitting the location identification number associated with the address of the means for communication to the emergency number contact.

15. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

a means for determining from the location identification number an appropriate public safety answering point to connect the means for communication.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the address of the means for communication is an IP address.

17. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

a means for providing a user with a list of location identification numbers associated with the user.