Systems and methods for third party emergency call termination

• US 7,734,019 B1
• Filed: 12/09/2004
• Issued: 06/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Level 3 Communications LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Level 3 Communications LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Terpstra, Richard D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz; Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): El-Zoobi; Maria
• Application Number:
  US11/009,212
• Time in Patent Office: 2,007 Days
• Field of Search: 379/37, 379/45, 379/219, 370/352, 709/227, 455/403
• US Class Current: 379/37
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/04 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42348 Location-based services which utilize the location information of a target
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/123 where the packet-switched network is an Internet Protocol Multimedia System-type network
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• 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

Various systems and methods for servicing emergency calls are disclosed. One such method includes providing a location database that includes physical location information about a communication device. This location information can be accessed either directly or indirectly by an emergency service answering system, while concealing the information from a network responsible for terminating the call.

Claims

1. A method for servicing an emergency call, the method comprising:

providing a location database, wherein the location database maintains a physical location of a communication device;

in response to detecting a change occurring in one or more of an Internet Protocol (IP) address of the communication device or a load balancer accessed by the communication device, updating the location database with an alternate physical location;

receiving an emergency call, wherein the emergency call originates from the communication device, and wherein the communication device is accessible via a call back number;

forming a call request in relation to the emergency call, wherein the call request includes an indication of an emergency service answering system and a key;

providing the call request to a network, wherein the network is capable of routing the emergency call to the emergency service answering system indicated by the call request;

receiving a request for the call back number and the physical location of the communication device; and

in response to the request for the call back number and the physical location of the communication device, providing the call back number and the alternate physical location of the communication device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the emergency service answering system is a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP), wherein the indication of the emergency service answering system is an Emergency Services Routing Number (ESRN) associated with the PSAP, wherein the key is an Emergency Services Query Key (ESQK), and wherein the ESQK is operable to trigger a lookup of a call back number for the communication device and a location of the communication device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the lookup of the call back number is performed by an Automatic Location Identification (ALI) database, and wherein the request for the call back number and the physical location of the communication device is provided by the ALI database.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether there is a change in physical location based on an IP address and/or a load balancer change further comprises:

the communication device accessing a load balancer; and

the load balancer querying a load balancer cache to locate one more of registration status or other preferences of the communication device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein determining whether there is a change in physical location based on an IP address and/or a load balancer change further comprises:

the load balancer determining the other preferences of the communication device;

determining that the communication device accessed the load balancer last time the communication device accessed the network; and

determining that the physical location of the communication device is unchanged.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein determining whether there is a change in physical location based on an IP address and/or a load balancer change further comprises:

the load balancer not determining other preferences of the communication device;

the load balancer creating a device record in the load balancer cache;

determining that the communication device accessed a different load balancer last time the communication device accessed the network;

determining that the communication device changed physical location based on the communication device accessing the different load balancer;

a data collection unit requesting a current physical location of the communication device;

receiving the current physical location of the communication device; and

updating the current physical location in the location database.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether there is a change in physical location based on an IP address and/or a load balancer change further comprises:

the communication device accessing the network using a different IP address than last time the communication device accessed the network;

determining that the communication device changed physical location based on the communication device using the different IP address;

a data collection unit requesting a current physical location of the communication device;

receiving the current physical location of the communication device; and

updating the current physical location in the location database.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the data collection unit presents a selection menu with a list of physical locations.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the list of physical locations comprises a primary location, at least one alternative location, and an option to provide a new location.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the list of physical locations is presented in an order according to likelihood of the communication device being at each location.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the data collection unit is a Voice Response Unit (VRU).

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the data collection unit presents a selection menu with a list of physical locations.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the list of locations comprises a primary location, at least one alternative location, and an option to provide a new location.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the list of physical locations is presented in an order according to likelihood of the communication device being at each location.

23. The method of claim 15, wherein the data collection unit is a Voice Response Unit (VRU).

24. The method of claim 1, wherein the call back number is concealed from a recipient receiving the call request.

4. A system for servicing an emergency call, the system comprising:

a location database; and

a computer readable medium, wherein the computer readable medium includes instructions executable by a microprocessor to;

receive an emergency call, wherein the emergency call originates from a communication device, and wherein the communication device is at a physical location;

form a call request in relation to the emergency call, wherein the call request includes an indication of an emergency service answering system and a key;

provide the call request to a network, wherein the network is capable of routing the emergency call to an emergency service answering system indicated by the call request;

receive a request for the physical location of the communication device;

access the location database, wherein the location database includes the physical location of the communication device;

in response to the request for the physical location of the communication device, provide the physical location of the communication device; and

update the location database when detection of one or more of a change in Internet Protocol (IP) address of the communication device or a change in load balancer accessed by the communication device indicates a change in physical location.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the communication device is accessible via a call back number, and wherein the instructions are further executable by the microprocessor to:

receive a request for the call back; and

in response to the request for the call back number, provide the call back number.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the request for the call back number is received from the emergency service answering system in a method selected from a group consisting of:

indirectly, and directly; and

wherein the call back number is concealed from the network.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the emergency service answering system is a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP), and wherein the request for the call back number is received from the PSAP indirectly via an Automatic Location Identification (ALI) database.

8. The system of claim 4, wherein the request for the physical location is received from the emergency service answering system in a method selected from a group consisting of:

indirectly, and directly; and

wherein the physical location is concealed from the network.

9. The system of claim 5, wherein the emergency service answering system is a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP), and wherein the request for the call back number is received from the PSAP indirectly via an Automatic Location Identification (ALI) database.

10. The system of claim 4, wherein the key is an Emergency Services Query Key (ESQK).

11. The method of claim 4, wherein the emergency service answering system is a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP), and wherein the indication of the emergency service answering system is an Emergency Services Routing Number (ESRN) associated with the PSAP.