Method for sending calling communication terminal location data to a call center

• US 7,783,020 B2
• Filed: 01/26/2005
• Issued: 08/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sound View Innovations, LLC (Sound View Innovation Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Alcatel-Lucent SA (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Gass, Raymond, Le Creff, Michel
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz; Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, PHUNG HOANG JOSEPH
• Application Number:
  US10/589,027
• Publication Number:
  US 20070201645A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,036 Days
• Field of Search: 379/45, 379/37, 379/42, 455/404.1, 455/404.2
• US Class Current: 379/142.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/7163 using impulse radio
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/51 Centralised call answering arrangements requiring operator intervention , e.g. call or contact centers for telemarketing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

This method is used to send data representative of the location of communication terminals (T) to a call center (ECC) without using information processing means in the terminals and to send via heterogeneous communication networks (RP, RPT). This method consists, in the event of requesting the setting up of a telephone call between a terminal (T) and the call center (ECC) by means of a dedicated calling number, in sending the call center a signaling message for setting up the connection and comprising a selected call identifier and a text type message including data representative of the location of the calling terminal (T) and the selected call identifier. At the call center, the method consists in associating the signaling message received by the call center with the location data contained in the text message received by the call center if the signaling message and the text message include the same call identifier.

Claims

1. A method of sending call center data representative of a location of a communication terminal, the method comprising:

generating and then sending to the call center the following messages;

a signaling message requesting the setting up of a call between the terminal and the call center, wherein the signaling message comprises an unambiguous call identifier, and

a location message comprising data representative of the location of the calling terminal and the unambiguous call identifier, and

in the call center, associating the signaling message with the and a location message received by the call center and comprising the unambiguous call identifier,

wherein generating the signaling message comprising the unambiguous call identifier comprises generating the unambiguous call identifier in a network node receiving the signaling message sent by the terminal and requesting the setting up of a call, wherein the unambiguous call identifier is integrated into the signaling message aimed at the call center and requesting the setting up of a call, and wherein generating the location message comprising the unambiguous call identifier comprises generating the location message and integrating the unambiguous call identifier into the location message;

wherein said signaling message is a text message;

wherein said text message includes a field dedicated to data representative of the nature of the unambiguous call identifier followed by a field dedicated to said unambiguous call identifier; and

wherein said text message includes at least three fields dedicated to location data, a first field being dedicated to a latitude measurement, a second field being dedicated to a longitude measurement and a third field being dedicated to an altitude measurement.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the user-to-user signaling channel is used to send the text message over an integrated services digital network using synchronous time division multiplexing.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said text message is sent via electronic mail.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein location data of the terminal is determined by a location server belonging to a network to which said terminal is connected, after which said text message is generated and sent by a text message server belonging to said network.

5. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that said nature of the unambiguous call identifier designates at least one number selected from:

a direct dialing inwards number integrated into said signaling message and representing said terminal in the network to which it is connected,

a pseudo-direct dialing inwards number integrated into said signaling message and representing said terminal in the network to which it is connected,

a generic number integrated into said signaling message and representing an entity to which said terminal is attached,

a generic number and a pseudo-direct dialing inward number, both integrated into said signaling message and respectively representing an entity to which said terminal is attached and said calling terminal in the network to which it is connected,

a generic number and an area identifier, both integrated into said signaling message and respectively representing an entity to which said terminal is attached and a geographical area in which said terminal is situated.

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that said text message includes a field dedicated to data representative of the altitude measurement type.

7. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that said text message includes at least three fields respectively dedicated to the resolutions of the latitude, longitude and altitude measurements and respectively associated with said first, second and third location fields.

8. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that said unambiguous call identifier is placed in a free field of said signaling message requesting the setting up of a call between the terminal and a call center (ECC).

9. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that said unambiguous call identifier is a number selected from a selected set of numbers.

10. The method according to claim 9, characterized in that said set is specific to the network to which said calling terminal is connected.

11. A method of sending call center data representative of a location of a communication terminal, the method comprising:

generating and then sending to the call center the following messages;

a signaling message requesting the setting up of a call between the terminal and the call center, wherein the signaling message comprises an unambiguous call identifier, and

a location message comprising data representative of the location of the calling terminal and the unambiguous call identifier, and

in the call center, associating the signaling message with the location message received by the call center and comprising the unambiguous call identifier,

wherein generating the signaling message comprising the unambiguous call identifier comprises generating the unambiguous call identifier in a network node receiving the signaling message sent by the terminal and requesting the setting up of a call, wherein the unambiguous call identifier is integrated into the signaling message aimed at the call center and requesting the setting up of a call, and wherein generating the location message comprising the unambiguous call identifier comprises generating the location message and integrating the unambiguous call identifier into the location message;

wherein said signaling message is a text message;

wherein said text message is sent via an SMS type short message; and

wherein said text message includes a field dedicated to data representative of the nature of the unambiguous call identifier followed by a field dedicated to said unambiguous call identifier; and

wherein said text message includes at least three fields dedicated to location data, a first field being dedicated to a latitude measurement, a second field being dedicated to a longitude measurement and a third field being dedicated to an altitude measurement.

12. A device for aiding the location of a communication terminal by a call center, characterized in that it comprises means for:

receiving a signaling message sent by the terminal and requesting the setting up of a call between the terminal and a call center and then determining an unambiguous call identifier in a network node,

instructing the sending of the unambiguous call identifier to said call center in the signaling message requesting the setting up of a call,

generating a text type message including data representative of the location of said terminal and the unambiguous calling identifier, and

instructing the sending of said text message to said call center so the said call center can associate the location data that it contains with said signaling message requesting the setting up of a call;

wherein said text message includes a field dedicated to data representative of the nature of the unambiguous call identifier followed by a field dedicated to said unambiguous call identifier; and

wherein said text message includes at least three fields dedicated to location data, a first field being dedicated to a latitude measurement, a second field being dedicated to a longitude measurement and a third field being dedicated to an altitude measurement.