Emergency services for voice over IP telephony (E-VoIP)
First Claim
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1. A method for determining the physical coordinates of a VoIP phone and transmitting the physical coordinates to an emergency services call center or the like, the method comprising:
- determining the physical coordinates of the VoIP phone using signals from a GPS or cellular network;
placing a call to the emergency services call center with the VoIP phone; and
automatically transmitting the physical coordinates of the VoIP phone to the emergency services call center;
wherein the step of placing a call to the emergency services call center comprises determining whether the call can be completed to the emergency services call center over a computer network to which the VoIP phone is connected and, if the call cannot be completed over the computer network, routing the call over a communications network to which the VoIP phone is connected, the communications network being different from the computer network.
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Abstract
A method for determining the physical coordinates of a VoIP phone and transmitting the physical coordinates to an emergency services call center or the like comprises the steps of determining the physical coordinates of the VoIP phone using signals from a GPS or cellular network, placing a call to an emergency services call center using the VoIP phone, and automatically transmitting the physical coordinates of the VoIP phone to the emergency services call center.
51 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for determining the physical coordinates of a VoIP phone and transmitting the physical coordinates to an emergency services call center or the like, the method comprising:
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determining the physical coordinates of the VoIP phone using signals from a GPS or cellular network; placing a call to the emergency services call center with the VoIP phone; and automatically transmitting the physical coordinates of the VoIP phone to the emergency services call center; wherein the step of placing a call to the emergency services call center comprises determining whether the call can be completed to the emergency services call center over a computer network to which the VoIP phone is connected and, if the call cannot be completed over the computer network, routing the call over a communications network to which the VoIP phone is connected, the communications network being different from the computer network. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 13, 14)
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6. A method for determining the physical coordinates of a VoIP phone and transmitting the physical coordinates to an emergency services call center or the like, the method comprising:
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determining the physical coordinates of the VoIP phone; placing a call to the emergency services call center with the VoIP phone; and automatically transmitting the physical coordinates of the VoIP phone to the emergency services call center; wherein the step of determining the physical coordinates of the VoIP phone comprises determining the physical coordinates of a building in which the VoIP phone is located using signals from a GPS or cellular network, and determining the location of the VoIP phone within the building; and wherein the step of placing a call to the emergency services call center comprises determining whether the call can be completed to the emergency services call center over a computer network to which the VoIP phone is connected and, if the call cannot be completed over the computer network, routing the call over a communications network to which the VoIP phone is connected, the communications network being different from the computer network. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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9. A method for identifying the physical location of a VoIP phone or the like to an emergency services call center or the like, the method comprising:
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(a) determining the physical coordinates of the VoIP phone using signals from a GPS or cellular network; (b) storing the physical coordinates in the VoIP phone; (c) entering digits into the VoIP phone in order to initiate a telephone call; (d) monitoring the digits entered into the VoIP phone in step (c); (e) if a determination is made in step (d) that the digits 9-1-1 were entered in step (c), attempting to determine the physical coordinates of the VoIP phone using signals from the GPS or cellular network; (f) if the attempt to determine the physical coordinates of the VoIP phone in step (e) is unsuccessful, recalling the physical coordinates stored in step (b); (g) placing the call to the emergency services call center; and (h) automatically transmitting the physical coordinates of the VoIP phone to the emergency services call center. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 15, 16)
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12. A method for identifying the physical location of a VoIP phone or the like to an emergency services call center or the like, the method comprising:
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(a) entering digits into the VoIP phone in order to initiate a telephone call; (b) monitoring the digits entered into the VoIP phone in step (a); (c) if a determination is made in step (b) that the digits 9-1-1 were entered in step (a), determining the physical coordinates of the VoIP phone using signals from a GPS or cellular network; (d) determining if VoIP service is available to the VoIP phone; (e) if a determination is made in step (d) that VoIP service is available, placing the call over the VoIP network; (f) if a determination is made in step (d) that VoIP service is not available, placing the call over the cellular network; and (g) automatically transmitting the physical coordinates of the VoIP phone to the emergency services call center. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A method for determining the physical coordinates of a VoIP phone and transmitting the physical coordinates to an emergency services call center or the like, the method comprising:
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determining the physical coordinates of the VoIP phone using signals from a GPS or cellular network; placing a call to the emergency services call center with the VoIP phone; and automatically transmitting the physical coordinates of the VoIP phone to the emergency services call center; wherein the step of automatically transmitting the physical coordinates of the VoIP phone comprises including the physical coordinates in a data packet which is transmitted over the internet using a quality of service (QoS) protocol; and wherein the step of placing a call to the emergency services call center comprises determining whether the call can be completed to the emergency services call center over a computer network to which the VoIP phone is connected and, if the call cannot be completed over the computer network, routing the call over a communications network to which the VoIP phone is connected, the communications network being different from the computer network.
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Specification