Method and system for locating a voice over internet protocol (VoIP) device connected to a network

• US 7,940,746 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2004
• Issued: 05/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Comcast Cable Holdings LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Livingood, Jason D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gauthier; Gerald
• Application Number:
  US10/924,485
• Publication Number:
  US 20060056388A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,450 Days
• Field of Search: 370/267, 370/352, 370/328, 370/356, 370/389, 379/37, 379/45, 379/221.01, 379/88.17, 455/404.1, 455/404.2, 455/456.1, 455/422.1
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72418 for supporting emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/04 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• 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 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• 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 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/003 locating network equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections

Abstract

A method and system for locating a device connected to a network by determining a current network address for the device and comparing the current network address to a network address in a user profile. If the network addresses match, the device is located based on a physical address associated with the network address in the user profile.

Claims

1. A method for locating a user making an emergency call over a network using a voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) device, the method comprising:

determining an emergency call origination network address for the VoIP device upon detecting the emergency call, the emergency call origination network address associated with a current access point on the network through which the VoIP device is making the emergency call;

locating a user profile associated with the VoIP device making the emergency call, the user profile including a physical address associated with a network address, the physical address detailing a location of the user when accessing the network from the network address;

determining if the network address in the located user profile matches with the emergency call origination network address; and

determining the VoIP device to be located at the physical address if the network addresses match.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising routing the emergency call to a public safety answering point (PSAP) and including therewith the physical address of the VoIP device.

3. A method for locating a voice over Internet telephone (VoIP) device connected to a network, the method comprising:

determining a current network address for the VoIP device on the network;

locating a user profile associated with the VoIP device, the user profile including at least one physical address associated with a network address;

determining if the current network address for the VoIP device matches with any of the network addresses in the user profile; and

determining a location of the VoIP device to be at the physical address associated with the network address that matches the current network address of the VoIP device.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the user profile is created dynamically upon connecting the VoIP device to the network.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the user profile is created dynamically by delivering requests for information to the VoIP device and receiving a response thereto.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the requests and responses thereto are made through speech commands.

7. The method of claim 3 wherein the user profile is created by a user inputting the physical and network addresses into the user profile.

8. The method of claim 3 further comprising associating a telephone number with the VoIP device and the user profile, the user profile being located based on the telephone number.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising broadcasting the telephone number from the VoIP device upon connecting the VoIP device to the network.

10. The method of claim 3 further comprising confirming the location of the VoIP device.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the location of the VoIP device is confirmed by contacting the VoIP device and interrogating a user thereof.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the VoIP device is contacted through a VoIP call and the interrogation is conducted through speech commands.

13. The method of claim 3 further comprising providing the location of the VoIP device to a public safety answering point (PSAP).

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising determining an emergency call being made on the VoIP device and providing the location of the VoIP device to the PSAP in response thereto.

15. An apparatus comprising:

a processor;

a memory having stored therein computer executable instructions, that when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to perform a method of;

determining a current network address for a VoIP device on a network;

locating a user profile associated with the VoIP device, the user profile stored on the memory and including at least one physical address associated with a network address;

determining if the current network address for the VoIP device matches with any of the network addresses in the user profile; and

determining a location of the VoIP device to be at the physical address associated with the network address that matches the current network address of the VoIP device.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the method further performs:

creating the user profile dynamically upon the VoIP device connecting to the network.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the method further performs:

communicating with the VoIP device and interrogating the VoIP device through the communication in order to dynamically create the user profile.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the method further performs:

interrogating the VoIP device through speech commands.

19. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the method further performs:

receiving inputs for creating the user profile without requiring connection of the VoIP device to the network.

20. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the method further performs:

locating the user profile based on a telephone number assigned to the VoIP device.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the method further performs:

receiving a broadcasted message having the telephone number from the VoIP device upon connection of the VoIP device to the network.

22. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the method further performs:

confirming the location of the VoIP device.

23. The apparatus of claim 22 wherein the method further performs:

confirming the location of the VoIP device by contacting the VoIP device and interrogating a user thereof.

24. The apparatus of claim 23 wherein the method further performs:

contacting the VoIP device through a VoIP call whereby the interrogation is conducted through speech commands.

25. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the method further performs:

providing the location of the VoIP device to a public safety answering point (PSAP).

26. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the method further performs:

determining an emergency call being made on the VoIP device and providing the location of the VoIP device to the PSAP in response thereto.

27. The apparatus of claim 26 wherein the method further performs:

routing the emergency call to the PSAP.