Methods and systems for providing foreign call back number compatibility for VoIP E9-1-1 calls

• US 8,036,342 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2010
• Issued: 10/11/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Darr, Anne-Marie B., Breen, Thomas P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Anwah; Olisa
• Application Number:
  US12/789,183
• Publication Number:
  US 20100239074A1
• Time in Patent Office: 502 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.1, 455/404.2, 455/521, 379/45, 379/142.1, 379/201.06, 379/207.12, 379/211.02, 379/211.01, 370/352
• US Class Current: 379/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/36 Memories
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems

Abstract

Systems and methods provide foreign call back number compatibility. The systems and methods receive a local telephone number assigned to a subscriber, the subscriber having a non-local telephone number as the normal calling number of the subscriber. Furthermore, the systems and methods query a database with the local telephone number to obtain the non-local telephone number and to provide the non-local telephone number. In addition, systems and methods provide a foreign call back number compatibility database. The systems and methods receive a local telephone number assigned to a subscriber and a non-local telephone number comprising the normal calling number of the subscriber and saving the local number and the non-local number to a database.

Claims

1. A method for providing foreign call back number compatibility, the method comprising:

assigning a non-local, packet switched telephone number to a subscriber, wherein the non-local, packet switched telephone number comprises a non-local callable telephone number;

assigning a local telephone number to the subscriber that is associated with a geographic location of the subscriber thereby forming an assigned local telephone number, wherein the local telephone number is not a local callable telephone number and wherein the subscriber is a voice-over-internet-protocol subscriber;

providing the geographic location and the assigned local telephone number to an automatic location information database of a public safety system;

determining, using a packet-switched routing apparatus, whether a called number is a predetermined number including at least an emergency number;

determining whether a calling number is local to the subscriber, and if the calling number is not local to the subscriber, the packet-switched routing apparatus substitutes the assigned local telephone number of the subscriber for the calling number and routes the assigned local telephone number to the public safety system that services the geographic area;

determining the public safety system that services the geographic area based on the assigned local telephone number for the calling number; and

displaying the non-local, packet switched telephone number in an alternate number field viewable at a public safety answering point of the public safety system that services the geographic area.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein assigning the non-local telephone number further comprises assigning the non-local telephone number configured not to identify the geographic location of the subscriber.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the emergency number comprises 9-1-1.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising routing a call to a non-emergency destination when the called number is determined not an emergency number.

14. The method of claim 1, determining whether the calling number is local to the subscriber, and if the calling number is local to the subscriber, the packet-switched routing apparatus routes a call associated with the calling number to the public safety system based on the calling number and the called number.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising querying the automatic location information database using the assigned local telephone number and returning the non-local, packet switched telephone number in response to the querying.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-local, packet switched telephone number and the local telephone number are assigned by an internet service provider of the subscriber.

3. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium wherein the medium is a computer memory which stores a set of instructions which when executed performs a method for providing a foreign call back number compatibility database, the method comprising:

assigning a non-local, packet switched telephone number to a subscriber, wherein the non-local, packet switched telephone number comprises a non-local callable telephone number;

assigning a local telephone number to the subscriber that is associated with a geographic location of the subscriber thereby forming an assigned local telephone number, wherein the local telephone number is not a local callable telephone number and wherein the subscriber is a voice-over-internet-protocol subscriber;

providing the geographic location and the assigned local telephone number to an automatic location information database of a public safety system;

determining, using a packet-switched routing apparatus, whether a called number is a predetermined number including at least an emergency number;

determining whether a calling number is local to the subscriber, and if the calling number is not local to the subscriber, the packet-switched routing apparatus substitutes the assigned local telephone number of the subscriber for the calling number and routes the assigned local telephone number to the public safety system that services the geographic area;

determining the public safety system that services the geographic area based on the assigned local telephone number for the calling number; and

displaying the non-local, packet switched telephone number in an alternate number field viewable at a public safety answering point of the public safety system that services the geographic area.

5. The computer-readable medium of claim 3, wherein assigning the non-local telephone number further comprises assigning the non-local telephone number configured not to identify the geographic location of the subscriber.

6. The computer readable medium of claim 3, wherein the emergency number comprises 9-1-1.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 3, further comprising routing a call to a non-emergency destination when the called number is determined not an emergency number.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 3, determining whether the calling number is local to the subscriber, and if the calling number is local to the subscriber, the packet-switched routing apparatus routes a call associated with the calling number to the public safety system based on the calling number and the called number.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 3, further comprising querying the automatic location information database using the assigned local telephone number and returning the non-local, packet switched telephone number in response to the querying.

7. A system for providing foreign call back number compatibility comprising:

a processor configured to;

assign a non-local, packet switched telephone number to a subscriber, wherein the non-local, packet switched telephone number comprises a non-local callable telephone number;

assign a local telephone number to the subscriber that is associated with a geographic location of the subscriber thereby forming an assigned local telephone number, wherein the local telephone number is not a local callable telephone number and wherein the subscriber is a voice-over-internet-protocol subscriber; and

provide the geographic location and the assigned local telephone number to an automatic location information database of a public safety system;

a packet-switched routing apparatus configured to;

determine whether a called number is a predetermined number including at least an emergency number;

determine whether a calling number is local to the subscriber, and if the calling number is not local to the subscriber, the packet-switched routing apparatus substitutes the assigned local telephone number of the subscriber for the calling number and routes the assigned local telephone number to the public safety system that services the geographic area; and

determine the public safety system that services the geographic area based on the assigned local telephone number for the calling number; and

a public safety answering point configured to;

display the non-local, packet switched telephone number in an alternate number field viewable at a public safety answering point of the public safety system that services the geographic area.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein assigning the non-local telephone number further comprises assigning the non-local telephone number configured not to identify the geographic location of the subscriber.

9. The system of claim 7, wherein the emergency number comprises 9-1-1.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein the packet-switched routing apparatus includes a voice-over internet protocol server, a soft switch, and a local telephone number database.

11. The system of claim 7, further comprising routing a call to a non-emergency destination when the called number is determined not an emergency number.

16. The system of claim 7, determining whether the calling number is local to the subscriber, and if the calling number is local to the subscriber, the packet-switched routing apparatus routes a call associated with the calling number to the public safety system based on the calling number and the called number.

19. The system of claim 7, wherein the public safety answering point queries the automatic location information database using the assigned local telephone number and returns the non-local, packet switched telephone number in response querying the automatic location information database.