Method and apparatus for providing E911 services via network announcements

• US 8,059,645 B2
• Filed: 12/26/2009
• Issued: 11/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Croak, Marian, Eslambolchi, Hossein
• Primary Examiner(s): Pezzlo; John
• Application Number:
  US12/647,464
• Publication Number:
  US 20100098062A1
• Time in Patent Office: 689 Days
• Field of Search: 370/389, 370/352, 370/401
• US Class Current: 370/389
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1026 at the edge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/103 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1036 at the edge
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/104 in the network
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/401 wherein the services involve a main real-time session and one or more additional parallel real-time or time sensitive sessions, e.g. white board sharing or spawning of a subconference
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/04 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42357 where the information is provided to a monitoring entity such as a potential calling party or a call processing server
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5116 for emergency applications
• 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

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing emergency services, e.g., E911 services, for nomadic users by utilizing network announcements to remind customers to update location information used to provide services on packet networks, such as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) and Service over Internet Protocol (SoIP) networks, are disclosed. For example, the method enables the VoIP or SoIP service provider to detect a change in the IP address associated with either the broadband modem or the router through which a terminal adaptor is used to access services when a customer is logging on from a new location. In turn, the method sends a reminder network announcement message to the terminal adaptor, e.g., to be played when the terminal adaptor goes off-hook.

Claims

1. A method for providing a service in a communication network, comprising:

receiving a request from a customer for accessing a non-emergency service, wherein the non-emergency service is any service other than an emergency service;

detecting a change in an internet protocol address associated with the customer; and

sending a reminder network announcement to the customer to provide an update relating to location information of the customer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication network is an internet protocol network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the service comprises an internet protocol service.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the internet protocol address relates to a sub network internet protocol address of a terminal adaptor.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the sending further comprises:

determining if the terminal adaptor is off-hook; and

playing the reminder network announcement if the terminal adaptor is off-hook.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the sub network internet protocol address of the terminal adaptor comprises an internet protocol address of a router.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the sub network internet protocol address of the terminal adaptor comprises an internet protocol address of a modem.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the modem comprises a broadband access modem.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the emergency service is an E911 service.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the update relating to the location information from the customer.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

validating the update relating to the location information received from the customer.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

deactivating the reminder network announcement when the update relating to the location information is received from the customer.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions including instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method for providing a service in a communication network, comprising:

receiving a request from a customer for accessing a non-emergency service, wherein the non-emergency service is any service other than an emergency service;

detecting a change in an internet protocol address associated with the customer; and

sending a reminder network announcement to the customer to provide an update relating to location information of the customer.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the communication network is an internet protocol network.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the internet protocol address relates to a sub network internet protocol address of a terminal adaptor.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the sending further comprises:

determining if the terminal adaptor is off-hook; and

playing the reminder network announcement if the terminal adaptor is off-hook.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the sub network internet protocol address of the terminal adaptor comprises an internet protocol address of a router.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the sub network internet protocol address of the terminal adaptor comprises an internet protocol address of a modem.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the emergency service is an E911 service.

20. An apparatus for providing a service in a communication network, comprising:

a processor configured to;

receive a request from a customer for accessing a non-emergency service, wherein the non-emergency service is any service other than an emergency service;

detect a change in internet protocol address associated with the customer; and

send a reminder network announcement to said the customer to provide an update relating to location information of the customer.