Methods and apparatus to update geographic location information associated with internet protocol devices for E-911 emergency services

• US 8,064,875 B2
• Filed: 08/04/2006
• Issued: 11/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SBC Knowledge Ventures LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Velazquez, Leonardo, Gopal, Sudha, Klein, Adam Lee, Lenhart, Sandra C., Rys, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Laekemariam, Yosef K
• Application Number:
  US11/462,576
• Publication Number:
  US 20080125077A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,936 Days
• Field of Search: 379/60, 379/88.19, 379/45, 379/399.02, 370/352, 370/356, 370/395.5, 370/466, 370/467, 455/403, 455/404.2, 455/414.2, 455/432.2
• US Class Current: 455/404.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways

Abstract

Example methods and apparatus to enable 911 services to an internet protocol (“IP”) communication device are disclosed. A disclosed example method involves receiving a media access control address associated with the IP communication device and a first internet protocol address associated with a gateway through which the IP communication device is obtaining network access. A second internet protocol address associated with the media access control address is then retrieved. The first internet protocol address with the second internet protocol address are then compared. When the first internet protocol address does not match the second internet protocol address, the media access control address is associated with the first internet protocol address in a database to designate a geographic location of the device.

Claims

1. A method of enabling 911 services to an internet protocol communication device, the method comprising:

receiving a media access control address associated with the internet protocol communication device and a first internet protocol address associated with a gateway through which the internet protocol communication device is obtaining network access;

retrieving a second internet protocol address associated with the media access control address;

comparing the entire first internet protocol address with the entire second internet protocol address; and

when the entire first internet protocol address does not match the entire second internet protocol address, associating the media access control address with the first internet protocol address in a database to designate a geographic location of the internet protocol communication device.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the database is external to a virtual local area network in which the internet protocol communication device is communicatively coupled to the gateway.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the database is external to an internet protocol private branch exchange system in which the internet protocol communication device is communicatively coupled to the gateway.

4. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the internet protocol communication device comprises at least one of an internet protocol telephone, an internet protocol data communicator, a personal desktop computer having voice over internet protocol capabilities, or a personal laptop computer having voice over internet protocol capabilities.

5. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the second internet protocol address is associated with a second geographic location.

6. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the database is associated with a location identification server accessible by a 911 dispatcher.

7. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising determining whether the internet protocol communication device associated with the media access control address is eligible for association with the geographic location.

8. A method as defined in claim 7, further comprising denying service to the internet protocol communication device if the internet protocol communication device is ineligible for association with the geographic location.

9. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the second internet protocol address is associated with a second gateway.

10. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising determining whether the media access control address is valid.

11. A method as defined in claim 10, further comprising denying service to the internet protocol communication device if the media access control address is invalid.

12. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein comparing the first internet protocol address with the second internet protocol address comprises determining whether the first internet protocol address is stored in the database in association with the internet protocol communication device.

13. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein comparing the first internet protocol address with the second internet protocol address comprises determining whether the internet protocol communication device has been moved to a new geographic location.

14. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the first and second internet protocol addresses are associated with the same service provider network.

15. A tangible machine accessible medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed, cause a machine to at least:

receive a media access control address associated with an internet protocol communication device and a first internet protocol address associated with a gateway through which the internet protocol communication device is obtaining network access;

retrieve a second internet protocol address associated with the media access control address;

compare the entire first internet protocol address with the entire second internet protocol address; and

when the entire first internet protocol address does not match the entire second internet protocol address, associating the media access control address with the first internet protocol address in a database to designate a geographic location of the internet protocol communication device.

16. A machine accessible medium as defined in claim 15, wherein the internet protocol communication device comprises at least one of an internet protocol telephone, an internet protocol data communicator, a personal desktop computer having voice over internet protocol capabilities, or a personal laptop computer having voice over internet protocol capabilities.

17. A machine accessible medium as defined in claim 15, wherein the database is associated with a location identification server accessible by a 911 dispatcher.

18. An apparatus to enable 911 services to an internet protocol communication device, the apparatus comprising:

a communication interface to receive a media access control address associated with the internet protocol communication device and a first internet protocol address associated with a gateway through which the internet protocol communication device is obtaining network access;

a comparator to compare the entire first internet protocol address with an entire second internet protocol address associated with the media access control address; and

a geographic location updater to provide an updated geographic location of the internet protocol communication device based on the media access control address when the entire first internet protocol address does not match the entire second internet protocol address.

19. An apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein the communication interface communicates a configuration request to a configuration information provider when the first internet protocol address matches the second internet protocol address.

20. An apparatus as defined in claim 18, further comprising a validator communicatively coupled to the communication interface and configured to determine whether the media access control address is valid.

21. An apparatus as defined in claim 18, wherein the communication interface receives the media access control address from an authentication and policy management system.