Emergency data message router database

• US 8,320,871 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2008
• Issued: 11/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Ray, Amar Nath, Coppage, Carl M., Greene, Lynn T., Morrill, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid, Lester
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gu, Andy
• Application Number:
  US12/257,641
• Publication Number:
  US 20100003949A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,495 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.1
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/00 Speech synthesis; Text to speech systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5116 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• 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 52/0261 managing power supply demand, e.g. depending on battery level
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0296 switching to a backup power supply
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A system and method for providing information associated with public safety answering points may include storing a set of records including information associated with a plurality of PSAPs, each record may include (i) an identifier indicative of a PSAP available to service emergency communications, (ii) at least one cell code identifier indicative of cell sites in which the associated PSAP services, and (iii) at least one network address capable of receiving certain emergency data message types. In response to receiving a request, a PSAP local to a wireless communications device of a user who sent an emergency data message may be identified, and a network address associated with the identified local PSAP may be provided.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

storing a set of records including information associated with a plurality of PSAPs, each record including;

an identifier indicative of the capabilities of each PSAP for receiving certain emergency data message types;

receiving a call from a communications device to a public safety answering point;

identifying, using a processor, an emergency data message type associated with the call in response to receiving the call;

responsive to identifying the emergency data message type associated with the call, identifying a plurality of public safety answering points (PSAPs) capable of receiving the emergency data message type associated with the call;

selecting a closest public safety answering point from the plurality of public safety answering points capable of receiving the emergency data message type associated with the call; and

routing the call to the selected public safety answering point.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving a cell code identifier identifying a cell tower in communication with the communications device.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the emergency data message type is indicative of a text message.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein determining the plurality of public safety answering points capable of receiving the emergency data message type associated with the call includes identifying at least one PSAP having a matching exchange code with an exchange code of the mobile directory number of the communications device.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein selecting a closest public safety answering point from the plurality of public safety answering points capable of receiving the emergency data message type associated with the call includes using at least one cell code identifier to identify a PSAP local to the communications device.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the emergency data message type is an instant message.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the emergency data message type is an e-mail.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the emergency data message type is an image file.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the emergency data message type is an video file.

10. A machine-readable tangible and non-transitory medium having information for routing a call from a communications device to a public safety answering point (PSAP), wherein the information, when read by the machine, causes the machine to perform the following:

determine a location of the communications device;

determine an emergency data message type associated with the call;

determine a plurality of public safety answering points (PSAPs) capable of receiving the emergency data message type associated with the call by querying a set of records that include information indicative of the capabilities of PSAPs for receiving certain emergency data message types;

select a closest public safety answering point from the plurality of public safety answering points capable of receiving the emergency data message type associated with the call; and

route the call to the selected public safety answering point.

11. A system comprising:

a network communication interface for receiving a call from a communications device to a public safety answering point;

memory for storing a set of records including information associated with a plurality of PSAPs, each record including at least one capabilities identifier identifying emergency data message types that is indicative of forms of emergency communications that each public safety answering point is equipped to receive

a processing unit configured to;

determine a location of the communications device;

determine an emergency data message type associated with the call;

in response to determining the emergency data message type associated with the call, determine a plurality of public safety answering points capable of receiving the emergency data message type associated with the call;

select a closest public safety answering point from the plurality of public safety answering points capable of receiving the emergency data message type associated with the call; and

route the call to the selected public safety answering point.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the emergency data message type is indicative of the emergency data message being a text message.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein the set of records further includes at least one exchange code of a geographic area that is serviced by each respective PSAP.

14. The system according to claim 11, wherein the emergency data message type is an video file.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein the emergency data message type is an image file.

16. The system according to claim 11, wherein the emergency data message type is an e-mail.