Methods, systems, and products for emergency communications

• US 8,537,821 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2009
• Issued: 09/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ShoreTel Incorporated (Mitel Networks Corporation)
• Original Assignee: ShoreTel Incorporated (Mitel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Laliberte, Donald R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pezzlo, John
• Application Number:
  US12/500,668
• Publication Number:
  US 20090274145A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,530 Days
• Field of Search: 370/389, 370/392, 370/255, 370/254, 370/252, 370/352
• US Class Current: 370/392
• 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 3/42348 Location-based services which utilize the location information of a target
• 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

Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for processing emergency communications. A database of addresses is queried to determine if a communications address is an emergency communications address. When the communications address is the emergency communications address, then a location coordinate is retrieved and mapped to a location of an emergency services provider.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a voice-over Internet protocol call to an outgoing Internet Protocol communications address;

storing a database in memory of Internet Protocol emergency communications addresses of emergency service providers;

querying the database for the outgoing Internet Protocol communications address;

determining that the outgoing Internet Protocol communications address is an Internet Protocol emergency communications address by matching the outgoing Internet Protocol communications address to the database;

retrieving a location coordinate representing a geographic location of a device associated with the voice-over Internet protocol call;

mapping a location of a router in a network that is geographically closest to the location coordinate; and

selecting an emergency response provider that is closest to the location of the router and that is registered by a governmental entity.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising activating a positioning system when the outgoing Internet Protocol communications address is the Internet Protocol emergency communications address.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising activating a positioning system to determine the location coordinate.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the positioning system comprises at least one of a global positioning system, an infrared system, a radio frequency system, or a target-based system.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising querying for the location coordinate.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising communicating an emergency signal.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising retrieving a profile from the memory.

8. A system, comprising:

a processor executing code stored in memory that causes the processor to;

receive a voice-over Internet protocol call to an outgoing Internet Protocol communications address;

store a database of Internet Protocol emergency communications addresses of emergency service providers;

query the database for the outgoing Internet Protocol communications address;

determine that the outgoing Internet Protocol communications address is an Internet Protocol emergency communications address;

retrieve a location coordinate representing a geographic location of a device associated with the voice-over Internet protocol call;

map a location of a router in a network that is geographically closest to the location coordinate; and

select an emergency response provider that is closest to the location of the router and that is registered by a governmental entity.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein the code further causes the processor to determine if the outgoing Internet Protocol communications address is at least one of a publicly registered emergency response provider or an unregistered address.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the code further causes the processor to send an emergency communication to an address associated with the emergency response provider.

11. The system according to claim 9, wherein the code further causes the processor to activate a positioning system to determine the location coordinate.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the positioning system comprises at least one of a global positioning system, an infrared system, a radio frequency system, or a target-based system.

13. The system according to claim 9, wherein the code further causes the processor to query for the location coordinate.

14. The system according to claim 9, wherein the code further causes the processor to retrieve a profile from the memory.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing processor executable instructions for performing a method, the method comprising:

receiving a voice-over Internet protocol call to an outgoing Internet Protocol communications address;

storing a database in memory of Internet Protocol emergency communications addresses of emergency service providers;

querying the database for the outgoing Internet Protocol communications address;

determining that the outgoing Internet Protocol communications address is an Internet Protocol emergency communications address;

retrieving a location coordinate representing a geographic location of a device associated with the voice-over Internet protocol call;

mapping a location of a router in a network that is geographically closest to the location coordinate; and

selecting an emergency response provider that is closest to the location of the router and that is registered by a governmental entity.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 15, further comprising instructions for activating a positioning system when the outgoing Internet Protocol communications address is the Internet Protocol emergency communications address.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 15, further comprising instructions for activating a positioning system to determine the location coordinate.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 17, wherein the positioning system comprises at least one of a global positioning system, an infrared system, a radio frequency system, or a target-based system.

19. A method comprising:

receiving a voice-over Internet protocol call to an outgoing Internet Protocol-based communications address;

storing a database in memory of Internet Protocol emergency communications addresses of emergency service providers;

querying the database for the outgoing Internet Protocol-based communications address;

at least one processor determining that the outgoing Internet Protocol-based communications address is an Internet Protocol emergency communications address by matching the outgoing Internet Protocol-based communications address to the database;

selecting an emergency response provider (a) that services a geographic area matched with a location of a network component that is geographically closest to a device associated with the voice-over Internet protocol call and (b) that is registered by a governmental entity; and

prior to the selecting, retrieving a location coordinate representing a geographic location of said device, and mapping the location of the network component in a network to the location coordinate.

20. the method of claim 19 further comprising:

activating a positioning system to determine the location coordinate;

wherein the positioning system comprises at least one of a global positioning system, an infrared system, a radio frequency system, or a target-based system.

21. The method of claim 19 further comprising, prior to the selecting:

querying for the location coordinate.

22. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

retrieving a profile from the memory; and

wherein the profile comprises the Internet Protocol emergency communications address.

23. The method of claim 19 wherein:

the network component comprises a port.

24. The method of claim 23 wherein:

the port is a wireless port.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein:

the port is a wired port.

26. The method of claim 23 wherein:

the port is a parallel port.

27. The method of claim 23 wherein:

the port is a serial port.

28. The method of claim 23 wherein:

the port is an Ethernet port.

29. The method of claim 19 wherein:

the outgoing Internet Protocol-based communications address comprises a URL address.

30. The method of claim 19 wherein:

the outgoing Internet Protocol-based communications address comprises an email address.

31. The method of claim 19 wherein:

the outgoing Internet Protocol-based communications address comprises an IP address.

32. The method of claim 19 wherein:

the outgoing Internet Protocol-based communications address comprises a domain name.

33. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

automatically recognizing a character string to automatically formulate outgoing emergency IP-based communications.

34. A system comprising:

a processor executing code stored in memory that causes the processor to;

receive a voice-over Internet protocol call to an outgoing Internet Protocol-based communications address;

store a database in memory of Internet Protocol emergency communications addresses of emergency service providers;

query the database for the outgoing Internet Protocol-based communications address;

determine that the outgoing Internet Protocol-based communications address is an Internet Protocol emergency communications address by matching the outgoing Internet Protocol-based communications address to the database;

select an emergency response provider (a) that services a geographic area matched with a location of a network component that is geographically closest to a device associated with the voice-over Internet protocol call and (b) that is registered by a governmental entity; and

wherein the code further causes the processor, prior to selection of the emergency response provider, to retrieve a location coordinate representing a geographic location of said device and map the location of the network component in a network to the location coordinate.

35. The system of claim 34 wherein the code further causes the processor to:

activate a positioning system to determine the location coordinate;

wherein the positioning system comprises at least one of a global positioning system, an infrared system, a radio frequency system, or a target-based system.

36. The system of claim 34 wherein the code further causes the processor, prior to the selection of the emergency response provider, to:

query for the location coordinate.

37. The system of claim 34 wherein:

the code further causes the processor to retrieve a profile from the memory; and

the profile comprises the Internet Protocol emergency communications address.

38. The system of claim 34 wherein:

the network component comprises a port.

39. The system of claim 38 wherein:

the port is a wireless port.

40. The system of claim 38 wherein:

the port is a wired port.

41. The system of claim 38 wherein:

the port is a parallel port.

42. The system of claim 38 wherein:

the port is a serial port.

43. The system of claim 38 wherein:

the port is an Ethernet port.

44. The system of claim 34 wherein:

the outgoing Internet Protocol-based communications address comprises a URL address.

45. The system of claim 34 wherein:

the outgoing Internet Protocol-based communications address comprises an email address.

46. The system of claim 34 wherein:

the outgoing Internet Protocol-based communications address comprises an IP address.

47. The system of claim 34 wherein:

the outgoing Internet Protocol-based communications address comprises a domain name.

48. The system of claim 34 wherein the code further causes the processor to:

automatically recognize a character string to automatically formulate outgoing emergency IP-based communications.

49. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions to be executed by at least one processor to perform a method, the instructions comprising:

instructions to receive a voice-over Internet protocol call to an outgoing Internet Protocol-based communications address;

instructions to store a database in memory of Internet Protocol emergency communications addresses of emergency service providers;

instructions to query the database for the outgoing Internet Protocol-based communications address;

instructions to determine that the outgoing Internet Protocol-based communications address is an Internet Protocol emergency communications address by matching the outgoing Internet Protocol-based communications address to the database;

instructions to select an emergency response provider (a) that services a geographic area matched with a location of a network component that is geographically closest to a device associated with the voice-over Internet protocol call and (b) that is registered by a governmental entity; and

instructions to be executed prior to selection of the emergency response provider, to retrieve a location coordinate representing a geographic location of said device, and map the location of the network component in a network to the location coordinate.

50. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 49 further comprising instructions to:

activate a positioning system to determine the location coordinate;

wherein the positioning system comprises at least one of a global positioning system, an infrared system, a radio frequency system, or a target-based system.

51. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 49 further comprising instructions to be executed prior to selection of the emergency response provider, to:

query for the location coordinate.

52. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 49 further comprising instructions to:

retrieve a profile from the memory;

wherein the profile comprises the Internet Protocol emergency communications address.

53. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 49 wherein:

the network component comprises a port.

54. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 53 wherein:

the port is a wireless port.

55. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 53 wherein:

the port is a wired port.

56. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 53 wherein:

the port is a parallel port.

57. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 53 wherein:

the port is a serial port.

58. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 53 wherein:

the port is an Ethernet port.

59. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 49 wherein:

the outgoing Internet Protocol-based communications address comprises a URL address.

60. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 49 wherein:

the outgoing Internet Protocol-based communications address comprises an email address.

61. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 49 wherein:

the outgoing Internet Protocol-based communications address comprises an IP address.

62. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 49 wherein:

the outgoing Internet Protocol-based communications address comprises a domain name.

63. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 49 further comprising instructions to:

automatically recognize a character string to automatically formulate outgoing emergency IP-based communications.