Method and apparatus for mapping media access control addresses to service addresses

• US 8,600,009 B1
• Filed: 10/19/2005
• Issued: 12/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Croak, Marian, Eslambolchi, Hossein
• Primary Examiner(s): Matar, Ahmad
• Assistant Examiner(s): Asanbayev, Oleg
• Application Number:
  US11/253,900
• Time in Patent Office: 2,967 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352, 370/353, 370/354, 370/356, 379/45
• US Class Current: 379/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/103 across network layers, e.g. resolution of network layer into physical layer addresses or address resolution protocol [ARP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment

Abstract

A method and apparatus for enabling broadband access providers to use the subscriber service address associated with the Media Access Control (MAC) address and the Internet Protocol (IP) address of the subscriber'"'"'s Digital Subscriber Loop (DSL) modem or cable modem as the service address that is sent to the appropriate Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) are disclosed. The present method enables a mapping between a subscriber'"'"'s VoIP telephone number, broadband access modem MAC and IP addresses, and the subscriber'"'"'s registered broadband service address to determine the correct PSAP to route an E911 call to.

Claims

1. A method for handling a call for emergency service in a communication network, comprising:

receiving, via a processor of a call control element in the communication network, a call setup message for an emergency service from an endpoint device used by a subscriber, wherein the communication network is a voice over internet protocol network;

using, via the processor, a node address and an internet protocol address of the endpoint device to obtain a broadband subscriber service address from a broadband access network, wherein the node address and the internet protocol address are stored and tracked by the broadband access network and the node address and the internet protocol address are associated with the broadband subscriber service address during a sign up of a broadband service by the subscriber, wherein the broadband access network and the communication network are distinct networks, wherein the endpoint device is a broadband network modem, wherein the broadband subscriber service address is obtained from an address server of the broadband access network;

identifying, via the processor, a public safety answering point in accordance with the broadband subscriber service address; and

forwarding, via the processor, the call setup message for the emergency service and the broadband subscriber service address to the public safety answering point for handling, wherein a phone number in the call setup message comprises an out of area phone number of the subscriber that is outside of a geographical location of the public safety answering point and the broadband subscriber service address does not map to a local calling area of the out of area phone number, wherein the out of area phone number is chosen by the subscriber and is not within a local calling area of the broadband subscriber service address.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the node address is a media access control address.

3. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by a processor of a call control element in a communication network, cause the processor to perform operations for handling a call for emergency service in the communication network, the operations comprising:

receiving a call setup message for an emergency service from an endpoint device used by a subscriber, wherein the communication network is a voice over internet protocol network;

using a node address and an internet protocol address of the endpoint device to obtain a broadband subscriber service address from a broadband access network, wherein the node address and the internet protocol address are stored and tracked by the broadband access network and the node address and the internet protocol address are associated with the broadband subscriber service address during a sign up of a broadband service by the subscriber, wherein the broadband access network and the communication network are distinct networks, wherein the endpoint device is a broadband network modem, wherein the broadband subscriber service address is obtained from an address server of the broadband access network;

identifying a public safety answering point in accordance with the broadband subscriber service address; and

forwarding the call setup message for the emergency service and the broadband subscriber service address to the public safety answering point for handling, wherein a phone number in the call setup message comprises an out of area phone number of the subscriber that is outside of a geographical location of the public safety answering point and the broadband subscriber service address does not map to a local calling area of the out of area phone number, wherein the out of area phone number is chosen by the subscriber and is not within a local calling area of the broadband subscriber service address.

4. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 3, wherein the node address is a media access control address.

5. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 3, wherein the call setup message is forwarded by the call control element.

6. An apparatus for handling a call for emergency service in a communication network, comprising:

a processor of a call control element in the communication network; and

a computer-readable medium storing a plurality of instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising;

receiving a call setup message for an emergency service from an endpoint device used by a subscriber, wherein the communication network is a voice over internet protocol network;

using a node address and an internet protocol address of the endpoint device to obtain a broadband subscriber service address from a broadband access network, wherein the node address and the internet protocol address are stored and tracked by the broadband access network and the node address and the internet protocol address are associated with the broadband subscriber service address during a sign up of a broadband service by the subscriber, wherein the broadband access network and the communication network are distinct networks, wherein the endpoint device is a broadband network modem, wherein the broadband subscriber service address is obtained from an address server of the broadband access network;

identifying a public safety answering point in accordance with the broadband subscriber service address; and

forwarding the call setup message for the emergency service and the broadband subscriber service address to the public safety answering point for handling, wherein a phone number in the call setup message comprises an out of area phone number of the subscriber that is outside of a geographical location of the public safety answering point and the broadband subscriber service address does not map to a local calling area of the out of area phone number, wherein the out of area phone number is chosen by the subscriber and is not within a local calling area of the broadband subscriber service address.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the node address is a media access control address.