System and method for locating a voice over internet protocol (VoIP) device using a geomagnetic sensor

• US 8,725,163 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2008
• Issued: 05/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Fahrenthold, Kyle W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Ajit
• Assistant Examiner(s): PEREZ, JULIO R
• Application Number:
  US12/057,147
• Publication Number:
  US 20090247183A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,238 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.1, 455/404.2, 455/407, 455/408, 455/412.2, 455/437, 455/456.1, 705/102, 705/103
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a system and method for receiving first location information associated with a VoIP device having one or more geomagnetic sensor, wherein the first location information is determined using the one or more geomagnetic sensors based at least in part on the Earth'"'"'s magnetic field, determining second location information associated with the VoIP device based at least in part on the first location information; storing the second location information in one or more databases; and transmitting the second location information to the VoIP device to establish a service.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

determining first location information of a VoIP device using one or more geomagnetic sensors associated with the VoIP device, the first location information including at least a magnetic field strength and an angle;

transmitting the first location information to a service provider;

receiving second location information, wherein the second location information is calculated using the first information and data stored in a mapping module, wherein the data stored in the mapping module includes mapping information and location information received from a plurality of VoIP devices; and

receiving a confirmation signal, wherein the confirmation signal includes the second location information and is configured to cause the VoIP device to generate a prompt to receive confirmation that the second location information is accurate.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the first location information associated with the VoIP device further comprises a user inputting location information associated with the VoIP device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting user identification information to the service provider.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting at least one of a Registration signal, a Subscription signal, a Notify signal and a Update signal to the service provider.

5. A non-transitory computer readable media comprising code to perform the steps of the methods of claim 1.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the data stored in the mapping module further includes past locations associated with the VoIP device and the second location information is further calculated based on the past locations associated with the VoIP device.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving at least one of:

direction information associated with an emergency provider or location information associated with an emergency provider.

8. A method, comprising:

receiving first location information associated with a VoIP device having one or more geomagnetic sensor, wherein the first location information is determined using the one or more geomagnetic sensors based at least in part on the Earth'"'"'s magnetic field, the first location information comprising a magnetic field strength and an angle;

determining second location information associated with the VoIP device, the determining comprising calculating the second location information using the first location information and data stored in a mapping module, wherein the data stored in the mapping module includes mapping information and location information received from a plurality of VoIP devices; and

storing the second location information in one or more databases; and

transmitting a confirmation signal, wherein the confirmation signal includes the second location information and is configured to cause the VoIP device to generate a prompt to receive confirmation that the second location information is accurate to establish a service.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising transmitting at least one of a location request signal and a location update signal to the VoIP device to request a location associated with the VoIP device.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising receiving user identification information associated with the VoIP device.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising authenticating a user based at least in part on the user identification information.

12. The method of claim 8, further comprising mapping a geographical layout of the VoIP device based at least in part on the first location information.

13. A non-transitory computer readable media comprising code to perform the steps of the methods of claim 8.

14. A system, comprising:

a location sensor for determining first location information associated with a VoIP device based at least in part on the Earth'"'"'s magnetic field, the first location information comprising a magnetic field strength and an angle; and

a transceiver for;

transmitting the first location information to a service provider,

receiving a confirmation signal, wherein the confirmation signal includes a second location information calculated from the first location information and data stored in a mapping module and is configured to cause the VoIP device to generate a prompt to receive confirmation that the second location information is accurate, wherein the data stored in the mapping module includes mapping information and location information received from a plurality of VoIP devices; and

transmitting the confirmation that the second location information is accurate.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the location sensor is a geomagnetic sensor.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the location sensor further comprises one or more interfaces configured to input a location information associated with the VoIP device by a user.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the transceiver transmits user identification information to the service provider.

18. A system, comprising:

a communication module for receiving first location information associated with a VoIP device having one or more geomagnetic sensors, wherein the first location information is determined by the one or more geomagnetic sensors based at least in part on the Earth'"'"'s magnetic field, the first location information comprising a magnetic field strength and an angle;

a map module comprising at least one processor and storage unit for processing and storing map information including location information received from a plurality of VoIP devices; and

a location module comprising at least one processor for calculating second location information associated with the VoIP device using the first location information and the map information, and storing the second location information in one or more databases;

wherein the communication module is further configured to transmit a confirmation signal including the second location information, the confirmation signal being configured to cause the VoIP device to generate a prompt to receive confirmation that the second location information is accurate.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the communication module is configured to transmit at least one of a location request signal and a location update signal to the VoIP device to request a location associated with the VoIP device.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the communication module receives user identification information associated with the VoIP device.

21. The system of claim 20, further comprising an authentication module for authenticating a user based at least in part on the user identification information.

22. The system of claim 18, wherein the map module maps a geographical layout of the VoIP device based at least in part on the first location information.

23. The system of claim 18, wherein the communication module receives at least one of a Registration signal, a Subscription signal, a Notify signal and a Update signal associated with the VoIP device.

24. The system of claim 18, wherein the first location information is contained in a Registration signal.