Temporary callback system for emergency calls and methods thereof

• US 8,731,144 B2
• Filed: 11/25/2011
• Issued: 05/20/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mitel Networks Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mitel Networks Corporation
• Inventors: Dillon, Patrick, Wu, Ken
• Primary Examiner(s): WOO, STELLA L
• Application Number:
  US13/373,661
• Publication Number:
  US 20130136241A1
• Time in Patent Office: 907 Days
• Field of Search: 379/45, 379/37, 455/404.1
• US Class Current: 379/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/04 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42195 Arrangements for calling back a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy H04M3/48
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5116 for emergency applications

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to emergency services and more particularly, to a temporary callback system for emergency calls and methods thereof. In one illustrative embodiment, the system can include a private branch exchange (PBX) or other processing device having a pool of callback identities. When an emergency call is made, a callback identity can be temporarily assigned to the device making the call. The callback identity can provide insurance that the call is maintained. If the call between the device and answering point becomes abandoned or disconnected, the callback identity can be used to re-establish the connection. The callback identity can be released when cleared by the answering point or when a time limit expires. After being released, the callback identity can be made available to other devices that wish to make emergency calls.

Claims

1. A method for managing emergency calls through a private branch exchange (PBX) comprising:

receiving an emergency call from a device at said PBX;

determining, at said PBX, whether said device is registered with a service identification associated to said device;

if said device is unregistered, assigning a callback identity to said device;

establishing said emergency call from said device to an answering point; and

releasing said callback identity;

wherein said emergency call is established through said service identification if said device is registered with said service identification.

2. The method for managing emergency calls of claim 1, wherein establishing said emergency call from said device to said answering point comprises providing a ring tone to said device, receiving an answer from said answering point and providing said answer to said device.

3. The method for managing emergency calls of claim 1, comprising re-establishing said emergency call through said callback identity when said emergency call has been disconnected before being established.

4. The method for managing emergency call of claim 1, comprising re-establishing said emergency call through said callback identity when said emergency call has been disconnected after being established.

5. The method for managing emergency calls of claim 1, comprising re-establishing said emergency call when said emergency call has been disconnected by ringing said device until said emergency call is answered or cleared by a system administrator.

6. The method for managing emergency calls of claim 1, wherein releasing said callback identity comprises receiving an instruction by a system administrator to clear said callback identity.

7. The method for managing emergency calls of claim 1, wherein releasing said callback identity comprises defining a time limit for said callback identity and clearing said callback identity when said time limit expires.

8. The method for managing emergency calls of claim 1, comprising receiving a request for a new callback identity from said device and re-providing said callback identity assigned to said device.

9. An emergency callback system comprising:

a private branch exchange (PBX) having at least one callback identity to temporarily assign to a device that is unregistered with said PBX for re-establishing a call to an answering point when said call becomes abandoned, said at least one callback identity released when cleared by said answering point.

10. The emergency callback system of claim 9, wherein said answering point is at least one of an emergency response notification system, public safety answering point and emergency call alarm display.

11. The emergency callback system of claim 9, wherein said at least one callback identity is independent of location.

12. The emergency callback system of claim 9, wherein said answering point continues to reconnect with said device until cleared.

13. The emergency callback system of claim 9, wherein said call becomes abandoned before a conversation or during said conversation.