Voice-over-IP (VoIP) systems, components and methods for providing enhanced location information to emergency responders to respond to emergency calls

• US 8,971,502 B2
• Filed: 05/20/2013
• Issued: 03/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Paramount Pictures Corporation (Paramount Global (f/k/a ViacomCBS Inc.))
• Original Assignee: Paramount Pictures Corporation (Paramount Global (f/k/a ViacomCBS Inc.))
• Inventors: Nelson, Sherrie Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): El-Zoobi, Maria
• Application Number:
  US13/898,229
• Publication Number:
  US 20130251115A1
• Time in Patent Office: 652 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 379/45
• 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 2207/203 composed of PSTN and data network, e.g. the Internet
• 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 3/5116 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• 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

Disclosed are systems and techniques for identifying VoIP phone connector locations whereby an emergency call request can be specifically located on a VoIP phone network. This system addresses prior-art shortcomings in which the location information is attempted to be tracked with identification information stored in VoIP phones, or in which databases of location information are created relative to MAC addresses of component pieces of the VoIP phone network (such as the VoIP phones themselves, data switches, or LAN routers) in that the VoIP phone connectors are fixedly mounted in buildings and their locations can be more reliably fixed and maintained. Further described are methods for establishing databases of location and/or caller information associated with these VoIP phone connectors. Still further described are VoIP phone server embodiments that enable the location and/or caller information to be determined according to the associated VoIP phone connectors and for that information to be transmitted both to public safety access points and to campus security networks, and for emergency calls to be bridged both to public safety access points and to campus security networks.

Claims

1. A Voice-over-Internet Protocol (“

VoIP”

) data connector, the data connector comprising;

a housing adapted to be mounted in a building such that it can communicate with a VoIP endpoint device;

a first circuit within the housing adapted to communicate with the VoIP endpoint device;

a second circuit within the housing adapted to communicate with a VoIP server so as to enable the VoIP server to receive VoIP requests from and make VoIP connections to the VoIP endpoint device;

a memory operable to store an identifier for the data connector; and

a memory control circuit operable to communicate with a programming computer to program the identifier for the data connector in the memory;

wherein the memory control circuit is operable to provide, via the second circuit, the identifier for the data connector to the VoIP server.

2. The data connector of claim 1, wherein the first circuit includes a physical connector adapted to receive a mechanical and electrical connection from a VoIP phone cable.

3. The data connector of claim 1, wherein the first circuit is a wireless communications circuit operable to communicate with the VoIP endpoint device.

4. The data connector of claim 1, wherein the data connector is operable to receive data communication queries through the campus data network and to provide the identifier to the network in response to the data communication queries.

5. The data connector of claim 4, wherein the campus data network is a data network.

6. The data connector of claim 4, wherein the identifier is a MAC address.

7. The data connector of claim 1 and further comprising power circuitry for automatically controlling when the data connector is powered on.

8. The data connector of claim 7, wherein the power circuitry is operable to power on the data connector when an Ethernet cable is plugged into it.

9. The data connector of claim 7, wherein the power circuitry is operable to power on the data connector when communications signals are being directed to it.

10. The data connector of claim 1 wherein the data connector is configured to be mounted on a wall of the building.

11. The data connector of claim 1, the data connector comprising a single physical connector for voice communications, wherein the single physical connector is capable of both receiving and transmitting pertinent information to the campus data network through interleaving respective information and data to be processed.

12. A Voice-over-Internet Protocol (“

VoIP”

) data connector, the data connector comprising;

a housing adapted to be mounted in a building such that it can communicate with a VoIP endpoint device;

a first circuit within the housing adapted to communicate with the VoIP endpoint device;

a second circuit within the housing adapted to communicate with a campus data network;

a memory operable to store an identifier for the data connector;

a memory control circuit operable to communicate with a programming computer to program the identifier for the data connector in the memory; and

power circuitry for automatically controlling when the data connector is powered on, the power circuitry operable to power on the data connector when an Ethernet cable is plugged into it.

13. A Voice-over-Internet Protocol (“

VoIP”

) data connector, the data connector comprising;

a housing adapted to be mounted in a building such that it can communicate with a VoIP endpoint device;

a first circuit within the housing adapted to communicate with the VoIP endpoint device;

a second circuit within the housing adapted to communicate with a campus data

a memory operable to store an identifier for the data connector;

a memory control circuit operable to communicate with a programming computer to program the identifier for the data connector in the memory; and

power circuitry for automatically controlling when the data connector is powered on, the power circuitry operable to power on the data connector when communications signals are being directed to it.