Methods and systems for managing a call session

• US 9,060,076 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2013
• Issued: 06/16/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Breen, Thomas, Marczak, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramakrishnaiah, Melur
• Application Number:
  US13/914,349
• Publication Number:
  US 20130272297A1
• Time in Patent Office: 736 Days
• Field of Search: 379 37- 45, 370/352, 370/392, 370/389
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/04 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5116 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5183 Call or contact centers with computer-telephony arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5237 Interconnection arrangements between ACD systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1205 where the types of switching equipement comprises PSTN/ISDN equipment and switching equipment of networks other than PSTN/ISDN, e.g. Internet Protocol networks

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for managing call sessions on public and private networks. The methods and systems operate to receive and send voice over internet protocol (VoIP) communications using a network, such as an IP network. The methods and systems also operate to receive and send emergency information over IP and other data networks. Based on certain criteria, the methods and systems determine whether to transfer a VoIP communication and/or emergency information to another entity associated with the IP network.

Claims

1. A method of transferring a digital voice call at a public safety answering point, comprising:

receiving, by a controller, an analog voice call from a caller;

converting, by the controller, the analog voice call to the digital voice call;

collecting, by the controller, information from the caller;

determining, by the controller, whether to transfer the digital voice call to a subsequent public safety answering point, wherein the determining comprises determining whether the subsequent public safety answering point is compatible with a recognized transmission schema by querying the subsequent public safety answering point requesting an acknowledgement from the subsequent public safety answering point of the recognized transmission schema; and

when the subsequent public safety answering point acknowledges the recognized transmission schema, transferring, by the controller, the digital voice call and the information that is collected to the subsequent public safety answering point via a voice over internet protocol connection.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the converting the analog voice call to the digital voice call, comprises:

converting the analog voice call to a voice over internet protocol format, wherein the converting the analog voice call to the voice over internet protocol format only occurs when it is determined that the analog voice call needs to be transferred to the subsequent public safety answering point.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the subsequent public safety answering point is associated with an internet protocol network.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the subsequent public safety answering point is associated with a public switched telephone network.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the converting the analog voice call to the digital voice call, comprises:

converting the analog voice call to the voice over internet protocol format upon receiving the analog voice call from the caller.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

transferring the digital voice call to the subsequent public safety answering point associated with the internet protocol network when the subsequent public safety answering point is in communication with the internet protocol network.

7. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

transferring the analog voice call to the subsequent public safety answering point associated with the public switched telephone network when the subsequent public safety answering point is not in communication with an internet protocol network.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the converting the analog voice call to the digital voice call, comprises:

converting the analog voice call to a voice over internet protocol format after receiving the analog voice call from the caller but before transferring the digital voice call to the subsequent public safety answering point in communication with the internet protocol network.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

storing information pertaining to the digital voice call that is in the voice over internet protocol format and the information that is collected in a shared folder; and

providing a link for access by others associated with the internet protocol network.

10. A method, comprising:

receiving a voice over internet protocol communication at a controller of a first public safety answering point in communication with an internet protocol network;

receiving information at the controller of the first public safety answering point via the internet protocol network, wherein the receiving the information comprises collecting information from a caller; and

determining, by the controller, whether to transfer the voice over internet protocol communication and the information to a subsequent public safety answering point associated with the internet protocol network, wherein the determining whether to transfer the voice over internet protocol communication and the information to the subsequent public safety answering point comprises determining whether the subsequent public safety answering point is compatible with voice over internet protocol equipment; and

determining, by the controller, whether the subsequent public safety answering point is compatible with a recognized transmission schema by querying the subsequent public safety answering point and requesting an acknowledgement from the subsequent public safety answering point of the recognized transmission schema.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

transferring the voice over internet protocol communication and the information to the subsequent public safety answering point when the first public safety answering point cannot respond to the voice over internet protocol communication.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

storing information related to the voice over internet protocol communication and the information in a shared folder for access by other public safety answering points associated with the internet protocol network.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving handshake messages across the internet protocol network to determine which public safety answering points are in communication with the internet protocol network.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

maintaining a record of the voice over internet protocol communication and the information at a designated server in communication with the Internet protocol network.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

maintaining communication with the first public safety answering point while the subsequent public safety answering point responds to the voice over internet protocol communication.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

providing a database containing information related to the public safety answering points that are in communication with the internet protocol network.

17. A system of managing call information at a public safety answering point, comprising:

a controller; and

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

receiving an analog voice call from a caller;

converting the analog voice call to a digital voice call;

collecting information from the caller;

determining whether to transfer the digital voice call to a subsequent public safety answering point, wherein the determining determines whether the subsequent public safety answering point is compatible with a recognized transmission schema by querying the subsequent public safety answering point with an acknowledgement message, requesting an acknowledgement from the subsequent public safety answering point of the recognized transmission schema; and

transferring the digital voice call, and the information that is collected to the subsequent public safety answering point when the subsequent public safety answering point acknowledges the recognized transmission schema via a voice over internet protocol connection.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the converting the analog voice call to the digital voice call, comprises:

converting the analog voice call to a voice over internet protocol format, wherein the converting converts the analog voice call to the voice over internet protocol format only when it is determined that the analog voice call needs to be transferred to the subsequent public safety answering point.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the operations further comprise:

determining whether the subsequent public safety answering point is associated with an internet protocol network.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the operations further comprise:

transferring the digital voice call to the subsequent public safety answering point associated with the internet protocol network when the subsequent public safety answering point is in communication with the internet protocol network.