Method and apparatus for determining the location of a terminal adaptor

• US 9,072,074 B1
• Filed: 12/27/2006
• Issued: 06/30/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Dowens, John P., Holmgren, Christine
• Primary Examiner(s): Blanton, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, THINH D
• Application Number:
  US11/645,913
• Time in Patent Office: 3,107 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/04 for emergency applications
• 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: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections

Abstract

A method and apparatus for updating location information of a customer via a terminal adaptor that is used to access network services are disclosed. For example, the method receives a request from a customer for accessing at least one network service. The method then detects a change in an Internet Protocol (IP) address associated with the customer in the request. In response, the method requests the customer to provide input relating to location information of the customer.

Claims

1. A method for updating location information of a customer, comprising:

receiving, by a processor of a terminal adapter, a request from the customer for accessing a network service;

detecting, by the processor, a change in an internet protocol address associated with the customer in the request;

requesting, by the processor, the customer to provide an input relating to location information of the customer, wherein the input comprises a primary telephone number; and

comparing, by the processor, the primary telephone number to a previously known primary telephone number, wherein the primary telephone number being same as the previously known primary telephone number indicates that the terminal adapter has moved from a first room to a second room within a residence location of the customer and the primary telephone number being different than the previously known primary telephone number indicates that the terminal adapter has changed locations from the residence location to a different physical location.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the input; and

storing the input.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining from the input that there is an update relating to the location information of the customer; and

sending the update relating to the location information of the customer to a network service provider of the network service.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the network service provider is an internet protocol network service provider.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the network service comprises an internet protocol service.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

denying the customer from accessing the network service if the input is not received.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the requesting comprises:

presenting a previously known location information to the customer for confirmation.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the internet protocol address comprises an internet protocol address of a modem.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the modem comprises a broadband access modem.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the broadband access modem comprises a cable modem.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the requesting further comprises:

requesting the customer to input a current location information.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the internet protocol address comprises an internet protocol address of a router.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing a plurality of instructions, which when executed by a processor of a terminal adapter, cause the processor to perform operations for updating location information of a customer, the operations comprising:

receiving a request from the customer for accessing a network service;

detecting a change in an internet protocol address associated with the customer in the request;

requesting the customer to provide an input relating to location information of the customer, wherein the input comprises a primary telephone number; and

comparing the primary telephone number to a previously known primary telephone number, wherein the primary telephone number being same as the previously known primary telephone number indicates that the terminal adapter has moved from a first room to a second room within a residence location of the customer and the primary telephone number being different than the previously known primary telephone number indicates that the terminal adapter has changed locations from the residence location to a different physical location.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving the input; and

storing the input.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, further comprising:

determining from the input that there is an update relating to the location information of the customer; and

sending the update relating to the location information of the customer to a network service provider of the network service.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, further comprising:

denying the customer from accessing the network service if the input is not received.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the Internet protocol address comprises an internet protocol address of a modem.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the modem comprises a broadband access modem.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the broadband access modem comprises a cable modem.

20. A terminal adapter for updating location information of a customer, comprising:

a processor; 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 request from the customer for accessing a network service;

detecting a change in an internet protocol address associated with the customer in the request;

requesting the customer to provide an input relating to location information of the customer, wherein the input comprises a primary line telephone number; and

comparing the primary telephone number to a previously known primary telephone number, wherein the primary telephone number being same as the previously known primary telephone number indicates that the terminal adapter has moved from a first room to a second room within a residence location of the customer and the primary telephone number being different than the previously known primary telephone number indicates that the terminal adapter has changed locations from the residence location to a different physical location.