Default civic address locations for mobile E9-1-1 calls

• US 9,198,202 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2010
• Issued: 11/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Jones, Douglas R.
• Primary Examiner(s): SAMS, MATTHEW C
• Application Number:
  US12/782,005
• Publication Number:
  US 20110287737A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,016 Days
• Field of Search: 4554041-4042, 4554561-457
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections

Abstract

A device obtains a geographic position of a mobile telephone. The device retrieves geographic locations associated with multiple different civic addresses from memory, and determines if the geographic position is within a certain proximity of one of the geographic locations. The device retrieves a civic address of the multiple different civic addresses, that is associated with the one of the geographic locations, from the memory for use in identifying the civic address at which the mobile telephone is located.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a mobile device identifier associated with a mobile device, wherein the mobile device is used by a user;

receiving, at the mobile device from the user, a first user-selected street address;

receiving, at the mobile device, a first geographic location associated with the first user-selected street address;

receiving, at the mobile device from the user, a first user-specified proximity parameter that defines a first maximum distance relative to the first geographic location;

receiving, at the mobile device from the user, a second user-selected street address;

receiving, at the mobile device, a second geographic location associated with the second user-selected street address;

receiving, at the mobile device from the user, a second user-specified proximity parameter that defines a second maximum distance relative to the second geographic location, wherein the second user-specified proximity parameter is different than the first user-specified proximity parameter;

causing a first Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) electronic address, associated with a first PSAP, to be identified and retrieved from a database external to the mobile device based on the mobile device identifier and the first geographic location;

causing a second PSAP electronic address, associated with a second PSAP, to be identified and retrieved from the database external to the mobile device based on the mobile device identifier and the second geographic location;

storing the first user-selected street address, the first geographic location, the first user-specified proximity parameter, and the first PSAP electronic address in a first entry of a data structure in a memory of the mobile device;

storing the second user-selected street address, the second geographic location, the second user-specified proximity parameter, and the second PSAP electronic address in a second entry of the data structure in the memory of the mobile device;

obtaining, based on an initiation of an emergency call at the mobile device, a current geographic position of the mobile device;

identifying, based on the initiation of the emergency call at the mobile device, a certain entry of the data structure in the memory of the mobile device in which the current geographic position of the mobile device is within a certain user-specified proximity parameter of a certain geographic location corresponding to the certain entry,

wherein the certain entry comprises the first entry, the certain user-specified proximity parameter comprises the first user-specified proximity parameter, and the certain geographic location comprises the first geographic location, or

wherein the certain entry comprises the second entry, the certain user-specified proximity parameter comprises the second user-specified proximity parameter, and the certain geographic location comprises the second geographic location;

retrieving a default civic address and a certain PSAP electronic address from the identified, certain entry of the data structure,

wherein the default civic address comprises the first user-selected street address and the certain PSAP electronic address comprises the first PSAP electronic address;

or

wherein the default civic address comprises the second user-selected street address and the certain PSAP electronic address comprises the second PSAP electronic address; and

using the retrieved certain PSAP electronic address to send the retrieved default civic address to a certain PSAP for dispatching emergency services to the default civic address,

wherein the certain PSAP comprises the first PSAP or the second PSAP.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first user-selected street address or the second user-selected street address further includes a building, floor and room designation within buildings located at the street address.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first PSAP electronic address and the second PSAP electronic address each comprises an Instant Message (IM) address, a Short Message Service (SMS) address, an e-mail address or, a Multimedia Message Service (MMS) address.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the emergency call at the mobile device comprises an emergency 9-1-1 call.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first user-selected street address and the second user-selected street address include an address and location to which emergency services are to be dispatched in the event of the emergency call at the mobile device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the certain entry of the data structure comprises:

retrieving the first geographic location and the first user-specified proximity parameter from the first entry of the data structure of the mobile device;

determining if the current geographic position of the mobile device is within the first maximum distance, defined by the first user-specified proximity parameter, of the first geographical location; and

identifying the first entry as the certain entry if the current geographic position of the mobile device is within the first maximum distance of the first geographical location.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein identifying the certain entry of the data structure comprises:

retrieving the second geographic location and the second user-specified proximity parameter from the second entry of the data structure of the mobile device;

determining if the current geographic position of the mobile device is within the second maximum distance, defined by the second user-specified proximity parameter, of the second geographical location; and

identifying the second entry as the certain entry if the current geographic position of the mobile device is within the second maximum distance of the second geographical location.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at the mobile device from the user, a third user-selected street address;

receiving, at the mobile device, a third geographic location associated with the third user-selected street address;

receiving, at the mobile device from the user, a third user-specified proximity parameter that defines a third maximum distance relative to the third geographic location;

causing a third public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) electronic address, associated with a third PSAP, to be identified and retrieved from the database external to the mobile device based on the mobile device identifier and the third geographic location; and

storing the third user-selected street address, the third geographic location, the third user-specified proximity parameter, and the third PSAP electronic address in a third entry of the data structure in the memory of the mobile device,

wherein, when identifying the certain entry of the data structure in the memory of the mobile device in which the current geographic position of the mobile device is within a certain user-specified proximity parameter of a certain geographic location corresponding to the certain entry, the certain entry comprises the third entry, the certain user-specified proximity parameter comprises the third user-specified proximity parameter, and the certain geographic location comprises the third geographic location,

wherein, when retrieving the default civic address and the certain PSAP electronic address from the identified, certain entry of the data structure, the default civic address comprises the third user-selected street address and the certain PSAP electronic address comprises the third PSAP electronic address, and

wherein the certain PSAP comprises the third PSAP.

4. A device, comprising:

a memory;

a communication interface;

an input device configured to implement a graphical user interface; and

a processing unit configured to;

receive a device identifier associated with the device, wherein the device is used by a user,

receive, from the user via the graphical user interface, a first user-selected street address,

receive, from the user via the graphical user interface, a first geographic location associated with the first user-selected street address,

receive, from the user via the graphical user interface, a first user-specified proximity parameter that defines a first maximum distance relative to the first geographic location,

receive, from the user via the graphical user interface, a second user-selected street address,

receive, from the user via the graphical user interface, a second geographic location associated with the second user-selected street address,

receive, from the user via the graphical user interface, a second user-specified proximity parameter that defines a second maximum distance relative to the second geographic location, wherein the second user-specified proximity parameter is different than the first user-specified proximity parameter,

cause a first Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) electronic address, associated with a first PSAP, to be identified and retrieved from a database external to the device based on the device identifier and the first geographic location,

cause a second PSAP electronic address, associated with a second PSAP, to be identified and retrieved from the database external to the device based on the device identifier and the second geographic location,

store the first user-selected street address, the first geographic location, the first user-specified proximity parameter, and the first PSAP electronic address in a first entry of a data structure in a memory of the device,

store the second user-selected street address, the second geographic location, the second user-specified proximity parameter, and the second PSAP electronic address in a second entry of the data structure in the memory of the device,

obtain, based on an initiation of an emergency call at the device, a current geographic position of the device,

identify, based on the initiation of the emergency call at the device, a certain entry of the data structure in the memory of the device in which the current geographic position of the device is within a certain user-specified proximity parameter of a certain geographic location corresponding to the certain entry,

wherein the certain entry comprises the first entry, the certain user-specified proximity parameter comprises the first user-specified proximity parameter, and the certain geographic location comprises the first geographic location, or

wherein the certain entry comprises the second entry, the certain user-specified proximity parameter comprises the second user-specified proximity parameter, and the certain geographic location comprises the second geographic location;

retrieve a default civic address and a certain PSAP electronic address from the identified, certain entry of the data structure,

wherein the default civic address comprises the first user-selected street address and the certain PSAP electronic address comprises the first PSAP electronic address;

or

wherein the default civic address comprises the second user-selected street address and the certain PSAP electronic address comprises the second PSAP electronic address; and

use the retrieved certain PSAP electronic address to send the retrieved default civic address to a certain PSAP for dispatching emergency services to the default civic address, wherein the certain PSAP comprises the first PSAP or the second PSAP.

10. The device of claim 4, wherein the first user-selected street address or the second user-selected street address further includes a building, floor and room designation within buildings located at the street address.

11. The device of claim 4, wherein the first PSAP electronic address and the second PSAP electronic address each comprises an e-mail address, an Instant Message (IM) address, a Short Message Service (SMS) address, or a Multimedia Message Service (MMS) address.

12. The device of claim 4, wherein the emergency call at the device comprises an emergency 9-1-1 call.

13. The device of claim 4, wherein the first user-selected street address and the second user-selected street address include an address and location to which emergency services are to be dispatched in the event of an emergency call from the user.

14. The device of claim 4, wherein, when identifying the certain entry of the data structure, the processing unit is further configured to:

retrieve the first geographic location and the first user-specified proximity parameter from the first entry of the data structure of the device;

determine if the current geographic position of the mobile device is within the first maximum distance, defined by the first user-specified proximity parameter, of the first geographical location; and

identify the first entry as the certain entry if the current geographic position of the device is within the first maximum distance of the first geographical location.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein, when identifying the certain entry of the data structure, the processing unit is further configured to:

retrieve the second geographic location and the second user-specified proximity parameter from the second entry of the data structure of the device;

determine if the current geographic position of the device is within the second maximum distance, defined by the second user-specified proximity parameter, of the second geographical location; and

identify the second entry as the certain entry if the current geographic position of the device is within the second maximum distance of the second geographical location.

16. The device of claim 4, wherein the processing unit is further configured to:

receive, from the user via the graphical user interface, a third user-selected street address;

receive a third geographic location associated with the third user-selected street address;

receive, from the user via the graphical user interface, a third user-specified proximity parameter that defines a third maximum distance relative to the third geographic location;

cause a third PSAP electronic address, associated with a third PSAP, to be identified and retrieved from the database external to the device based on the device identifier and the third geographic location; and

store the third user-selected street address, the third geographic location, the third user-specified proximity parameter, and the third PSAP electronic address in a third entry of the data structure in the memory of the device,

wherein, when identifying the certain entry of the data structure in the memory of the device in which the current geographic position of the device is within a certain user-specified proximity parameter of a certain geographic location corresponding to the certain entry, the certain entry comprises the third entry, the certain user-specified proximity parameter comprises the third user-specified proximity parameter, and the certain geographic location comprises the third geographic location,

wherein, when retrieving the default civic address and the certain PSAP electronic address from the identified, certain entry of the data structure, the default civic address comprises the third user-selected street address and the certain PSAP electronic address comprises the third PSAP electronic address, and

wherein the certain PSAP comprises the third PSAP.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions executable by at least one processing unit of a mobile device, the computer-readable medium comprising one or more instructions for:

receiving a mobile device identifier associated with the mobile device, wherein the mobile device is used by a user;

receiving, at the mobile device from the user, a first user-selected street address;

receiving, at the mobile device, a first geographic location associated with the first user-selected street address;

receiving, at the mobile device from the user, a first user-specified proximity parameter that defines a first maximum distance relative to the first geographic location;

receiving, at the mobile device from the user, a second user-selected street address;

receiving, at the mobile device, a second geographic location associated with the second user-selected street address;

receiving, at the mobile device from the user, a second user-specified proximity parameter that defines a second maximum distance relative to the second geographic location, wherein the second user-specified proximity parameter is different than the first user-specified proximity parameter;

causing a first Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) electronic address, associated with a first PSAP, to be identified and retrieved from a database external to the mobile device based on the mobile device identifier and the first geographic location;

causing a second PSAP electronic address, associated with a second PSAP, to be identified and retrieved from the database external to the mobile device based on the mobile device identifier and the second geographic location;

storing the first user-selected street address, the first geographic location, the first user-specified proximity parameter, and the first PSAP electronic address in a first entry of a data structure in a memory of the mobile device;

storing the second user-selected street address, the second geographic location, the second user-specified proximity parameter, and the second PSAP electronic address in a second entry of the data structure in the memory of the mobile device;

obtaining, based on an initiation of an emergency call at the mobile device, a current geographic position of the mobile device;

identifying, based on the initiation of the emergency call at the mobile device, a certain entry of the data structure in the memory of the mobile device in which the current geographic position of the mobile device is within a certain user-specified proximity parameter of a certain geographic location corresponding to the certain entry,

wherein the certain entry comprises the first entry, the certain user-specified proximity parameter comprises the first user-specified proximity parameter, and the certain geographic location comprises the first geographic location, or

wherein the certain entry comprises the second entry, the certain user-specified proximity parameter comprises the second user-specified proximity parameter, and the certain geographic location comprises the second geographic location;

retrieving a default civic address and a certain PSAP electronic address from the identified, certain entry of the data structure,

wherein the default civic address comprises the first user-selected street address and the certain PSAP electronic address comprises the first PSAP electronic address;

or

wherein the default civic address comprises the second user-selected street address and the certain PSAP electronic address comprises the second PSAP electronic address; and

using the retrieved certain PSAP electronic address to send the retrieved default civic address to a certain PSAP for dispatching emergency services to the default civic address, wherein the certain PSAP comprises the first PSAP or the second PSAP.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the first user-selected street address or the second user-selected street address further includes a building, floor and room designation within buildings located at the street address.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the first PSAP electronic address and the second PSAP electronic address each comprises an e-mail address, an Instant Message (IM) address, a Short Message Service (SMS) address, or a Multimedia Message Service (MMS) address.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the emergency call at the mobile device comprises an emergency 9-1-1 call.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the first user-selected street address and the second user-selected street address include an address and location to which emergency services are to be dispatched in the event of the emergency call at the mobile device.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the one or more instructions for identifying the certain entry of the data structure further comprise one or more instructions for:

retrieving the first geographic location and the first user-specified proximity parameter from the first entry of the data structure of the mobile device;

determining if the current geographic position of the mobile device is within the first maximum distance, defined by the first user-specified proximity parameter, of the first geographical location; and

identifying the first entry as the certain entry if the current geographic position of the mobile device is within the first maximum distance of the first geographical location.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the one or more instructions for identifying the certain entry of the data structure further comprise one or more instructions for:

retrieving the second geographic location and the second user-specified proximity parameter from the second entry of the data structure of the mobile device;

determining if the current geographic position of the mobile device is within the second maximum distance, defined by the second user-specified proximity parameter, of the second geographical location; and

identifying the second entry as the certain entry if the current geographic position of the mobile device is within the second maximum distance of the second geographical location.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, further comprising one or more instructions for:

receiving, at the mobile device from the user, a third user-selected street address;

receiving, at the mobile device, a third geographic location associated with the third user-selected street address;

receiving, at the mobile device from the user, a third user-specified proximity parameter that defines a third maximum distance relative to the third geographic location;

causing a third public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) electronic address, associated with a third PSAP, to be identified and retrieved from the database external to the mobile device based on the mobile device identifier and the third geographic location; and

storing the third user-selected street address, the third geographic location, the third user-specified proximity parameter, and the third PSAP electronic address in a third entry of the data structure in the memory of the mobile device,

wherein, when identifying the certain entry of the data structure in the memory of the mobile device in which the current geographic position of the mobile device is within a certain user-specified proximity parameter of a certain geographic location corresponding to the certain entry, the certain entry comprises the third entry, the certain user-specified proximity parameter comprises the third user-specified proximity parameter, and the certain geographic location comprises the third geographic location,

wherein, when retrieving the default civic address and the certain PSAP electronic address from the identified, certain entry of the data structure, the default civic address comprises the third user-selected street address and the certain PSAP electronic address comprises the third PSAP electronic address, and

wherein the certain PSAP comprises the third PSAP.