Location-based VoIP functions in a wireless network

• US 9,642,167 B1
• Filed: 12/17/2015
• Issued: 05/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Snyder, Ian M., Teachworth, Morgan
• Primary Examiner(s): HUYNH, NAM TRUNG
• Application Number:
  US14/973,469
• Time in Patent Office: 502 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/02 Indoor
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/02521 using a radio-map
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1059 End-user terminal functionalities specially adapted for real-time communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1094 Inter-user-equipment sessions transfer or sharing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals

Abstract

A wireless network can include one or more nodes distributed throughout a physical environment. The locations of client devices within the wireless network can be determined based on observing measurements of wireless signals exchanged between the nodes and the client devices. In some example embodiments, the capability of determining location information of client devices more accurately can be utilized for enhancing Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) functions. In an example embodiment, a phone call can be intelligently routed to where the user is located within the wireless network. In another example embodiment, more accurate location information can be provided to emergency response personnel in the event of an emergency. In another example embodiment, the volume of a VoIP-enabled client device can be adjusted depending on the proximity of other users.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a communication for a phone number or network address associated with a first client device;

determining a first user, associated with the first client device, is located within a range of a wireless network;

determining a first proximity of the first user relative to the first client device exceeds a proximal threshold; and

determining a second device associated with the first user that is most proximate to the first user relative to other devices associated with the first user;

determining a second proximity of a second user relative to the second client device is within a second proximal threshold; and

determining based on historical position data that the current number of users proximate to the second client device exceeds a previous number of users proximate to the second client device or that the second user was not previously proximate to the second client device; and

adjusting a volume of the second client device; and

sending the communication to the second client device associated with the user.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a second communication for the phone number or the network address associated with the first client device;

determining the first user is not located within the range of the wireless network or the proximity of the first user relative to the first client device does not exceed the proximal threshold; and

sending the second communication to the first client device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an emergency communication from the second client device via the wireless network;

determining a location of the second client device;

mapping the location of the second client device to an emergency location identification number (ELIN);

determining a public-safety answering point (PSAP) corresponding to the location of the second client device; and

sending the emergency communication including the ELIN to the PSAP.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

tracking a respective location of a plurality of client devices associated with the first user within the range of the wireless network; and

associating the respective location of one of the plurality of client devices that last changed locations in the wireless network with a location of the first user.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a map including a floorplan, a first graphical element corresponding to a first location of the first client device in the floorplan, and a second graphical element corresponding to a second location of the second client device in the floorplan.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a heat map including a floorplan and an indication of a wireless signal strength of one or more nodes of the wireless network.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

determining a placement of a new node in the wireless network based on the heat map.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein a node of the wireless network includes a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacon.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first client device is located within a first range of a first wireless local area network (WLAN), and the first user is located within a second range of a second WLAN remote to the first WLAN.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein a controller of the wireless network is located remotely from the wireless network.

11. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having stored therein instructions that, upon being executed by a processor, cause the processor to:

receive a voice communication to an enterprise network intended for a phone number or network address associated with a first Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)-enabled client device;

determine a first user, associated with the first VoIP-enabled client device, is physically located within a wireless local area network (WLAN) WLAN of the enterprise network;

determine a proximity of the first user relative to the first VoIP-enabled client device exceeds a proximal threshold;

determine a second VoIP-enabled client device associated with the first user that is most proximate to the first user relative to other VoIP-enabled client devices associated with the first user;

determining a second proximity of a second user relative to the second VoIP-enabled client device is within a second proximal threshold; and

determining based on historical position data that the current number of users proximate to the second VoIP-enabled client device exceeds a previous number of users proximate to the second VoIP-enabled client device or that the second user was not previously proximate to the second VoIP-enabled client device; and

adjusting a volume of the second VoIP-enabled client device; and

forward forwarding the voice communication to the second VoIP-enabled client device associated with the user.

12. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the instructions upon being executed further cause the processor to:

receive an emergency voice communication from the second VoIP-enabled client device via the WLAN;

determine a location of the second VoIP-enabled client device;

map the location of the second VoIP-enabled client device to emergency location identification number (ELIN);

determine a public-safety answering point (PSAP) PSAP corresponding to the location of the second VoIP-enabled client device; and

forward the emergency communication including the ELIN to the PSAP.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the instructions upon being executed further cause the processor to:

track a respective location of a plurality of VoIP-enabled client devices associated with the first user within the WLAN; and

associate the respective location of one of the plurality of VoIP-enabled client devices that last changed locations in the WLAN with a location of the first user.

14. A system comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory including instructions that, upon being executed by the one or more processors, cause the system to;

determine, within a wireless local area network (WLAN), a first proximity of a first user relative to a first Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)-enabled client device associated with the first user exceeds a first proximal threshold;

determine a second VoIP-enabled client device associated with the first user that is most proximate to the first user relative to other VoIP-enabled client devices associated with the first user;

receive a phone call for a phone number or network address associated with the first VoIP-enabled client device;

determine a second proximity of a second user relative to the user is within a second proximal threshold and;

determine a second proximity of a second user relative to the user is within a second proximal threshold and;

determine based on historical position data that the current number of users proximate to the second VOIP-enabled device exceeds a previous number of users proximate to the second VOIP-enabled device or the second user was not previously proximate to the second VoIP-enabled client device; and

adjust a volume of the second VoIP-enabled client device; and

send the phone call to the second VoIP-enabled client device.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the instructions upon being executed further cause the system to:

receive a second phone call for the phone number or the network address associated with the first VoIP-enabled client device;

determine the first user is not located within the WLAN or the first proximity of the user relative to the first VoIP-enabled client device does not exceed the first proximal threshold; and

send the second phone call to the first VoIP-enabled client device.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the instructions upon being executed further cause the system to:

display a map including a floorplan, a first graphical element corresponding to a first location of the first VoIP-enabled client device in the floorplan, and a second graphical element corresponding to a second location of the second VoIP-enabled client device in the floorplan.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the instructions upon being executed further cause the system to:

display a heat map including a floorplan and an indication of a wireless signal strength of one or more nodes of the WLAN.