Determining a location of a device for calling via an access point

• US 9,648,644 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2015
• Issued: 05/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Livingood, Jason D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gauthier, Gerald
• Application Number:
  US14/732,229
• Publication Number:
  US 20150271855A1
• Time in Patent Office: 704 Days
• Field of Search: 348 1401, 370259, 370328, 370352, 370401, 370356, 370252, 4554042, 4554122, 4554561, 4554562, 709206, 709245, 709224, 709230, 379 37, 379 45, 37939901, 726 22
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72418 for supporting emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/04 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• 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 4/90 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 64/003 locating network equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections

Abstract

Methods and systems are described for determining a physical location for a voice over packet (VoP) device engaging in voice communication via an access point. Associations between one or more physical locations and access points may be stored in a profile associated with the VoP device or a user. If the VoP device is connected to a particular access point, the profile and associations may be used to determine a current physical location for the VoP device, and for voice communications involving the VoP device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, by a computing device, a request to provision a voice over packet (VoP) device for voice calling via an access point;

receiving, from the VoP device, a physical location to be associated with the VoP device for voice calling via the access point;

verifying the physical location; and

in response to the verifying the physical location, provisioning the VoP device for voice calling via the access point, and storing, in a profile associated with the VoP device, information associating the physical location with the access point for voice calling by the VoP device via the access point.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing, in the profile associated with the VoP device, information identifying a plurality of access point identifiers associated with the VoP device, and for each access point identifier, an identification of an associated physical location for voice calling via the access point.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of access point identifiers comprises network addresses.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of access point identifiers comprises nicknames.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, by the computing device, a request to provision the VoP device for voice calling via a second access point;

receiving, from the VoP device, a second physical location to be associated with the VoP device for voice calling via the second access point;

verifying the second physical location; and

in response to the verifying the second physical location, provisioning the VoP device for voice calling via the second access point, and storing, in the profile associated with the VoP device, information associating the second physical location with the second access point for voice calling by the VoP device via the second access point.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising obtaining a trace route using a network address of the access point.

7. A method comprising:

receiving, from a voice over packet (VoP) device, a first physical location entry received at the VoP device as an identification of a physical location of the VoP device for voice calls involving a wireless access point;

in response to determining that the first physical location entry has an error, denying the first physical location entry;

receiving a second physical location entry from the VoP device; and

in response to confirming that the second physical location entry does not have an error, associating, in a profile associated with the VoP device, the second physical location entry with the VoP device for voice calls involving the wireless access point.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the associating further comprises storing the second physical location entry in the profile, and wherein the profile associates, for the VoP device, a plurality of physical locations with a corresponding plurality of wireless access points from which the VoP device may participate in voice calls.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the error in the first physical location entry is associated with a user error in inputting the first physical location entry.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising associating a user-supplied nickname with the second physical location entry for voice calls involving the wireless access point.

11. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to;

receive a request to provision a voice over packet (VoP) device for voice calling via an access point;

receive, from the VoP device, a physical location to be associated with the VoP device for voice calling via the access point;

verify the physical location; and

in response to the verifying the physical location, provision the VoP device for voice calling via the access point, and store, in a profile associated with the VoP device, information associating the physical location with the access point for voice calling by the VoP device via the access point.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the memory further stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to:

store, in the profile associated with the VoP device, information identifying a plurality of access point identifiers associated with the VoP device, and for each access point identifier, an identification of an associated physical location for voice calling via the access point.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the plurality of access point identifiers comprises network addresses.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the plurality of access point identifiers comprises nicknames.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the memory further stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to:

receive a request to provision the VoP device for voice calling via a second access point;

receive, from the VoP device, a second physical location to be associated with the VoP device for voice calling via the second access point;

verify the second physical location; and

in response to the verifying the second physical location, provision the VoP device for voice calling via the second access point, and store, in the profile associated with the VoP device, information associating the second physical location with the second access point for voice calling by the VoP device via the second access point.

16. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the memory further stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to:

obtain a trace route using a network address of the access point.

17. A system comprising:

a voice over packet (VoP) device; and

an apparatus comprising;

a processor; and

a memory storing executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to;

receive a request to provision the voice over packet (VoP) device for voice calling via an access point;

receive, from the VoP device, a physical location to be associated with the VoP device for voice calling via the access point;

verify the physical location; and

in response to the verifying the physical location, provision the VoP device for voice calling via the access point, and store, in a profile associated with the VoP device, information associating the physical location with the access point for voice calling by the VoP device via the access point.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the memory further stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to:

store, in the profile associated with the VoP device, information identifying a plurality of access point identifiers associated with the VoP device, and for each access point identifier, an identification of an associated physical location for voice calling via the access point.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the plurality of access point identifiers comprises network addresses.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the plurality of access point identifiers comprises nicknames.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the memory further stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to:

receive a request to provision the VoP device for voice calling via a second access point;

receive, from the VoP device, a second physical location to be associated with the VoP device for voice calling via the second access point;

verify the second physical location; and

in response to the verifying the second physical location, provision the VoP device for voice calling via the second access point, and store, in the profile associated with the VoP device, information associating the second physical location with the second access point for voice calling by the VoP device via the second access point.

22. The system of claim 17, wherein the memory further stores executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to:

obtain a trace route using a network address of the access point.

23. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to;

receive, from a voice over packet (VoP) device, a first physical location entry received at the VoP device as an identification of a physical location of the VoP device for voice calls involving a wireless access point;

in response to determining that the first physical location entry has an error, deny the first physical location entry;

receive a second physical location entry from the VoP device; and

in response to confirming that the second physical location entry does not have an error, associate, in a profile associated with the VoP device, the second physical location entry with the VoP device for voice calls involving the wireless access point.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to associate the second physical location entry with the VoP device further cause the apparatus to store the second physical location entry in the profile, and wherein the profile associates, for the VoP device, a plurality of physical locations with a corresponding plurality of wireless access points from which the VoP device may participate in voice calls.

25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the error in the first physical location entry is associated with a user error in inputting the first physical location entry.

26. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to associate the second physical location entry with the VoP device further cause the apparatus to associate a user-supplied nickname with the second physical location entry for voice calls involving the wireless access point.

27. A system comprising:

a voice over packet (VoP) device; and

an apparatus comprising;

a processor; and

a memory storing executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to;

receive, from the voice over packet (VoP) device, a first physical location entry received at the VoP device as an identification of a physical location of the VoP device for voice calls involving a wireless access point;

in response to determining that the first physical location entry has an error, deny the first physical location entry;

receive a second physical location entry from the VoP device; and

in response to confirming that the second physical location entry does not have an error, associate, in a profile associated with the VoP device, the second physical location entry with the VoP device for voice calls involving the wireless access point.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to associate the second physical location entry with the VoP device further cause the apparatus to store the second physical location entry in the profile, and wherein the profile associates, for the VoP device, a plurality of physical locations with a corresponding plurality of wireless access points from which the VoP device may participate in voice calls.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein the error in the first physical location entry is associated with a user error in inputting the first physical location entry.

30. The system of claim 27, wherein the executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to associate the second physical location entry with the VoP device further cause the apparatus to associate a user-supplied nickname with the second physical location entry for voice calls involving the wireless access point.

31. A method comprising:

receiving, by a computing device, a request to provision a voice over packet (VoP) device for voice calling via an access point;

receiving, from the VoP device, a physical location to be associated with the VoP device for voice calling via the access point;

verifying the physical location; and

in response to the verifying the physical location, storing, in a profile associated with the VoP device, information associating the physical location with the VoP device, thereby provisioning the VoP device for voice calling via the access point.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the access point is one of a plurality of access points for which the VoP device is provisioned for voice calling.

33. The method of claim 31, further comprising receiving, by the computing device, a request to provision the VoP device for voice calling via a second access point.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein the access point is associated with an access point identifier that comprises a network address.

35. The method of claim 31, wherein the access point is associated with an access point identifier that comprises a nickname.

36. The method of claim 31, further comprising:

receiving, from the VoP device, a second physical location to be associated with the VoP device for voice calling; and

storing the second physical location in the profile associated with the VoP device.

37. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to;

receive a request to provision a voice over packet (VoP) device for voice calling via an access point;

receive, from the VoP device, a physical location to be associated with the VoP device for voice calling via the access point;

verify the physical location; and

in response to the verifying the physical location, store, in a profile associated with the VoP device, information associating the physical location with the VoP device, thereby provisioning the VoP device for voice calling via the access point.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the access point is one of a plurality of access points for which the VoP device is provisioned for voice calling.

39. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to receive a request to provision the VoP device for voice calling via a second access point.

40. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the access point is associated with an access point identifier that comprises a network address.

41. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the access point is associated with an access point identifier that comprises a nickname.

42. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to:

receive, from the VoP device, a second physical location to be associated with the VoP device for voice calling; and

store the second physical location in the profile.

43. A system comprising:

a voice over packet (VoP) device; and

an apparatus comprising;

a processor; and

a memory storing executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to;

receive a request to provision the VoP device for voice calling via an access point;

receive, from the VoP device, a physical location to be associated with the VoP device for voice calling via the access point;

verify the physical location; and

in response to the verifying the physical location, store, in a profile associated with the VoP device, information associating the physical location with the VoP device, thereby provisioning the VoP device for voice calling via the access point.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein the access point is one of a plurality of access points for which the VoP device is provisioned for voice calling.

45. The system of claim 43, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to receive a request to provision the VoP device for voice calling via a second access point.

46. The system of claim 43, wherein the access point is associated with an access point identifier that comprises a network address.

47. The system of claim 43, wherein the access point is associated with an access point identifier that comprises a nickname.

48. The system of claim 43, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to:

receive, from the VoP device, a second physical location to be associated with the VoP device for voice calling; and

store the second physical location in the profile.

49. A method comprising:

receiving, by a computing device, a request to provision a voice over packet (VoP) device for voice calling via an access point;

receiving, from the VoP device, a physical location to be associated with the VoP device for voice calling via the access point;

verifying the physical location; and

in response to the verifying the physical location, storing, in a profile associated with the VoP device, information associating the physical location with the VoP device for voice calling via the access point.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the access point is one of a plurality of access points for which the VoP device is provisioned for voice calling.

51. The method of claim 49, further comprising receiving, by the computing device, a request to provision the VoP device for voice calling via a second access point.

52. The method of claim 49, wherein the access point is associated with an access point identifier that comprises a network address.

53. The method of claim 49, wherein the access point is associated with an access point identifier that comprises a nickname.

54. The method of claim 49, further comprising:

receiving, from the VoP device, a second physical location to be associated with the VoP device for voice calling; and

storing the second physical location in the profile associated with the VoP device.

55. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to;

receive a request to provision a voice over packet (VoP) device for voice calling via an access point;

receive, from the VoP device, a physical location to be associated with the VoP device for voice calling via the access point;

verify the physical location; and

in response to the verifying the physical location, store, in a profile associated with the VoP device, information associating the physical location with the VoP device for voice calling via the access point.

56. The apparatus of claim 55, wherein the access point is one of a plurality of access points for which the VoP device is provisioned for voice calling.

57. The apparatus of claim 55, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to receive a request to provision the VoP device for voice calling via a second access point.

58. The apparatus of claim 55, wherein the access point is associated with an access point identifier that comprises a network address.

59. The apparatus of claim 55, wherein the access point is associated with an access point identifier that comprises a nickname.

60. The apparatus of claim 55, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to:

receive, from the VoP device, a second physical location to be associated with the VoP device for voice calling; and

store the second physical location in the profile.

61. A system comprising:

a voice over packet (VoP) device; and

an apparatus comprising;

a processor; and

a memory storing executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the apparatus to;

receive a request to provision a voice over packet (VoP) device for voice calling via an access point;

receive, from the VoP device, a physical location to be associated with the VoP device for voice calling via the access point;

verify the physical location; and

in response to the verifying the physical location, store, in a profile associated with the VoP device, information associating the physical location with the VoP device for voice calling via the access point.

62. The system of claim 61, wherein the access point is one of a plurality of access points for which the VoP device is provisioned for voice calling.

63. The system of claim 61, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to receive a request to provision the VoP device for voice calling via a second access point.

64. The system of claim 61, wherein the access point is associated with an access point identifier that comprises a network address.

65. The system of claim 61, wherein the access point is associated with an access point identifier that comprises a nickname.

66. The system of claim 61, wherein the executable instructions, when executed by the processor, further cause the apparatus to:

receive, from the VoP device, a second physical location to be associated with the VoP device for voice calling; and

store the second physical location in the profile.