Converting location information into public safety answering point (PSAP) signaling

• US 9,860,722 B1
• Filed: 01/30/2014
• Issued: 01/02/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile Innovations LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Ray, Amar Nath, Nelson, Tracy Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan, Man
• Application Number:
  US14/168,755
• Time in Patent Office: 1,433 Days
• Field of Search: 370230-401, 455401-522, 709207-228, 379 37- 45
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]

Abstract

An Internet Protocol (IP) router provides location information for an emergency communication session. The IP router receives a base station identifier associated with a request for the emergency communication session. The IP router selects a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) based on the base station identifier. The IP router determines a PSAP type and a network type for the selected PSAP. The IP router transfers a location request for delivery to a location control system and receives location information transferred from the location control system. The IP router converts the location information into PSAP signaling used by the selected PSAP based on the PSAP and network type. The IP router transfers the converted location information for delivery to the selected PSAP.

Claims

1. A method of operating an Internet Protocol (IP) router to provide location information for an emergency communication session, the method comprising:

receiving a base station identifier associated with a request for the emergency communication session;

selecting a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) based on the base station identifier;

determining an Internet Protocol (IP) PSAP type and an IP network type for the selected PSAP;

transferring a location request for delivery to a location control system;

receiving location information transferred from the location control system;

including the location information in a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message used by the selected PSAP based on the IP PSAP type and the IP network type; and

transferring the converted location information for delivery to the selected PSAP.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the IP PSAP type comprises an i3 IP PSAP.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the IP PSAP type comprises a non-i3 IP PSAP.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the location information comprises Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates of a wireless communication device associated with the emergency communication session.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the location information comprises a street address of a wireless communication device associated with the emergency communication session.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the location information comprises the base station identifier.

7. An Internet Protocol (IP) router to provide location information for an emergency communication session comprising:

a communication interface configured to receive a base station identifier associated with a request for the emergency communication session;

a processing system configured to select a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) based on the base station identifier;

the processing system configured to determine an Internet Protocol (IP) PSAP type and an IP network type for the selected PSAP;

the communication interface configured to transfer a location request for delivery to a location control system, and to receive location information transferred from the location control system;

the processing system configured to include the location information in a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message used by the selected PSAP based on the IP PSAP type and the IP network type; and

the communication interface configured to transfer the converted location information for delivery to the selected PSAP.

8. The IP router of claim 7 wherein the IP PSAP type comprises an i3 IP PSAP.

9. The IP router of claim 7 wherein the IP PSAP type comprises a non-i3 IP PSAP.

10. The IP router of claim 7 wherein the location information comprises Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates of a wireless communication device associated with the emergency communication session.

11. The IP router of claim 7 wherein the location information comprises a street address of a wireless communication device associated with the emergency communication session.

12. The IP router of claim 7 wherein the location information comprises the base station identifier.