Caller location determination systems and methods

• US 10,356,240 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2018
• Issued: 07/16/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Laaser Critical Communications Corp.
• Original Assignee: Laaser Critical Communications Corp.
• Inventors: Self, Michael R., White, Frederick L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Congvan
• Application Number:
  US16/102,443
• Publication Number:
  US 20180352081A1
• Time in Patent Office: 337 Days
• Field of Search: 4554041- 2, 4554121- 2, 4554561- 2, 455567, 379 45
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1895 for short real-time information, e.g. alarms, notifications, alerts, updates
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/222 using geographical location information, e.g. messages transmitted or received in proximity of a certain spot or area
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72424 with manual activation of emergency-service functions
• 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 2201/42 Graphical user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/256 comprising a service specific user interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/04 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/14 with services dependent on location where the service is an information service H04M2242/15; services independent of location H04M3/42229
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42357 where the information is provided to a monitoring entity such as a potential calling party or a call processing server
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5116 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/025 using location based information parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/14 Short messaging services, e.g. short message services [SMS] or unstructured supplementary service data [USSD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]

Abstract

In particular embodiments, the system is adapted to: (1) monitor a user'"'"'s behavior to anticipate that the user is likely to imminently place a request for emergency services; and (2) in response to determining that a request for emergency services is likely to be initiated imminently, facilitating the transmission of telemetry data from the user'"'"'s mobile computing device to a remote computer for use in determining a dispatchable location for use by a PSAP that will handle the request for emergency services. The system may execute these steps in advance of the request for emergency services being initiated.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for facilitating the initiation of an emergency call from an individual who is in need of emergency assistance, and for providing a dispatchable location for the individual for use in dispatching emergency assistance to the individual, the computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, by at least one computer processor, an indication that the individual has requested, via a portable computing device associated with the individual, initiation of an emergency call;

in response to receiving the indication that the individual has requested initiation of an emergency call;

analyzing, by at least one computer processor, current location data for the individual from a geolocation cache database, to determine a suitable current dispatchable location for the individual, the geolocation cache database storing current location data for the individual, the current location data comprising telemetry data from the portable computing device;

in response to determining the suitable current dispatchable location for the individual, updating, by at least one computer processor, an ALI database to reflect that the individual'"'"'s location is the determined current dispatchable location, the ALI database being an ALI database that a public-safety answering point that will handle an emergency call placed by the individual will access to determine the current location of the individual; and

facilitating, by at least one computer processor, the initiation of an emergency call to the particular public-safety answering point, wherein;

the step of analyzing current location data for the individual comprises determining, by at least one computer processor, whether;

(A) to use, as the current dispatchable location, current location information that has been input into the portable computing device by the individual as part of the individual'"'"'s request to initiate the emergency call, or (B) to determine the current dispatchable location based on the telemetry data; and

in response to determining to use the input current location information as the current dispatchable location, using, by at least one computer processor, the input current location information as the current dispatchable location.

2. A computer-implemented method for facilitating the initiation of an emergency call from an individual who is in need of emergency assistance, and for providing a dispatchable location for the individual for use in dispatching emergency assistance to the individual, the computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving by at least one computer processor, an indication that the individual has requested, via a portable computing device associated with the individual, initiation of an emergency call;

in response to receiving the indication that the individual has requested initiation of an emergency call;

analyzing, by at least one computer processor, current location data for the individual from a geolocation cache database, to determine a suitable current dispatchable location for the individual, the geolocation cache database storing current location data for the individual, the current location data comprising telemetry data from the portable computing device;

in response to determining the suitable current dispatchable location for the individual, updating, by at least one computer processor, an ALI database to reflect that the individual'"'"'s location is the determined current dispatchable location, the ALI database being an ALI database that a public-safety answering point that will handle an emergency call placed by the individual will access to determine the current location of the individual; and

facilitating, by at least one computer processor, the initiation of an emergency call to the particular public-safety answering point, wherein;

the geolocation cache database stores information regarding the MAC address of one or more networks that the portable computing device is in communication with;

the step of analyzing current location data for the individual comprises determining, by at least one computer processor, whether to ascertain the current dispatchable location based on the MAC address information or a location of the portable computing device that has been determined using triangulation techniques; and

in response to determining to ascertain the current dispatchable location based on the MAC address information, ascertaining, by at least one computer processor, the current dispatchable location information based on the MAC address information.

3. A computer-implemented method for facilitating the initiation of an emergency call from an individual who is in need of emergency assistance, and for providing a dispatchable location for the individual for use in dispatching emergency assistance to the individual, the computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, by at least one computer processor, an indication that the individual has requested, via a portable computing device associated with the individual, initiation of an emergency call;

in response to receiving the indication that the individual has requested initiation of an emergency call;

analyzing, by at least one computer processor, current location data for the individual from a geolocation cache database, to determine a suitable current dispatchable location for the individual, the geolocation cache database storing current location data for the individual, the current location data comprising telemetry data from the portable computing device;

in response to determining the suitable current dispatchable location for the individual, updating, by at least one computer processor, an ALI database to reflect that the individual'"'"'s location is the determined current dispatchable location, the ALI database being an ALI database that a public-safety answering point that will handle an emergency call placed by the individual will access to determine the current location of the individual; and

facilitating, by at least one computer processor, the initiation of an emergency call to the particular public-safety answering point, wherein;

the geolocation cache database stores information regarding the MAC address of one or more networks that the portable computing device is in communication with;

the step of analyzing current location data for the individual comprises determining, by at least one computer processor, whether to ascertain the current dispatchable location based on the MAC address information or a location of the individual that has been determined based on one or more social media postings associated with the individual; and

in response to determining to ascertain the current dispatchable location based on the MAC address information, ascertaining, by at least one computer processor, the current dispatchable location information based on the MAC address information.

4. A computer-implemented method for facilitating the initiation of an emergency call from an individual who is in need of emergency assistance, and for providing a dispatchable location for the individual for use in dispatching emergency assistance to the individual, the computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, by at least one computer processor, an indication that the individual has requested, via a portable computing device associated with the individual, initiation of an emergency call;

in response to receiving the indication that the individual has requested initiation of an emergency call;

analyzing, by at least one computer processor, current location data for the individual from a geolocation cache database, to determine a suitable current dispatchable location for the individual, the geolocation cache database storing current location data for the individual, the current location data comprising telemetry data from the portable computing device;

in response to determining the suitable current dispatchable location for the individual, updating, by at least one computer processor, an ALI database to reflect that the individual'"'"'s location is the determined current dispatchable location, the ALI database being an ALI database that a public-safety answering point that will handle an emergency call placed by the individual will access to determine the current location of the individual; and

facilitating, by at least one computer processor, the initiation of an emergency call to the particular public-safety answering point, wherein;

the geolocation cache database stores first location information regarding a location of the portable computing device that has been determined using triangulation techniques and second location information regarding a location of the portable computing device that has been determined using GPS technology;

the step of analyzing current location data for the individual comprises determining, by at least one computer processor, whether to ascertain the current dispatchable location based on the first location information or the second location information; and

in response to determining to ascertain the current dispatchable location based on the second location information, ascertaining, by at least one computer processor, the current dispatchable location based on the second location information.

5. A computer-implemented method for facilitating the initiation of an emergency call from an individual who is in need of emergency assistance, and for providing a dispatchable location for the individual for use in dispatching emergency assistance to the individual, the computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving, by at least one computer processor, an indication that the individual has requested, via a portable computing device associated with the individual, initiation of an emergency call;

in response to receiving the indication that the individual has requested initiation of an emergency call;

analyzing, by at least one computer processor, current location data for the individual from a geolocation cache database, to determine a suitable current dispatchable location for the individual, the geolocation cache database storing current location data for the individual, the current location data comprising telemetry data from the portable computing device;

in response to determining the suitable current dispatchable location for the individual, updating, by at least one computer processor, an ALI database to reflect that the individual'"'"'s location is the determined current dispatchable location, the ALI database being an ALI database that a public-safety answering point that will handle an emergency call placed by the individual will access to determine the current location of the individual; and

facilitating, by at least one computer processor, the initiation of an emergency call to the particular public-safety answering point, wherein the method further comprises;

receiving information, by at least one computer processor, regarding a probable location of the particular individual when the individual'"'"'s location satisfies one or more predetermined criteria; and

the step of analyzing the current location data for the individual, from the geolocation cache database, to determine a suitable current dispatchable location for the individual comprises;

(a) receiving information regarding an approximate location of the portable computing device;

(b) determining whether the portable computing device'"'"'s approximate location satisfies the one or more predetermined criteria; and

(c) at least partially in response to determining that the portable computing device'"'"'s approximate location satisfies the one or more predetermined criteria, determining, by at least one computer processor, the suitable current dispatchable location based on the received probable location of the particular individual.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein the step of determining whether the portable computing device'"'"'s approximate location satisfies the one or more predetermined criteria comprises determining, by at least one computer processor, whether the portable computing device'"'"'s approximate location is within a predetermined distance of the probable location.

7. A computer system for initiating an emergency call from an individual who is in need of emergency assistance, and for providing a dispatchable location for the individual for use in dispatching emergency assistance to the individual, the computer system comprising:

at least one computer processor;

memory that is operatively coupled to the at least one computer processor;

a request receiving means for receiving a request from a user to initiate an emergency call via a portable computing device; and

a location data storing means storing current location data for the individual, the current location data comprising telemetry data from the portable computing device, wherein;

the system is adapted for, in response to receiving the request from the user to initiate the emergency call;

analyzing the current location data for the individual, from the location data storing means, to determine a suitable current dispatchable location for the individual;

in response to determining the suitable current dispatchable location for the individual, updating an ALI database to reflect that the individual'"'"'s location is the determined current dispatchable location, the ALI database being an ALI database that a public-safety answering point that will handle an emergency call placed by the individual will access to determine the current location of the individual; and

facilitating the initiation of an emergency call to the particular public-safety answering point, wherein;

the step of updating the ALI database is done before facilitating the initiation of the emergency call to the particular public-safety answering point.

8. A computer system for initiating an emergency call from an individual who is in need of emergency assistance, and for providing a dispatchable location for the individual for use in dispatching emergency assistance to the individual, the computer system comprising:

at least one computer processor;

memory that is operatively coupled to the at least one computer processor;

a request receiving means for receiving a request from a user to initiate an emergency call via a portable computing device; and

a location data storing means storing current location data for the individual, the current location data comprising telemetry data from the portable computing device, wherein;

the system is adapted for, in response to receiving the request from the user to initiate the emergency call;

analyzing the current location data for the individual, from the location data storing means, to determine a suitable current dispatchable location for the individual;

in response to determining the suitable current dispatchable location for the individual, updating an ALI database to reflect that the individual'"'"'s location is the determined current dispatchable location, the ALI database being an ALI database that a public-safety answering point that will handle an emergency call placed by the individual will access to determine the current location of the individual; and

facilitating the initiation of an emergency call to the particular public-safety answering point, wherein;

the location data storing means stores information regarding the MAC address of one or more networks that the portable computing device is in communication with;

the step of analyzing current location data for the individual comprises determining whether to ascertain the current dispatchable location based on the MAC address information or a location of the portable computing device that has been determined using triangulation techniques; and

in response to determining to ascertain the current dispatchable location based on the MAC address information, ascertaining the current dispatchable location information based on the MAC address information.

9. A computer system for initiating an emergency call from an individual who is in need of emergency assistance, and for providing a dispatchable location for the individual for use in dispatching emergency assistance to the individual, the computer system comprising:

at least one computer processor;

memory that is operatively coupled to the at least one computer processor;

a request receiving means for receiving a request from a user to initiate an emergency call via a portable computing device; and

a location data storing means storing current location data for the individual, the current location data comprising telemetry data from the portable computing device, wherein;

the system is adapted for, in response to receiving the request from the user to initiate the emergency call;

analyzing the current location data for the individual, from the location data storing means, to determine a suitable current dispatchable location for the individual;

in response to determining the suitable current dispatchable location for the individual, updating an ALI database to reflect that the individual'"'"'s location is the determined current dispatchable location, the ALI database being an ALI database that a public-safety answering point that will handle an emergency call placed by the individual will access to determine the current location of the individual; and

facilitating the initiation of an emergency call to the particular public-safety answering point, wherein;

the location data storing means stores information regarding the MAC address of one or more networks that the portable computing device is in communication with;

the step of analyzing current location data for the individual comprises determining whether to ascertain the current dispatchable location based on the MAC address information or a location of the individual that has been determined based on one or more social media postings associated with the individual; and

in response to determining to ascertain the current dispatchable location based on the MAC address information, ascertaining the current dispatchable location information based on the MAC address information.

10. A computer system for initiating an emergency call from an individual who is in need of emergency assistance, and for providing a dispatchable location for the individual for use in dispatching emergency assistance to the individual, the computer system comprising:

at least one computer processor;

memory that is operatively coupled to the at least one computer processor;

a request receiving means for receiving a request from a user to initiate an emergency call via a portable computing device; and

a location data storing means storing current location data for the individual, the current location data comprising telemetry data from the portable computing device, wherein;

the system is adapted for, in response to receiving the request from the user to initiate the emergency call;

analyzing the current location data for the individual, from the location data storing means, to determine a suitable current dispatchable location for the individual;

in response to determining the suitable current dispatchable location for the individual, updating an ALI database to reflect that the individual'"'"'s location is the determined current dispatchable location, the ALI database being an ALI database that a public-safety answering point that will handle an emergency call placed by the individual will access to determine the current location of the individual; and

facilitating the initiation of an emergency call to the particular public-safety answering point, wherein;

the location data storing means stores first location information regarding a location of the portable computing device that has been determined using triangulation techniques and second location information regarding a location of the portable computing device that has been determined using GPS technology;

the step of analyzing current location data for the individual comprises determining whether to ascertain the current dispatchable location based on the first location information or the second location information; and

in response to determining to ascertain the current dispatchable location based on the second location information, ascertaining the current dispatchable location based on the second location information.

11. A computer system for initiating an emergency call from an individual who is in need of emergency assistance, and for providing a dispatchable location for the individual for use in dispatching emergency assistance to the individual, the computer system comprising:

at least one computer processor;

memory that is operatively coupled to the at least one computer processor;

a request receiving means for receiving a request from a user to initiate an emergency call via a portable computing device; and

a location data storing means storing current location data for the individual, the current location data comprising telemetry data from the portable computing device, wherein;

the system is adapted for, in response to receiving the request from the user to initiate the emergency call;

analyzing the current location data for the individual, from the location data storing means, to determine a suitable current dispatchable location for the individual;

in response to determining the suitable current dispatchable location for the individual, updating an ALI database to reflect that the individual'"'"'s location is the determined current dispatchable location, the ALI database being an ALI database that a public-safety answering point that will handle an emergency call placed by the individual will access to determine the current location of the individual; and

facilitating the initiation of an emergency call to the particular public-safety answering point, wherein;

the computer system further receives information regarding a probable location of the particular individual when the individual'"'"'s location satisfies one or more predetermined criteria; and

the step of analyzing the current location data for the individual, from the location data storing means, to determine a suitable current dispatchable location for the individual comprises;

 

(a) receiving information regarding an approximate location of the portable computing device;

 

(b) determining whether the portable computing device'"'"'s approximate location satisfies the one or more predetermined criteria; and

 

(c) at least partially in response to determining that the portable computing device'"'"'s approximate location satisfies the one or more predetermined criteria, determining the suitable current dispatchable location based on the received probable location of the particular individual.

12. The computer system of claim 11, wherein the step of determining whether the portable computing device'"'"'s approximate location satisfies the one or more predetermined criteria comprises determining whether the portable computing device'"'"'s approximate location is within a predetermined distance of the probable location.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer executable instructions for:

receiving an indication that a particular individual has requested to place an emergency call via a portable computing device associated with the individual; and

at least partially in response to receiving the indication that a particular individual has requested to place an emergency call via the portable computing device associated with the individual;

determining a current location of the portable computing device;

using the determined current location of the portable computing device to determine a dispatchable location for use in dispatching emergency assistance to the particular individual;

updating a data structure to indicate that the individual is at the determined current location, the data structure being a data structure that a particular public-safety answering point that will be handling the emergency call accesses to determine location information for individuals who contact the public-safety answering point to request emergency assistance, wherein;

the step of updating the data structure is completed prior to an initiation of the emergency call by the portable computing device.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer executable instructions for:

receiving an indication that a particular individual has requested to place an emergency call via a portable computing device associated with the individual; and

at least partially in response to receiving the indication that a particular individual has requested to place an emergency call via the portable computing device associated with the individual;

determining a current location of the portable computing device;

using the determined current location of the portable computing device to determine a dispatchable location for use in dispatching emergency assistance to the particular individual;

updating a data structure to indicate that the individual is at the determined current location, the data structure being a data structure that a particular public-safety answering point that will be handling the emergency call accesses to determine location information for individuals who contact the public-safety answering point to request emergency assistance, wherein;

the non-transitory computer-readable medium stores computer executable instructions for;

after updating the data structure to indicate that the individual is at the determined current location, facilitating the initiation of the emergency call.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer executable instructions for:

receiving an indication that a particular individual has requested to place an emergency call via a portable computing device associated with the individual; and

at least partially in response to receiving the indication that a particular individual has requested to place an emergency call via the portable computing device associated with the individual;

determining a current location of the portable computing device;

using the determined current location of the portable computing device to determine a dispatchable location for use in dispatching emergency assistance to the particular individual;

updating a data structure to indicate that the individual is at the determined current location, the data structure being a data structure that a particular public-safety answering point that will be handling the emergency call accesses to determine location information for individuals who contact the public-safety answering point to request emergency assistance, wherein;

the step of determining a current location of the portable computing device comprises;

receiving a first current location for the individual, as determined via triangulation techniques;

receiving a second current location for the individual, the second current location having been input into the portable computing device by the user as part of the request to make the emergency call; and

determining to use the second current location as the individual'"'"'s current location based on a set of rules that specifies that location information provided by the particular individual will be used over location information determined by triangulation techniques.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer executable instructions for:

receiving an indication that a particular individual has requested to place an emergency call via a portable computing device associated with the individual; and

at least partially in response to receiving the indication that a particular individual has requested to place an emergency call via the portable computing device associated with the individual;

determining a current location of the portable computing device;

using the determined current location of the portable computing device to determine a dispatchable location for use in dispatching emergency assistance to the particular individual;

updating a data structure to indicate that the individual is at the determined current location, the data structure being a data structure that a particular public-safety answering point that will be handling the emergency call accesses to determine location information for individuals who contact the public-safety answering point to request emergency assistance, wherein;

the step of determining a current location of the portable computing device comprises;

receiving a first current location for the individual, as determined via triangulation techniques;

receiving a second current location for the individual, the second current location having been determined based on a MAC address associated with a computing device with which the portable computing device is currently in communication; and

determining to use the second current location as the individual'"'"'s current location based on a set of rules that specifies that location information associated with a MAC address will be used over location information determined by triangulation techniques.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer executable instructions for:

receiving an indication that a particular individual has requested to place an emergency call via a portable computing device associated with the individual; and

at least partially in response to receiving the indication that a particular individual has requested to place an emergency call via the portable computing device associated with the individual;

determining a current location of the portable computing device;

using the determined current location of the portable computing device to determine a dispatchable location for use in dispatching emergency assistance to the particular individual;

updating a data structure to indicate that the individual is at the determined current location, the data structure being a data structure that a particular public-safety answering point that will be handling the emergency call accesses to determine location information for individuals who contact the public-safety answering point to request emergency assistance, wherein;

the non-transitory computer-readable medium further stores computer-executable instructions for receiving information regarding a probable location of the particular individual when the portable computing device'"'"'s location satisfies one or more criteria; and

the step of determining a current location of the portable computing device comprises;

(a) receiving information regarding an approximate location of the portable computing device;

(b) determining whether the portable computing device'"'"'s approximate location satisfies the one or more criteria; and

(c) at least partially in response to determining that the portable computing device'"'"'s approximate location satisfies the one or more criteria, updating the data structure to indicate that the portable computing device is at the probable location.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the step of determining whether the portable computing device'"'"'s approximate location satisfies the one or more criteria comprises determining whether the portable computing device'"'"'s approximate location is within a predetermined distance of the probable location.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer executable instructions for:

receiving an indication that a particular individual has requested to place an emergency call via a portable computing device associated with the individual; and

at least partially in response to receiving the indication that a particular individual has requested to place an emergency call via the portable computing device associated with the individual;

determining a current location of the portable computing device;

using the determined current location of the portable computing device to determine a dispatchable location for use in dispatching emergency assistance to the particular individual;

updating a data structure to indicate that the individual is at the determined current location, the data structure being a data structure that a particular public-safety answering point that will be handling the emergency call accesses to determine location information for individuals who contact the public-safety answering point to request emergency assistance, wherein;

the data structure is an ALI database.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer executable instructions for:

receiving an indication that a particular individual has requested to place an emergency call via a portable computing device associated with the individual; and

at least partially in response to receiving the indication that a particular individual has requested to place an emergency call via the portable computing device associated with the individual;

determining a current location of the portable computing device;

using the determined current location of the portable computing device to determine a dispatchable location for use in dispatching emergency assistance to the particular individual;

updating a data structure to indicate that the individual is at the determined current location, the data structure being a data structure that a particular public-safety answering point that will be handling the emergency call accesses to determine location information for individuals who contact the public-safety answering point to request emergency assistance, wherein;

the portable computing device is a smartphone.

21. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer executable instructions for:

receiving an indication that a particular individual has requested to place an emergency call via a portable computing device associated with the individual; and

at least partially in response to receiving the indication that a particular individual has requested to place an emergency call via the portable computing device associated with the individual;

determining a current location of the portable computing device;

using the determined current location of the portable computing device to determine a dispatchable location for use in dispatching emergency assistance to the particular individual;

updating a data structure to indicate that the individual is at the determined current location, the data structure being a data structure that a particular public-safety answering point that will be handling the emergency call accesses to determine location information for individuals who contact the public-safety answering point to request emergency assistance, wherein;

the portable computing device is a tablet computer.

22. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer executable instructions for:

receiving an indication that a particular individual has requested to place an emergency call via a portable computing device associated with the individual; and

at least partially in response to receiving the indication that a particular individual has requested to place an emergency call via the portable computing device associated with the individual;

determining a current location of the portable computing device;

using the determined current location of the portable computing device to determine a dispatchable location for use in dispatching emergency assistance to the particular individual;

updating a data structure to indicate that the individual is at the determined current location, the data structure being a data structure that a particular public-safety answering point that will be handling the emergency call accesses to determine location information for individuals who contact the public-safety answering point to request emergency assistance, wherein;

the step of determining the current location of the portable computing device is executed by a location determining means.