System and method for providing a map image supplimental to automatic location identification information

• US 20060159235A1
• Filed: 01/19/2005
• Published: 07/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intrado Life & Safety Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Intrado Incorporated (West Corporation)
• Inventors: Eisner, Gerald R., Koepke, Michael Arthur, Boroski, Eileen Kaye
• Granted Patent: US 7,177,400 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/04 for emergency applications
• 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

Abstract

A system and method that provides a map image as part of, or along with, ALI information by dispatching a map query to a central map server after receipt of the ALI information, which includes an address, geo-coordinates or both. A map image corresponding to the requested location is returned. The ALI database may request the map image after retrieving or determining the location of the caller. Data to generate map images is stored in a central server or group of servers. In this manner, the data only has to be updated once for all users to have the updates. Further, the map server may be connected to wireline telephone facilities, wireless telephone facilities, or both, in a manner that is complimentary to the topography of the telephone network.

Claims

1. A method for delivering a map image supplemental to automatic location identification (ALI) data comprising:

receiving a request for ALI data from an answering point, said request comprising a telephone number (TN);

retrieving ALI data based on said TN;

determining mapping information based on said TN;

generating a map image at a central map server responsive to the mapping information; and

delivering said map image with the ALI data to the answering point responsive to the request.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein determining mapping information based on said TN comprises retrieving geo-location coordinates associated with said ALI data.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein determining mapping information based on said TN comprises retrieving predetermined data from said ALI data and determining geo-location coordinates based on said predetermined data.

4. A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein determining geo-location coordinates based on said predetermined data comprises determining geo-location from a street address.

5. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein determining mapping information based on said TN comprises determining mapping information based on an ANI of a calling telephone.

6. A method for delivering a map image supplemental to automatic location identification (ALI) data for a wireless device comprising:

receiving a request for ALI data associated with the wireless device from an answering point, said request comprising an emergency services routing key (ESRK);

retrieving ALI data based on the ESRK;

determining mapping information based on the ESRK;

generating a map image at a central map server responsive to the mapping information; and

delivering the map image with the ALI data to the answering point responsive to the request.

7. A method in accordance with claim 6 wherein determining mapping information based on said ESRK comprises retrieving geo-location coordinates of the wireless device.

8. A method in accordance with claim 6 wherein determining mapping information based on said ESRK comprises requesting geo-location coordinates of the wireless device from the wireless network wherein the wireless device is located.

9. A method in accordance with claim 6 further comprising:

querying a mobile positioning center in the wireless network for x and y coordinates.

10. A method for delivering a map image supplemental to automatic location identification (ALI) data for a wireline device comprising:

receiving a request for ALI data associated with the wireline device from an answering point, said request comprising an routing key;

retrieving ALI data based on the routing key;

determining mapping information based on the routing key;

generating a map image at a central map server responsive to the mapping information; and

delivering the map image with the ALI data to the answering point responsive to the request.

11. A method in accordance with claim 10 wherein said wireline device comprises a landline telephone.

12. A method in accordance with claim 10 wherein said wireline device comprises a voice over internet protocol device.

13. A method in accordance with claim 10 wherein said routing key comprises a telephone number of the wireline device.

14. A method in accordance with claim 10 wherein said routing key comprises an emergency services routing key.

15. A method in accordance with claim 10 wherein said routing key comprises an automatic number identification related to said wireline device.