Determining physical location of network devices

• US 20070263641A1
• Filed: 05/10/2006
• Published: 11/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Yee, Dawson
• Granted Patent: US 7,889,718 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/401
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 4/002 Remote reading of utility meters
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/604 Address structures or formats
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/35 involving non-standard use of addresses for implementing network functionalities, e.g. coding subscription information within the address or functional addressing, i.e. assigning an address to a function
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• 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 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/30 Smart metering, e.g. specially adapted for remote reading

Abstract

Determining a physical location of a network device includes determining a network address associated with the network device and correlating the network address with a physical location. The network address associated with the network device is an address of the network device, an address of a router coupled to the network device or an address of an other device at a same physical location as the network device. The other device may be a gas meter or an electric meter. A table may be consulted for the location information.

Claims

1. A method of determining a physical location of a network device, comprising:

determining a network address associated with the network device; and

correlating the network address with a physical location.

2. A method, according to claim 1, wherein the network address associated with the network device is an address of the network device.

3. A method, according to claim 1, wherein the network address associated with the network device is an address of a router coupled to the network device.

4. A method, according to claim 1, wherein the network address associated with the network device is an address of an other device at a same physical location as the network device.

5. A method, according to claim 4, wherein the other device is a gas meter.

6. A method, according to claim 4, wherein the other device is an electric meter.

7. A method, according to claim 1, wherein correlating the network address with a physical location includes consulting a table that is indexed according to network address information.

8. A method, according to claim 1, wherein correlating the network address with a physical location includes contacting an alternative service provider related to the network device.

9. A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing the steps recited in claim 1.

10. A system having at least one processor that performs the steps recited in claim 1.

11. A method of dispatching emergency services based on a communication from a network device, comprising:

determining if there is a network address associated with the network device;

if there is a network address associated with the network device, determining a physical location corresponding to the network address;

if there is not a network address associated with the network device or if there is not a physical location corresponding to the network address, speaking to a caller using the network device to obtain a physical location; and

transferring the call and information relating to the physical location to a public service access point.

12. A method, according to claim 11, wherein the network address associated with the network device is an address of the network device.

13. A method, according to claim 11, wherein the network address associated with the network device is an address of a router coupled to the network device.

14. A method, according to claim 11, wherein the network address associated with the network device is an address of an other device at a same physical location as the network device.

15. A method, according to claim 14, wherein the other device is a gas meter.

16. A method, according to claim 14, wherein the other device is an electric meter.

17. A method, according to claim 11, wherein correlating the network address with a physical location includes contacting an alternative service provider related to the network device.

18. A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions for performing the steps recited in claim 11.

19. A system having at least one processor that performs the steps recited in claim 11.

20. A method of handling emergency calls placed using a network device, comprising:

receiving a call initially handled by another entity that is coupled to the network device via the Internet;

consulting user information to determine a location of the caller; and

causing emergency services to be dispatched to the location.