Providing An Indication Of Network Capabilities To A User For Special Number Calls

• US 20080026728A1
• Filed: 07/28/2006
• Published: 01/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intrado Life & Safety Incorporated
• Original Assignee: West Corporation
• Inventors: Snapp, John Lawrence, Kearney, John, Wilson, Matt, Erkkila, Robin, Corne, Cynthia, Andronici, Marcus Robert, Hyatt, Bill
• Granted Patent: US 7,773,975 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways

Abstract

Networks and methods are disclosed for providing an indication of the capability of a communication network for serving special number calls. Before a user places a special number call, the communication network determines the capability of the communication network for serving a special number call, and provides the indication of the network capability to the user. The user is thus kept aware of the quality of the special number service available to them through the communication network.

Claims

1. A method of providing an indication of the capability of a communication network to serve a special number call before a special number call is placed over the communication network, the method comprising:

determining location information for a communication device of a user;

determining routing information for a simulated special number call from the communication device to route the simulated special number call to an answering point;

determining a network capability of the communication network for serving the simulated special number call based on at least one of the location information and the routing information; and

providing an indication of the network capability to the communication device to notify the user of the network capability of the communication network for serving an actual special number call prior to the user placing the actual special number call.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a network capability of the communication network for serving the simulated special number call comprises:

processing the location information to identify a location of the communication device and an uncertainty of the location of the communication device; and

determining the network capability of the communication network based on the location of the communication device and the uncertainty of the location.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a network capability of the communication network for serving the simulated special number call comprises:

identifying an answering point for the simulated special number call and an amount of data that can be provided to the identified answering point; and

determining the network capability of the communication network based on the identified answering point and the amount of data that can be provided to the identified answering point.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a network capability of the communication network for serving the simulated special number call comprises:

determining if a call back number is identified for the simulated special number call; and

determining the network capability of the communication network based on whether the call back number is identified.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a network capability of the communication network for serving the simulated special number call comprises:

identifying an answering point to handle the simulated special number call;

determining the capabilities of the answering point to handle the simulated special number call; and

determining the network capability of the communication network based on the capabilities of the identified answering point.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein determining location information for a communication device of a user comprises:

identifying the location information for the communication device; and

querying the user to verify the identified location information.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein determining location information for a communication device of a user comprises:

querying the user to enter the location information responsive to being unable to identify the location information for the communication device.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving the indication of the network capability in the communication device; and

displaying the indication of the network capability to the user to notify the user of the network capability prior to the user placing an actual special number call.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein displaying the indication of the network capability comprises at least one of illuminating an LED, displaying a web page, or displaying a text message.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

restricting communication service to the communication device responsive to the network capability not meeting defined capability standards.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the special number call comprises a 9-1-1 call.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the answering point comprises a PSAP of an emergency services network.

13. A communication network adapted to provide an indication of the capability of the communication network to serve a special number call before a special number call is placed, the communication network comprising:

a positioning system adapted to determine location information for a communication device of a user, and to determine routing information for a simulated special number call from the communication device to route the simulated special number call to an answering point; and

a capability determination system adapted to determine a network capability of the communication network to provide a special number call service to the communication device prior to a special number call being placed by the communication device, and to provide an indication of the network capability to the communication device to notify the user as to the network capability of the communication network to provide the special number call service to the communication device.

14. The communication network of claim 13 wherein the capability determination system is further adapted to:

process the location information to identify a location of the communication device and an uncertainty of the location of the communication device; and

determine the network capability of the communication network based on the location of the communication device and the uncertainty of the location.

15. The communication network of claim 13 wherein the capability determination system is further adapted to:

identify an answering point for the simulated special number call and an amount of data that can be provided to the identified answering point; and

determine the network capability of the communication network based on the identified answering point and the amount of data that can be provided to the identified answering point.

16. The communication network of claim 13 wherein the capability determination system is further adapted to:

determine if a call back number is identified for the simulated special number call; and

determine the network capability of the communication network based on whether the call back number is identified.

17. The communication network of claim 13 wherein the capability determination system is further adapted to:

identify an answering point to handle the simulated special number call;

determine the capabilities of the answering point to handle the simulated special number call; and

determine the network capability of the communication network based on the capabilities of the identified answering point.

18. The communication network of claim 13 wherein the capability determination system is further adapted to:

identify the location information for the communication device; and

query the user to verify the identified location information.

19. The communication network of claim 13 wherein the capability determination system is further adapted to:

query the user to enter the location information responsive to being unable to identify the location information for the communication device.

20. The communication network of claim 13 wherein the capability determination system is further adapted to restrict communication service to the communication device responsive to the network capability not meeting defined capability standards.

21. The communication network of claim 13 wherein the special number call comprises a 9-1-1 call.

22. The communication network of claim 21 wherein the answering point comprises a PSAP of an emergency services network.

23. A capability determination system adapted to provide an indication of the capability of the communication network to serve a special number call before a special number call is placed over the communication network, the capability determination system comprising:

a first interface adapted to receive location information for a communication device of a user, and to receive routing information for a simulated special number call from the communication device to route the simulated special number call to an answering point;

a processing system adapted to determine a network capability of the communication network for serving the simulated special number call based on at least one of the location information and the routing information; and

a second interface adapted to provide an indication of the network capability to the communication device to notify the user of the network capability of the communication network for serving an actual special number call prior to the user placing the actual special number call.

24. The capability determination system of claim 23 wherein the processing system is further adapted to:

process the location information to identify a location of the communication device and an uncertainty of the location of the communication device; and

determine the network capability of the communication network based on the location of the communication device and the uncertainty of the location.

25. The capability determination system of claim 23 wherein the processing system is further adapted to:

identify an answering point for the simulated special number call and an amount of data that can be provided to the identified answering point; and

determine the network capability of the communication network based on the identified answering point and the amount of data that can be provided to the identified answering point.

26. The capability determination system of claim 23 wherein the processing system is further adapted to:

determine if a call back number is identified for the simulated special number call; and

determine the network capability of the communication network based on whether the call back number is identified.

27. The capability determination system of claim 23 wherein the processing system is further adapted to:

identify an answering point to handle the simulated special number call;

determine the capabilities of the answering point to handle the simulated special number call; and

determine the network capability of the communication network based on the capabilities of the identified answering point.

28. The capability determination system of claim 23 wherein the special number call comprises a 9-1-1 call.

29. A method of providing an indication of the capability of a communication network to serve special number calls before special number calls are placed over the communication network, the method comprising:

determining location information for a VoIP device of a user being served by a VoIP network;

determining routing information for a simulated special number call to route the simulated special number call from the VoIP device through the VoIP network to an answering point;

determining a network capability of the communication network for serving special number calls from the VoIP device based on at least the location information and the routing information; and

providing an indication of the network capability to the VoIP device to notify the user as to the network capability of the communication network for serving an actual special number call prior to the user placing the actual special number call.

30. The method of claim 29 wherein determining a network capability of the communication network comprises:

processing the location information to identify a location of the VoIP device and an uncertainty of the location of the VoIP device; and

determining the network capability of the communication network based on the location of the VoIP device and the uncertainty of the location.

31. The method of claim 29 wherein determining a network capability of the communication network comprises:

identifying an answering point for the simulated special number call and an amount of data that can be provided to the identified answering point; and

determining the network capability of the communication network based on the identified answering point and the amount of data that can be provided to the identified answering point.

32. The method of claim 29 wherein determining a network capability of the communication network comprises:

determining if a call back number is identified for the simulated special number call; and

determining the network capability of the communication network based on whether the call back number is identified.

33. The method of claim 29 wherein determining a network capability of the communication network for serving the simulated special number call comprises:

identifying an answering point to handle the simulated special number call;

determining the capabilities of the answering point to handle the simulated special number call; and

determining the network capability of the communication network based on the capabilities of the identified answering point.

34. The method of claim 29 wherein the steps of the method are initiated responsive to the VoIP device registering with the VoIP network.

35. The method of claim 29 further comprising:

receiving the indication of the network capability in the VoIP device; and

displaying the indication of the network capability to the user to notify the user of the network capability prior to the user placing an actual special number call.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein displaying the indication of the network capability comprises at least one of illuminating an LED, displaying a web page, or displaying a text message.

37. The method of claim 29 further comprising:

restricting VoIP service to the VoIP device responsive to the network capability not meeting defined capability standards.

38. The method of claim 29 wherein the special number call comprises a 9-1-1 call.

39. A communication network adapted to provide an indication of the capability of a communication network to serve special number calls before special number calls are placed over the communication network, the communication network comprising:

a VoIP server adapted to provide VoIP service to a VoIP device;

a positioning system adapted to determine location information for the VoIP device of a user, and to determine routing information for a simulated special number call to route the simulated special number call from the VoIP device through the VoIP server to an answering point; and

a capability determination system adapted to determine a network capability of the communication network for serving special number calls from the VoIP device based on at least the location information and the routing information, and to provide an indication of the network capability to the VoIP device to notify the user as to the network capability of the communication network for serving an actual special number call prior to the user placing the actual special number call.

40. The communication network of claim 39 wherein the capability determination system is further adapted to:

process the location information to identify a location of the VoIP device and an uncertainty of the location of the VoIP device; and

determine the network capability of the communication network based on the location of the VoIP device and the uncertainty of the location.

41. The communication network of claim 39 wherein the capability determination system is further adapted to:

identify an answering point for the simulated special number call and an amount of data that can be provided to the identified answering point through the VoIP network; and

determine the network capability of the communication network based on the identified answering point and the amount of data that can be provided to the identified answering point.

42. The communication network of claim 39 wherein the capability determination system is further adapted to:

determine if a call back number is identified for the simulated special number call; and

determine the network capability of the communication network based on whether the call back number is identified.

43. The communication network of claim 39 wherein the capability determination system is further adapted to:

identify an answering point to handle the simulated special number call;

determine the capabilities of the answering point to handle the simulated special number call; and

determine the network capability of the communication network based on the capabilities of the identified answering point.

44. The communication network of claim 39 wherein the capability determination system is further adapted to determine the network capability responsive to the VoIP device registering with the VoIP server.

45. The communication network of claim 39 wherein the VoIP server is further adapted to:

restrict VoIP service to the VoIP device responsive to the network capability not meeting defined capability standards.

46. The communication network of claim 39 wherein the special number call comprises a 9-1-1 call.