Extended efficient usage of emergency services keys

• US 20080154966A1
• Filed: 11/27/2007
• Published: 06/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Original Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Inventors: Zhu, Yinjun, Burton, Victor, Hines, John Gordon, Geldenbott, Gerhard
• Granted Patent: US 8,208,605 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/104.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/401 wherein the services involve a main real-time session and one or more additional parallel real-time or time sensitive sessions, e.g. white board sharing or spawning of a subconference
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/04 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5116 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1337 Operator, emergency services

Abstract

An emergency services key (e.g., ESQK or ESRK) is guaranteed to be available from a limited size ESQK pool. A plurality of ESQKs are grouped into a pool of emergency service keys “ESQK Pool ID”, each including anywhere from 1 to N number of ESQKs. Each ESQK preferably has a “Timestamp”, information relating to the specific emergency E911 call (“Call Data ID”), a guard timer, and an optional hold timer. The ESQK having a Call Data ID=“NULL”, and having the oldest Timestamp, is chosen for selection. If no such ESQK has both Call Data ID=NULL and the oldest Timestamp is found, then the ESQK with merely the oldest Timestamp is selected. The timestamp is reset to a current time plus a guard timer, or hold timer if desired.

Claims

1. A method of recyclably using an emergency services key selected from among a limited size pool, comprising:

selecting an emergency services key from a limited size pool having an older timestamp associated therewith from among those in said pool, in the event that no emergency services key in said pool meets said first attempt selecting criteria; and

resetting a timestamp associated with said selected emergency services key to a current time plus a value of a guard timer;

whereby selection of said emergency services key is assured to be available when selected.

2. The method of recyclably using an emergency services key selected from among a limited size pool according to claim 1, wherein:

said older timestamp associated with said selected emergency services key has an oldest timestamp from among those that are available in said limited size pool.

3. The method of recyclably using an emergency services key selected from among a limited size pool according to claim 1, further comprising:

if a hold timer is associated with said selected emergency services key, resetting a timestamp associated with said selected emergency services key to a current time plus a value of said hold timer, said hold timer being of greater value than any guard timer associated therewith.

4. The method of recyclably using an emergency services key selected from among a limited size pool according to claim 1, wherein:

said emergency services key is an emergency services query key (ESQK).

5. The method of recyclably using an emergency services key selected from among a limited size pool according to claim 1, wherein:

said emergency services key is an emergency services routing key (ESRK).

6. Apparatus for recyclably using an emergency services key selected from among a limited size pool, comprising:

means for selecting an emergency services key from a limited size pool having an older timestamp associated therewith from among those in said pool, in the event that no emergency services key in said pool meets said first attempt selecting criteria; and

means for resetting a timestamp associated with said selected emergency services key to a current time plus a value of a guard timer;

whereby selection of said emergency services key is assured to be available when selected.

7. The apparatus for recyclably using an emergency services key selected from among a limited size pool according to claim 6, wherein:

said older timestamp associated with said selected emergency services key has an oldest timestamp from among those that are available in said limited size pool.

8. The apparatus for recyclably using an emergency services key selected from among a limited size pool according to claim 6, further comprising:

means for resetting a timestamp associated with said selected emergency services key to a current time plus a value of said hold timer, if a hold timer is associated with said selected emergency services key, said hold timer being of greater value than any guard timer associated therewith.

9. The apparatus for recyclably using an emergency services key selected from among a limited size pool according to claim 6, wherein:

said emergency services key is an emergency services query key (ESQK).

10. The apparatus for recyclably using an emergency services key selected from among a limited size pool according to claim 6, wherein:

said emergency services key is an emergency services routing key (ESRK).