Method and System for Locating a Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) Device Connected to a Network

• US 20110116420A1
• Filed: 01/25/2011
• Published: 05/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Comcast Cable Communications LLC (Comcast Corporation)
• Inventors: Livingood, Jason D.
• Granted Patent: US 8,724,522 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/259
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/12 Discovery or management of network topologies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/22 comprising specially adapted graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72418 for supporting emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/04 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• 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: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• 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 64/003 locating network equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections

Abstract

A method and system for locating a device connected to a network by determining a current network address for the device and comparing the current network address to a network address in a user profile. If the network addresses match, the device is located based on a physical address associated with the network address in the user profile.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining an emergency call origination network address for a voice over packet device upon detecting an emergency call, the emergency call origination network address associated with a current access point on a network through which the voice over packet device is making the emergency call;

locating a user profile associated with the voice over packet device making the emergency call, the user profile including a physical address associated with a network address, the physical address detailing a location of a user when accessing the network from the network address;

determining if the network address in the located user profile matches with the emergency call origination network address; and

determining the voice over packet device to be located at the physical address if the network addresses match.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

routing the emergency call to a public safety answering point (PSAP).

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the user profile is created dynamically upon connecting the voice over packet device to the network.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the user profile is created dynamically by delivering requests for information to the voice over packet device and receiving a response thereto.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the requests and response thereto are made through speech commands.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the user profile is created by the user inputting the physical and network addresses into the user profile.

7. A method comprising:

determining a current network address for a device upon detecting information from the device, the current network address associated with a current access point on a network through which the device is transmitting the information;

locating a physical address database associated with the device, the physical address database including at least one physical address associated with at least one network address, the at least one physical address detailing a location of a user of the device, when the user accesses the network from the at least one network address;

determining if the at least one network address in the located physical address database matches with the current network address; and

determining the device to be located at the at least one physical address when the current network address matches the at least one network address.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising routing the information to a public safety answering point (PSAP).

9. A method comprising:

determining a current network address for a device on a network;

locating a physical address database associated with the device, the physical address database including at least one physical address associated with a network address;

determining if the current network address for the device matches with any of the network addresses in the physical address database; and

determining a location of the device to be at the physical address associated with the network address that matches the current network address of the device.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the physical address database is created dynamically upon connecting the device to the network.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the physical address database is created dynamically by delivering requests for information to the device and receiving a response thereto.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the requests and the response thereto are made through speech commands.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the physical address database is created by a user inputting physical and network addresses into the physical address database.

14. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

associating a number with the device within the physical address database, the physical address being located based on the number.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

transmitting the number from the device upon connecting the device to the network.

16. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

confirming the location of the device.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the location of the device is confirmed by contacting the device and interrogating a user thereof.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the device is contacted through a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) call and the interrogation is conducted through speech commands.

19. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

providing the location of the device to a public safety answering point (PSAP).

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

determining an emergency call being made on the device and providing the location of the device to the PSAP in response thereto.