Solutions for voice over internet protocol (VoIP) 911 location services

• US 9,237,228 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2014
• Issued: 01/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Original Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Inventors: Zhu, Yinjun, Dickinson, Richard, Marshall, Roger, Helme, Steven P.
• Primary Examiner(s): TAYLOR, BARRY W
• Application Number:
  US14/297,216
• Publication Number:
  US 20140286197A1
• Time in Patent Office: 586 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.1, 455/404.2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/106 across networks, e.g. mapping telephone numbers to data network addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1069 Session establishment or de-establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1083 In-session procedures
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/141 Setup of application sessions admission control or resource allocation in data switching networks H04L47/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• 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 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• 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 3/42042 Notifying the called party of information on the calling party details within substation equipment H04M1/57, signalling details H04Q3/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42195 Arrangements for calling back a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy H04M3/48
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42348 Location-based services which utilize the location information of a target
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5116 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5231 with call back arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0024 Services and arrangements where telephone services are combined with data services arrangements which combine a telephonic equipment and a computer H04M7/0012
• 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: H04M 7/0075 : Details of addressing, directories or routing tables
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 : Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 : Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 : Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel
• 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 40/02 : Communication route or path selection, e.g. power-based or shortest path routing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/20 : Manipulation of established connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 : for emergency connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 : Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 : Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]

Abstract

An E-9-1-1 voice-over-IP (VoIP) solution is provided wherein a 911 call from a mobile VoIP device is routed directly to the correct Public Safety Answer Point (PSAP) via dedicated trunks, together with correct location information and call-back number. VoIP gateways are implemented locally, at least one per LATA, and accept VoIP packetized data inbound, and convert it to standard wireline voice calls. Calls are routed to an IP address at the VoIP gateway, which then egresses the call to a voice port at a selective router. Mid-call updating of location of a moving VoIP terminal is provided to a PSAP. The location of the VoIP is validated using HTTP based protocol by pushing location information to a VoIP location server, and comparing it against a geographic location database to confirm that a contained street address is valid.

Claims

1. A method of providing location of a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) terminal from a VoIP location server, comprising:

receiving a VoIP location server request message requesting geographic location information relevant to a current location of a mobile VoIP terminal that has initiated an emergency VoIP call;

determining a specific Public Safety Access Point (PSAP) to route said emergency VoIP call to based on said current location of said mobile VoIP terminal; and

providing VoIP call routing information as an emergency services location key (ESLK) inside a SIP INVITE message back to an intermediate VoIP switch, which in turn routes said emergency VoIP call to said specific PSAP.

2. The method of providing location of a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) terminal according to claim 1, further comprising:

removing said VoIP location server from a call signaling path of said emergency VoIP call after said emergency VoIP call has been established and before said emergency VoIP call is terminated.

3. The method of providing location of a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) terminal according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a call termination event relating to said emergency VoIP call within a SIP NOTIFY message initiated by said intermediate VoIP switch.

4. The method of providing location of a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) terminal according to claim 1, wherein:

said VoIP location server request message is sent from a PSAP.

5. The method of providing location of a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) terminal according to claim 1, wherein:

said current location is determined by said mobile VoIP terminal itself.

6. A apparatus for providing location of a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) terminal from a VoIP location server, comprising:

means for receiving a VoIP location server request message requesting geographic location information relevant to a current location of a mobile VoIP terminal that has initiated an emergency VoIP call;

means for determining a specific Public Safety Access Point (PSAP) to route said emergency VoIP call to based on said current location of said mobile VoIP terminal; and

means for providing VoIP call routing information as an emergency services location key (ESLK) inside a SIP INVITE message back to an intermediate VoIP switch, which in turn routes said emergency VoIP call to said specific PSAP.

7. The apparatus for providing location of a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) terminal according to claim 6, further comprising:

means for removing said VoIP location server from a call signaling path of said emergency VoIP call after said emergency VoIP call has been established and before said emergency VoIP call is terminated.

8. The apparatus for providing location of a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) terminal according to claim 6, further comprising:

means for receiving a call termination event relating to said emergency VoIP call within a SIP NOTIFY message initiated by said intermediate VoIP switch.

9. The apparatus for providing location of a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) terminal according to claim 6, wherein:

said VoIP location server request message is sent from a PSAP.

10. The apparatus for providing location of a Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) terminal according to claim 6, wherein:

said current location is determined by said mobile VoIP terminal itself.

11. A method of providing mid-call updating of a location of a mobile Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) terminal, comprising:

receiving notification of an established VoIP call initiated by a mobile calling VoIP terminal at an initial current location;

transmitting an ESPOSREQ message including an emergency services location key (ESLK), after establishment of said VoIP call, to a VoIP location server for said mobile VoIP terminal to define a new current location of said mobile VoIP terminal;

receiving a SIP RESPONSE message including said new current location back from said mobile VoIP terminal; and

updating a called party to said VoIP call with said new current location of said mobile calling VoIP terminal.

12. The method of providing mid-call updating of a location of a mobile Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) terminal according to claim 11, wherein:

said VoIP call is an emergency VoIP call.