Special handling of certain types of communications

• US 9,351,140 B2
• Filed: 06/06/2012
• Issued: 05/24/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Extreme Networks, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Inventors: Vick, Jason H., Michaelis, Paul Roller
• Primary Examiner(s): Eng, George
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAMMONDS, MARCUS C
• Application Number:
  US13/490,209
• Publication Number:
  US 20130331053A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,448 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.1, 455/404.2
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• 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 88/08 Access point devices

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing special handling for certain types of communications are provided. More particularly, a normally secured access point can permit emergency communications to be transmitted in connection with unauthorized communication devices. Supplemental communications, for example to websites included in a predefined list by a communication device, can also be permitted once an emergency communication by that communication device has been allowed. Accordingly, emergency communications can be supported, while continuing to limit access with respect to non-emergency communications.

Claims

1. A communication system, comprising:

a first access point, which is not broadcasting a SSID (Service Set Identifier), including;

an access control module, wherein the first access point receives a first communication from a first communication endpoint, the first communication addressed to a public safety system, wherein the access control module recognizes that the first communication endpoint is not authenticated and is attempting to contact the public safety system, wherein the access control module, based on receipt of the first communication and knowing an identity of the first communication endpoint, automatically authenticates the first communication endpoint and transmits the SSID to the first communication endpoint, wherein the access control module then allows receipt of a retransmission of the first communication to pass to a communication network interconnected to the public safety system, and wherein the access control module allows a second communication to pass to at least a first Internet Protocol (IP) address.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first access point receives a third communication from the public safety system, wherein the access control module recognizes the third communication as being from the public safety system, and wherein the access control module allows the third communication to be transmitted to the first communication endpoint.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the public safety system includes at least a first public safety answering point, and wherein the second communication is identified as being from the first public safety answering point.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the first communication endpoint is a mobile computing device, and wherein the first access point is a Wi-Fi hotspot.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the first communication is one of a short message system message and an instant message.

6. The system of claim 4, wherein the mobile computing device includes a softphone application, and wherein the first communication is a voice over Internet protocol communication.

7. The system of claim 4, wherein the first communication device includes a cellular telephony capability, and wherein the first communication is not sent using the cellular telephony capability.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first IP address is one of a predefined set of IP addresses that the first communication endpoint is allowed to communicate with.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the access control module requires an access key to enable communications with communication endpoints not included in a public safety system.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein in the absence of receiving the access key from the first communication device the access control module blocks a third communication received from or addressed to the first communication endpoint.

11. A device comprising:

means for receiving a first communication from a first communication device at a first network access point which is not broadcasting a SSID (Service Set Identifier), wherein the first communication device is not authenticated to the first network access point;

means for determining a target of the first communication; and

in response to receiving the first communication, determining that the target for the first communication is a public safety system, and knowing an identity of the first communication device, means for automatically authenticating and transmitting the SSID to the first communication device, then allowing receipt of a retransmission of the first communication to pass from the first network access point to the public safety system through a first network and allowing a second communication to pass from the first network access point to a website through at least one of the first network and a second network.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the target for the first communication is determined to be a public safety answering point, wherein the first communication is allowed to continue to the first network, and wherein absent a determination that the target for the first communication is a public safety answering point the first and second communications are blocked.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein the second communication is allowed to continue to any one of a predefined set of IP addresses.

14. The device of claim 12, further comprising:

means for determining whether the first communication device has provided an authorization key, wherein the instructions to block the first communication from continuing to a first network in response to determining that the target for the first communication is not a public safety answering point are implemented in response to determining that the first communication device has not provided an authorization key.

15. A method for permitting emergency access to a network, comprising:

receiving a first communication from a first communication device at a first network access point which is not broadcasting a SSID (Service Set Identifier), wherein the first communication device is not authenticated to the first network access point;

determining a target of the first communication;

in response to receiving the first communication, determining that the target for the first communication is a public safety system, and knowing an identity of the first communication device, automatically authenticating and transmitting the SSID to the first communication device, then allowing receipt of a retransmission of the first communication to pass from the first network access point to the public safety system through a first network and allowing a second communication to pass from the first network access point to a website through at least one of the first network and a second network.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the target for the first communication is determined to be a public safety system, and wherein the first and second communications are allowed to pass from the first network access point to at least one of the first network and the second network.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving a third communication from the public safety system at the first network access point, wherein the third communication is addressed to the first communication device;

passing the third communication from the first network access point to the first communication device.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

receiving a third communication from the public safety system at a second network access point, wherein the third communication is one of addressed to or received from the first communication device;

determining that the third communication is one of received from or addressed to the public safety system;

passing the third communication from the second network access point to the first communication device.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein determining that the third communication is one of received from or addressed to the public safety system includes determining whether the first communication device holds a token received from the public safety system.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the second communication is allowed to continue to any Internet Protocol addresses associated with a universal resource locator (URL) included in a predefined set of (URLs).