Automatic location identification (ALI) emergency services pseudo key (ESPK)

Abstract

ESQK and/or ESRK (ESxK) number pool exhaustion and reuse errors are eliminated by replacing the ESxK identifier with an emergency services pseudo key (ESPK) identifier. A positioning center (MPC/VPC) replaces an ESxK received with a query with a ESPK in a return message. The ESPK is either a unique 10-digit number or unique alpha-numeric identifier that can be used to re-query the source of dynamic ALI data. The ESPK may be generated using, e.g., unique prefixing, suffixing, or randomizing. The ESPK is a non-constrained, unique identifier that preferably remains unique for the call instance over an extended period of time. The ESPK is used for any subsequent ALI request for the call. Each time a positioning center receives a query with ESPK, it is directly associated with, and returns, the updated location for the original emergency call, regardless of whether or not the original ESxK was reallocated to another emergency call.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows the use of an ESPK generator and a Positioning Center (XPC) that replaces a received ESQK or ESRK with a generated ESPK, in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows message flow for accomplishing an ALI unique emergency services pseudo key (ESPK), in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows a conventional landline public safety access point (PSAP) to automatic location identifier (ALI) connection.

FIG. 4 shows a context diagram for a conventional non-landline positioning center (e.g., an Internet based voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) positioning center).

Claims

1. An emergency services pseudo key replacement module, comprising: a plurality of emergency services pseudo keys (ESPKs); anda positioning center maintaining said plurality of ESPKs;wherein said positioning center receives an emergency services query key (ESQK) or emergency services routing key (ESRK), and replaces said ESQK or ESRK identifying a query message with one of said plurality of ESPKs to identify a response message in response to said query message.

2. The emergency services pseudo key replacement module according to claim 1, further comprising: an ESPK generator.

3. The emergency services pseudo key replacement module according to claim 2, wherein: said ESPK generator generates a plurality of ESPKs using unique prefixing.

4. The emergency services pseudo key replacement module according to claim 2, wherein: said ESPK generator generates a plurality of ESPKs using unique suffixing

5. The emergency services pseudo key replacement module according to claim 2, wherein: said ESPK generator generates a plurality of ESPKs using randomizing.

6. The emergency services pseudo key replacement module according to claim 1, wherein: said plurality of ESPKs are each a 10-digit number.

7. The emergency services pseudo key replacement module according to claim 1, wherein: said plurality of ESPKs are each an alpha-numeric identifier.

8. A method of replacing a constrained emergency services key identifier received in a message with a non-constrained emergency services pseudo key identifier, comprising: receiving a query message identified with a constrained emergency services key (ESxK);obtaining a non-constrained emergency services pseudo key (ESPK); andsending a response to said query message, said response to said query message being identified with a non-constrained emergency services pseudo key (ESPK) in replacement of said constrained ESxK received with said message.

9. The method of replacing a constrained emergency services key identifier received in a message with a non-constrained emergency services pseudo key identifier according to claim 8, wherein: said received message is received by a positioning center identified with said ESQK or ESRK.

10. The method of replacing a constrained emergency services key identifier received in a message with a non-constrained emergency services pseudo key identifier according to claim 9, wherein: said received message is received over an Internet.

11. The method of replacing a constrained emergency services key identifier received in a message with a non-constrained emergency services pseudo key identifier according to claim 9, wherein: said positioning center is a mobile positioning center in a cellular network.

12. The method of replacing a constrained emergency services key identifier received in a message with a non-constrained emergency services pseudo key identifier according to claim 9, wherein: said positioning center is a voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) positioning center (VPC).

13. The method of replacing a constrained emergency services key identifier received in a message with a non-constrained emergency services pseudo key identifier according to claim 8, further comprising: sending said non-constrained emergency services pseudo key (ESPK) to an automatic location identifier (ALI) database network element.

14. The method of replacing a constrained emergency services key identifier received in a message with a non-constrained emergency services pseudo key identifier according to claim 8, further comprising: sending a message with said non-constrained emergency services pseudo key identifier to a public safety access point (PSAP).

15. The method of replacing a constrained emergency services key identifier received in a message with a non-constrained emergency services pseudo key identifier according to claim 8, wherein: said message is sent using an Internet Protocol message.

16. The method of replacing a constrained emergency services key identifier received in a message with a non-constrained emergency services pseudo key identifier according to claim 8, wherein: said ESxK expires before use of said replacement ESPK is completed.

17. The method of replacing a constrained emergency services key identifier received in a message with a non-constrained emergency services pseudo key identifier according to claim 8, wherein: said plurality of ESPKs are each a 10-digit number.

18. Apparatus for replacing a constrained emergency services key identifier received in a message with a non-constrained emergency services pseudo key identifier, comprising: means for receiving a query message identified with a constrained emergency services key (ESxK);means for obtaining a non-constrained emergency services pseudo key (ESPK); andmeans for sending a response to said query message, said response to said query message being identified with a non-constrained emergency services pseudo key (ESPK) in replacement of said constrained ESxK received with said message.

19. The apparatus for replacing a constrained emergency services key identifier received in a message with a non-constrained emergency services pseudo key identifier according to claim 18, wherein: said received message is received by a positioning center identified with said ESQK or ESRK.

20. The apparatus for replacing a constrained emergency services key identifier received in a message with a non-constrained emergency services pseudo key identifier according to claim 19, wherein: said received message is received over an Internet.

21. The apparatus for replacing a constrained emergency services key identifier received in a message with a non-constrained emergency services pseudo key identifier according to claim 19, wherein: said positioning center is a mobile positioning center in a cellular network.

22. The apparatus for replacing a constrained emergency services key identifier received in a message with a non-constrained emergency services pseudo key identifier according to claim 19, wherein: said positioning center is a voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) positioning center (VPC).

23. The apparatus for replacing a constrained emergency services key identifier received in a message with a non-constrained emergency services pseudo key identifier according to claim 18, further comprising: means for sending said non-constrained emergency services pseudo key (ESPK) to an automatic location identifier (ALI) database network element.

24. The apparatus for replacing a constrained emergency services key identifier received in a message with a non-constrained emergency services pseudo key identifier according to claim 18, further comprising: means for sending a message with said non-constrained emergency services pseudo key identifier to a public safety access point (PSAP).

25. The apparatus for replacing a constrained emergency services key identifier received in a message with a non-constrained emergency services pseudo key identifier according to claim 18, wherein: said message is sent using an Internet Protocol message.

26. The apparatus for replacing a constrained emergency services key identifier received in a message with a non-constrained emergency services pseudo key identifier according to claim 18, wherein: said ESxK expires before use of said replacement ESPK is completed.

27. The method of replacing a constrained emergency services key identifier received in a message with a non-constrained emergency services pseudo key identifier according to claim 18, wherein: said plurality of ESPKs are each a 10-digit number.

28. The method of replacing a constrained emergency services key identifier received in a message with a non-constrained emergency services pseudo key identifier according to claim 18, wherein: said plurality of ESPKs are each an alpha-numeric identifier.