Method and Apparatus for Routing Emergency Calls in a VoIP System

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for routing emergency calls originated from mobile wireless devices in a Voice-over-IP (VoIP) system are described herein. In one or more embodiments, emergency calls are routed in a VoIP system by receiving incoming emergency calls originated from dual-mode mobile devices connected to the VoIP system through wireless access points (WAPs), determining locations associated with the incoming emergency calls, and redirecting callers to a cellular network. In other embodiments, emergency calls are routed in a VoIP system by mapping WAP identifiers to emergency answering points (EAPs), receiving an incoming emergency call from an originating WAP, identifying an EAP relating to the originating WAP, and directing the emergency call to the identified EAP.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a Voice-over-IP (VoIP) system.

FIG. 2 is a logic flow diagram of an embodiment of processing logic for identifying wireless access points to a VoIP system.

FIG. 3 is a logic flow diagram of an embodiment of processing logic for relating wireless access points to emergency answering points.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a database included in or associated with the VoIP system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a VoIP system that acquires location information from a device in-range of a mobile wireless device.

FIG. 6 is a logic flow diagram of an embodiment of processing logic for providing a wireless access point identifier to a VoIP system during an emergency call.

FIG. 7 is a logic flow diagram of one embodiment of processing logic for routing emergency calls in a VoIP system.

FIG. 8 is a logic flow diagram of an embodiment of processing logic for providing mobile wireless device location information to a VoIP system during an emergency call.

FIG. 9 is a logic flow diagram of an embodiment of processing logic for providing location information associated with a mobile wireless device to a VoIP system during an emergency call.

FIG. 10 is a logic flow diagram of another embodiment of processing logic for routing emergency calls in a VoIP system.

FIG. 11 is a logic flow diagram of yet another embodiment of processing logic for routing emergency calls in a VoIP system.

FIG. 12 is a logic flow diagram of an embodiment of processing logic for redirecting emergency calls received by a VoIP system over a cellular network.

FIG. 13 is a logic flow diagram of an embodiment of processing logic for redirecting an emergency call by a dual-mode mobile device over a cellular network.

Claims

1. A method of routing emergency calls in a Voice-over-IP (VoIP) system, comprising: receiving an incoming emergency call originated from a mobile wireless device connected to the VoIP system through a wireless access point (WAP);acquiring location information associated with the mobile wireless device; anddirecting the emergency call to an emergency answering point (EAP) that services a geographic area corresponding to the location information acquired from the mobile wireless device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein directing the emergency call to the EAP comprises directing the emergency call and the location information to an emergency services network connected to the EAP.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein directing the emergency call to the EAP comprises: determining an address of the EAP responsive to the location information acquired from the mobile wireless device; andconnecting to the EAP through a public-switched telephone network using the EAP address.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein acquiring the location information associated with the mobile wireless device comprises acquiring one of GPS-derived, cellular network-derived, user-derived, and in-range device-derived location information from the mobile wireless device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein acquiring the location information associated with the mobile wireless device comprises: requesting location information from the mobile wireless device; andreceiving the location information responsive to the request.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein acquiring the location information associated with the mobile wireless device comprises receiving unsolicited location information from the mobile wireless device during the emergency call.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising initiating redirection of the emergency call to a cellular network if no location information is acquired.

8. A voice-over-IP (VoIP) system, comprising a call processing server configured to receive an incoming emergency call originated from a mobile wireless device connected to the VoIP system through a wireless access point (WAP), to acquire location information associated with the mobile wireless device, and to direct the emergency call to an emergency answering point (EAP) that services a geographic area corresponding to the location information acquired from the mobile wireless device.

9. The VoIP system of claim 8, wherein the call processing server is configured to direct the emergency call to the EAP by directing the emergency call and the location information to an emergency services network connected to the EAP.

10. The VoIP system of claim 8, wherein the call processing server is configured to direct the emergency call to the EAP by determining an address of the EAP responsive to the location information acquired from the mobile wireless device and connecting to the EAP through a public-switched telephone network using the EAP address.

11. The VoIP system of claim 8, wherein the call processing server is configured to acquire the location information associated with the mobile wireless device by acquiring one of GPS-derived, cellular network-derived, user-derived, and in-range device-derived location information from the mobile wireless device.

12. The VoIP system of claim 8, wherein the call processing server is configured to acquire the location information associated with the mobile wireless device by requesting location information from the mobile wireless device and receiving the location information responsive to the request.

13. The VoIP system of claim 8, wherein the call processing server is configured to acquire the location information associated with the mobile wireless device by receiving unsolicited location information from the mobile wireless device during the emergency call.

14. The VoIP system of claim 8, wherein the call processing server is further configured to initiate redirection of the emergency call to a cellular network if no location information is acquired.

15. A mobile wireless device, comprising: a wireless broadband radio configured to communicate with a wireless broadband network; anda communication processor configured to initiate an emergency call to a voice-over-IP (VoIP) system via the wireless broadband network and to provide location information associated with the mobile wireless device to the VoIP system.

16. The mobile wireless device of claim 15, wherein the communication processor is further configured to acquire the location information associated with the mobile wireless device from one of a GPS device, a cellular network, a user of the mobile wireless device, and a device in-range of the mobile wireless device.

17. The mobile wireless device of claim 16, wherein the communication processor is configured to acquire the location information associated with the mobile wireless device by acquiring the location information before initiating the emergency call to the VoIP system.

18. The mobile wireless device of claim 15, wherein the communication processor is further configured to place a new emergency call to a cellular network responsive to a call redirection instruction.