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 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; andredirecting callers to an alternate carrier if their location cannot be determined by the VoIP system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the locations associated with the incoming emergency calls comprises: receiving WAP identifiers; andmapping the WAP identifiers to emergency answering points (EAPs).

3. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the locations associated with the incoming emergency calls comprises: directing the dual-mode mobile devices to provide location information associated with the dual-mode mobile devices; andreceiving the location information from the dual-mode mobile devices.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the locations associated with the incoming emergency calls comprises receiving unsolicited location information from the dual-mode mobile devices during the emergency call.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the locations associated with the incoming emergency calls comprises acquiring location information derived by devices in-range of the dual-mode mobile devices.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein acquiring the location information derived by the in-range devices comprises: establishing communication links with the in-range devices through respective ones of the dual-mode mobile devices; andacquiring the location information from the linked in-range devices.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein acquiring the location information derived by the in-range devices comprises: receiving device identifiers associated with the in-range devices;connecting to the in-range devices using the device identifiers; andacquiring the location information from the in-range devices while connected to the in-range devices.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein redirecting callers to the alternate carrier comprises redirecting callers to a cellular carrier if their location cannot be determined by the VoIP system.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein redirecting callers to the cellular carrier comprises instructing the dual-mode mobile devices to redirect emergency calls to the cellular carrier responsive to determining that the locations associated with the incoming emergency calls are unidentifiable.

10. A voice-over-IP (VoIP) system comprising a call processing server configured to receive incoming emergency calls originated from dual-mode mobile devices connected to the VoIP system through wireless access points (WAPs), to determine locations associated with the incoming emergency calls, and to redirect callers to an alternate carrier.

11. The VoIP system of claim 10, wherein the call processing server is configured to determine the locations associated with the incoming emergency calls by receiving WAP identifiers and mapping the WAP identifiers to emergency answering points (EAPs).

12. The VoIP system of claim 10, wherein the call processing server is configured to determine the locations associated with the incoming emergency calls by directing the dual-mode mobile devices to provide location information associated with the dual-mode mobile devices and receiving the location information from the dual-mode mobile devices.

13. The VoIP system of claim 10, wherein the call processing server is configured to determine the locations associated with the incoming emergency calls by receiving unsolicited location information from the dual-mode mobile devices during the emergency call.

14. The VoIP system of claim 10, wherein the call processing server is configured to determine the locations associated with the incoming emergency calls by acquiring location information derived by devices in-range of the dual-mode mobile devices.

15. The VoIP system of claim 14, wherein the call processing server is configured to acquire the location information derived by the in-range devices by establishing communication links with the in-range devices through respective ones of the dual-mode mobile devices and acquiring the location information from the linked in-range devices.

16. The VoIP system of claim 14, wherein the call processing server is configured to acquire the location information derived by the in-range devices by receiving device identifiers associated with the in-range devices, connecting to the in-range devices using the device identifiers, and acquiring the location information from the in-range devices while connected to the in-range devices.

17. The VoIP system of claim 10, wherein the call processing server is configured to redirect callers to the alternate carrier by redirecting callers to a cellular carrier if their location cannot be determined by the VoIP system.

18. The VoIP system of claim 17, wherein the call processing server is configured to redirect callers to the cellular carrier by instructing the dual-mode mobile devices to redirect emergency calls to the cellular carrier responsive to determining that the locations associated with the incoming emergency calls are unidentifiable.

19. A dual-mode mobile communication device, comprising: a cellular radio configured to connect the dual-mode mobile communication device to a cellular network;a wireless broadband radio configured to connect the dual-mode mobile communication device to 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 place a new emergency call to the cellular network responsive to a call redirection instruction.

20. The dual-mode mobile communication device of claim 19, wherein the call redirection instruction is received from the VoIP system.

21. The dual-mode mobile communication device of claim 19, wherein the communication processor generates the call redirection instruction responsive to the communication processor determining that the dual-mode mobile device has an unidentifiable location.