SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ROUTING SPECIAL NUMBER CALLS FROM A DUAL-MODE WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS DEVICE OPERATING IN THE UNLICENSED MODE

Abstract

A system and method that routes special number calls from a calling dual-mode wireless communications device when operating in an unlicensed network to a special number answering point based on one or more parameters. In accordance with one aspect of this invention, the parameter comprises the location of the access point that the calling wireless communications device is in communication with. In accordance with another aspect of this invention, an unlicensed media access (UMA) network controller (UNC) connected to a GSM switching system stores the location of each access point to which it is attached. Advantageously, the location information is stored in X/Y coordinate format or location shape format.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of this invention may be obtained from a consideration of this specification taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a communications network in which an embodiment of the present invention operates;

FIG. 2 is a call flow diagram of a prior art special number call from a wireless communications device operating in the licensed network mode to an answering point based of a location of the wireless communications device in the context of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a call flow diagram of a special number call from a dual-mode wireless communications device operating in the unlicensed network mode to an answering point based on a location of the serving access point in the context of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exemplary “location estimate parameter” of a SLR message illustrating a first embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram of a communications network in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a call flow diagram of a special number call from a dual-mode wireless communications device operating in the unlicensed network mode to an answering point based on a location of the serving access point in the context of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is an exemplary “location estimate parameter” of a SLR message illustrating another embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 8 illustrates a block diagram of a communications network in accordance with another exemplary embodiment of this invention; and

FIG. 9 is a call flow diagram of a special number call from a dual-mode wireless communications device operating in the unlicensed network mode to an answering point based on a location of the serving access point in the context of FIG. 8.

Claims

1. A method for routing special number calls from a calling dual-mode wireless communications device operating in an unlicensed network to a special number answering point comprising: receiving a special number call at an unlicensed media access (UMA) network controller (UNC) from an access point;delivering said special number call to a mobile switching center (MSC);determining a parameter for routing said special number call; androuting said special number call through a network to a special number answering point based on said parameter.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein determining a parameter comprises determining a plurality of parameters for routing said special number call.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein determining a parameter comprises determining a location of said access point.

4. A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein determining a location of said access point comprises determining the X/Y coordinates of said access point.

5. A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein determining a location of said access point comprises determining a location shape for said access point.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising: storing a parameter in relation to each access point connected to said UNC in a database.

7. A method in accordance with claim 6 wherein determining a parameter for routing said special number call comprises said UNC determining said parameter by applying an identification of said access point to said database and delivering said parameter to said MSC.

8. A method in accordance with claim 6 wherein delivering said special number call to said MSC comprises delivering said call and an identification of said access point to said MSC.

9. A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein determining a parameter for routing said special number call comprises said MSC determining said parameter by applying said identification of said access point to said database.

10. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein receiving a special number call comprises receiving an emergency services call.

11. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein routing said special number call through a network comprises routing said special number call through a circuit switched network.

12. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein routing said special number call through a network comprises routing said special number call through a data network.

13. A method in accordance with claim 12 wherein routing said special number call through a data network comprises routing a special number call through a VoIP-based data network.

14. A method for routing special number calls from a calling dual-mode wireless communications device operating in an unlicensed network to a special number answering point comprising: receiving a special number call at an unlicensed media access (UMA) network controller (UNC) from an access point;delivering said special number call to a mobile switching center (MSC);querying a mobile location center (MLC) for routing instructions;determining a parameter for routing said special number call by the MLC, which passes said parameter to said MSC; androuting said special number call through a network to a special number answering point based on said parameter.

15. A method in accordance with claim 14 wherein determining a parameter for routing said special number call by said MLC comprises said MLC querying said UNC for an identification of said access point.

16. A method in accordance with claim 14 further comprising: providing a subscriber database comprising a mapping of a plurality of access point identifications to a location of each of said plurality of access points.

17. A method in accordance with claim 16 wherein determining a parameter for routing said special number call by said MLC comprising said GMLC querying said subscriber database of a location of said access point.

18. A method in accordance with claim 17 wherein determining a parameter for routing said special number call by said MLC comprises providing a coordinate routing database that relates a location to a special number answering point that serves said location.

19. A method in accordance with claim 18 wherein determining a parameter for routing said special number call by said MLC further comprises, after receiving said location of said access point, said MLC querying said coordinate routing database to determine a special number answering point, determining a routing parameter for said determined special number answering point, and delivering said routing parameter to said MSC.

20. A method in accordance with claim 17 wherein determining a parameter for routing said special number call by said MLC comprises providing a coordinate routing database that relates X/Y coordinates of a location to a special number answering point that serves said location.

21. A method in accordance with claim 20 wherein determining a parameter for routing said special number call by said MLC further comprises, after receiving said X/Y coordinates of said location of said access point, said MLC querying said coordinate routing database with said X/Y coordinates to determine a special number answering point, determining a routing parameter for said determined special number answering point, and delivering said routing parameter to said MSC.

22. A method in accordance with claim 14 further including said UNC delivering said identification of said access point to the MLC.

23. A method for routing special number calls from a calling dual-mode wireless communications device operating in an unlicensed network to a special number answering point comprising: receiving a special number call at an unlicensed media access (UMA) network controller (UNC) from an access point;querying an unlicensed position center (UPC) by said UNC with an identification of said access point and receiving a pseudo-telephone number responsive thereto;delivering said special number call to a mobile switching center (MSC) with said pseudo-telephone number as a calling telephone number;querying a mobile location center (MLC) for routing instructions using the pseudo-telephone number;determining a parameter for routing said special number call by the MLC using said pseudo-telephone number and passing said parameter to said MSC; androuting said special number call through a network to a special number answering point based on said parameter.

24. A method in accordance with claim 23 further comprising: storing a mobile directory number (MDN) of said calling dual-mode wireless communications device and an identification of said access point in said UPC in relation to said pseudo-telephone number.

25. A method in accordance with claim 24 further comprising: storing a mapping of a plurality of access point identifications to a location of each of said plurality of access points at said UPC.

26. A method in accordance with claim 25 further comprising: querying said UPC using said pseudo-telephone number by said MLC; anddelivering said MDN and location of said access point by said UPC to said MLC.

27. A method in accordance with claim 26 wherein said location of each of said plurality of access points comprises X/Y coordinates of each of said plurality of access points.

28. A method in accordance with claim 27 wherein delivering said location comprises delivering the X/Y coordinates.

29. A method in accordance with claim 26 wherein delivering said location includes delivering a street address.

30. A method in accordance with claim 27 further including providing a coordinate routing database (CRDB) comprising a plurality of answering points in relation to a plurality of locations.

31. A method in accordance with claim 30 wherein determining a parameter further comprises said MLC using said X/Y coordinates to determine a parameter for an answering point from said CRDB.

32. A method for routing special number calls from a calling dual-mode wireless communications device operating in an unlicensed network to a special number answering point comprising: receiving a special number call at an unlicensed media access (UMA) network controller (UNC) from an access point;delivering said special number call to a mobile switching center (MSC);forwarding said special number call, the calling mobile directory number (MDN) and an identification of said access point to an emergency services network; androuting said special number call through said emergency services network to a special number answering point based on a parameter determined in said emergency services network.

33. A method in accordance with claim 32 wherein said emergency services network determines a parameter using said access point identification.

34. A method in accordance with claim 32 further including forwarding the X/Y coordinates of said access point to said emergency services network.

35. A method in accordance with claim 34 wherein said emergency services network determines a parameter using said X/Y coordinates of said access point.

36. A method for routing special number calls from a calling dual-mode wireless communications device operating in an unlicensed network to a special number answering point comprising: receiving a special number call at an unlicensed media access (UMA) network controller (UNC) from an access point;delivering said special number call to a mobile switching center (MSC);querying a mobile location center (MLC) for routing instructions by sending an SLR message containing an identification of said access point and the mobile directory number;determining a parameter for routing said special number call by the MLC based on said identification of said access point, which passes said parameter to said MSC; androuting said special number call through a network to a special number answering point based on said parameter.

37. A method in accordance with claim 36 further including passing X/Y coordinates of said access point in said SLR message.

38. A method in accordance with claim 37 wherein determining said parameter comprises determines said parameter based on said X/Y coordinates.

39. A method in accordance with claim 36 wherein said identification of said access point unambiguously indicates that said identification of said access point is not an identification of a cell site.

40. A method in accordance with claim 36 wherein a shape type in said SLR message is selected that unambiguously indicates that said identification of said access point is not an identification of a cell site.