Abstract:
Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) emergency calls to an Emergency Response Center (ERC) are handled through a VoIP conference bridge on a VoIP service provider's soft switch. The soft switch works with a VoIP positioning center (VPC) to obtain location information, which is compared against a PSAP database to find an initial best-appropriate PSAP for the location of the emergency caller. The PSAP is issued an Invite message to join the conference, establishing an emergency call. Third parties such as police, ambulance may be issued Invite messages to join the conference. Cold transfers are avoided by Inviting participants to join a single emergency conference rather than passing an emergency call from party to party (e.g., from PSAP to police to ambulance, etc.) The PSAP, other emergency responders, and even the initial VoIP emergency caller may leave and rejoin the VoIP conference without dropping the conference between the others.
Abstract:
Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) devices are invited to a conference bridge (100) based on a pre-defined criteria for the conference bridge (e.g., passengers on a plane). The conference invite messages are transmitted using Internet Protocol, which they may or may not accept. The invited VoIP users may be determined based on their physical proximity to the initial caller and other pre-determined characteristics. A VoIP soft switch (102) includes conference bridges that eliminate the conventional requirement that they dial the phone number of another specific VoIP communications device. Instead, location informationrelating to the initial VoIP user is passed to the VoIP conference bridge, either from the user's VoIP communication device or from their respective location server. Location and other information is then compared by the VoIP soft switch against other VoIP devices, to find potential VoIP conference participants.
Abstract:
A Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) device (104) uses its location to narrow down known and unknown potential VoIP third parties (110, 1 12, 1 14) meeting the user's criteria, based on their physical proximity to the initial caller and other pre-determined characteristics, to join in a phone conference. A VoIP soft switch (102) includes conference bridges (100) that eliminate the conventional requirement that they dial digits for a direct link with another specific VoIP communications device (112). Instead, location information (203) relating to the initial VoIP user (104) is passed to the VoIP conference bridge (100), either from the user's VoIP communication device (104) or from their respective location server (106). The location information is then compared by the VoIP soft switch (102) against other VoIP devices to find potential VoIP users within a defined geographic region surrounding the initial VoIP user. Those VoIP users matching the criteria are sent an Invite message (204, 206) to join the conference, which they may or may not accept (205, 208).
Abstract:
A mobility event for a VoIP user is detected, with an estimated confidence/certainty that the VoIP user in fact moved. In response, a user is prompted to cause an update to their registration and/or location information. Notification to the VoIP user of the likely need for a location update may be implemented in the communication protocol such that an icon on the VoIP phone displays the need to the VoIP user. The icon may include a measure of the confidence/certainty of the need for a location update, e.g., similar in visual image to the bars showing coverage on a wireless phone. Mobility of the VoIP user may be detected using, e.g., (1) The VoIP user's Internet protocol (IP) address; (2) a mapping of physical to logical location; and/or (3) mapping between physical location information and physical network resources such as switches, routers, ports, access points, etc.