Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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MESSAGE DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM AND
METHOD HAVING GEOGRAPHIC SENSITIVITY
This is a continuation-in-part of application U.S. Ser. No. 09/499/773,
filed February 8, 2000. (Attorney Docket No. DDM99-027)
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to telecommunication systems, and
especially to telecommunication systems having geographic sensitivity for
automatic call connection with receiving stations. The present invention is
especially well configured for telecommunication systems dealing with special
number telecommunication systems, such as abbreviated number emergency
services notification and dispatch operation telecommunication systems. Such
emergency services notification and dispatch systems are commonly known as
9-1-1 systems in the United States.
The present invention includes a system and method for enabling any
abbreviated number (or other special number) geographically based routing in
a manner that is cost effectively applicable to hybrid private/public
telecommunication networks such as are found in today's market. Thus, the
present invention is advantageous for use by a public telephone service
provider (such as an incumbent local exchange company - ILEC), a
competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC), an Internet service provider (ISP),
a wireless service provider (WSP), a large enterprise customer using a private
exchange such as a private branch exchange (PBX), a wireless traffic
aggregator/reseller switching between various backbone providers, a satellite
telephone service provider or any other telephone service provider that may
have users, or customers, employing their service to access a special number
service seeking assistance from a geographically proximate locus.
Telecommunication systems sensitive to geographic aspects have been
proposed. In U.S. Patent No. 4,757,267 to Riskin for "Telephone System for
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Connecting a Customer With a Supplier", issued July 12, 1988, a system is
disclosed which contemplates using geographic information gleaned from a
caller's telephone number for use with a V-H (vertical-horizontal) data base
for ascertaining which site to connect with the caller to ensure geographic
proximity between the dealer at the selected site and the caller. The Riskin
system depended upon entry of the telephone number information using
DTMF (Dual Tone Multi-Frequency) signaling. If a customer entered his
phone number using a dial phone, Riskin provided for connecting the caller
with a human operator so that the human operator could enter the telephone
number information using a DTMF entry device. The V-H data base disclosed
by Riskin for use with lus system was a complex transformation of latitude and
longitude which was used by long distance telephone companies to compute
the distance between a caller and a called party in order to assess the charge
for
a long distance call. Riskin used the V-H coordinate system to refer a caller
to
a dealer that was determined to be geographically closest to the caller.
Riskin
also disclosed using the DTMF phone number information to connect a caller
with a dealer on a territorial basis to effect "gift routing". According to
Riskin's disclosure, a dealer may be connected with a caller based upon the
dealer's proximity to an intended gift recipient who was identified by DTMF
phone number information relating to the intended recipient.
Riskin's invention provides only a coarse location based upon the
caller's telephone number in the format: "NPA-NNX". In that format, "NPA"
refers to "Number Plan Area", commonly known as Area Code. "NNX", the
next finer number indicator within an Area Code, refers to a Central Office of
the phone service provider. As a result, Riskin's invention provides location
only to the detail of an area served by a respective Central Office of a
service
provider. Such an area can often be a very large geographic expanse.
Locating a dense population of service locations regarding proximity to a
caller is problematic when the location indicator is coarsely defined, as is
the
case with Riskin's system.
Emergency services notification and dispatch operations, commonly
known in the United States as 9-1-1 Service, has its genesis in a 1957
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recommendation by the National Association of Fire Chiefs for a single
number for reporting fires. In 1967, the President's Commission on Law
Enforcement and Administration of Justice recommended that a single number
should be established nationwide for reporting emergency situations. The use
of different telephone numbers for different types of emergencies was
considered to be contrary to the purpose of using a single, universal
emergency
notification number. Other federal agencies and several government ofFcials
supported and encouraged the recommendation. The President's Commission
on Civil Disorders charged the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
with finding a solution. In November 1967, the FCC met with the American
Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT&T) to establish a universal number
that could be implemented quickly. In 1968, AT&T announced the
establishment of the number 9-1-1 as the emergency notification number
nationwide. The 9-1-1 code was chosen because it was considered to be brief,
easily remembered, and could be dialed quickly. It was also a unique number
that had never been employed as an office code, area code or service code, and
it met long range numbering plans and switching configurations of the
telecommunication industry. The 9-1-1 number met the requirements of all
parties, in government and in private industry.
Congress supported the AT&T plan and passed legislation allowing
use of only the numbers 9-1-1 when creating an emergency calling service.
The 9-1-1 number was thus established as a nationwide standard emergency
number. The first 9-1-1 call in the United States was completed by Senator
Rankin Fite in Haleyville, Alabama, using the Alabama Telephone Company.
Nome, Alaska Implemented 9-1-1 service in February 1968.
In~ 1973, The White House Office of Telecommunication issued a
policy statement recognizing the benefits of 9-1-1, encouraging the nationwide
adoption of 9-1-1, and establishing a Federal Information Center to assist
governmental units in planning and implementing 9-1-1 service.
A basic 9-1-1 System provides for programming with special 9-1-1
softwaxe a telephone company end office (also known as a "central office" or a
"Class 5 office") to route all 9-1-1 calls to a single destination. The single
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destination was termed a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP). In such an
arrangement, all telephones served by the central office would have their 9-1-
1
calls completed to the PSAP. However, the areas served by respective
telephone company central offices do not line up with the political
jurisdictions that determine the boundaries for which PSAP may be
responsible. That is, a municipal fire department or police department may
geographically include an area outside the area served by the central office,
a
condition known as underlap. Likewise, the municipal fire or police
department may encompass an area of responsibility that is less expansive than
the area served by the central office, a situation known as overlap. Further,
the
original basic 9-1-1 systems did not provide any identification of the caller;
the
PSAP human operator had to obtain such information verbally over the line
after the call was connected. The major shortcoming of the basic 9-1-1
systems was that they could not support interconnection to other
telecommunication providers such as independent telephone service
companies, alternate local exchange carriers (ALECs), or wireless carriers.
The "basic" nature of the basic 9-1-1 system also indicates that the system
does not have Automatic Location Identification (ALI) capability or Automatic
Number Identification (ANI) capability with a call back capability.
Similar abbreviated number systems are in place for handling
emergency service calls in countries other than the United States. The
abbreviated number system established in Canada is the foreign system most
similar to the system established in the United States. There are other
abbreviated number calling systems in place in the United States and abroad
for such purposes as handling municipal information and services calls (3-1-1)
and for other purposes. All of these special, or abbreviated number call
systems that have geographic-based content suffer from similar shortcomings
in their abilities to automatically place incoming calls to an action-response
facility geographically proximate to the locus of the caller. It is for this
reason
that the 9-1-1 emergency call system of the United States is employed for
purposes of this application as a preferred embodiment of the system and
method of the present invention.
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Automatic Number Identification (ANI) is a feature for 9-1-1 services
that allows the caller's telephone number to be delivered with the call and
displayed at the PSAP. This ANI feature is sometimes referred to as Calling
Party Number (CPN). The feature is useful for identifying the caller and, if
the
caller cannot communicate, for callback. A signaling scheme known as
Centralized Automatic Message Accounting (CAMA), originally used to
identify the originator of a long distance call for billing purposes, was
adapted
to facilitate ANI delivery to the PSAP. CAMA uses mufti-frequency (MF)
signaling to deliver 8 digits to the PSAP. The first digit (called the Number
Plan Digit-NPD) specifies one of four possible area codes. Digits 2-8
represent the caller's 7-digit telephone number. The ANI is framed with a key
pulse (KP) at the beginning and a start (ST) at the end in the format: KP-NPD-
NXX--ST.
The mufti-frequency (MF) signaling used in connection with the ANI
feature is not the same as the Dual Tone Mufti-Frequency (DTMF) signaling
also encountered in telecommunication systems. Both signaling schemes use a
combination of two specific tones to represent a character, or digit, but the
tones are different. There are 16 DTMF tones (0-9, #, *, A, B, C, D); there
are
a greater number of MF tones (including 0-9, IMP, ST, ST', ST", and others).
DTMF tones represent signals from a user to a network; MF tones are control
signals within the network. An enhanced MF arrangement has recently been
used in connection with 10-digit wireless telephone systems.
The availability of the caller's telephone number to the PSAP (the ANI
feature) led quickly to providing the caller's name and address as well. This
was straightforwardly accomplished using the subscriber information stored by
telephone companies based upon telephone number since the 1980's. New
equipment at the PSAP enabled queries of an Automatic Location
Identification (ALI) data base using the caller's number provided by the ANI
feature to ascertain name and address information. The ALI databases are
typically maintained by the respective telephone company serving the PSAP.
This was an improvement, but a problem still remained where several
telephone company central ofFces served a town or county. Other problems
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also developed with the growing volume of mobile callers using wireless
phones, satellite phones and communications over the Internet. Information
regarding the locus of the origin of the call merely identified the locus
where
the call entered the wireline network; even such limited location information
is
not always provided. No indication was presented to identify the geographic
location of such mobile callers.
As the situation of multiple central offices serving a PSAP occurred
more frequently, it was clear that it was inefficient to build communication
trunks from several central offices to a PSAP. As a result the 9-1-1 Tandem
was developed. With that equipment, trunks from central offices are
concentrated at a tandem office (a 9-1-1 Tandem) from which a single trunk
group serves a given PSAP. Often a 9-1-1 tandem comprises an otherwise
common Class 5 telephone system end office (E0), with added software to
configure it for 9-1-1 operations. Such concentration of trunks reduces size
and cost of PSAP equipment. The tandem is a telephone company switch that
provides an intermediate concentration and switching point. Tandems are
used for many purposes, including intra-LATA (Local Access and Transport
Area) toll calls, access to other local exchange carriers (LECs), and access
to
long distance carriers and telephone operators.
A significant development in 9-1-1 services has been the introduction
of Enhanced 9-1-1 (E9-1-1). Some of the features of E9-1-1 include Selective
Routing, ANI, ALI, Selective Transfer and Fixed Transfer. Selective Transfer
enables one-button transfer capability to Police, Fire and EMS (Emergency
Medical Service) agencies appropriate for the caller's location listed on the
ALI display. Fixed Transfer is analogous to speed dialing.
Selective Routing is a process by which 9-1-1 calls are delivered to a
specific PSAP based upon the street address of the caller. Selective Routing
Tandems do not directly use address information from the ALI database to
execute decisions regarding which PSAP to connect. Recall that emergency
services (Police, Fire and EMS) are typically delivered on a municipality
basis.
Often there will be one Police Department (e.g., municipal, county or state),
but there may be several Fire Departments and EMS Agencies. The town will
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be divided into response areas served by each respective agency. The response
areas are overlaid and may be defined as geographic zones served by one
particular combination of Police, Fire and EMS agencies. Such zones are
referred to as Emergency Service Zones (ESZ). Each ESZ contains the street
addresses served by each type of responder. The ESZs are each assigned an
identification number (usually 3-5 digits), known as Emergency Service
numbers (ESN).
The Assignment of ESZs and corresponding ESNs enables the
compilation of selective routing tables. The street addresses are derived from
a Master Street Address Guide (MSAG), a data base of street names and house
number ranges within associated communities defining Emergency Service
Zones (ESZs) and their associated Emergency Service Numbers (ESNs). This
MSAG enables proper routing of 9-1-1 calls by the 9-1-1 tandem; this is
Selective Routing as implemented in a 9-1-1 system. Thus, the telephone
company must have an MSAG valid address to be assigned the appropriate
ESN for selective routing purposes and that information must be added to the
9-1-1 ALI database. It is by using such information that the selective routing
capability of the Selective Routing Tandem can properly route a 9-1-1 call to
the correct PSAP. If the information is not available in the ALI database, the
record is placed into an error file for further manual handling.
A portion of the ALI database may be loaded into a Selective Routing
Data Base (SRDB) for use by the 9-1-1 Tandem.. The SRDB may be located
in the Tandem, in an adjunct processor, or in the ALI database.
Reliability is a very important factor considered in designing 9-1-1
systems. One approach to providing reliability is to provide diversely routed
trunk groups from each central office to its respective 9-I-1 Tandem.
Preferably, each trunk group is large enough to carry the entire 9-1-1 traffic
load for the respective central office. However, some systems are designed
with less than full traffic capacity on trunk groups to "choke" or "congestion
manage" incoming calls to a tandem in order to avoid overloading a PSAP. In
some arrangements, parallel 9-1-1 Tandems are provided so that a central
office has capable 9-1-1 Tandem ready for use (albeit with 50% call handling
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capacity) without interruption if one of the 9-1-1 Tandems fails. Switched
bypass to an alternate 9-1-1 Tandem, commonly using digital crossover
switches, is another approach to providing reliability in 9-1-1 systems.
Another approach to providing redundancy and robustness for a 9-1-1
system is the employment of Tnstant Network Backup (INB). Using INB, if a
call does not complete to the 9-1-1 network for any reason (e.g., trunk
failure,
facility problem, 9-1-1 Tandem failure or port failure), the INB takes over
and
completes the call to a predesignated 7- or 10-digit number. Using this INB
alternate path, ANI and ALI information are not delivered, but the call is
completed to a local public safety agency, usually the local PSAP.
The interface between Operator handled calls and a 9-1-1 system is
addressed in several ways. One system provides a direct connection between
an Operator Tandem and the 9-1-1 Tandem. The operator forwards the call
with the caller's ANI to the 9-1-1 Tandem. The 9-1-1 Tandem treats the call
as though the caller had dialed the call. A second way to effect the desired
interface is by using pseudo numbers. A pseudo number is a number that,
when dialed, will reach a specific PSAP as a 9-1-1 call. Pseudo numbers have
some special ALI information associated with them; for example, there may be
a pseudo number associated with each municipality in a state. Dialing the
pseudo number, usually from outside the LATA (Local Access and Transport
Area), will generate a 9-1-1 to the PSAP for that municipality. The ALI
display will indicate that it is a third party conference call from an unknown
address in that town. The caller is not identified, but the call goes to the
PSAP
where the caller is believed, or claims, to be. Pseudo numbers are useful fox
Alternate Local Exchange Carrier (ALEC) or Competitive Local Exchange
Carrier (CLEC) operators who may be located anywhere in the country.
A third method for effecting an interface for operator handled calls
with a 9-1-1 system is through the public switched telephone network (PSTN),
dialing the directory number for the PSAP. This is often referred to as the
"back door" number by ALEC and CLEC operators.
The same issues encountered in implementing a 9-1-1 system for
identifying user location are also extant in other telecommunication systems
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where user location (or other locations) are important. As mentioned above in
connection with the Riskin '267 Patent, marketing decisions, dealer contact
actions and delivery actions may be more informedly effected using location
information obtainable from a properly featured telecommunication system.
According to Riskin, such geographic location information is of value even
when it is coarse information suitable only for locating a caller within a
telephone service provider central office service area.
The advent of wireless communications has further exacerbated the
difficulty of ascertaining caller location in telecommunication systems. The
"patchwork" solutions described above regarding 9-1-1 systems have been
mirrored in other special, or abbreviated number systems to a significant
extent. The "patchwork" solutions have created a capability-limited
telecommunication system that cannot ascertain geographic information as
fully or as easily as it should for all types of callers. This capability
limitation
has been especially felt in connection with wireless telephone systems. The
system is overly dependent upon human intervention to properly route calls to
appropriate receivers, such as a proper PSAP. New modes of communication,
such as Voice Over IP (Internet Protocol), further contribute to
telecommunication traffic not identifiable regarding geographic origin using
present telecommunication routing systems.
Similar limitations will likely occur in other abbreviated number, or
other special number, telephone systems handling location-based calls with
resulting adverse limitations. Other such abbreviated number systems include
emergency call systems in countries other than the United States, abbreviated
number calling systems for reaching telephone maintenance services,
abbreviated number calling systems for municipal information and services,
and similar systems.
There is a need for an improved telecommunication system and method
with geographic sensitivity that can be employed for abbreviated number
systems and other Telephone systems to ascertain user location or other
geographic information with less human intervention than is presently
required.
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There is also a need for an improved telecommunication system and
method with geographic sensitivity that can be employed for abbreviated
number systems and other telephone systems to ascertain user location or other
geographic information when involving wireless, Internet, satellite or other
non-geographically fixed communication technologies.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A telecommunication system configured for use with a
telecommunication network for delivering messages to a plurality of users.
The telecommunication network includes a plurality of switching junctions
connected by a network of a plurality of communication channels, a plurality
of telecommunication service providing stations connected into the network at
at least one of the switching junctions and the plurality of communication
channels for effecting a plurality of various telecommunication milieux.
Selected telecommunication service providing stations of the plurality of
telecommunication service providing stations serve a plurality of user-
operated
communication devices using selected telecommunication milieux of the
plurality of various telecommunication milieux. At least some
communications established by the plurality of users include geographic-
indicating information relating to respective geographic locations of
respective
users of the plurality of users establishing the at least some communications.
The system comprises at least one message originating station configured to
receive the geographic-indicating information from selected users. The at
least
one message originating station is configured to dispatch a predetermined
message to at least one of the selected users. The predetermined message is
selected and dispatched to the user according to the geographic-indicating
information received from the user. The at least one message originating
station is connected with the telecommunication network.
The invention also contemplates a method for delivering messages to
selected users of a plurality of users in a telecommunication network. The
telecommunication network includes an array of switches, junctions,
communication channels, customer-operated communication devices and
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telecommunication service providing stations connected to facilitate
electronic
communication among a plurality of stations using a plurality of
communication milieux. At least some communications established by the
plurality of users are effected by geographic-indicating calls. Each
respective
geographic-indicating call includes geographic-indicating information relating
to locus of a calling user originating the respective geographic-indicating
call.
The method comprises the steps of (a) routing the geographic-indicating calls
via the telecommunication network to at least one message originating station
connected with the telecommunication network; (b) evaluating the geographic-
indicating information to ascertain caller locus of the calling user; and (c)
dispatching a predetermined message to the calling user. The predetermined
message is geographically pertinent to the caller locus. The method may
further comprise the step of (d) interacting with the user based on message
content to complete a transaction.
Prior art special number, or abbreviated number telecommunication
systems receive some geographic related information. In some presently
existing situations, mostly involving wireline telephone connections,
geographic information received is adequate to accomplish required routing.
In other presently existing situations, such as in situations requiring
rerouting
of calls to wireless service providers (WSP), to private branch exchanges
(PBX), to overcome a problem in the normal wireline connection, or for other
special situations, required call routing is difficult. The degree of
difficulty
varies depending upon whether adequate arrangements were made beforehand
between respective PSAPs. In such difficult rerouting situations, human
operators at special number answering stations must effect connection with
geographically appropriate special number action stations in order that
appropriate action agencies geographically proximate to the caller initiating
the special number call may be responsively employed. In some systems the
human operator effects the required routing by pressing a button, or a
plurality
of buttons. However, in order to ascertain the desired destination of the
call,
the human operator must read a screen or consult a list or directory. Such
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consulting to ascertain desired routing decisions consume time and offer
opportunities for human errors.
There is a need for an automatic-connection capability for effecting the
desired geographically proximate call completion with little or no human
operator intervention required. Automatic routing based upon geographic
information provided with call information is known for generalized telephone
network systems. There is a need for employing the advantages proven to be
attainable by today's generalized telephone network systems technology to the
1960's and 1970's "patchwork" system structure presently employed for
special number communication systems in the United States.
The special number handling and routing system of the present
invention offers numerous advantages over present special number systems.
The present invention contemplates adding special number handling
capabilities to a telecommunication network switch, such as selective routing,
enhanced Automatic Location Identification (ALI), mapping, and other
capabilities peculiarly applicable to special, or abbreviated number call
handling. Such added capabilities at the special number system network
switch level provide significant flexibility to handling of special number
calls
by a telecommunication system. For example, such integration of special
number call handling capability in a telephone network obviates the need for
choking through overflow routing, queuing, interactive voice response (IVR)
or granular plotting of calls for filtering. The new system of the present
invention minimizes the difficulty in coordinating choking across a variety of
Local Exchange Carriers (LECs) that may route calls to a 9-1-1 tandem. The
new system provides each carrier (LEC) with an appropriately engineered
network access to manage call volume and distribute calls to call takers in
special call answering stations, such as Public Safety Answering Positions
(PSAPs), or route the calls to queues or IVRs, according to extant service
policies.
Another important capability provided by the system of the present
invention is an ability to manage multiple special number answering stations
(such as PSAPs) for disaster recovery, mutual aid, or other cooperative
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activities. The system of the present invention facilitates sharing of data
screens, call screens, dispatch screens and other comrnonalities that may be
instituted when needed without necessarily requiring voice connection. The
system of the present invention also creates a more robust system better able
to
resist interruption during disaster operations. Integrating special number
handling systems with a telecommunication system at the special number
system network switch level provides significantly greater flexibility and
speed
in traffic rerouting to avoid network breaks, and similar disaster-related
problems.
Also of significance, such high-level integration of special number
handling systems with public telecommunication systems makes it more likely
that improvements and advances in communication technology will be
employed for upgrading special number handling in the future. If special
number handling systems are not "main stream" applications integrated within
the public phone system, there may be a tendency for them to evolve
differently than the public telephone system, and future compatibility between
systems would be ever more difficult.
Further, high level integration of special number call handling
capabilities within the main stream public telephone network facilitates
easier
inclusion of diverse special call handling agencies within the system, such as
colleges, animal control agencies, poison control agencies and others.
By way of example, from a public safety perspective, two significant
improvements provided by the system of the present invention are ( 1 )
interconnected PSAPs with click-through routing enabling that treats all
PSAPs as one large logical PSAP across political jurisdictions and carrier
service providers' boundaries; and (2) a significantly more reliable network
with added redundancy, ability for calls to overflow and be backed up (e.g.,
eliminating choking) and enhanced network management capabilities using the
latest technologies. These advantages are realized because the system of the
present invention employs 9-1-1- tandems interconnected with all other 9-1-1
tandems and network switches at high level interfaces enabling more varied
data types at faster speeds in the public telephone network. In its preferred
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embodiment, a 9-1-1 tandem configured according to the present invention is a
stand-alone switch apparatus.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a
telecommunication system and method for handling special, or abbreviated
number calls that has geographic sensitivity.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
telecommunication system and method for handling special, or abbreviated
number calls that can automatically connect a caller with a geographically
proximate action agency with no human intervention using geographic
information included with call information.
Further objects and features of the present invention will be apparent
from the following specification and claims when considered in connection
with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are labeled using like
reference numerals in the various figures, illustrating the preferred
embodiments of the invention.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a block diagram illustrating selected elements of a prior art
abbreviated number telecommunication system manifested in a 9-1-1 system.
Fig. 2 is a block diagram illustrating selected elements of the preferred
embodiment of the abbreviated number telecommunication system of the
present invention, manifested in a 9-1-1 system.
Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a prior art employment of an
abbreviated number system in a telecommunication network, manifested in a
9-1-1 system.
Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating employment of an
abbreviated number system in a telecommunication network, manifested in a
9-1-1 system, according to the present invention.
Fig. 5 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating the preferred
embodiment of the method of the present invention, manifested in a 9-1-1
system.
Fig. 6 is a block diagram illustrating selected elements of the preferred
embodiment of the present invention, manifested in a message distribution
system having geographic sensitivity.
Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating employment of a message
distribution system in a telecommunication network according to the present
invention.
Fig. 8 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating the method of the
present invention, manifested in a message distribution system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Fig. 1 is a block diagram illustrating selected elements of a prior art
abbreviated number telecommunication system, manifested in a 9-1-1 system.
In Fig. l, a prior art 9-1-1 telecommunication system 10 includes a 9-1-1
tandem 12 connected with a selective router 14 and an ALI database 16. A
plurality of service providers 18 are connected with 9-1-1 tandem 12. Service
providers 18 are illustrated in Fig. 1 as representatively including an
incumbent local exchange carrier #1 (ILEC1) 20, an incumbent local
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exchange carrier #2 (ILEC2) 22, an independent local exchange carrier
(IndepLEC) 24, a wireless service provider (WSP) 26, a multi-services
operator (MSO) 28, a competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC) 30, and a
private. branch exchange (PBX) 32. Service providers 18 may also .include
other entities, as represented by a service provider "OTHER" 34 in Fig. 1.
Service providers 18 provide telecommunication services to users (not shown
in Fig. 1) including, as one communication service, a connection with a 9-1-1
emergency call~service. System 10 is representative of a prior ait 9-1-1
system
in a large metropolitan area having several political jurisdictions. Thus, 9-1-
1
tandem 12 serves a plurality of public safety answering positions (PSAPs) 36,
such as PSAP1, PSAP2, PSAP3, PSAP4, PSAPS, and PSAPn. The term
"PSAP" may also be used to refer to "public safety answering points",.
Other emergency call entities 38 are illustrated in Fig. 1 as not
connected with 9-1-1 tandem 12. Such entities are typically not included
within a 9-1-1 system, yet often may find it advantageous to employ a system
such as 9-1=1 system 10. Other entities 38 are representatively (yet, not
exhaustively) illustrated in Fig. 1 as including college campuses 40, poison
control centers 42, animal control agencies 44, private alarm companies 46,
language translation providers 48, private roadside assistance agencies 50,
federal agencies 52 and relay entities 54.
The architecture of prior art 9-1-1 system 10 is centralized primarily
around incumbent local exchange carriers (ILECs), such as ILEC 1 20 and
IL,EC2 22, and secondarily around political jurisdictions (not shown in Fig.
1).
There are some cooperative agreements in effect, but they are another aspect
of
the "patchwork" nature of the prior art 9-1-1 systems represented by Fig. 1.
The result is that prior art 9-1-1 systems, such as 9-1-1 system 10, are
compartmentalized in structure, and cross jurisdictional cooperation is not
easily effected unless a group of jurisdictions - e.g., municipalities within
a
county - arrange to "hard wire" the connections necessary to accomplish
cooperative structure. Sometimes a group of related PSAPs may make other
special arrangements with a LEC (Local Exchange Carrier). Interconnection
between carriers (i.e., service providers 18 in Fig. 1) or between wireline ,
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carriers and wireless carriers are cumbersome. One result is that such ad hoc
cooperative system arrangements too often result in a fragile system
susceptible to service interruption during disaster situations. It is in such
disaster situations that such emergency service systems will be needed most,
yet such systems are presently configured in manners lacking robust redundant
and diverse route paths to existing 9-1-1 tandems from the service provider
offices (e.g., service providers 18 in Fig. 1), or from PSAPs 36 (Fig. 1).
Also of significant importance is the lack of connectivity between other
entities 38 and 9-I-1 tandem 12 in prior art system 10. Such a lack of
connectivity means that other entities 38 effect connection with a PSAP 36 via
the public switched telephone network (PSTN), not shown in Fig. 1, like any
other call made between subscribers.
Another significant shortcoming of prior art 9-1-1 system 10 is
difficulty in rerouting of calls to an appropriate PSAP 36 geographically
proximate to a caller when a PSAP receives a misrouted 9-1-1 call, that is the
caller is located not in an area served by the receiving PSAP 36. If a caller
reveals his location to a human operator located within system 10 (most likely
in association with operation of 9-1-1 tandem 12), the human operator can
manually reroute the call to connect the call to a PSAP 36 most proximate to
the caller's location. Selective muter 14 identifies which PSAP is appropriate
for handling a particular emergency based upon location information regarding
the caller. Using information from selective router 14, a human operator may
effect connection with the indicated appropriate PSAP; selective router 14
does not have a straightforward robust rerouting capability as is contemplated
by the present invention. Selective router 14 may present a display on a
screen
to a human operator for selecting an appropriate PSAP for the call being
considered. The human operator selects a PSAP from the display on the
screen and presses a button to complete the call. In essence, the call
completion is effected as a conference call. Such a call destination selection
and completion arrangement is fraught with opportunities for human error, and
ties up communication resources unnecessarily.
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ALI database 16 is just that - a data base. ALI database 16 cooperates
with selective router 14 to facilitate the identification of an appropriate
PSAP
by selective muter 14. However, no straightforward robust rerouting of calls
to PSAPs proximate to a caller's locus is effected using ALI data base 16,
selective. router 14, or any combination of those devices.
Fig. 2 is a block diagram illustrating selected elements of the preferred
embodiment of the abbreviated number telecommunication system of the
present invention, manifested in a 9-1-1 system. In Fig. 2, an improved 9-1-1
system 60 includes a first emergency service complex (ESCl) 62 and a second
emergency service complex (ESC2) 64. Preferably emergency service
complexes ESC1 62 and ESC2 64 are substantially the same in structure and
are arranged for parallel backup operational support for users of improved
system 60. In order to simplify explanation of improved system 60, this
description will focus upon connections and arrangements involving
emergency service complex ESC1 62, with the understanding that parallel
connections and arrangements are in place regarding emergency service
complex ESC2 64.
Emergency service complex ESC1 62 serves a plurality of service
providers 66. As will be appreciated in greater detail in connection with Fig.
4, emergency service complex ESC1 62 is connected via a public
telecommunication network (not shown in Fig. 2) with a significantly wider
range of service providers 66 than were served by prior art 9-1-1 system 10
(Fig. 1 ). Thus, emergency service complex ESC 1 62 serves service providers
66 including an incumbent local exchange carrier (ILEC) 68, a wireless service
provider (WSP) 70, an Internet service provider (ISP) 72, and other service
providers 66 not specifically identified in Fig. 2. In fact, emergency service
complex ESC 1 62 may be connected via a public network, such as a public
switched telephone network (PSTN) (not shown in Fig. 2) with any of the
service providers 18 (Fig. 1), with any or all of the other entities 38 (Fig.
1),
and with additional service providers not even contemplated for connection
with prior art 9-1-1 system 10. Such additional service providers may include,
by way of example, Internet service provider ISP 72 (Fig. 2).
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Service providers 66 provide telecommunication services of various
milieux to callers, or users 74. The various telecommunication milieux
contemplated by system 60 of the present invention includes any electronic
transmission of information including, for example, voice, data and video
communications, whether delivered via systems employing digital, analog,
ISDN, 'optical, wireline, wireless, or other delivery technologies. Also
included within the contemplated technological applicability of the present
invention are voice, data or video signals delivered over the Internet, via
satellite communications, or via other delivery media.
A similarly broad array of communication milieux are also available to
connect emergency service complex ESCl 62 with a plurality of public safety
answering positions (PSAPs) 76, such as PSAP1, PSAP2, PSAP3, PSAP4,
PSAPS, PSAP6, and PSAPn. Similax paxallel communication capability is
also available between emergency service complex ESC2 64 and service
providers 66 and PSAPs 76. The connections relating to emergency service
complex ESC2 64 axe not fully displayed in Fig. 2 in order to keep the drawing
simple for purposes of explaining the present invention.
Emergency service complex ESC1 62 is configured much like a digital
switching node in a public telecommunication network to include a network
manager device 78 and a data communication manager device 80. Improved
system. 60 further includes a selective call router 82 and an ALI/enhanced ALI
data base 84. Network manager device 78, data communication manager
device 80 and selective call router 82 cooperate to effect location-based call
routing, monitor system maintenance needs and carry out other administrative
functions. ALI/enhanced ALI data base 84 is substantially similar to such data
bases used in present enhanced 9-1-1 systems, and provides additional
information relating to callers using the 9-1-1 system, such as special
medical
needs, handicaps, medication needs and similar information that can be
provided by subscribers, or callers, for use in case of an emergency.
Preferably emergency service complex ESC1 62 also includes a
reporting data base and utility 86 for ascertaining certain operational
characteristics regarding emergency service complex ESCl 62 and improved
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system 60. For example, reporting data base and utility 86 may be configured
to allow managers of improved system 60 to determine how many calls are not
reaching an appropriate PSAP 76 within a prescribed time, whether changes in
routing criteria might be useful in balancing loads on PSAPs 76, and similar
information.
A preferred embodiment of emergency service complex ESC1 62
further includes a mapping capability 88 capable of interpreting geographical
information received relating to callers and displaying an indication of such
geographic information on a map at emergency service complex ESCl 62,
selected PSAPs 76 or elsewhere as an aid to human operators or others. A
preferred embodiment of emergency service complex ESCl 62 also includes
an automatic call distributor (ACD) 90. ACD 90 effects routing of calls to
appropriate PSAPs 76 based upon information provided by selective call
muter 82. It must be emphasized here that selective call router 14 of prior
art
system 10 (Fig. 1) relates only street address information with PSAPs, and is
not configured for or capable of comprehensive global geographic location
determination as is contemplated with the present invention. The
configuration of emergency service complex ESC1 62 with a
telecommunication switch capability appropriate for operation within a PSTN
(including virtual private networks, private networks and other limited access
network configurations) as a "full participant" station operating as a
telecommunication system node, as contemplated by the present invention,
means that selective router 82 of improved system 60 may identify and effect
routing to any PSAP reachable by the PSTN.
The present invention contemplates improved system 60 being
configured for full participation in a global telecommunication network (not
shown in Fig. 2) as a substantially fully cognizant telecommunication
switching capability. As a consequence of the fully capable network
configuration of the present invention, improved system 60 can receive calls
from any user connected with a global telecommunication network through
service providers connected to the global network. Thus, geographic
information relating to callers' loci will be received relating to a plurality
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communication milieux: plain old telephone system (POTS), wireless
telephones, satellite telephones, Internet connections, and data delivered by
any of those conveyances. Being connected with the global network as a fully
capable entity, improved system 60 may interpret geographic information
received relating to callers' loci on a global basis. Further, because of the
global access available to improved system 60 via the global network,
connection to PSAPs may be effected worldwide depending upon the
geographic information received.
Thus, for example, a caller located in Arizona placing an emergency
service call to a private roadside assistance agency situated in Michigan may
be serviced by a local action agency (e.g., police, fire, emergency medical
service or towing company) because the Michigan roadside assistance agency
routed the call to a Michigan emergency service complex (ESC) along with
geographic information embedded in call set up data identifying the caller's
location in Arizona. The ESC in Michigan can recognize the geographic
relevance of the embedded information to route the call (via the global
network through its network manager capability) to the appropriate PSAP
most proximate to the caller's locus in Arizona.
Such geographic information may indicate location of a switch or
service provider (e.g., ILEC, ALEC, WSP) handling the abbreviated number
call. The geographic information may be derived from Global Positioning
System (GPS) information, or triangulated information from a plurality of
wireless service towers to estimate position of a wireless caller. Another
type
of geographic information may relate to the Internet service provider access
point used by the caller to send a message, or any other geographic
information appropriate to estimate the locus of the caller placing the
abbreviated number call.
The present invention also contemplates that an emergency service
complex, such as emergency service complex ESCl 62 (Fig. 2) will have an
Internet connected capability. Using such a capability, for example, an
operator at emergency service complex ESC1 62 could click on an appropriate
button on a tool bar display on a computer screen to effect desired
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connections, including Internet communications connections. One
embodiment of this novel capability is to establish an emergency services
"chat window" to facilitate exchange of information between an operator
associated with ESC1 62 and a caller accessing the emergency service system
via the Internet.
Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a prior art employment of an
abbreviated number system in a telecommunication network, manifested in a
9-1-1 system. In Fig. 3, a "country" 100 includes "states" 102, 104, 106, 108.
State 104 includes two "counties" 110, 112. Country 100 is served by a
telecommunication network 114.
State 102 has an emergency service tandem Tl. Tandem Tl is
connected with public safety answering position (PSAP) P1; PSAP P1 has
communication links with local police (P), fire (F) and emergency medical (E)
agencies. Tandem T1 is also connected with central office CO1, the local
telephonic service provider for state 102. Central office COl supports and is
connected with wireline users Ula, Ulb, Ul~, Uia. Central office CO1 is
connected with network 114.
State 104 has two counties 110, 112. County 110 has two emergency
service tandems T21, T22, both of which tandems T21, T22 are connected with
a PSAP P2; PSAP P2 has communication links with local police (P), fire (F)
and emergency medical (E) agencies. Tandem T21 is connected with central
offices 00211, CO2~2. Central office C02n supports and is connected with
wireline users U2la, U211b~ Central Office 00212 supports and is connected
with wireline users U212a~ U212b~ Central offices 00211, 00212 are each
connected with network 114. Tandem T22 is connected with central offices
CO221~ 0222~ Central office C022i supports and is connected with wireline
users U2~1~, U221b, U221c~ Central Office 00222 supports and is connected
with wireline users U222aa U222b, U222c~ Central offices CO221, 00222 are
each connected with network 114. County 112 has an emergency service
tandem T3 connected with a PSAP P3. Tandem T3 is connected with a central
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office C03. Central office C03 supports and is connected with wireline users
U3a~ ~3b~ Central office C03 is connected with network 114.
State 106 has an emergency service tandem T4. Tandem T4 is
connected with public safety answering position (PSAP) P4; PSAP P4 has
communication links with local police (P), fire (F) and emergency medical (E)
agencies (not shown in Fig. 3). Tandem T4 is also connected with central
offices C041, C042 . Central office C041 supports and is connected with
wireline users U41~, U4lb~ Central office C042 supports and is connected with
wireline users U42a, U42b~ Central offices 0041, 0042 are connected with
~ network 114.
State 108 has an emergency service tandem Ts. Tandem Ts is
connected with public safety answering position (PSAP) Ps; PSAP Ps has
communication links with local police (P), fire (F) and emergency medical (E)
agencies (not shown in Fig. 3). Tandem Ts is also connected with central
ofFces COst, COs2 . Central office COsI supports and is connected with
wireline users Usla, Us~b~ Usic~ Central office COs2 supports and is
connected with wireline users Us2~, Us2b. Tandem Ts may also be connected
with wireless service provider (WSP) WSPs and Internet service provider
(ISP) ISPs. The dotted lines connecting WSPs and ISPs with tandem Ts are
intended to indicate that such a direct connection is not always established;
wireless service providers and Internet service providers often communicate
with 9-1-1 systems only via the PSTN. In Fig. 3, wireless service provider
WSPs supports mobile users MIJs~, MLIsb, ~s~~ ~sd~ use. Internet
service provider ISPs supports Internet users (not shown in Fig. 3). Central
offices COsI, COs2 are connected with network 114.
It is important to note in connection with the prior art arrangement
illustrated in Fig. 3 the lack of direct connection between any tandem Tl,
T21,
T22, T3, T4, Ts with network 114. Thus, the only connection of any tandem
with network 114 is via a respective central office.
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Fig. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating employment of an
abbreviated number system in a telecommunication network, manifested in a
9-1-1 system, according to the present invention. In the interest of avoiding
prolixity and keeping the explanation of the present invention straightforward
and simple, a detailed description of Fig. 4 repeating aspects of Fig. 4 that
are
the same as were illustrated in Fig. 3 will not be undertaken. The tandems,
central offices, users, wireless service provider and Internet service
provider
are all in the same locations and labeled using the same terminology in Fig. 4
as they are in Fig. 3. An important difference in Fig. 4 is that all
connections
between a tandem and a central office, a wireless service provider, or an
Internet service provider have been removed. Also, each tandem is directly
connected with network 114. Thus, in state 102, tandem Tl remains
connected with PSAP P1, but is not connected with central office CO1. In
state 104, Tandem T21 remains connected with PSAP P~, but is not connected
~ with central offices C021, C0~2. Similarly, tandem T2z remains connected
with PSAP P2 , but is not connected with central offices CO2~1, C0222.
Tandem T3 remains connected with PSAP P3, but is not connected with
central office C03. In state 108, tandem TS remains connected with PSAP P5,
but is not connected with central offices CO51, C052, not connected with
wireless service provider WSPS, and not connected with Internet service
provider ISPS.
In fact, direct connections between tandems and PSAPs are not strictly
required by the present invention; all connections with tandems may be
effected via a public switched telephone network (PSTN), such as network 114
in Fig. 4. Direct connection with a service provider such as a central ofFce,
a
wireless service provider or an Internet provider may be established, if
desired.
However, such direct connections are not required to advantageously employ
the structure of the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
All tandems Tl, T21, Tai, T3, T4, TS are connected with network 114.
Connection with network 114 is the only connection that any tandem Tl, Tal,
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T22, T3, T4, TS needs to have with any service provider, with any other
tandem, or with any PSAP. Of importance is the fact that connection with
network 114 effects connection between each tandem Tl, T21, T22, Z'3, T4, Ts
and any PSAP Pl, P2; P3, P4, Ps in state 100.
Providing each tandem Tl, T21, T22, T3, T4, TS with network
switching and management capabilities, as by including selective call router
82, automatic call distributor 90, network manager device 78 and data manager
device 80 (Fig. 2), ensures that each tandem Tl, T21, T22~ Z'3~ T4~ Ts c~ ally
employ geographic information accompanying a call to effect routing of the
call to the most proximate PSAP P1, P2, P3, P4, Ps to the caller's locus for
providing assistance. Further, the network connection simplifies such routing
to a proximate PSAP whatever the communication milieu employed to convey
the call; all of the calls eventually are conveyed over network 114 to a
tandem
Tn T2n T22, T3, T4, T5, and all calls for dispatching assistance are likewise
conveyed over network 114.
The desired pairing of emergency service complexes (ESC) for
redundancy in case of disaster can be easily established using known network
design and planning techniques, thereby avoiding installation of expensive
hard wiring to effect desired parallelism. Further, using network management
techniques backup capabilities may be established "on the fly" in case both a
primary and a backup ESC are incapacitated. No hard wiring among tandems
is necessary to establish redundancy or robustness in the system. All that is
required is rerouting of calls within network 114 to create redundancy and
back up arrangements, a network management software exercise.
Reference has been made earlier to geographic information
accompanying calls. Such geographic information may include routing
information within a network identifying the portal at which the call entered
the network. For Internet communications (voice or data), the local access
number employed to initiate the Internet service may provide a geographic
indication of a caller's locus. Global Positioning System (GPS) information,
or some other mufti-dimensional coordinate locating system, may be employed
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for locating callers using wireless or satellite communication means. Other
sorts of geographic information may as well be employed in connection with
practicing the present invention without departing from the spirit of the
invention.
Fig. 5 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating the preferred
embodiment of the method of the present invention, manifested in a 9-1-1
system. In Fig. 5, the method is intended for use for handling abbreviated
calls in a telecommunication network including an array of switches,
junctions, communication channels, customer-operated communication
devices and telecommunication service providing stations connected to
facilitate electronic communication among a plurality of stations using a
plurality of communication milieux (not shown in Fig. 5). The method 170
begins with the step of routing the abbreviated number call via the
telecommunication network to an abbreviated number call processing center,
as indicated by a block 172. The illustrative embodiment employed for
explaining the invention in Fig. 5 is a 9-1-1 emergency services call in the
United States. Thus, block 172 is labeled to indicate that the abbreviated
number call is a 9-1-1 call routed to an emergency service complex (ESC) via
a public switched telephone network (PSTN).
The method continues with evaluating geographic information received
with the abbreviated number call to ascertain the locus of the caller
originating
the abbreviated number call, as indicated by a block 174. Such geographic
information may indicate location of a switch or service provider (e.g., ILEC,
ALEC, WSP, ISP) handling the abbreviated number call. The geographic
information may be derived from Global Positioning System (GPS)
information, or triangulated information from a plurality of wireless service
towers to estimate position of a wireless caller, or any other geographic
information appropriate to estimate the locus of the caller placing the
abbreviated number call.
The method continues with selecting at least one abbreviated number
call answering station (e.g., a public safety answering position - PSAP), as
indicated by a block 176. The abbreviated number call is then routed to at
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least one abbreviated number call answering station, as indicated by a block
178. The at least one abbreviated number call answering station receiving the
abbreviated call evaluates the content or nature of the call to ascertain the
service required by the caller, as indicated by a block 180. Based upon the
evaluation conducted according to block 180, the at Ieast one abbreviated
number call answering station chooses an abbreviated number action agency
for response to the abbreviated number call, as indicated by a block 182. The
selected action agency is notified of the action required by the abbreviated
number call; as representatively indicated by a block 184 (in which case the
response required may be provided by a police agency), a block 186 (in which
case the response required may be provided by a fire agency), and a block 188
(in which case the response required may be provided by an emergency
medical service agency).
A further step of the method, not shown in Fig. 5, may involve actually
routing the abbreviated number call to the action agency for handling directly
with the caller. Even further, the abbreviated number call may be routed to
the
responding unit dispatched by theaction agency to the scene, such as a police
patrol car or an ambulance.
There is a manifestation of the invention that applies to outgoing return
calls to originating callers. Specifically, one may configure the present
invention not only to recognize the geographic origin of the call for purposes
of routing the call to the nearest call answering locus to render aid to the
caller
(e.g., in the emergency services implementation of the invention, as described
above). The system and method of the present invention may also be
configured to recognize the geographic locus of the origin of the call for
purposes of determining a message to be dispatched to the caller. For
example, if a caller on a mobile telephone places a call and the geographic-
indicating information in the call (e.g., in call set-up protocols, or the
like)
indicates an origin for the call in or approaching Yellowstone National Park,
then the message dispatched to the caller may be in the form of a text message
advising the caller of the availability of videos or books for sale relating
to
Yellowstone National Park in the caller's home town (home town information
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may be ascertained from phone number information, billing information, or
other information). Such information may be displayed as a text message, an
e-mail message or another-type format message, depending upon the type of
device employed to place the call under consideration. Personal Digital
Assistant (PDA) devices, palm-top computers, pagers, two-way pagers and
cellular phones are examples of devices that are capable of handling messages
of the type contemplated by the present invention. Messages sent according to
the present invention may include text, graphics, video, sound or other media,
or combinations of media.
One communication milieu contemplated by the present invention is
communication via the Internet. An Internet user could place a call received
by a geographic service complex; the geographic service complex could
ascertain the locus of the call originator through an Internet service
provider
(ISP) registration data base, which may be loaded into a data base at the
geographic service complex for handy reference. Personal computers are very
portable nowadays, so that simply knowing the registered address for a use of
an ISP may not be an accurate determination of the caller's locus when the
call
is being placed.
One solution to achieving finer resolution regarding callers' loci is to
route messages to the originating caller's locus based upon the ISP access
phone number employed by the caller to place the call. Call routing overhead
information, such as call set-up data, may narrow the locus indication
sufficiently for many purposes contemplated by the present invention.
Another solution to determining a mobile Internet caller's locus is to
establish a telecommunication management system that matches router and
hub port information to physical locations. By such a system one may match
port information to determine that a call is originating from a particular
room
in a large building. Such a management system would launch a query using
the Internet address of the caller to determine the network by which the call
was delivered. Once the delivering network is determined, a determination of
the switch (or switches) by which the call was delivered may be undertaken.
Once it is ascertained that the nearest switch to the origination locus is
found,
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an inquiry for the router is posed. Once the router is known, the particular
port
from which the call was placed may be determined. Information relating to the
port may be stored in a data base to identify a particular jack in a
particular
room in a particular building at which the call originated.
Yet another approach to dynamic route analysis for identifying
geographic location of the origin of a call placed via the Internet is
particularly
applicable to special number calls, such as emergency service (9-1-1) calls.
In
this alternate approach, an Internet protocol (IP) phone may respond to
recognizing a special number (e.g., 9-1-1) by sending a unique Level 2
protocol frame type,, such as an Ethernet or asynchronous transfer mode
(ATM) frame type, or a uniquely modified frame, to the telecommunication
switch to which the IP phone is connected. The dynamic route analysis
application, or mechanism, responds to a preset signaling network
management protocol (SNMP) trap on recognizing the special frame to capture
pertinent information. The capture may be carried out in connection with the
packet switch's gatekeeper and gateway modules, the physical plant location
management system, or various switch and router components depending on
the configuration of the specific switch . Such pertinent information may, for
example, include telephone number (TN) of the IP phone device, physical
location of the jack to which the IP device is connected, media access control
(MAC) address, port and IP address from which the IP call originated. The
telecommunication switch would subsequently route the IP call°to an IP
port
on which a special number address resolution application is installed. The
special number address resolution application involves, by way of example,
using the identifier of the IP port through which the call was placed to query
the telecommunication management system overseeing the involved network
to ascertain the physical location of the IP phone, and then inquiring of a
preestablished IP-to-TN (telephone number) table to look up the TN associated
with the IP phone. The application would preferably route the call along with
TN, or the physical location information or both TN and physical location
information to a special,number answering station (e.g., a public safety
answering station - PSAP - in a 9-1-1 System). At the special number
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answering station the special number call handling application would associate
the voice portion and the data/location portion of the call using the TN and
display the associated information on an appropriate call taking work station
at
the special number answering station. Such an approach offers a speedy
determination of geographic location of call origin in terms readily
recognized
and manageable by a special number answering station because no call trace
needs to be run after receipt of the special number call in the
telecommunication switch
In the context of the present invention, the term "telecommunication
switch" is intended to include a telecommunication circuit switch that
physically effects connection among a variety of circuits. The term
"telecommunication switch" is also here intended to include that term as it
applies to a telecommunications packet switch, which can be embodied in a
geographically distributed collection of devices such as voice gateways, call
control gateways, call feature servers and other devices that together provide
functionality for a call to be routed from one location to another .
A portable personal computer, such as a laptop computer, that
communicates wirelessly may be located using technology appropriate for
geographically locating any wireless call. The provision of wireless Internet
web services employing geographic-based routing according to the present
invention preferably includes such components as a wireless location privacy
service unit, a wireless customer data mine indicating customer
characteristics,
a product/advertiser characteristic data base, a location of interest data
base
and data manager software that can interact with the data bases and user
operations. With such a suite of data bases and a capability to manipulate the
data stored therein, customers of wireless carriers or an electronic commerce
company could subscribe to a wireless service that preferably provides
location-based services in a~combination of content services and advertising
services. Availability of such detailed information provides opportunities for
better management of services offered. Pricing differentials and discounts,
time limitations, and other aspects of a service offering may be better
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and monitored because of the detailed information available relating to use of
the service.
In subscribing to the service contemplated to be delivered using the
present invention, a customer may provide demographic information and
preference information for entry and storage in the customer data mine. The
stored information may, for example, include second residence location, age,
sex, pets, children, interest in sports, travel, art, food, dining,
automotive, and
other personal tastes or traits.
A product/advertiser data base may include information regarding
products and services for sale on a geographic basis. Preferably the
product/advertiser data base would be interfaced with an electronic commerce
system for information relating to price, availability, shipping, order, and
other
data. The product/advertiser data base may also contain product and
advertising messages that may be selected for sending to a subscriber based
upon subscriber characteristics or location. A location field relating to
product
or advertising may be matched with the location of the subscriber (caller) for
effecting the desired message selection. It would be useful to flag the types
of
locations in this data base that a subscriber would likely visit, and to flag
services or products that may likely be of interest to the subscriber. The
product/advertiser data base may also contain fields indicating the service
package purchased by an advertiser and the treatment their advertisements are
to receive. For example, a given advertiser may be able to arrange that
advertisements relating to competitors will not be sent to subscribers located
at
the given advertiser's premises.
A location of interest data base is a spatial data base containing the
coordinates of a wide variety of sites of interest throughout the geographic
deployment area of the service provided by the present invention. For
example, sites of interest for a given subscriber may include a theme park,
large store, sports stadium, large temporary outdoor event (e.g., ethic,
music,
or food festival), national park or historic site, or travel destination site
distant
from a subscriber's home (e.g., a vacation destination). The location of
interest data base also may contain fields that provide information regarding
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types of product interest that could be associated with a given site on a
given
date, or within a range of dates. For example, a stadium may host a football
game on certain dates, baseball games on other dates, and a country music
concert on still another date. The location of interest data base may also
contain information enabling suggestion of product categories -such as books,
music or sports equipment. The location of interest data base may be
segmented into an "on-line" data base having only information relating to
current events, and a "staging" data base containing information relating to
other events than events currently underway. The staging version of these
data bases can be uploaded to the production version of these databases in a
timely manner to anticipate upcoming events.
A privacy service module may be used to manage the permissions a
subscriber provides to a wireless carrier. Fox example, a subscriber may allow
no use of location information. Some subscribers may purchase or allow
certain location information but allow no additional information to be pushed
to them. The privacy service module permissions may also limit the number
of items pushed, or the times of pushing.
A wireless customer tracking data base receives frequent periodic or
continual information updating the subscriber's locus using the wireless
carrier's location determination system.
The system application software may continuously (or at least
frequently) compare the locus of subscribers with locations of interest, with
products of interest, and with privacy module control parameters to select
appropriate messages and to push those messages to subscribers' wireless
communication devices, e.g., cellular phones, personal digital assistants
(PDAs) and similar devices. Various message delivery technologies may be
employed, including short message service (SMS), wireless applications
protocol (WAP) or similar communication formats, packet data technology
and other technologies. By effecting comparison among various data bases,
the system generates and sends value-added content or product information
messages to subscribers based upon predetermined selection criteria and
facilitates transactions between subscribers and electronic commerce
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applications. Considerations involved in selection criteria may include, for
example, the time a subscriber has been in a certain location before a message
is sent (to prevent errant messages being sent to people passing a store on a
freeway). For example, a subscriber attending a home and garden show in a
large civic center may receive a message about a home improvement book,
tulip bulbs by mail or a paint sprayer. A person visiting a theme park with
children may receive a message about being able to purchase merchandise
carrying images of characters at that theme park delivered to their home
within
three days. A person on vacation in Hawaii may receive a message about
pineapples being shipped directly to their home or about the location of a
distributor of Hawaiian macadamia nuts near their home.
The messages need not be static, Using WAP or a similar mode of
delivery, the messages can provide a link/connection to an appropriately
enabled web-site to gain more information or place an order. That is, the
messages may establish two-way communications to make an arrangement of
some sort with a subscriber, if the subscriber so desires. For example, a
person in a theater may receive a message about dining locations and make a
reservation. The subscriber could initiate a wireless phone call with a
supplier/advertiser merely by entering a single key-stroke in response to an
on-
line prompt conveyed by the message. The messages may also be
synchronized with other message delivery media, such as video or data
presented through kiosks, bill boards, or video monitors at locations of
interest
or en route to locations of interest.
Fig. 6 is a block diagram illustrating selected elements of the preferred
embodiment of the present invention, manifested in a message distribution
system having geographic sensitivity. In Fig. 6, a geographic service complex
210 includes a geographic call router 212, a geographic interpreter 214, a
data
communication manager 80 and a network manager 78. Geographic
interpreter 214 serves to ascertain geographic locus of ~a caller from
geographic-indicating information accompanying a call. Geographic call
router 212 cooperates with geographic interpreter 214 to ascertain appropriate
routing to an originating caller. Geographic call router 212 may be able to
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place a call to an originating caller based upon call set-up information
accompanying the call without any need to cooperate with geographic
interpreter 2I4. In any event, geographic interpreter 214 serves as an input
to
selecting which message is to be sent to a caller in order that the message
sent
will have geographic pertinence, or relevance to the caller's geographic
locus.
Geographic service complex 210 serves a plurality of service providers
66. Geographic service complex 210 may be connected directly with a public
telecommunication network (not shown in Fig. 6), or geographic service
complex 210 may be connected with service providers via one of
telecommunication service providers 66, such as a telephone company central
office. Thus, geographic service complex 210 may be connected with service
providers 66 including an incumbent local exchange carrier (ILEC) 68, a
wireless service provider (WSP) 70, an Internet service provider (ISP) 72, and
other service providers 66 not specifically identified in Fig. 6. Service
providers 66 provide telecommunication services of various milieux to callers,
or users 74. The various telecommunication milieux contemplated by
geographic service complex 210 of the present invention includes any
electronic transmission of information including, for example, voice, data and
video communications, whether delivered via systems employing digital,
analog, ISDN, optical, wireline, wireless, or other delivery technologies.
Also
included within the contemplated technological applicability of the present
invention are voice, data or video signals delivered over the Internet, via
satellite communications, or via other delivery media.
A similarly broad array of communication milieux are also available to
connect geographic service complex 210 with a plurality of user positions 216,
such as USERl, USER 2, USER 3, USER 4, USER 5, USER 6, and USERn.
The connections relating to geographic service complex 210 are not fully
displayed in Fig. 6 in order to keep the drawing simple for purposes of
explaining the present invention.
When geographic service complex 210 is to be connected directly~with
a telecommunication network, geographic service complex 210 is preferably
configured much like a digital switching node in a public telecommunication
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network. In such a direct-network-connection configuration, geographic
service complex 210 includes a network manager device 78 and a data
communication manager device 80. Network manager device 78 and data
communication manager device 80 cooperate to effect location-based call
routing, monitor system maintenance needs and carry out other administrative
functions.
The present invention contemplates that geographic service complex
210 may be connected with a telephone network via a telephone service
provider 66 (e.g., a central office) or geographic service complex 210 may be
configured for full participation in a global telecommunication network (not
shown in Fig. 6) with a substantially fully cognizant telecommunication
switching capability. If geographic service complex 210 is configured for full
telecommunication network participation, it can receive calls from any user
connected with a global telecommunication network through service providers
connected to the global network. In either configuration (direct participation
or participation through a telephone service provider), geographic information
relating to callers' loci will be received relating to a plurality of
communication milieux: plain old telephone system (POTS), wireless
telephones, satellite telephones, Internet connections, and data delivered by
any of those conveyances. Being connected with the global network,
geographic service complex 210 may interpret geographic information
received relating to callers' loci on a global basis. Further, because of the
global access available to geographic service complex 210, connection to users
may be effected worldwide depending upon the geographic information
received. In fact, given that geographic service complex 210 may receive call
set-up information in the process of receiving geographic-indicating
information, setting up to return a call to a call-originating caller/user
(for
delivery of a message) may be a straightforward operation. The geographic-
indicating information gleaned from the incoming call information may be
used to select the message content to make the message have geographic
pertinence, or relevance, for the caller to whom the message is directed.
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Thus, for example, a caller located in Arizona placing an emergency
service call to a private roadside assistance agency situated in Michigan may
be serviced by a local action agency (e.g., police, fire, emergency medical
service or towing company) because the Michigan roadside assistance agency
routed the call to a Michigan emergency service complex (ESC) along with
geographic information embedded in call set up data identifying the caller's
location in Arizona. The ESC in Michigan can recognize the geographic
relevance of the embedded information to route the call (via the global
network through its network manager capability) to the appropriate PSAP
most proximate to the caller's locus in Arizona. This capability was discussed
above in connection with Fig. 2. In addition, there can be a recognition of
geographic locus for the caller and a return message sent to the caller
indicating local motel accommodations for use while the caller's automobile is
being repaired. Discount coupons or other promotional materials may also be
sent to the caller in the return message.
The present invention also contemplates that a geographic service
complex, such as geographic service complex 210 (Fig. 6) will have an
Internet connected capability. Using such a capability, for example, an
operator at geographic service complex 210 could click on an appropriate
button on a tool bar display on a computer screen to effect desired
connections, including Internet communications connections. One
embodiment of this novel capability is to establish a "chat window" to
facilitate exchange of information between an operator associated with
geographic services complex 2I0 and a caller. Such connections and "chat
window" arrangements may be effected wirelessly with PDA devices or
similar devices, thereby enabling a caller to purchase items featured in
messages sent. For example, the caller referred to above located in
Yellowstone National Park may order the video presentation cited, and may
arrange for overnight delivery to a hotel for viewing the next day. It is
contemplated by the present invention that a caller could order an item
featured in a geographic-relevant message for delivery electronically via the
Internet for immediate viewing, or downloaded to storage on-line for later
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viewing. The operator could also establish voice communications with the
caller if necessary to answer questions related to the caller's transaction.
Establishing such communications with an operator could be established by
the caller using wireless application protocol (WAP) or another appropriate
protocol.
Fig. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating employment of a message
distribution system in a telecommunication network according to the present
invention. In Fig. 7, a "country" 100 includes "states" 102, 104, 106, 108.
State 104 includes two "counties" 110, 112. Country 100 is served by a
telecommunication network 114. Network 114 may be any telecommunication
network, including the public switched telephone network (PSTN). For
purposes of this application, the PSTN includes any network accessible by the
public, including wireless service provider (WSP) networks, virtual private
networks, private networks and other limited access network configurations.
State 102 has a geographic service complex Gl. Complex Gl is
connected with central office CO1, the local telephonic service provider for
state 102. Complex Gl is also directly connected with network 114. Both
connections with complex Gl are indicated in Fig. 7 using dotted lines to
indicate that either connection (or both) may be employed. Central office
CO1 supports and is connected with wireline users Ula, Uib, Ulc, Uia.
Central office CO1 is connected with network 114.
The geographic service complex of the present invention, in its
preferred embodiment, is contemplated as being ofFering as a service for
vendors, retailers, and other sales organizations for reaching customers.
Thus,
for example, a vendor may subscribe to a service provided by a geographic
service complex to provide predetermined messages to callers identified as
calling from preselected geographic loci, or identified as having particular
caller characteristics or both. The service contemplated being provided by a
geographic service complex such as is contemplated by the present invention
may be offered by an independent company, or maybe a service offered by a
telephone service provider. Hence, a geographic service complex according to
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the present invention may be physically located at a central office of a
telecommunication service provider and remain within the scope of the present
invention.
State 104 has two counties 110, 112. County 110 has two geographic
service complexes G21, Ga2. Complex G21 is connected with central ofFces
C02y, C~212~ Central office 00211 supports and is connected with wireline
users U211~, U211b. Central Office 00212 supports and i.s connected with
wireline users U212a~ U212b~ Central offices 00211, 00212 ar'e each
connected with network 114. Complex G21 may also be connected with
network 114. Complex G22 is connected with central offices 00221, C0222~
or may be connected directly with network 114. Central office CO221
supports and is connected with wireline users U221a~ U221b, U221c~ Central
Office 00222 supports and is connected with wireline users U222a~ Uz22b,
U222c~ Central offices CO221~ 00222 are each connected with network 114.
County 112 has a geographic service complex G3. Complex G3 is connected
with a central office 003, or may be connected directly with network 114.
Central office 003 supports and is connected with wireline users U3a, U3b
Central office 003 is connected with network,114.
State 106 has a geographic service complex G4. Complex G4 is
connected with central offices 0041, CO42 ; complex G4 may be directly
connected with network 114. Central office 0041 supports and is connected
with wireline users U4la, U4lb~ Central office 0042 supports and is connected
with wireline users U42a~ U42b~ Central offices 0041, 0042 are connected
with network 114.
State 108 has a geographic service complex G5. Complex GS is
connected with central offices CO51, 0052 . Complex GS may be connected
with network 114. Central office 0051 supports and is connected with
wireline users Usla, LTslb, Uslo. Central office 0052 supports and is
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connected with wireline users Us2a, Us2b~ Complex GS may also be
connected with wireless service provider (WSP) WSPS and Internet service
provider (ISP) ISPS. The dotted lines connecting WSPS and ISPS with
complex GS are intended to indicate that such a direct connection is not
always
established; wireless service providers and Internet service providers may
communicate with geographic services complexes via the PSTN. In Fig. 7,
wireless service provider WSPS supports mobile users MUsa, MUSb~ ~sc~
~sd~ use. Internet service provider ISPS supports Internet users (not
shown in Fig. 7). Central offices CO51, C052 are connected with network
114.
Fig. 8 is a schematic flow diagram illustrating the method of the
present invention, manifested in a message distribution system. In Fig. 8, the
method is intended for use in delivering messages to selected users of a
plurality of users in a telecommunication network including an array of
switches, junctions, communication channels, user-operated communication
devices and telecommunication service providing stations connected to
facilitate electronic communication among a plurality of stations using a
plurality of communication milieux (not shown in Fig. 8). The method 220
begins with the step of routing geographic-indicating calls via a
telecommunication network to at least one message originating station
connected with the network, as indicated by a block 222.
The method continues with evaluating geographic-indicating
information received with the abbreviated number call to ascertain the locus
of
the caller originating the call, as indicated by a block 224. The geographic
information may be derived from Global Positioning System (GPS)
information, or triangulated information from a plurality of wireless service
towers to estimate position of a wireless caller, or any other geographic
information appropriate to estimate the locus of the caller placing the call.
The method continues with dispatching a predetermined message to the
caller that is geographically pertinent to the locus of the caller, as
indicated by
a block 226.
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It is to be understood that, while the detailed drawings and specific
examples given describe preferred embodiments of the invention, they are for
the purpose of illustration only, that the apparatus and method of the
invention
are not limited to the precise details and conditions disclosed and that
various
changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the
invention which is defined by the following claims:
