U.S. patent application number 10/641902 was filed with the patent office on 2004-05-20 for emergency telephone call notification service system and method.
This patent application is currently assigned to SBC Properties, L.P.. Invention is credited to Bartels, Todd August, Blumenschein, Gordon Lynn, Griffith, Laura Marie, Kovarik, James Daniel, McBlain, Thomas Joseph, Orwick, David Anthony, Pelletier, Karen Jeanne, Tiliks, Dianna Inara.
Application Number | 20040096042 10/641902 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 22787751 |
Filed Date | 2004-05-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040096042 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Orwick, David Anthony ; et
al. |
May 20, 2004 |
Emergency telephone call notification service system and method
Abstract
A system and method for emergency telephone call notification.
The system includes an AIN capable switch, a service control point
(SCP) having a database of designated contact numbers associated
with a service subscriber telephone number, and an intelligent
peripheral (IP) in communication with the SCP for contacting the
designated contact numbers. The method includes the steps of
recognizing an N11 trigger and the SCP initiating telephone calls,
via the IP, to each of the contact numbers corresponding to the
telephone number of the subscriber making the emergency telephone
call.
Inventors: |
Orwick, David Anthony;
(Crystal Lake, IL) ; Pelletier, Karen Jeanne;
(Crystal Lake, IL) ; Griffith, Laura Marie;
(Dundee, IL) ; Bartels, Todd August; (New Berlin,
WI) ; McBlain, Thomas Joseph; (Arlington Heights,
IL) ; Tiliks, Dianna Inara; (Elk Grove, IL) ;
Blumenschein, Gordon Lynn; (Woodridge, IL) ; Kovarik,
James Daniel; (Batavia, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Kent E. Genin
BRINKS HOFER GILSON & LIONE
P.O. BOX 10395
CHICAGO
IL
60610
US
|
Assignee: |
SBC Properties, L.P.
|
Family ID: |
22787751 |
Appl. No.: |
10/641902 |
Filed: |
August 14, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10641902 |
Aug 14, 2003 |
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09784589 |
Feb 15, 2001 |
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09784589 |
Feb 15, 2001 |
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09211636 |
Dec 15, 1998 |
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6201856 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
379/45 ; 379/37;
704/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04Q 2213/13204
20130101; H04Q 2213/13141 20130101; H04Q 3/0029 20130101; H04M
11/04 20130101; H04M 2242/04 20130101; H04Q 2213/13103 20130101;
H04Q 2213/13176 20130101; H04Q 2213/1337 20130101; H04Q 2213/13098
20130101; H04Q 2213/13336 20130101; H04Q 2213/13345 20130101; H04Q
2213/13389 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
379/045 ;
379/037; 704/001 |
International
Class: |
G06F 017/20; H04M
011/04 |
Claims
We claim:
1. In a telecommunications system having at least one subscriber
telephone in communication with an advanced intelligent network
(AIN) capable switch, at least one intelligent peripheral (IP) in
communication with the AIN capable switch, at least one service
control point (SCP) in communication with the switch, and a public
safety answering point (PSAP) in communication with the SCP and the
switch, a method of notifying at least one designated telephone
number that an emergency telephone call has been made from the
subscriber telephone, the method comprising the steps of:
recognizing an emergency telephone call at the switch; the switch
informing the SCP of the emergency telephone call; the SCP
instructing the IP to dial the at least one designated telephone
number; and the IP informing the at least one designated telephone
number of the emergency telephone call from the subscriber
telephone.
2. The method of claim, wherein the emergency telephone call is a
911 telephone call.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of recognizing an
emergency telephone call trigger further comprises recognizing an
N11 trigger.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the SCP further comprises a
database having a list of subscriber telephones and a list of at
least one designated telephone number associated with each of the
subscriber telephones in the list of subscriber telephones, and
wherein the step of the SCP instructing the IP to dial the at least
one designated telephone number comprises the SCP retrieving a
first of the at least one telephone number associated with the
subscriber telephone number and instructing the IP to contact the
first of the at least one telephone numbers that an emergency
telephone call has been placed from the subscriber telephone.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the SCP further comprises a
database having a list of subscriber telephone numbers and a list
of at least one designated telephone number associated with each of
the subscriber telephone numbers, and wherein the step of the SCP
instructing the IP to dial the at least one designated telephone
number comprises the SCP retrieving all of the telephone numbers
associated with the subscriber telephone number and instructing the
IP to contact all of the designated telephone numbers
simultaneously.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of the IP informing the
at least one designated telephone number further comprises the step
of the IP supplying a caller ID message to the at least one
designated telephone number indicating an incoming call from an
emergency call notification service.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of the IP informing at
least one designated telephone number further comprises playing a
prerecorded message if a person answers the emergency call
notification call.
8. The method of claim 1 further comprising a step of automatically
placing a call from the at least one designated telephone number to
the subscriber telephone if a person answers the at least one
designated telephone number.
9. An emergency call notification system comprising: a subscriber
telephone; an AIN capable switch in communication with a public
service access point (PSAP) and the subscriber telephone, the AIN
switch configured to recognize an emergency telephone call; a
service control point (SCP) in communication with the switch, the
SCP comprising a database having a list of emergency call
notification service subscribers, the SCP configured to determine
if an emergency telephone call was made by an emergency call
notification service subscriber and correlate the emergency call
notification service subscriber number with a list of at least one
designated contact number for the emergency call notification
service subscriber; and an intelligent peripheral (IP) in
communication with the SCP, the IP responsive to an instruction
from the SCP to contact the at least one designated contact
number.
10. The system of claim 9 further comprising means for
automatically connecting a designated contact number answered by a
person to the emergency call notification service subscriber
number.
11. The system of claim 10 further comprising a caller ID generator
comprising a predesignated message stored in memory.
12. The system of claim 10 wherein the IP comprises answer
verification logic.
13. The system of claim 11 wherein the answer verification logic
comprises a call repetition timer.
14. The system of claim 11 wherein the answer verification logic
further comprises a live answer detector.
15. The system of claim 11 wherein the answer verification logic
comprises a prerecorded message for transmission to an answering
machine.
16. The system of claim 9, wherein the IP is in communication with
the SCP via a wide area network.
17. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of the SCP instructing
the IP comprises sending a message via a wide area network
connection to the IP.
18. The method of claim 17, wherein the message comprises a TCP/IP
message.
19. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of the IP informing the
at least one designated number comprises the IP dialing a first of
the at least one designated numbers and waiting a predetermined
number of rings before trying to contact a next one of the at least
one designated numbers.
20. The system of claim 9, wherein the IP further comprises a
plurality of prerecorded message templates.
21. In a telecommunications system having at least one subscriber
telephone in communication with an advanced intelligent network
(AIN) capable switch, at least one intelligent peripheral (IP) in
communication with the AIN capable switch, at least one service
control point (SCP) in communication with the switch, and a public
safety answering point (PSAP) in communication with the SCP and the
switch, a method of notifying at least one designated telephone
number that an emergency telephone call has been made from the
subscriber telephone, the method comprising the steps of:
recognizing an emergency telephone call trigger corresponding to an
emergency telephone call at the switch; notifying the SCP of the
emergency telephone call; instructing the IP to dial the at least
one designated telephone number; informing the at least one
designated telephone number of the emergency telephone call from
the subscriber telephone; and automatically placing a call from the
at least one designated telephone number to the subscriber
telephone if a person answers the at least one designated telephone
number.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] In an emergency situation, people need to quickly contact
the appropriate agency (police, fire department, ambulance, poison
control, etc.). Many communities provide a single telephone number,
such as 911, which connects a caller to a central dispatcher to
gather information and relay the call to the appropriate
destination. In addition to locating and contacting the appropriate
agency, the caller may also wish to notify other parties that an
emergency situation exists.
[0002] Several systems and methods for providing auxiliary
notification have been proposed. One system discloses a
transmitting device with a panic button that is worn by a user
that, when activated, transmits a signal to a base unit attached to
a telephone. The base unit automatically calls a predetermined list
of telephone numbers and plays a prerecorded message. Another
system discloses attaching an emergency call monitor to a user's
telephone. When an emergency call is made, the monitor waits until
the call is complete and then automatically dials out to a
messaging service that calls predetermined numbers and plays a
prerecorded message. In yet another system, emergency call
detection equipment is attached to a telephone switch and reacts to
911 telephone calls by activating a calling service to contact a
predetermined list of telephone numbers.
[0003] One drawback of these emergency telephone call notification
systems is the need for specialized equipment in addition to the
standard telephone system equipment. Also, many existing
notification systems have limited flexibility and only a few basic
features.
[0004] Accordingly, there is a need for an improved system and
method of communicating emergency telephone call notices to
designated parties that provides flexible and efficient use of
existing infrastructure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] FIG. 1 illustrates an emergency telephone call notification
system according to a presently preferred embodiment.
[0006] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a contact list stored at
the SCP show in FIG. 1.
[0007] FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a method of providing an
emergency telephone call notification service on the system of FIG.
1 according to a presently preferred embodiment.
[0008] FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a preferred method of
contacting designated contact numbers, the method for use in the
system of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0009] As described in greater detail below, a preferred system and
method for providing an emergency telephone call notification
service utilizes advanced intelligent network infrastructure to
avoid the need to add or maintain additional hardware to support
the service. FIG. 1 illustrates a telecommunications system 10
according to a preferred embodiment. The system preferably includes
a subscriber telephone 12 in communication with a first advanced
intelligent network (AIN) capable service switching point (SSP) 14
over a voice/information line 16. The first SSP 14 is in
communication over a voice/information line with a public safety
access point (PSAP) 18. The PSAP 18 is preferably an emergency call
receiving station having one or more emergency dispatchers to
handle and route emergency telephone calls to the appropriate
agency. In one embodiment, the PSAP 18 is accessible from the
subscriber telephone 12 by dialing a predetermined telephone number
such as 911.
[0010] The first SSP 14 includes an AIN emergency telephone number
trigger recognition capability for recognizing dialed digits of any
of a number of emergency telephone numbers. In a preferred
embodiment, the first SSP 14 is configured to recognize an N11
trigger when a 911 telephone number is dialed.
[0011] The system 10 also includes one or more service control
points (SCP) 20. An SCP 20 is an AIN network element containing
logic and data necessary to provide functionality required for the
execution of a desired communication service. An SCP 20 generally
permits separation of service logic from switching functionality
such that additional services maybe developed without the need to
provision software in each individual SSP. A suitable SCP 20 is the
Advantage SCP manufactured by Lucent Technologies. In a preferred
embodiment, the SCP 20 includes a designated contact number list 21
(FIG. 2) stored in memory corresponding to each subscriber
telephone number that subscribes to the emergency telephone number
notification service described below. The contact list 21 includes
a list of subscriber telephone numbers 23 and a list of the contact
telephone numbers 25 associated with each subscriber telephone
number.
[0012] Other than specific system memory limitations and telephone
company policy, there may be any number of contact numbers per
subscriber. In one embodiment, each subscriber is permitted four
contact numbers. In another embodiment, a subscriber may be
represented by a range of telephone numbers so that each telephone
number in the range of numbers is associated with the same set of
contact numbers. For example, a subscriber may be a company having
a range of consecutive telephone numbers where the same contact
numbers are desired for all of the numbers in the range.
Additionally, the contact numbers may also be for communication
devices or services other than a standard plain old telephone
service (POTS) telephone. For example, the contact numbers may be
for cellular telephones, paging services, or other communication
devices and services.
[0013] The SCP 20 communicates with SSP's, such as the first SSP
14, over a data channel via at least one service transfer point
(STP). The system 10 may include local STP's (LSTP) 22 and a
regional STP (RSTP) 24. The LSTP's 22 and RSTP 24 are connected via
data channels and also connect the SCP to the SSP's via data
channels. A suitable data signal extended for use with the STPs is
the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) signalling system
No. 7 (SS7). A suitable SCP/SSP communication protocol is the AIN
0.1 SCP/SSP protocol set forth in Bellcore Technical Reference
TR-NWT-001285, entitled AIN Switch-Service Control Point
Application Protocol Interface Generic Requirements, Issue 1,
August 1992.
[0014] The SCP 20 also communicates with one or more compact
service nodes (CSN) 26 or other type of service node/intelligent
peripheral. In one embodiment, the SCP 20 communicates directly
with each CSN 26 over a wide area network (WAN) 28 such as CONet
using transfer control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP). Other
networks capable of running TCP/IP are also suitable for
facilitating communication between each CSN and an SCP. In other
embodiments, the SCP may communicate with the CSN 26 via one or
more STPs and an SSP.
[0015] Each CSN 26 is a network element of the AIN that contains
resources to exchange information with an end user and perform
other functions such as call origination and tone generation. The
CSN 26 provides special resources for interactions between the end
user and the network such as dual tone multi-frequency (DTMF)
recognition, playing pre-recorded announcements and tone
generation. A service node/intelligent peripheral platform suitable
for use as a CSN is manufactured by Lucent Technologies. Although
the system 10 illustrated in FIG. 1 shows a certain number of
network elements (SCPs, CSNS, STPs, and SSPs), those of ordinary
skill in the art understand that the presently preferred system and
method may include more complex networks having a plurality of the
interconnected network elements. Preferably, each CSN 26 is
configured to communicate emergency call notices to numbers stored
in the SCP database 21 and transmitted to the CSN 26 over the WAN
28 or other communication link. In one embodiment, the CSN 26
includes a caller ID generator 31 utilizing standard caller ID
logic and containing a caller ID message to send to the contact
telephones 36 associated with a particular subscriber number. In
another embodiment, the CSN 26 contains a plurality of emergency
notification message templates 33 stored in memory. Each of the
templates 33 may have a general voice or text message for
transmission to the contact telephones 36. Information regarding
the particular emergency telephone call made by the subscriber is
insertable into the appropriate message template. The CSN 26 is in
communication with a second SSP 30 via data 32 and voice 34 lines.
Although the CSN's 26 in FIG. 1 are connected to a different SSP
than the subscriber 12, the CSN's may also be connected to the same
SSP as the subscriber.
[0016] The system 10 further includes one or more contact
telephones 36 connected to a third SSP 38. Each contact telephone
is associated with a designated contact telephone number in the
designated contact list 21 stored at the SCP 20. Again, although
the contact telephones 36 are shown as communicating with an SSP
separate from the SSPs connected to the subscriber and the CSN's,
different configurations are contemplated wherein the subscriber
telephone 12, contact telephones 36 and CSN's 26 are all connected
to the same SSP or other combinations of SSPs. In order to
implement the emergency telephone call notification service, the
CSN preferably contains a port identity transfer control
protocol/user defined protocol (TCP/UDP) address along with an
internet protocol (IP) address identified by a socket. This virtual
port (socket) number is identified and assigned on the CSN 26.
Preferably, a CSN 26 is in communication with a SSP 30 over both
data and voice lines utilizing ISDN-BRI connectivity. SS7 TCAP
messaging is utilized between the SSP's and the SCP.
[0017] Referring now to FIG. 3, a preferred embodiment of the
method of implementing an emergency telephone number notification
service is described below with relation to the system show in FIG.
1. When a subscriber 12 goes off-hook (picks up the telephone
receiver), the SSP 14 presents a dial tone to the subscriber and
subscriber dials a telephone number (at steps 38, 40 and 42). The
first SSP 14 receives these dialed digits and examines the dialed
digits to see if they correspond with an AIN trigger. If the dialed
digits are an emergency telephone number, such as 911, the SSP
recognizes an N11 trigger and contacts the SCP 20 for instructions
(at step 44). If no N11 trigger is recognized, the telephone call
is processed and sent off to the designated destination. When an
N11 trigger is encountered and the SSP 14 contacts the SCP 20, an
info_analyze query is sent to the SCP 20 containing the calling
party ID as well as standard SS7 call information (at step 26). The
SCP 20 receives the info_analyze query and determines whether or
not the calling party ID is associated with an emergency telephone
notification service subscriber (at step 48). The SCP preferably
performs this step by comparing the calling party ID with the
information stored in the subscriber list 21 at the SCP 20.
[0018] If the calling party ID is not recognized by the SCP as a
subscriber to the emergency telephone call notification service,
the SCP sends an analyzed_route message back to the SSP and the SSP
routes the call based on standard 911 routing data to the
appropriate 911 operator at a PSAP 18 (at steps 50, 52). The
analyzed_route message includes a called party ID, a calling party
ID and a primary trunk group. If the SCP does recognize the calling
party ID as a subscriber to the emergency telephone call
notification service, the SCP 20 calls on enhanced 911 (E911) logic
residing in memory at the SCP 20 and establishes a communication
link, such as a TCP/IP link over the WAN 28, to a CSN 26 (at step
54). Preferably, the TCP/IP message sent by the SCP includes the
subscriber's telephone number, a time when the subscriber called
911, a list of contact numbers associated with that subscriber
number, and dialing instructions. In one alternative embodiment,
the dialing instructions may already reside on the CSN and the SCP
simply forwards the contact numbers and emergency telephone call
information.
[0019] As soon as the CSN responds and confirms receipt of the
instructions, the SCP returns a message to the first SSP 14
allowing the 911 call to terminate at the PSAP 18. Finally, the CSN
26, pursuant to the instructions received from the SCP 20, begins
making telephone calls via the second SSP 30 to the designated
contact numbers on the list (at step 56). As shown in FIG. 1, the
contact telephones 36 are connected to a third SSP 38 that is in
communication with the second SSP 30 over interoffice trunk lines
39. In other embodiments, the contact telephones 36 may be
connected to any switch or may be connected to an intermediary
communications device, such as a PBX, that is in communication with
a switch.
[0020] As shown in FIG. 4, one preferred method of contacting
telephone numbers listed on the contact list associated with a
subscriber number is shown. The CSN 26 dials the first number on
the contact list received from the SCP 20 (at step 58). In dialing
each number, the CSN also transmits a caller ID message from the
caller ID generator 31 indicating that the call is an emergency
notification call. Preferably, the CSN invokes standard caller ID
logic and uses a pseudo caller ID message such as "911 Notify"
rather than the number of the 911 caller. If there is no answer at
the first contact number, the CSN proceeds to dial the next contact
number (at step 60) if there is an answer at any particular contact
number, the CSN invokes answer verification logic which, in a
preferred embodiment, consists of playing an announcement in
response to detecting an answer (at step 62). Preferably, the
announcement is a pre-recorded message assembled from the
appropriate one of the message templates 33 stored at the CSN 26
stating that the call is a message from the 911 Notification
Service. In one embodiment, the answer verification logic at the
CSN may include a live answer detector where the answering party is
requested to either press a key on the telephone pad or orally
respond. In this way, the CSN can determine whether a person or
answering device answers the call. The CSN then waits for a
response and checks to see if there is a touch-tone or voice
response (at step 64).
[0021] If the CSN 26 receives no response and an answering machine
or voice mail system is detected then an announcement is played for
recordal on the answering machine or voice mail and a timer in the
answer verification logic at the CSN will keep track of the number
of calls made to a given contact number and the time interval
between each repeated call. In one embodiment, the CSN will place
subsequent telephone calls to the contact number every five minutes
(at steps 66, 68). The announcement left on the answering machine
preferably includes information related to the subscriber telephone
number and of time and day when the emergency telephone call was
made from that number. Additionally, the message left on the
answering machine or voice mail is preferably only left one time.
Subsequent answers by answering machine or voice mail system will
not trigger the announcement again. Additionally, if an answering
machine or voice mail system is encountered after the first hour of
attempting to place the emergency notification call, the CSN will
continue placing calls at a greater interval of time for up to 24
hours after the original emergency telephone call was made by the
subscriber. In one embodiment the interval of contacting the
telephone number on the contact list would be increased to every 15
minutes. In another embodiment, the CSN may be instructed to leave
an announcement every hour that the notification system is trying
to reach the person at the number and repeating the information
that an emergency call was placed from a particular number at a
given time and day (at step 70).
[0022] If a response (touch tone or voice) is received from a
person answering at the contact number dialed by the CSN, the CSN
26 may play an announcement indicating that the emergency call was
placed from the subscriber telephone 12 at a particular time/day
and will automatically attempt to connect the person answering the
notification call to the subscriber telephone (at steps 72, 74).
Additional messages indicating the system is attempting to connect
the call may be played while the contact person is waiting on hold.
If the subscriber telephone 12 from which the emergency telephone
call was originally placed is busy, or no answer is received, the
CSN 26 may simply play an announcement indicating that the line is
busy and that the contact person should try later or may repeat the
attempt to connect the contact person to the subscriber telephone
number a predetermined number of times (at steps 76, 78). In
another embodiment, the SCP may instruct the CSN to dial all of the
contact numbers simultaneously to reach as many of the subscriber's
chosen contact group as quickly as possible.
[0023] The system and method described above provides the advantage
of an automated emergency telephone notification implemented on
existing hardware such as AIN network elements. No additional
hardware is required. Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment AIN
communication protocols may be implemented to easily adapt and
configure AIN network elements to allow for expeditious contact of
designated parties while not interfering with the emergency
telephone call placed by the subscriber. Preferably, the system and
method described above may be used with emergency telephone call
systems such standard 911, enhanced 911, or other custom emergency
telephone call systems.
[0024] It is intended that the foregoing detailed description be
regarded as illustrative rather than limiting, and that it be
understood that the following claims, including all equivalents,
are intended to define the scope of this invention.
* * * * *