U.S. patent application number 15/175567 was filed with the patent office on 2017-01-12 for automated proximate location association mechanism for wireless emergency services.
The applicant listed for this patent is TELECOMMUNICATION SYSTEMS, INC.. Invention is credited to FIRDAUS ARYANA, ROGER MARSHALL, DON MITCHELL, ANDREW SINGER.
Application Number | 20170013435 15/175567 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48524345 |
Filed Date | 2017-01-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170013435 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SINGER; ANDREW ; et
al. |
January 12, 2017 |
AUTOMATED PROXIMATE LOCATION ASSOCIATION MECHANISM FOR WIRELESS
EMERGENCY SERVICES
Abstract
Automatic Location Information (ALI) data that is representative
of a landline address is digitally retrieved, and automatically
transferred to an emergency call taker over a wireless system
emergency network Importantly, the ALI information is determined
based on association to a proximate location. Before an emergency
call is initiated, additional environmental information, such as a
RFID tag, location beacon, WiFi access point, Bluetooth device, or
other communication signal with a known location, is included in
the wireless session data exchange, used to match one or more
location inputs to a fixed civic location (street address) which is
used to dispatch emergency responders. Alternatively, the mechanism
matches to a precise geodetic location (e.g., where no civic
location is available).
Inventors: |
SINGER; ANDREW; (SEATTLE,
WA) ; MITCHELL; DON; (BELLEVUE, WA) ; ARYANA;
FIRDAUS; (SEATTLE, WA) ; MARSHALL; ROGER;
(AUBURN, WA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
TELECOMMUNICATION SYSTEMS, INC. |
Annapolis |
MD |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
48524345 |
Appl. No.: |
15/175567 |
Filed: |
June 7, 2016 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
13705312 |
Dec 5, 2012 |
9374696 |
|
|
15175567 |
|
|
|
|
61566923 |
Dec 5, 2011 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G01S 5/0257 20130101;
H04W 4/90 20180201; H04W 64/00 20130101; H04W 76/50 20180201 |
International
Class: |
H04W 4/22 20060101
H04W004/22; H04W 76/00 20060101 H04W076/00; G01S 5/02 20060101
G01S005/02; H04W 4/02 20060101 H04W004/02 |
Claims
1. (canceled)
2. A method comprising: receiving a location request for a mobile
device from a requesting device; retrieving an historical address
profile of the mobile device, the historical address profile
including civic address information and communication signal
information, wherein the communication signal information
characterizes a communication signal received by the mobile device
while at a corresponding civic address included in the historical
address profile; receiving a current proximate location from the
mobile device that characterizes an identifier (ID) of a current
serving cell of the mobile device, wherein the address profile of
the mobile device includes at least two previous civic addresses
for the mobile device corresponding to the ID of the current
serving cell and a time associated with each of the at least two
civic addresses; determining automatic location information (ALI)
data based on a best match of the current proximate location to
each of the at least two previous civic addresses and the
associated time in the historical address profile, wherein the ALI
data includes a fixed civic location and a confidence value
characterizing a probability that the wireless device is located at
the fixed civic location; and providing a reliability of the
determined ALI data to the requesting device, wherein the
reliability includes data characterizing the confidence value.
3. The method of claim 2, wherein: the fixed civic location is a
street address employed to dispatch an emergency responder.
4. The method of claim 2, wherein: the historical address profile
is populated prior to an emergency call being initiated by the
mobile device.
5. The method of claim 2, wherein: a given one of the at least two
previous civic addresses is further associated with an identity of
a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag.
6. The method of claim 2, wherein: a given one of the at least two
previous civic addresses is further associated with an identity of
a WiFi access point.
7. The method of claim 2, wherein: a given one of the at least two
previous civic addresses is further associated with an identity of
a Bluetooth device.
8. The method of claim 2, further comprising: receiving an
emergency call initiated by the mobile device.
9. The method of claim 2, wherein: the ALI data further includes
latitude and longitude coordinates for the fixed civic
location.
10. The method of claim 2, wherein: the requesting device is a
Public Answering Safety Point (PSAP) computing terminal.
11. A server comprising: a non-transitory memory to store machine
readable instructions; and one or more processors that access the
memory and execute the machine readable instructions, the machine
readable instructions causing the server to: receive a location
request for a mobile device from a requesting device in response to
an emergency call from the mobile device; retrieve an historical
address profile of the mobile device, the historical address
profile including civic address information and associated
communication signal information, wherein the associated
communication signal information characterizes a communication
signal being received by the mobile device while at a corresponding
civic address included in the historical address profile; receive
information that characterizes an identifier (ID) of a current
serving cell of the mobile device, wherein the address profile of
the mobile device includes at least two previous civic addresses
for the mobile device corresponding to the ID for the current
serving cell and a time associated with each of the at least two
civic addresses; determine automatic location information (ALI)
data based on a best match of the current serving cell to each one
of the at least two previous civic addresses and the associated
time in the historical address profile, wherein the ALI data
includes a fixed civic location and a confidence value
characterizing a probability that the mobile device is located at
the fixed civic location; and provide a reliability of the
determined ALI data to the requesting device, wherein the
reliability includes data characterizing the confidence value.
12. The server of claim 11, wherein: the fixed civic location is a
street address employed to dispatch an emergency responder.
13. The server of claim 11, wherein: the historical address profile
is populated prior to an emergency call being initiated by the
mobile device.
14. The server of claim 11, wherein: a given one of the at least
two previous civic addresses is further associated with an identity
of a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag.
15. The server of claim 11, wherein: a given one of the at least
two previous civic addresses is further associated with an identity
of a WiFi access point.
16. The server of claim 11, wherein: a given one of the at least
two previous civic addresses is further associated with an identity
of a Bluetooth device.
17. The server of claim 11, further comprising: receiving an
emergency call initiated by the mobile device.
18. The server of claim 11, wherein: the ALI data further includes
latitude and longitude coordinates for the fixed civic address.
19. A method comprising: receiving a current serving cell for a
mobile device and location information characterizing latitude and
longitude coordinates of the mobile device; determining a plurality
of candidate locations for the mobile device that are within a
polygon corresponding to a cell site sector of the serving cell;
determining automatic location information (ALI) data based on a
best match of the plurality of candidate locations based on the
location information, wherein the ALI data includes a fixed civic
location and a confidence value characterizing a probability that
the mobile device is located at the fixed civic location; and
providing a reliability of the determined ALI data to a requesting
device, wherein the reliability includes data characterizing the
confidence value.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein: the requesting party is a
Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) terminal.
21. The method of claim 19, further comprising: receiving data
characterizing a WiFi access point in communication with the mobile
device.
Description
[0001] The present invention is a continuation of U.S. Ser. No.
13/705312, filed 5 Dec. 2012, which claims priority from U.S.
Provisional No. 61/566,92, entitled "Automated Proximate Location
Association Mechanism for Wireless Emergency Services", to Singer
et al., the entirety of which is explicitly incorporated herein by
reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] This invention relates generally to telecommunications. More
particularly, it relates to wireless telecommunications and public
safety.
[0004] 2. Background of Related Art
[0005] Wireless emergency calls often are made from residences that
no longer have fixed wireline service. Wireless calls don't have
the equivalent fixed landline civic location information available
that was expected to exist in the fixed wireline case, and so are
limited to the current Cell site ID information and/or precise
position information during or after the call is delivered to the
PSAP. Precise location information is sometimes insufficient to
provide a definitive civic location (address) for dispatching an
emergency response. A solution is needed to provide a fixed
landline equivalent civic location in the case where a mobile phone
is used as a replacement for fixed landline service.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] A physical address-determining system provisioned with
associated location information to provide reliable location
information of a wireless caller to a requesting party in
accordance with the present invention comprises retrieving a
provisioned physical address of a caller. Current proximate
location information is obtained from the caller. Automatic
location information (ALI) information is determined based on a
best match to pre-provisioned association to the proximate location
information.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] Features and advantages of the present invention become
apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description
with reference to the drawings:
[0008] FIG. 1A shows exemplary short call flow for retrieval of ALI
information determined based on association to a proximate
location, in accordance with the principles of the present
invention.
[0009] FIG. 1B shows a table listing several entries in an
exemplary proximate location database.
[0010] FIGS. 2A and 2B are two exemplary use cases of proximate
location for wireless emergency services, in accordance with the
principles of the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 3 shows a system for collecting, retrieving, and
processing information from a plurality of available resources.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS
[0012] The present invention provides digital retrieval of
Automatic Location Information (ALI) data that is representative of
a landline address, with automatic transfer of the same to an
emergency call taker over a wireless system emergency network.
Importantly, in accordance with the principles of the present
invention, the ALI information is determined based on association
to a proximate location.
[0013] In accordance with the invention, before an emergency call
is initiated, additional environmental information, such as a RFID
tag, location beacon, WiFi access point, Bluetooth device, or other
communication signal with a known location, is included in the
wireless session data exchange, which is then used to match one or
more location inputs to a fixed civic location (street address)
which is used to dispatch emergency responders. Alternatively, in
another aspect of the invention, a match may be searched and made
to a precise geodetic location (e.g., where no civic location is
available).
[0014] During or after an emergency call has been initiated,
additional location information is received, and/or queried for,
that is used by an emergency 9-1-1 location database (e.g.,
MPCNPC/LIS) to associate a provisioned civic address representative
of the fixed location that the call is being initiated from (e.g.,
residence, enterprise, landmark, etc.). During the call, additional
information is received, and/or retrieved, that when compared
alongside other key information yields a reliably probable
associated fixed location that the PSAP can successfully be
dispatched to.
[0015] The present invention provides a landline replacement
enabler--or location information adjunct, which is helpful in many
high-density-living situations, e.g., for high rise apartment
dwellers. In accordance with the invention, upon receipt of a
wireless emergency call, emergency responders can access a separate
proximity parameter matching database, and based on proximity
parameter matching, a "better" LVF valid address can be presented
to the call taker.
[0016] FIG. 1 shows exemplary short call flow for retrieval of ALI
information determined based on association to a proximate
location, in accordance with the principles of the present
invention.
[0017] In particular, as shown in step 1 of FIG. 1A, a location
from which a wireless emergency call may be placed is updated with
a location that is associated with a fixed environment, and tied to
a location reference--ahead of an emergency call.
[0018] For instance, Table 1 shows several entries in an exemplary
proximate location database. In the example of Table 1, an
association is made between cell ID (step A in FIG. 1A), a physical
address of the cell site provisioned location, a signal-to-noise
ratio (SNR) threshold, a lat/Ion (step B in FIG. 1A), a distance
uncertainty, a WiFi or other RF location reference (step C in FIG.
1A), an SNR tolerance, and a fixed civic location of the wireless
device (step D in FIG. 1A).
[0019] In step 2 of FIG. 1A, a wireless emergency call is
initiated, and provides proximate location information to the 9-1-1
location database.
[0020] In step 3, a 9-1-1 location database processes location
retrieved with proximate location information and associates a
fixed civic location.
[0021] In step 4, a wireless emergency call is presented to the
public safety access point (PSAP).
[0022] FIGS. 2A and 2B are two exemplary use cases of proximate
location for wireless emergency services, in accordance with the
principles of the present invention.
[0023] In particular, as shown in the exemplary use case of FIG.
2A, a calling wireless device calls emergency services, e.g.,
"9-1-1".
[0024] In the given example, the latitude/longitude (lat/Ion) of
the calling device owner's house 110 is within a cell site sector
rough polygon 100. The lat/Ion of the caller's library address 120
is also within the cell site sector rough polygon 100. And in this
particular example, the lat/Ion of the caller's church 130 is also
within the cell site sector rough polygon 100. Furthermore in this
example, there is no WiFi or RFID information available. The
day/time is, e.g., Sunday afternoon @3 pm.
[0025] In such a case, a stored historical location profile for
this user indicates a 95% chance (probability) that the user of
that given wireless device, at 3 pm on a Sunday, is at the caller's
provisioned home address 110. However, because this address is
provided via the inventive cell site sector association to a
location profile, the returned address of the emergency call is
provided with information indicating its reliability, e.g., "Home
address information is provided to the Emergency Call Processing
System with a 60% Confidence".
[0026] But in accordance with the present invention, with
additional associated location information, a more precise lat/Ion
may be calculated, and delivered back to the requesting system. For
example, here the precise lat/Ion intersects most completely with
the rough area of what is provisioned as the caller's church 130.
And because in accordance with the principles of the present
invention this is a precise lat/Ion association to location
profile, the respond-to address may be provided more accurately to
emergency personnel as, e.g., "Lat/Ion & Church address
information is provided to the Emergency Call Processing System
with a 95% Confidence".
[0027] In another use case shown in FIG. 2B, a calling wireless
device near an apartment building calls emergency services, e.g.,
"9-1-1".
[0028] In particular, as shown in FIG. 2B, a given wireless device
places a call to emergency services, e.g., a "9-1-1" call. In this
example the reported lat/Ion of the call is placed at the caller's
apartment building 210, which is within a cell site sector rough
polygon 200. Also the lat/Ion of the caller's library 220 is within
the cell site sector rough polygon 200, and the lat/Ion of the
caller's church 230 is within the cell site sector rough polygon
200. And there is WiFi information available, but no RFID
information available. The day/time is Sunday afternoon @3 pm.
[0029] In such a use case, the user's stored historical location
profile indicates a 95% chance that the user is at the caller's
apartment building 210 at 3 pm on Sunday. However, because this is
a cell site sector association to location profile, the reliability
of the location information may be reported to the requesting
system as, e.g., "Home address information is provided to the
Emergency Call Processing System with a 60% Confidence".
[0030] A precise lat/Ion is calculated and delivered back to the
system, and the precise lat/Ion intersects most completely with the
rough area of the caller's apartment building 210. Because this is
a precise lat/Ion association to location profile, the "Lat/Ion
& caller's apartment address information 210 is provided to the
Emergency Call Processing System". The WiFi access point MAC [Media
Access Control] address information is gathered, and delivered back
to the system. The WiFi access point MAC addresses lat/Ion
indicates a most likely intersection with a caller's apartment 1822
on the 18th floor 240.
[0031] Because this is a WiFi association to location profile, the
reliability of the location may be reported along with a statement
such as, e.g., "Calculated Lat/Ion from the Wireless phone system,
and the apartment address & apartment number information from
the location profile is provided to the Emergency Call Processing
System".
[0032] While the invention has been described with reference to the
exemplary embodiments thereof, those skilled in the art will be
able to make various modifications to the described embodiments of
the invention without departing from the true spirit and scope of
the invention.
* * * * *