ALI Steering Gateway Protocol Translation and Request Consolidation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The complexity of existing PSAP/ALI systems in non-landline environments, such as cellular and VoIP networks, is exacerbated by the lack of standard interfaces and connectivity issues between PSAPs and ALIs, leading to incomplete or delayed delivery of location information during emergency calls, and the need for simplified architectures that enhance system efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of an ALI/ESME Steering Gateway, which acts as a unified interface between PSAP/ALI systems and XPCs, managing connectivity, translating protocols, and consolidating duplicate requests, thereby reducing the burden on XPCs and enhancing nationwide connectivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple PSAPs connect to the same ALI in non-landline networks, then location information can be delivered to multiple PSAPs, but the ALI cannot maintain multiple outside connections to positioning centers simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a steering gateway as an intermediary component between PSAPs and ALIs. This gateway maintains the single outside connection to the positioning center while enabling multiple PSAPs to access location information through the existing ALI infrastructure, thus resolving the connection limitation without requiring the ALI to maintain multiple simultaneous outside connections
2Adaptability or versatility
If ALI maintains connectivity to multiple positioning centers via multiple interface types, then location data can be obtained from different sources, but the system complexity increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The steering gateway is designed with multi-functional capability to handle multiple interface types and protocols. It can translate and route requests between different positioning center interfaces (NENA ESP, PAM, E2+, etc.) and the standard ALI interface, allowing the ALI to maintain universal compatibility without directly managing multiple complex interfaces itself
3Productivity
If each carrier's XPC handles ALI information delivery directly to PSAPs, then location data can be delivered, but the architecture becomes overly complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the ALI information delivery function from the carrier's XPC and consolidates it at the ALI level. The XPC's role is reduced to providing location data to the ALI through the steering gateway, while the complex task of delivering this information to multiple PSAPs is handled by the standardized ALI interface, thereby simplifying the overall network architecture
Data Source
AI summary
An ALI/ESME steering gateway bridges the nationwide ALI/ESME network notes (or PSAPs) with the GMLC/MPCs of various different XPC networks. The steering gateway provides a unified interface between the PSAP/ALI network and positioning centers (GMLC/MPC/VPCs). Using the steering gateway, an E911 service provider accesses positioning centers (GMLC/MPC/VPC) of any XPC network. This access by the ALI to the positioning center is accomplished with any type of interface, irregardless of the protocol type. The connectivity of each virtual communication path between ALIs and PSAPs is managed. The ALI/ESME steering gateway also provides translation of the protocols between the two ALI-MPC interface sets (inbound and outbound). The ALI/ESME steering gateway also consolidates (or “de-duplicates”) any/all duplicated requests from a same ALI or PSAP for the same emergency call so that only one request is then sent to the destined positioning center within the relevant network.