ELIN Mapping for Emergency Location Accuracy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing emergency call handling systems in distributed processing networks face challenges in providing accurate location information due to frequent changes in user locations, leading to potential delays or incorrect location data being sent to emergency services, especially in IP telephony environments where users can move without updating their system administrator.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that assigns location information to sets or ranges of OSI Network Layer addresses, allowing for instant updates and mapping of selected addresses to determine the correct Emergency Location Information Number (ELIN) upon predetermined events such as emergency calls, registration, or time-based queries, reducing reliance on periodic polling and enhancing accuracy by using OSI Layer 3 addresses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If periodic polling is used to track telephone location changes, then location information can be updated, but network traffic increases and response time is delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by establishing event-driven triggers (registration, login, logout events) that automatically initiate location updates. When a user registers or logs into the network, or when their IP address changes, the system proactively updates the ELIN mapping without waiting for periodic polling, thus reducing response time while maintaining accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If frequent polling is implemented to ensure accurate location data, then measurement precision improves, but network traffic and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces continuous periodic polling with event-driven periodic action. Instead of polling at fixed intervals regardless of changes, the system triggers location updates only when specific events occur (registration, login, IP change). This maintains measurement precision by ensuring updates happen when needed, while significantly reducing network traffic by eliminating unnecessary periodic queries.
3Measurement precision
If the Emergency Responder system queries all Ethernet switches for location updates, then location accuracy is maintained, but device complexity and processing overhead increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system extracts and focuses on critical events that actually cause location changes (registration, login, logout) rather than monitoring all switch ports continuously. By taking out only the essential triggering events and ignoring unrelated switch activities, the system maintains location accuracy while reducing the complexity of querying all Ethernet switches.
4Adaptability or versatility
If IP telephony users can relocate automatically without notification, then adaptability improves, but reliability of location information decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where IP telephony users automatically notify the network system when they relocate or change IP addresses. Through registration and login events, users provide feedback about their current location, which the system uses to update ELIN mappings. This maintains reliability of location information while preserving user mobility and adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for providing emergency location information to an emergency service provider is provided. The method, in one implementation, includes the steps of (a) providing a plurality of sets (e.g., ranges) of OSI Layer 3 or Network Layer addresses; (b) receiving an emergency call from a calling device having an OSI Layer 3 or Network Layer address; (c) mapping the calling address against the plurality of sets of addresses to determine an ELIN for the calling address; and (d) forwarding the ELIN to a public safety answer point. Each set of addresses comprises a plurality of addresses, and a plurality of ELINs corresponds to the plurality of sets of addresses. In each set of addresses, a corresponding one of the plurality of ELINs is typically common to a plurality of addresses.