Intelligent Pluggable Module Emergency Location Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
VoIP phones and services often fail to provide accurate location information during emergency calls, leading to delays in emergency services, as the user's location is unknown, potentially resulting in fatal consequences.
Innovation Solution
Intelligent Pluggable Modules on a service provider's packet-switched network detect emergency calls and use MAC addresses to query the DSLAM and customer database for the physical location, which is then sent to the existing 911 system via a software application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If VoIP phones are used to provide flexible phone service on any broadband network, then service flexibility and mobility are improved, but location information availability for emergency services deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary system comprising the pluggable module, software application, and database that mediates between the VoIP phone and emergency services. The pluggable module intercepts emergency calls, extracts MAC addresses, queries the database for physical location, and relays this information to emergency services, thus resolving the information loss problem while preserving VoIP flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes a feedback loop where the pluggable module continuously monitors network traffic for emergency calls, retrieves location information from the database using MAC addresses, and provides this location feedback to emergency services. This feedback mechanism ensures location information is available despite the mobility inherent in VoIP services
2Adaptability or versatility
If consumer location is unknown during emergency calls, then service flexibility is maintained, but emergency response time and effectiveness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-establishing the mapping between MAC addresses and physical locations in the database before emergency situations occur. When an emergency call is detected, the location information is already available in the database, eliminating the need for time-consuming location determination during the emergency and thus reducing response time
Solution Approach 2:
The pluggable module and software application act as intermediaries that automatically retrieve and transmit location information to emergency services without requiring manual input or delaying the emergency response. This intermediary mechanism ensures location data is provided promptly while maintaining VoIP service flexibility
Data Source
AI summary
Pluggable communication modules, e.g. SFP, XFP, XENPAK, on a service provider's packet switched network will include network monitoring capability, e.g. Intelligent Pluggable Modules. The Intelligent Pluggable Modules are configured to detect emergency calls. When an emergency call is detected, the module notifies a software application of the detected call, including the Media Access Controller (MAC) address of the caller. The application then queries the network equipment, typically the Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer for the ingress port of the MAC address using a protocol such as SNMP. Upon receipt, the service provider's customer database is then queried for the physical port location corresponding to the MAC address. The management station then sends the physical location into the existing 911 system.