VoIP Emergency Call Routing via Cellular Intermediary
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users attempting to establish communication sessions with emergency services via IP telephony or VoIP may be prohibited due to unauthorized or unpermitted status of their computing device, especially when the device's geographic location cannot be determined.
Innovation Solution
A communication session server identifies a proximate, authorized computing device to act as an intermediary, using its location and communication capabilities to establish and route audio and video communications with the emergency service, potentially through cellular networks or direct peer-to-peer connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a computing device attempts to establish a communication session with emergency services via IP telephony or VoIP, then the user can communicate using internet-based protocols, but the communication may be prohibited if the device is unauthorized or its geographic location cannot be determined
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cellular device as an intermediary that bridges the unauthorized IP device and the emergency service. The cellular device, which has authorized status and determinable location, establishes the communication session with the emergency service while the IP device communicates with the cellular device, thereby mediating the connection through multiple network protocols and authorization layers
2Reliability
If the system requires device authorization and location determination for emergency calls, then network security and service accuracy are improved, but users with unauthorized devices or indeterminate location are prohibited from calling emergency services
Solution Approach 1:
The cellular device serves as an intermediary that carries the authorized status and location information needed by the emergency service. It establishes the formal communication session with proper authorization while relaying audio/video streams to and from the IP device, thus maintaining security requirements without blocking emergency access
Solution Approach 2:
The cellular device performs multiple functions: it acts as an authorized endpoint for emergency service communication, serves as a protocol translator between cellular and IP networks, provides location verification, and relays media streams. This multi-functionality allows a single device to satisfy multiple requirements simultaneously
3Device complexity
If the system uses a single computing device for communication, then the system complexity is reduced, but the device must simultaneously satisfy all communication requirements including authorization and location determination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the communication system into separate functional components: the IP device handles internet-based communication initiation, the cellular device handles authorized emergency service communication and location verification, and the emergency service receives calls from authorized endpoints. This segmentation allows each device to specialize in specific functions rather than requiring one device to satisfy all requirements
Data Source
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AI summary
Systems and methods for routing communications received via a PTSN are disclosed. A communication session server facilitates communication sessions between a first computing device, a second computing device and a public service accessible via a PSTN. The first computing device establishes a communication session with the communication session server using a first communication mode. The second computing device establishes a communication session with the public service using a second communication mode and a communication session with the communication session server using the first communication mode. Communications received by the second computing device from the public service via the second communication mode are routed to the communication session server via the first communication mode. The communication session server then sends the received communications to the first computing device using the first communication mode