VoIP Emergency Location via MAC Address and Switch Port Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems for providing location services during emergency calls from mobile communication devices using VoIP struggle to accurately determine the physical location of mobile communication devices, especially when they are connected to networks with complex subnet structures and operating systems that do not support LLDP, leading to inefficiencies and inaccuracies in dispatching assistance.
Innovation Solution
A system that utilizes a VoIP application and a backend server to transmit the MAC address of the mobile communication device to a location engine, which then makes a REST API call to a network platform's monitoring server to retrieve the switch and port designation, allowing the location engine to dynamically determine the physical location of the device, independent of the operating system and network complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If static subnets are defined within a network to associate with physical locations, then location information can be obtained for emergency calls, but the system cannot accurately track mobile devices that move between subnets
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from static subnet-based location assignment to dynamic location tracking using MAC addresses. The system continuously updates device locations by querying the monitoring server with the device's MAC address, enabling accurate tracking of mobile devices as they move between subnets and physical locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a monitoring server as an intermediary component that maintains a database mapping MAC addresses to switch port designations and physical locations. This intermediary enables the VoIP application to retrieve current location information by querying the monitoring server with the device's MAC address, resolving the contradiction between static network infrastructure and mobile device tracking.
2Measurement precision
If LLDP protocol is used for location determination, then location information can be obtained, but operating systems that do not support LLDP cannot provide accurate location data
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal location determination mechanism that works across all operating systems by using MAC addresses instead of OS-specific protocols like LLDP. The monitoring server stores MAC address to location mappings, allowing any device regardless of operating system to have its location determined through the standardized MAC address query process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/protocol-dependent LLDP approach with a more fundamental MAC address-based identification system. Since MAC addresses are hardware-level identifiers independent of operating systems, this substitution enables location determination to work universally across different OS platforms.
3Ease of operation
If MAC addresses are used for location determination, then device identification is possible, but the system cannot determine physical location without additional infrastructure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having the monitoring server pre-establish and maintain a database mapping MAC addresses to switch port designations and physical locations before emergency calls occur. When a device needs location information, the system simply queries this pre-existing database rather than performing complex real-time network analysis, thus reducing operational complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are provided for use in dynamically providing location services, in connection with mobile communication devices. One exemplary method includes receiving a media access control (MAC) address for a mobile communication device initiating a VoIP emergency call via a VoIP application, where the mobile communication device is connected to a network platform and initiating the VoIP emergency call through the network platform. The exemplary method further includes requesting, from a server of the network platform, a designation for a switch and/or port, and/or an access point, through which the mobile communication device is connected to the network platform and server. The exemplary method additionally includes retrieving, from a data structure, a physical location associated with the mobile communication device, based on the designation, and transmitting the physical location.