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TeleCommunication Systems receives six US patents for advancements in public safety comms technology
Patents encompass location, wireless, VoIP, and next generation 9-1-1 technologies.
The US Patent and Trademark Office has issued TCS six patents related to public safety and E9-1-1 technology:
- "Ancillary Data Support In Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) Messaging" (U.S. Patent No. 7,929,530)
- "Wireless Emergency Services Protocols Translator Between ANSI-41 and VoIP Emergency Services Protocols" (U.S. Patent No. 7,903,587)
- "Enhanced E911 Location Information Using Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP)" (U.S. Patent No. 7,903,791)
- "Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) Location Based 911 Conferencing" (U.S. Patent No. 7,907,551)
- "Solutions for Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) 911 Location Services" (U.S. Patent No. 7,912,446)
- "Emergency Alert For Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP)" (U.S. Patent No. 7,933,385)
"Ancillary Data Support in Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) Messaging" -- Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) systems will provide the technical capacity for pictures and videos of an accident scene, individuals' medical files, and other data files sent to an emergency call center and responders to support the provision of emergency response. The TCS invention discusses an ancillary server that can provide any kind of data (for example, photos, videos, in conjunction with an E9-1-1 call. Potential users of the invention may include members of the public safety community, operators and third-party information providers.
"Wireless Emergency Services Protocols Translator Between ANSI-41 And VoIP Emergency Services Protocols" -- Wireless carriers want to use current SS7-based protocols to request VoIP call routing information for E9-1-1 calls placed over their network. Likewise, VoIP operators want to use VoIP protocols to request wireless call routing information. The TCS invention is a protocol converter that translates communications between SS7-based wireless networks and VoIP networks in a way that allows wireless and VoIP operators to continue using their existing infrastructure to route E9-1-1 calls.
"Enhanced E911 Location Information Using Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP)" -- VoIP E9-1-1 calls do not transmit the caller's location or callback number when the call is transferred to a public safety answering point (PSAP). The TCS invention discloses a method and apparatus for provisioning a local VoIP gateway that has dedicated circuits to a selective router. It does so in a way that allows the correct location information and callback number to be routed to the PSAP that serves the VoIP E9-1-1 call's originating location. TCS uses the invention for its NENA-compliant i2 solution for VoIP customers.
"Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) Location Based 911 Conferencing" -- In some cases, E9-1-1 calls placed from within VoIP networks require participants (for example, police or fire department personnel) to be added to the call; in other cases, such calls must be routed to a different emergency call center. The TCS invention allows an emergency call center to add participants or reroute the call by establishing an emergency call conference bridge without the risk of dropping the call.
"Solutions for Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) 911 Location Services" -- When a VoIP E9-1-1 call is placed from a mobile device, the location of the caller is not automatically provided to a PSAP. The TCS invention discloses a method and apparatus for automatically retrieving a valid location for the mobile VoIP terminal by establishing a secure and uninterrupted communications link between the device and a location server containing the device's valid street address. TCS uses this invention for its NENA-compliant i2 solution for VoIP customers.
"Emergency Alert for Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)" -- Many state and local governments send alerts to people in their jurisdictions to warn them of potential emergencies (for example, tornado warnings). Under most circumstances, it is difficult to notify mobile VoIP users who are in the targeted area but who are not registered in the local emergency call databases. The TCS invention discusses a method and apparatus that allows an emergency call center to contact a VoIP Positioning Center (VPC) that maintains the location of VoIP devices, consequently enabling the VPC to send the alert to all relevant VoIP users.
"TCS is committed to ensuring that our nation's public safety community can take advantage of the latest technological innovations," said Drew Morin, TCS' senior vice president and chief technology officer. "As TCS' recently awarded patents demonstrate, we're continuing to proactively develop solutions to meet our country's toughest Enhanced and Next Generation 9-1-1 challenges."
