IP Library Granted Patent US 8,588,375
Granted Patent B1
US 8,588,375 · App. 12/431,156 · Granted Nov 19, 2013

System and method for processing emergency calls

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,588,375
App. No.
12/431,156
Granted
Nov 19, 2013
Kind
B1
Abstract

A communication system to handle call-back calls from emergency services to callers comprises a communication network and a call processing system. The communication network is configured to receive an emergency call for an emergency service from a communication device operated by a caller, and receive an incoming call for the communication device. The call processing system is configured to, in response to the emergency call, modify call controls associated with the caller, and process the modified call controls associated with the caller to determine if the incoming call is allowed. The communication network is further configured to connect the incoming call if the incoming call is allowed, and to block the incoming call if the incoming call is not allowed.

Claims (31)

1. A method of operating a communication system to handle call-back calls from emergency services to callers, the method comprising:

receiving an emergency call for an emergency service from a caller number;

in response to the emergency call, modifying call controls associated with the caller number, wherein the call controls comprise at least one call restriction associated with the caller number and wherein modifying the call controls comprises modifying the at least one call restriction;

receiving an incoming call to the caller number, wherein the incoming call is directed to a same number as the caller number used for the emergency call;

processing the modified call controls associated with the caller number to determine if the incoming call is allowed;

if the incoming call is allowed, connecting the incoming call; and

if the incoming call is not allowed, blocking the incoming call.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising, in response to the emergency call, modifying call controls associated with another party.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein the other party comprises a party identified in a contact list of a caller associated with the caller number.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein the other party comprises a party identified in a call history of a caller associated with the caller number.

5. The method of claim 2 further comprising identifying a party in a predetermined area surrounding the location of a caller associated with the caller number, and wherein the other party comprises the party in the predetermined area.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the predetermined area comprises an area served by a cell handling the emergency call.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the predetermined area comprises an area surrounding a global positioning system (GPS) location of the caller.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein modifying the call controls associated with the caller number comprises suspending the call controls associated with the caller number for a predetermined period of time.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein modifying the call controls associated with the caller number comprises permitting all incoming calls for a period of time.

10. A communication system to handle call-back calls from emergency services to callers, the communication system comprising:

a communication network configured to receive an emergency call for an emergency service from a caller number by a communication device operated by a caller, and receive an incoming call to the caller number for the communication device, wherein the incoming call is directed to a same number as the caller number used for the emergency call;

a call processing system configured to, in response to the emergency call, modify call controls associated with the caller number, and process the modified call controls associated with the caller number to determine if the incoming call is allowed, wherein the call controls comprise at least one call restriction associated with the caller number and wherein modifying the call controls comprises modifying the at least one call restriction; and

the communication network further configured to, if the incoming call is allowed, connect the incoming call, and if the incoming call is not allowed, block the incoming call.

11. The communication system of claim 10 wherein the call processing system is further configured to modify call controls of another party.

12. The communication system of claim 11 wherein the other party comprises a party on a calling plan of the caller.

13. The communication system of claim 11 wherein the other party comprises a party on a phone list of the caller.

14. The communication system of claim 11 wherein the other party comprises a party in a call history of the caller.

15. The communication system of claim 11 wherein the call processing system is further configured to identify a party in a predetermined area surrounding the location of the caller, and wherein the other party comprises the party in the predetermined area.

16. The communication system of claim 15 wherein the predetermined area comprises an area surrounding a cell tower serving the emergency call.

17. The communication system of claim 15 wherein the predetermined area comprises an area surrounding a global positioning system (GPS) position of the caller.

18. The communication system of claim 10 wherein the call processing system configured to modify the call controls associated with the caller number comprises the call processing system configured to suspend the call controls associated with the caller number for a predetermined period of time.

19. The communication system of claim 10 wherein the call processing system configured to modify the call controls associated with the caller number comprises the call processing system configured to permit all incoming calls for a predetermined period of time.

20. A call processing system for handling call-back calls from emergency services to callers, the call processing system comprising:

an interface configured to receive an emergency call request for an emergency call from a caller number by a communication device operated by a caller, and receive an incoming call request for an incoming call to the caller number, wherein the incoming call is directed to a same number as the caller number used for the emergency call; and

a processing system configured to, in response to the emergency call request, modify call controls associated with the caller number, process the modified call controls associated with the caller number to determine if the incoming call is allowed, if the incoming call is allowed, transfer an instruction to connect the incoming call, and if the incoming call is not allowed, block the incoming call, wherein the call controls comprise at least one call restriction associated with the caller number and wherein modifying the call controls comprises modifying the at least one call restriction.

Assignments (6)
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 23, 2022
From: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
To: IBSV LLC; LAYER3 TV, LLC; PUSHSPRING, LLC; T-MOBILE CENTRAL LLC; T-MOBILE USA, INC.; ASSURANCE WIRELESS USA, L.P.; BOOST WORLDWIDE, LLC; CLEARWIRE COMMUNICATIONS LLC; CLEARWIRE IP HOLDINGS LLC; SPRINTCOM LLC; SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.; SPRINT INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED; SPRINT SPECTRUM LLC
Reel/Frame 062595/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 4, 2021
From: SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.
To: T-MOBILE INNOVATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 055604/0001 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF FIRST PRIORITY AND JUNIOR PRIORITY SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Apr 2, 2020
From: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
To: SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.
Reel/Frame 052969/0475 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 2, 2020
From: T-MOBILE USA, INC.; ISBV LLC; T-MOBILE CENTRAL LLC; LAYER3 TV, INC.; PUSHSPRING, INC.; BOOST WORLDWIDE, LLC; CLEARWIRE COMMUNICATIONS LLC; CLEARWIRE IP HOLDINGS LLC; CLEARWIRE LEGACY LLC; SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.; SPRINT INTERNATIONAL INCORPORATED; SPRINT SPECTRUM L.P.; ASSURANCE WIRELESS USA, L.P.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
Reel/Frame 053182/0001 →
GRANT OF FIRST PRIORITY AND JUNIOR PRIORITY SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS Recorded Mar 6, 2017
From: SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.
To: DEUTSCHE BANK TRUST COMPANY AMERICAS
Reel/Frame 041895/0210 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 28, 2009
From: SHASHINDRANATH, ASHWIN; STEINEL, DANIEL V.; WELLS, ANTHONY CHARLES
To: SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS COMPANY L.P.
Reel/Frame 022604/0683 →