Methods and systems to retrieve and validate emergency information associated with VoIP communications
A VoIP 911 application is accessible to VoIP callers in the form of a portal and/or at least one API executed by one or more of a plurality of computing systems to retrieve a physical location of a VoIP user utilizing a VoIP number. A known postal address is generated from the physical location. The postal address is processed using a GIS system to determine if the postal address is a valid actual address. The postal address is processed using geocoding, and an updated MSAG address associated with the location of the VoIP user is generated. The VoIP 911 application may comprise an instant messaging application. The IM application is installed to and/or integrated with existing software packages. A VoIP user may update emergency information by submitting a current physical location of the VoIP user via an IM chat window. The physical location submitted is validated and confirmed.
1. A method of validating emergency information for a voice over internet protocol (VoIP) number using an instant messaging (IM) application, comprising:
utilizing a computing device comprising at least one processing unit in communication with at least one tangible storage media, the tangible storage media further including computer executable instructions for performing operations of:
displaying a prompt message to a chat window of the IM application to request acknowledgement about predefined terms of service for updating the emergency information associated with the VoIP number;
receiving a confirmation accepting the predefined terms of service at the chat window;
receiving a request to update the emergency information at the chat window;
receiving physical location information in a form of a plurality of text messages inputted through the chat window;
validating the physical location information;
displaying at least one address via the chat window based on the physical location information; and
receiving a selected address by a selection inputted to the chat window.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying an alternate address.
3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying the prompt message upon identifying a change in an IP address associated with the VoIP number.
4. The method of claim 1 , further comprising updating the emergency information for the VoIP number using the selected address and transmitting the information to a VoIP positioning center database.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving the physical location information from a user via a series of predefined text questions and inputs.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the prompt message includes a hyperlink to a disclaimer.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising integrating the IM application within an existing unified communications platform.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising identifying a change in the physical location information of a computing device associated with a user by a global positioning system.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising validating the physical location information by:
translating the selecting address to a postal address;
verifying the postal address is a recognized location using a geographic information system (GIS);
geocoding the postal address to produce a geocode; and
generating a master street address guide (MSAG) address using the geocode and the postal address.
10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising transmitting the MSAG address to a database of a VoIP positioning center (VPC) so that the MSAG address is available for emergency responders during an emergency call from the VoIP number.
11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
retrieving previous entries of emergency information associated with the VoIP number from a database; and
displaying the previous entries of emergency information via the chat window.
12. An emergency location system for validating emergency information of a voice over internet protocol (VoIP) number using an IM application, comprising:
a network service computing device comprising at least one memory for storing instructions that are executed by at least one processor to:
receive a request to update physical location information for the VoIP number via a chat window;
interpret a plurality of input commands received via the chat window to retrieve the physical location information;
validate the physical location information;
receive a selected address based upon the validated physical location information; and
update the emergency information for the VoIP number using the selected address.
13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the IM application is integrated within an existing unified communications platform.
14. The system of claim 12 , wherein the request to update the physical location information for the VoIP number is initiated automatically upon a change in an IP address associated with the VoIP number.
15. The system of claim 12 , wherein the selected address includes a master street guide address.
16. The system of claim 12 , wherein the selected address is provisioned to a database of a VoIP positioning center database such that 911 calls made from the VoIP number are associated with the selected address.