Systems and methods for alternative routing of voice over IP originated emergency calls
Systems and methods are described for routing Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) originated emergency calls. Where registered location information is not available, the present invention can attempt to identify an appropriate emergency call receiving office based on available information regarding the caller's physical location. Such information can include the IP address of the caller and, where the VoIP device is a dual mode device, the location of the last cellular base station accessed by the device. Where registered location information does exist, the present invention offers methods for ensuring that the registered location information is not obsolete and in need of updating and, in some cases, providing a manual override of call routing to the caller.
1. A method for routing a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) originated 911 call from a VoIP device of a caller using a VoIP service provider server, the method comprising:
the VoIP service provider server receiving a caller override signal from the VoIP device for overriding registered location information associated with a VoIP account of the caller, wherein the caller override signal is initiated by the VoIP device responsive to the VoIP device: displaying a geographical address on a display of the VoIP device, wherein the geographical address indicates the registered location information, providing a notification on the display that the 911 call from the VoIP device will be routed based on the geographical address, providing a selectable caller override option for overriding the routing of the 911 call based on the geographical address, and receiving a selection of the caller override option; and
in response to the caller override signal:
the VoIP service provider server performing an Internet Protocol (IP) geolocation measurement based on an originating IP address of the 911 call; and
the VoIP service provider server routing the 911 call to a call center based on the results of the IP geolocation measurement, comprising:
if the IP geolocation measurement of the VoIP service provider server returns partial geolocation data, the VoIP service provider server routing the 911 call to the call center associated with a highest resolution part of the geolocation data.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the partial geolocation data from the IP geolocation measurement of the VoIP service provider server includes state data, and the method comprises routing the 911 call to the call center being a call center associated with the state data from the IP geolocation measurement if the measurement does not return city data, but does return the state data.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the partial location data from the IP geolocation measurement of the VoIP service provider server includes country data, and the method comprises routing the 911 call to the call center being a call center associated with the country data from the IP geolocation measurement if the measurement does not return one of city data or state data, but does return the country data.
4. The method of claim 3 , wherein routing the 911 call to a call center further comprises routing the 911 call to a default call center if the IP geolocation measurement fails.
5. The method of claim 3 , wherein routing the 911 call to a call center further comprises routing the 911 call to a default call center if the IP geolocation measurement does not return city data, state data, or country data.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the 911 call is originated at a dual mode device, the method further comprising:
determining the location of the base station with which the dual mode device most recently communicated; and
comparing the location of the base station to the IP geolocation results to verify the results of the IP geolocation measurement.
7. A tangible, non-transitory, computer readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions stored thereon which, when executed, perform a method comprising:
receiving a caller override signal from a caller device for overriding registered location information associated with an account of a caller, wherein the caller override signal is initiated by the caller device responsive to the caller device: displaying a geographical address on a display of the caller, wherein the geographical address indicates the registered location information, providing a notification on the display that a 911 call from the caller device will be routed based on the geographical address, providing a selectable caller override option for overriding the routing of the 911 call based on the geographical address, and receiving a selection of the caller override option; and
in response to the caller override signal:
performing an Internet Protocol (IP) geolocation measurement based on an originating IP address of the 911 call from the caller device; and
routing the 911 call to a call center, based on the results of the IP geolocation measurement, wherein if the IP geolocation measurement returns partial geolocation data, the routing includes routing the 911 call to the call center associated with a highest resolution part of the geolocation data.
8. The tangible, non-transitory, computer readable medium of claim 7 , wherein the partial location data from the IP geolocation measurement includes state data, and the method further comprises routing the 911 call to the call center being a call center associated with the state data from the IP geolocation measurement if the measurement does not return city data, but does return the state data.
9. The tangible, non-transitory, computer readable medium of claim 8 , wherein the partial location data from the IP geolocation measurement includes country data, and the method further comprises routing the 911 call to the call center being a call center associated with the country data from the IP geolocation measurement if the measurement does not return one of city data or state data, but does return the country data.
10. The tangible, non-transitory, computer readable medium of claim 9 , wherein routing the 911 call to a call center further comprises routing the 911 call to a default call center if the IP geolocation measurement fails.
11. The tangible, non-transitory, computer readable medium of claim 9 , wherein routing the 911 call to a call center further comprises routing the 911 call to a default call center if the IP geolocation measurement does not return city data, state data, or country data.
12. The tangible, non-transitory, computer readable medium of claim 7 , wherein the 911 call is originated at a dual mode device, the method further comprising:
determining the location of the base station with which the dual mode device most recently communicated; and
comparing the location of the base station to the IP geolocation results to verify the results of the IP geolocation measurement.