DE102004038064A1 - Internet protocol-based telephone caller localization method, involves providing geo-information of caller`s residence by geo-information module, after login of caller, where module is assigned to session initiation protocol telephone - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves administering a data base in input devices of an Internet protocol (IP) telephone provider. IP address of a caller and geo-information of the caller`s residence are input in the database. The geo-information is provided by a geo-information module (6), after the login of the caller, where the module is assigned to a session initiation protocol telephone (1) or a proxy server of a local network.

Description

The Invention relates to the field of telephony in IP-based networks, especially the Internet telephony, that is the phone calls over the Internet using so-called voice over IP techniques. she relates to a method that makes it possible to establish a call connection using an IP-based network to locate the caller.

Out different reasons and for Different purposes may be required especially for the recipient of a telephone call be, information about the local Starting point of the connection structure, that is information about the current Whereabouts of the caller to get. This is for example for police and other emergency services essential.

in the usual Telephone network, the so-called PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) is this is easily possible, that every telephone connection always has a dedicated port in an exchange assigned. In the associated EDP systems the exchange is stored, which port on which Connection was switched. This ensures that the or the numbers of a connection exactly one dedicated port in the Exchange is permanently assigned. Through this rigid assignment can in the switching systems based on the phone number of a caller the exact location of the phone used by him determined become. The exchanges are configured so that when placing an emergency call, for example to the police or the fire brigade, automatically activates the feature "Clear Ignore" and thus a possible telephone number suppression is ignored. Police, fire department and other operations centers therefore have anytime over the phone number of a caller and consequently information about the local or local starting point of a call.

Even in mobile networks, it is possible to locate the current location of a caller. As with the fixed network, this possibility is inherent in the system since today's mobile networks are constructed as cellular networks and therefore always a statement is available in which cell a caller is currently. Such as from the DE 100 37 740 C1 can be removed, are transmitted in an emergency call from a mobile phone corresponding radio cell information to the called emergency call center.

According to recent developments, Internet telephony will become very important in the near future. This development is driven by the increasing convergence between traditional telecommunications, data transmission and multimedia applications. It is favored by the increasing availability of broadband access to the Internet. In the course of this development, in particular in the business area partial replacement of the fixed net telephony by the Internettelefonie will take place. That is, companies, authorities and the like may no longer have a conventional landline, but build their calls exclusively using the Internet and are also accessible only via the Internet. IP-based networks, such as the Internet, but it is peculiar that used for addressing a device incorporated in the network used IP address is not fixed, but the respective unit in connection with the existence or the establishment of a connection in each case with temporary Validity is assigned. In that regard, here is a dedicated assignment to certain ports or the like, as it is known from the fixed network, not given. However, this is a problem with regard to the described problems in emergency calls and the like. In addition, it is conceivable, for example, that a caller who uses the Internet telephony or voice-over-IP is in London, but the call connection is via a company-internal network which is connected to the Internet via a corresponding access in Germany. If, however, the Internet access enabling router of the aforementioned company network exceptionally has a fixed IP address, this could still give the false impression that the caller from London is supposedly staying at a location in Germany. Again, this conflicts with the need for localization of the caller associated with emergency calls. With regard to, for example, corporate networks connecting different locations, the latter problem is caused by the DE 102 23 980 A1 a possible solution shown. After this solution, in specially equipped PBXs belonging to the company network locations, which are interconnected via separate, so-called cross-connections, stored identification and location data IP-enabled and connected via the respective extension to the local telephone network terminals. In the case of a temporary relocation, a caller logs on to a terminal of his current location, which provides a so-called "shared desk area", with the login data of his home location the home location, the identification and location data of the terminal used at the current location and the PBX the current location in the reverse way, the assigned IP address. In this way, a routing is realized by means of which the caller is mediated in the event of an emergency call by transmitting location data to the emergency call system of its current location. The solution shown is not universal and completely independent of location. Thus, it does not allow the localization of callers who establish an IP-based call connection from any location via mobile devices, for example using a public WLAN access point. Rather, it is limited to self-contained communication systems, such as internal networks of companies or organizations in which private branch exchanges or the like are connected in the described manner by a cross-connection.

task The invention is therefore to provide a universal solution by means of which a caller at a over IP-based networks established connection regardless of its current location is locatable.

The The object is achieved by a method having the features of the main claim solved. Advantageous embodiments or further developments of the invention are by the subclaims given.

The proposed method allows the Locating a caller who has a call connection to a receiver via an IP-based Network builds up, independently of whether the recipient's called terminal is an IP addressable Device or a non-IP-based telecommunications terminal of a telephone network is. The localization of the caller, so the determination of his current This is made possible by the fact that in the for the login used access equipment of the IP telephony provider a database guided into which, in the course of establishing an IP-based call connection, a database entry is made, which at least the IP address of the Caller and geo information about the location of the caller contains. These Geoinformationen are from the receiver or from a suitable terminal of the talker through a Database query available. Certainly, in the practical implementation a corresponding database query and thus the query of the location of the Callers to authorized bodies remain reserved, so such Jobs, such as police, fire brigade, etc., when they call over the Landline otherwise synonymous already mentioned feature "Clear Ignore "activated becomes. However, this is more of an administrative rather than a technical one Question. If the called terminal of the receiver is a non-IP based Device so one in a conventional Telephone network integrated terminal (Landline or mobile phone), is the access to the IP address of the caller and thus to the database entry via the Call number of the call connection given in the telephone network switching gateways. The whereabouts of the Caller describing geoinformation according to the invention when logging provided by the caller of a geo information module, which the for the Called terminal or the proxy server of a local network as an integral part or affiliated unit is assigned and in the login procedure is included.

in the With regard to the widespread use of the GPS system, it is in the geographic information preferably GPS data. However, this is also the case in principle cartographic information or other current, the whereabouts of a caller exactly identifying information into consideration. The to the administration the database entries with the geo information and to control their retrieval at the assigned to the caller geo information module or to Control of updating database entries and their deployment for one interested and legitimate recipients serving hardware and software components in the IP telephony provider will be further in by the here introduced and synonym terms used geographic information server or geo-registrar be circumscribed.

Corresponding a practice-oriented implementation of the method according to the invention the provision of the geo information takes place in such a way that after the login of the caller by the geoinformation module automatically a login with identical login data is executed and, after successful Login of the geoinformation module, the geoinformation by the Geoinformation servers are queried by the geo information module.

in the Regards the establishment of an IP-based connection to a connection In a non-IP based telephone network, it is conceivable that the geo-registrar the phone number of the for the transition into the telephone network used gateways queried only in such a case. However, it is preferred that the telephone number of the corresponding gateway, and independently of it, whether the establishment of a call connection to an IP-based terminal or not, by the geographic information server already in the course of Login to the SIP server or H.323 gatekeeper of the IP telephony provider queried and next to the IP address of the caller and the geo information in the database maintained in the access facilities of the IP telephony provider is stored.

According to a particular mobile SIP telephones or terminals corresponding functionality appropriate embodiment of the method, it is provided that in an existing online connection to the IP telephony provider by an arranged on the corresponding mobile device geo-information module in a change in location automatically updated geo-information to the database of IP Telephony providers are transmitted. This is preferably caused by a control unit or control software (firmware) belonging to the geoinformation module of the terminal. Parameters are stored in the firmware which specify the extent to which a change in location is to be followed by a corresponding update of the geoinformation in the database. In addition, if appropriate, a cyclical query of the geoinformation module for the geoinformation module of the terminal used by the caller can be carried out by the geographic information server.

The Invention is based on embodiments again closer explained become. In the associated Drawings show

1 : A block diagram to illustrate the fundamental inventive principle,

2 : An embodiment using non-portable voice over IP terminals,

3 : An embodiment for the use of portable terminals.

By the 1 the basic principle of the invention is illustrated in a block diagram. The core of the invention is that when establishing a call connection via an IP-based network 3 , preferably the Internet, in connection with the login to the location of the caller geo information related to units 4 of the IP telephony provider or voice-over-IP provider are transmitted. In the case of the use of the H.323 protocol, the IP telephony provider is the so-called gatekeeper or, in the case of the use of the increasingly popular SIP protocol, the so-called SIP registrar server 41 a geographic information server 43 or geo-registrar assigned. Since it only depends on which protocol (SIP or H.323) the IP telephony provider uses, should not be distinguished between SIP registrar server and H.323 gatekeeper insofar, so that the corresponding reference numerals 41 in the 1 and in the other figures optionally symbolizes a SIP registrar server and H.323 gatekeeper. At the geo-registrar 43 it is a control unit or control software and a database in the gatekeeper or the SIP registrar server 41 integrated or this are logically assigned to the IP telephony provider. In that regard, the separate representation of the geo-registrar serves 43 in the figure, only the clarification. It is clear to the person skilled in the art that, with regard to the hardware and software-based access technology of the IP telephony provider, it is also a component of a SIP registrar server which, in its function, has been correspondingly expanded 41 or H.323 gatekeepers. The geo-information provided by units at the location of the call is stored in the database, associating it with the IP address of the caller establishing the call. That in the 1 shown embodiment assumes that the corresponding geographic information, ie information about the current geographical location of the caller or the IP-enabled terminal used by him 1 . 1' , by the terminal used for connection establishment 1 . 1' itself - in the example a WLAN-enabled SIP telephone 1 or a Wi-Fi enabled PDA 1' with a SIP client - or, more precisely, through an in this terminal 1 . 1' integrated geoinformation module 6 . 6 ' to be delivered. In view of the widespread satellite navigation system GPS has the appropriate terminal 1 . 1' for example via a GPS module.

A connection setup, which via a WLAN access point 11 as well as a LAN with a router 12 and for example a DSL connection 13 takes place, then takes place as follows. The user of the terminal 1 . 1' respectively the caller logs on to an H.323 gatekeeper or a SIP registrar server 41 of an IP telephony provider. The built-in or voice-over-IP terminal used to establish a connection 1 . 1' connected geoinformation module 6 . 6 ' For example, a unit equipped with a GPS receiver and a corresponding control device or another, for example, cartographic geoinformation module, logs directly with the identical login data also at the H.323 gatekeeper or the SIP registrar server 41 one. This can be realized by the data used for the login of the caller by a in his terminal 1 . 1' login software started for a short time, until the geoinformation module successfully logs in 6 . 6 ' to be cached. After successful log-in of the geoinformation module, which was also initiated by a control software 6 . 6 ' asks the gatekeeper or SIP registrar server 41 assigned geo-registrar 43 first the current geoinformation of the geoinformation module 6 . 6 ' in the terminal of the caller. These geoinformations are together with the IP address currently assigned to the terminal at login in one of the geographic information server 43 or geo-registrar managed database stored. Then the Ge asks oinformationsserver 43 under the same login name at the SIP registrar 41 or H.323 gatekeeper from the gateway number, which have been assigned to the voice-over IP login data of the caller. It owns the gateway 42 for each of him in the telephone network 5 switchable connection a fixed and unique phone number. This gateway phone number is also assigned to the geo-registrar database in association with the IP address and the geographic information 43 saved. Now goes the corresponding call, for example, the landline telephone a police department 2 a, so can by reference to the of the gateway 42 as in a normal call connection to the terminal of the called police station 2 The geo-information about the location of the caller can be obtained from a computer or server at the police station 2 a symbolically indicated in the Fig. Data connection to the geo-registrar 43 in the set up for the voice-over-IP connection used IP telephony provider. This data connection, which does not necessarily have to be formed physically in the form symbolized by the drawing, is then from the database of the geo-registrar 43 the one with the phone number of the gateway 42 and the IP address of the caller corresponding geoinformationen, so for example, the GPS data for the current position of the caller queried.

Even with other conceivable in the Internet configurations for the Internet access, which in the 2 and 3 are shown and which can also occur in mixed forms, basically the same sequence takes place. Deviating from the example in the 1 However, here the geo information is not from the terminal used for the connection establishment 1 . 1' even - according to the 2 For example, a wired SIP phone 1 or a PC 1' or according to the 3 For example, a WLAN-enabled SIP phone 1 or a Wi-Fi enabled PDA 1' - but from a proxy 7 one to connect to the internet 3 deployed LAN. The geoinformation module 6 is in the proxy 7 integrated or attached to this. Depending on the type of terminal used to establish the connection 1 . 1' The connection is from a terminal connected by wire via the LAN to the proxy 1 . 1' , via a WLAN access point included in the corresponding LAN 11 or via other wireless or wired IP techniques.

1, 1'

IP-capable terminal (eg SIP phone)

2

Receiver, recipient of the call (Z. B. Police Department)

3

IP-based Network (eg Internet)

4

access equipment of the IP telephony provider

5

telephone network (eg PSTN)

6 6 '

Geographic Information module

7

proxy

11

WLAN Access Point

12

router

13

DSL connection

41

SIP registrar server or SIP proxy or H.323 gatekeeper

42

gateway

43

Geographic Information server or geo-registrar

Claims (6)

Method for locating a caller who establishes a call connection to a call recipient ( 2 ) via an IP-based network ( 3 ), wherein the caller to establish the call connection a login to electronic access devices ( 4 ) performs a IP-based telephony enabling service provider (IP telephony provider) and wherein it is at the called terminal of the call recipient ( 2 ) is optionally an IP-addressable device or a non-IP-based telecommunication terminal of a telephone network, characterized in that in the access devices used for the login ( 4 ) of the IP telephony provider is a database out, in which, in the course of building an IP-based call connection, a database entry is made, which contains at least the IP address of the caller and geo information about the whereabouts of the caller and which of the call recipient ( 2 ) is retrievable by a database query, wherein for a in a telephone network ( 5 ) call recipient ( 2 ) the access to the IP address of the caller and thus to the database entry via the phone number of the call connection in the telephone network switching gateways ( 42 ) and wherein the geo-information describing the location of the caller when the caller logs in from a geo-information module ( 6 . 6 ' ) provided to the terminal used for the call ( 1 . 1' ) or the proxy server ( 7 ) is associated with a local network used for access to the IP-based network as an integral part or linked entity and is included in the login procedure. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that that the geographic information is GPS data. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the provision of the geographic information takes place in such a way that after the caller has logged in by the geoinformation module ( 6 . 6 ' ) a login with identical login data is executed automatically and, after successful login of the geoinformation module ( 6 . 6 ' ), the geographic information provided by the access 4 ) of the IP telephony provider from the geoinformation module ( 6 . 6 ' ). Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that in addition to the IP address of the caller and the geographic information and the phone number of the exchange of a call connection in a telephone network ( 5 ) used gateways ( 42 ) in the access facilities ( 4 ) of the IP telephony provider is maintained. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that in existing online connection to the IP telephony provider by a at a mobile terminal ( 1 . 1' ) of the caller's geoinformation module ( 6 . 6 ' ) automatically update geo-information to the access facilities managed by the database using control software ( 4 ) of the IP telephony provider, whereby in one of the geoinformation module ( 6 . 6 ' ) is stored at which level of a change in location, a corresponding update of the geographic information in the database. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that in existing online connection between the terminal ( 1 . 1' ) of the caller and the IP telephony provider by one in the access devices ( 4 ) of the IP telephony provider running a cyclic query of the geographic information at the geo information module ( 6 . 6 ' ) of the terminal used by the caller ( 1 . 1' ) or the access to the IP-based network ( 3 ) used proxy server ( 7 ) and a corresponding update of the database.