Abstract: A method for determining a responsible service area for a service request call, the service request call including a civic address indicating locus of origin of the service request call, includes: (a) accessing a geographic information system database relating to the locus of origin to identify a street line segment containing the civic address; (b) determining whether the street line segment is wholly contained within any polygon; (c) when the street line segment is wholly contained within a respective polygon, presenting the respective polygon as the responsible service area; and (d) when the street line segment is not wholly contained within the respective polygon, (1) recording a data deficiency identifying the non-containment as a polygon-segment error, (2) determining an estimated locus of the civic address on the street line segment in a resulting polygon containing the estimated locus, and (3) presenting the resulting polygon as the responsible service area.

Abstract: A method for determining a responsible service area for a service request call, the service request call including a civic address indicating locus of origin of the service request call, includes: (a) accessing a geographic information system database relating to the locus of origin to identify a street line segment containing the civic address; (b) determining whether the street line segment is wholly contained within any polygon; (c) when the street line segment is wholly contained within a respective polygon, presenting the respective polygon as the responsible service area; and (d) when the street line segment is not wholly contained within the respective polygon, (1) recording a data deficiency identifying the non-containment as a polygon-segment error, (2) determining an estimated locus of the civic, address on the street line segment in a resulting polygon containing the estimated locus, and (3) presenting the resulting polygon as the responsible service area.

Abstract: An automatic location update system receives location information regarding an identified communications device and stores an identification of the communications device, advantageously its telephone number, and the location information, advantageously X/Y coordinates. Weighting factors associated with the coordinates are also stored. The coordinates and weighting factors thus stored are compared and the coordinates that appear to be the most accurate are selected. The selected coordinates are delivered to a positioning server used to route special number calls.

Abstract: Networks, systems, and methods are disclosed for handling alternate routing scenarios for emergency calls or other special number calls, such as a 9-1-1 call. In routing an emergency call, an emergency services network identifies a primary answering point (e.g., a PSAP) to handle the emergency call. If the primary answering point is not available, then the emergency services network identifies an alternate answering point to handle the emergency call, and routes the emergency call to the alternate answering point (if available). The emergency services network also identifies alternate routing information indicating a reason for routing the emergency call to the alternate answering point instead of the primary answering point, and transmits the alternate routing information to the alternate answering point for processing.

Abstract: Networks, systems, and methods are disclosed for handling alternate routing scenarios for emergency calls or other special number calls, such as a 9-1-1 call. In routing an emergency call, an emergency services network identifies a primary answering point (e.g., a PSAP) to handle the emergency call. If the primary answering point is not available, then the emergency services network identifies an alternate answering point to handle the emergency call, and routes the emergency call to the alternate answering point (if available). The emergency services network also identifies alternate routing information indicating a reason for routing the emergency call to the alternate answering point instead of the primary answering point, and transmits the alternate routing information to the alternate answering point for processing.

Abstract: An automatic location update system receives location information regarding an identified communications device and stores an identification of the communications device, advantageously its telephone number, and the location information, advantageously X/Y coordinates. Weighting factors associated with the coordinates are also stored. The coordinates and weighting factors thus stored are compared and the coordinates that appear to be the most accurate are selected. The selected coordinates are delivered to a positioning server used to route special number calls.

Abstract: A method for availing participants and others in a special number call event of information contained in a plurality of data stores includes the steps of: (a) in no particular order: (1) providing the plurality of data stores; (2) providing at least one respective data key for accessing the information contained in each respective data store of the plurality of data stores; and (3) providing communications among the participants and the plurality of data stores; (b) identifying a respective call as initiating a special number call event; (c) generating an identifier code for uniquely identifying the special number call event; the identifier code including relational data; the relational data being mappable on the at least one the respective data key to effect accessing the information; and (d) employing the communications to effect cooperation by the identifier code with each respective data store for providing the information to the participants.

Abstract: The invention comprises a communication network that includes a plurality of conforming emergency systems, a packet network, and an emergency services network. The emergency services network includes a plurality of response gateways and a plurality of emergency services. Each of the conforming emergency systems facilitates the establishment of a media channel with one of the response gateways. In any one of the conforming emergency systems, responsive to establishing a media channel over the packet network with a response gateway and responsive to an emergency event (e.g., a 9-1-1 call, a 1-1-2 call, etc), the conforming emergency system transmits a retrieval key for the emergency event over the established media channel to the response gateway. The response gateway transmits a query for information corresponding with the retrieval key.

Abstract: The invention includes a communication network that comprises a conforming emergency system coupled to an emergency services network by a media channel. The emergency services network includes a resource coupled to a plurality of emergency services. When in operation, the conforming emergency system transmits an emergency event message to the resource over the media channel. The emergency event message includes a retrieval key. Responsive to receiving the emergency event message and the retrieval key, the resource initiates an emergency event session corresponding with the retrieval key. During the emergency event session, the resource transmits multiple responses to the conforming emergency system. Also during the emergency event session, the resource receives information corresponding with the retrieval key from at least one of the emergency services, and transmits the multiple responses containing the information.

Abstract: The invention includes an emergency services network comprising a plurality of resources, a plurality of emergency services, and a Service/Name Resolution (SNR) system connected to a transport network. In operation, one of the resources receives a retrieval key for an emergency event from a conforming emergency system. The resource transmits the retrieval key to the transport network. The SNR system receives the retrieval key over the transport network and identifies at least one of the emergency services corresponding with the retrieval key. The SNR system initiates the transfer of the retrieval key to the identified emergency services. The identified emergency services then perform services corresponding with the retrieval key.