TeleCommunication Systems announces the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued patent number 7,260,186, titled, "Solutions For Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) 911 Location Services." The patent enables updating the mid-call location of a VoIP 9-1-1 caller using a Wi-Fi hot spot. The invention allows VoIP Wi-Fi E9-1-1 calls to be routed to the correct Public Safety Answering Point while automatically providing the location of the caller at the time the call was established. The invention helps mobile VoIP calls to meet the current FCC mandate requiring that wireless operators provide E9-1-1 service.

"Providing E9-1-1 service to VoIP Wi-Fi calls is an essential service as cellular carriers and VoIP providers increasingly are providing nomadic and mobile VoIP service through dedicated and dual-mode devices," stated Drew Morin, Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer for TCS. "Hybrid VoIP/cellular service, often referred to as Fixed Mobile Convergence, is starting to be rolled out in North America, with operators such as T-Mobile initiating service this year."

ABOUT THE INVENTION

The "Solutions For Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) 911 Location Services" patent provides a method and apparatus for providing mid-call updating of a location of a VoIP Wi-Fi terminal. The patent allows for a VoIP call to be established, requests a location update associated with the movement of a VoIP Wi-Fi device, and transmits the location information of the associated movement of the device. The location of the device can be automatically determined by the VoIP Wi-Fi device, or the updated information can be input by the user.