Requests for emergency services through an IPTV network

Systems and methods that request emergency services through an Internet-Protocol Television (IPTV) infrastructure. One embodiment comprises an IPTV network infrastructure comprising an IPTV server coupled to an IPTV set-top box of an end user that subscribes to IPTV services. The IPTV server receives a request for an emergency service from the end user through the IPTV set-top box. The infrastructure further includes a management server that receives the request for the emergency service from the IPTV server, and identifies information regarding the end user from an IPTV account of the end user. The infrastructure further includes a text message engine that receives the request for the emergency service from the management server, formats a text message for requesting the emergency service, inserts the information regarding the end user in the text message, and sends the text message to an emergency services center.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention is related to the field of communication systems and, in particular, to IPTV system technology.

BACKGROUND

Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) is a service through which television and other video content is delivered to an end user over a packet-switched network, such as the internet. An IPTV subscriber connects to an IPTV network in a similar way that a cable subscriber connects to a cable network. The IPTV subscriber receives a set-top box (STB) from the IPTV provider, and the set-top box connects to the IPTV backend over a packet-switched network. The physical connection between the IPTV backend and the set-top box, for example, may be a Digital Subscriber Line (xDSL), fiber, Ethernet, etc. One or more servers within the IPTV backend then provide the television content to the set-top box for viewing over the subscriber's television or other suitable display. The IPTV subscriber can view an Electronic Programming Guide (EPG) displayed by the set-top box, and select programs or videos to watch.

IPTV providers maintain a committed Quality of Service (QoS) for the IPTV service so that the content being viewed by a subscriber is not interrupted. IPTV providers are competing with cable, Internet over-the-top (OTT), and satellite providers, so they want subscribers to have a high-quality viewing experience. Therefore, the IPTV network is a “closed” network that is specifically designed to deliver IPTV content.

SUMMARY

Embodiments described herein trigger emergency services through an IPTV network. An end user (i.e., an IPTV subscriber) is able to request emergency services, such as 9-1-1 services, through an IPTV set-top box. For example, the end user may press a pre-assigned button on a remote control of the IPTV set-top box. The set-top box then forwards a request for an emergency service to an IPTV backend subsystem. Servers within the IPTV backend subsystem and Operations Support Systems (OSS) then contact an emergency services center, such as a 9-1-1 center, to dispatch emergency services to the location of the end user.

These embodiments advantageously provide an alternative way for an IPTV subscriber to contact emergency services. If the IPTV subscriber is not able to reach his/her phone to call emergency services or is otherwise incapacitated, then the IPTV subscriber can simply press a button on his/her remote control to request the needed services.

One embodiment comprises an Internet-Protocol Television (IPTV) network infrastructure. The infrastructure includes an IPTV server coupled to an IPTV set-top box of an end user that subscribes to IPTV services. The IPTV server is configured to receive a request for an emergency service from the end user through the IPTV set-top box. The infrastructure further includes a management server configured to receive the request for the emergency service from the IPTV server, and to identify information regarding the end user from an IPTV account of the end user. The infrastructure further includes a text message engine configured to receive the request for the emergency service from the management server, to format a text message for requesting the emergency service, to insert the information regarding the end user in the text message, and to send the text message to an emergency services center.

In one embodiment, the text message comprises a Short Messaging Services (SMS) message.

In one embodiment, the text message indicates the emergency service requested by the end user, such as fire, ambulance, or police.

In one embodiment, the information regarding the end user includes a name, an address, and a phone number for the end user.

In one embodiment, the request for the emergency service comprises a web service call, such as a Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) call. The web service call may include a parameter for the emergency service requested by the end user. The web service call may also include a parameter for an IP address associated with the IPTV set-top box of the end user. Thus, the management server may be configured to identify the IPTV account for the end user based on the IP address associated with the IPTV set-top box.

In one embodiment, the management server resides in an Operations Support System (OSS) of a telecommunications provider.

In one embodiment, the emergency services center comprises a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP).

Another embodiment comprises a method of requesting emergency services through an IPTV network infrastructure. The method includes receiving, at an IPTV server, a request for an emergency service from an IPTV set-top box of an end user that subscribes to IPTV services. The method further includes forwarding the request for the emergency service from the IPTV server to a management server. The method further includes identifying, in the management server, information regarding the end user from an IPTV account of the end user. The method further includes forwarding the request for the emergency service from the management server to a text message engine. The method further includes formatting a text message in the text message engine for requesting the emergency service, inserting the information regarding the end user in the text message, and sending the text message from the text message engine to an emergency services center.

Another embodiment comprises an IPTV network infrastructure comprising an IPTV server coupled to an IPTV set-top box of an end user that subscribes to IPTV services. The IPTV server is configured to receive a web service call requesting an emergency service from the IPTV set-top box. The infrastructure further includes a management server configured to receive the web service call from the IPTV server, and to identify information regarding the end user from an IPTV account of the end user. The infrastructure further includes a text message engine configured to receive the web service call from the management server, to format a text message for requesting the emergency service, to insert the information regarding the end user in the text message, and to send the text message to an emergency services center.

Other exemplary embodiments may be described below.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1illustrates a communication network100for IPTV services in an exemplary embodiment. Because network100provides IPTV services, it may be generally referred to as an IPTV network. One assumption forFIG. 1is that an end user subscribes to IPTV services, and has an IPTV account with an IPTV service provider that utilizes network100. The end user is able to access the IPTV services through customer premises equipment110. The IPTV services are provided to the end user by IPTV network infrastructure130over access/transport network120.

Network100is enhanced in the following embodiment to provide functionalities where the end user is able to request emergency services (e.g., 9-1-1 services) over network100. InFIG. 1, customer premises equipment110includes an IPTV set-top box (STB)112and an IP-TV gateway (GW)114(e.g., a residential gateway). IPTV set-top box112comprises a component or device that receives signals or a flow of data that includes IP-TV content (e.g., television, on-demand video, EPG, etc.) from an external source, and converts the signals or data flow into a format so that the IPTV content can be displayed on a television or other suitable display. In this embodiment, IPTV set-top box112is connected to a television116at the customer premises equipment110. IPTV gateway114comprises a component or device that provides connectivity to an access network or access link that delivers the IPTV content to customer premises equipment110for the IPTV service.

IPTV set-top box112is enhanced in this embodiment to recognize a request for emergency services initiated by the end user. For example, the end user may press a button on a remote control118to initiate a request for emergency services. IPTV set-top box112then forwards the request for emergency services to IPTV network infrastructure130for further processing. The operation of IPTV set-top box112is described in further detail below.

Network120is referred to as “access/transport” inFIG. 1because it represents both an access network to customer premises equipment110, and a transport network for the IPTV content. For example, the access network in this embodiment may be DSL, fiber, Ethernet, etc. The transport network in this embodiment is a packet-switched (PS) or label-switched (MPLS) network that typically uses IP as a (network layer) protocol.

IPTV network infrastructure130includes components representing IPTV middleware132and an IPTV backend subsystem136. IPTV middleware132includes a plurality of IPTV servers133-134. IPTV servers134are nodes in the infrastructure that deliver IPTV content to customer premises equipment110(and other IPTV customers). IPTV servers134may store the actual IPTV content and deliver the content to customer premises equipment110, or may access other content servers and assist in delivering the content to customer premises equipment110. In this embodiment, IPTV server133includes specialized components or applications to handle requests for emergency services from the end user, which is described in further detail below inFIG. 4. IPTV server133may operate in a similar manner as IPTV servers134to deliver IPTV content to customer premises equipment110, or may be a dedicated server for handling requests for emergency services.

IPTV backend subsystem136includes a management server137and a text message engine138. Management server137comprises a component or device that maintains information regarding IPTV subscriptions for end users (i.e., customers). For example, management server137may store a subscriber profile for each of its customers that includes a name, an address, and a phone number of the customer, a level of service or subscription plan for the customer, etc. Text message engine138comprises a component or device that is operable to format a text message that requests emergency services. A text message as referred to herein may comprise a Short Messaging Service (SMS) message or a Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) message.

IPTV backend subsystem136may be implemented on the same platform as IPTV servers133-134. Alternatively, IPTV backend subsystem136may be on an external platform. For example, some IPTV service providers are part of, or contract with, a telecommunications provider. In these scenarios, the IPTV backend subsystem136may be part of an Operations Support System (OSS) of a telecommunications provider. For example, one or both of management server137and text message engine138may be part of the OSS of a telecommunications provider.

Also illustrated inFIG. 1is an emergency services center140. Emergency services center140represents any type of equipment that is used to dispatch emergency services. For example, emergency services center140may represent a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP), which is a call center that answers emergency calls, such as 9-1-1 calls. In this embodiment, emergency services center140is equipped with functionality to receive and process text messages.

Assume for the following embodiment that the end user encounters a situation where emergency services are needed. For example, there may be a fire at the end user's home, or the end user may have a medical emergency. Typically, the end user would pick up his/her phone and call a dedicated number for emergency services, such as 9-1-1 in the United States, or 1-1-2 in Europe. However, if the end user is not able to reach a phone, the end user is able to summon emergency services through the IPTV network.

FIG. 2illustrates a remote control118for IPTV set-top box112in an exemplary embodiment. To summon emergency services, the end user can press a button on remote control118. One or more buttons on remote control118may be designated for emergency services, such as button200. When the end user presses button200on remote control118, remote control118will send a signal to IPTV set-top box112. IP-TV set-top box112in turn will process the signal from remote control118and interpret the signal as a request for an emergency service.

The signal from remote control118may indicate a type of emergency service requested by the end user. For example, there may be a dedicated button for “fire”, “police”, and “ambulance” on remote control118. Alternatively, IPTV set-top box112may query the end user to select a type of emergency service that is requested.FIG. 3illustrates a menu displayed to the end user by IPTV set-top box112in an exemplary embodiment. IPTV set-top box112displays a menu300on television116with options for emergency services, such as “fire”, “police”, and “ambulance”. The end user can then use remote control118to select the desired emergency service from menu300.

After the end user presses the appropriate button on remote control118, IPTV set-top box112forwards a request for an emergency service to IPTV network infrastructure130(through IPTV gateway114and access/transport network120). IPTV network infrastructure130then operates to deliver the request for the emergency service to emergency services center140. This operation is illustrated inFIG. 4.

FIG. 4is a flow chart illustrating a method400for requesting emergency services through an IPTV network in an exemplary embodiment. The steps of method400will be described with reference to IPTV network infrastructure130inFIG. 1, but those skilled in the art will appreciate that method400may be performed in other systems. Also, the steps of the flow charts described herein are not all inclusive and may include other steps not shown, and the steps may be performed in an alternative order.

In step402, IPTV server133receives the request for the emergency service that was sent from IPTV set-top box112. The request for the emergency service may be in any suitable format that is understood by IPTV server133. In one embodiment, the request for the emergency service may be in the form of a web service call (or function call) for an emergency service, which is a request for a particular web service. For example, the web service call may be:

This web service call may include parameters, such as an identifier for IPTV set-top box112(e.g., a Global Unique Identifier Number (GUID)), an IP address assigned to customer premises equipment110(e.g., an IP address associated with IPTV set-top box/IP-TV gateway114), and the emergency services option selected by the end user (e.g., fire, police, or ambulance). Although HTTP is used for the web service call is this example, the web service call may be in another protocol, such as SOAP, ParlayX, REST, OneAPI, etc.

In step404, IPTV server133forwards the request for the emergency service to management server137. In forwarding the request, IPTV server133may format and transmit the same or another web service call as described above. Thus, the request for the emergency service sent from IPTV server133may include the same parameters as described above.

In response to receiving the request from IPTV server133, management server137identifies information regarding the end user based on an IPTV account of the end user in step406. For example, management server137may identify an IPTV account (or subscriber profile) for the end user based on the identifier (e.g., IP address assigned to the subscriber's home router (residential gateway) during the DHCP process) for IPTV set-top box112that was included in the request for emergency services. Management server137may then process the subscriber profile to identify, through the IP address and access port, the name associated with the IPTV account, the address associated with the IPTV account, the phone number associated with the IPTV account, and other information. As stated above, management server137may be part of an OSS of a telecommunications provider. Thus, management server137may have access to an Order Management System (OMS), a Customer Relations Management (CRM) system, and/or a Billing Business Support System (BSS) to access information regarding the end user.

In step408, management server137forwards the request for the emergency service to text message engine138with the information regarding the end user. To do so, management server137may format and transmit a web service call to text message engine138, such as an HTTP web service call, a SOAP web service call, etc. The web service call may include the name, address, and phone number associated with the end user, along with the other parameters, such as the option for emergency services selected by the end user, such as fire, police, or ambulance.

In response to the request from management server137, text message engine138formats a text message for requesting the emergency service in step410. Text message engine138then inserts the information regarding the end user in the text message in step412. For example, text message engine138may insert the name, address, and phone number associated with the end user into the text message. Text message engine138may also insert an indicator of a specific type of emergency service as requested by the end user, such as fire, police, or ambulance. Text message engine138may insert any other desired information in the text message to summon the emergency service desired by the end user.

Text message engine138then transmits the text message to emergency services center140in step414. In response to the text message, emergency services center140will dispatch fire, police, or ambulance services based on the request from the end user.

The network100described above advantageously gives the end user another option for requesting emergency services. If the end user is not able to place a phone call to 9-1-1, then the end user has the option to summon emergency services through the IPTV network and get the needed assistance.