GeoLynx Spatial Router
NG9-1-1 Location Validation and Routing

In our past eNewsletters we’ve been systematically talking about how your public safety GIS data plays a critical role in a Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) system. In this eNewsletter GeoComm is pleased to announce the development of an IETF LoST standards compliant NG9-1-1 spatial call router, called GeoLynx Spatial Router - NG9-1-1 Location Validation and Routing.

GIS Data is Critical
GIS plays a critical role for routing NG9-1-1 calls. Under the new system, ALL calls are routed based on location. Communication Service Providers (CSPs) are responsible for determining the location of their subscribers attempting to contact the 9-1-1 system. The CSP inserts location directly into the IP signaling for the call, so that routers along the call’s path through the NG9-1-1 network can route the call's based on the caller location. 9-1-1 network and systems vendors with NG9-1-1 Emergency Service Routing Proxies (ESRPs) can now connect to GeoLynx Spatial Routers to determine the spatial route for a call.

GIS data for routing 9-1-1 calls can be complicated. The GeoLynx Spatial Router must contain GIS information for PSAP service area boundaries. There must not be any overlap, or unintended gaps in PSAP service area boundaries GIS data. In addition, there must be GIS data for other types of services that a call might be transferred to after being answered at a PSAP, such as law, fire, medical, poison control, Coast Guard, and a variety of other services. Service providers themselves are authoritative for their own service area boundaries, but in many cases 9-1-1 authorities will become responsible for managing boundaries on their behalf, similar to how Emergency Service Zone maps are managed today.

Geospatial call routing is more than simply “point-in-polygon” selection of an XY coordinate of a caller against a service area boundary map. There are several types of geodetic (coordinate based) locations that can be used: latitude longitude coordinate, polygon, circle, ellipse, or arc-band. More complex location types such as arc-band (a pie shaped wedge, commonly used to depict wireless cell sectors) are expected when an exact latitude/longitude coordinate cannot be determined in time for initial call routing. In some cases, a more complex location type such as a polygon or arc-band may intersect multiple service area boundaries. The GeoLynx Spatial Router accounts for such location ambiguity and offers unique policy rules that can be enacted to handle such situations.

In addition, call location types can be civic addresses (a house number, street name, and community). In this case, the spatial router must have additional capability to resolve the civic address for a call into a geometry that can be intersected with service area boundaries to determine the spatial route for the call. The GeoLynx Spatial Router supports a hierarchical data model for converting addresses into map locations, so you can use your best available GIS data, ranging from address points, to parcel and sub/parcel polygons, to address ranged road centerline maps.

Who should use the GeoLynx Spatial Router?

The GeoLynx Spatial Router can be used by multiple different entities involved with NG9-1-1; anyone that needs to implement i3 call routing for Next Generation 9-1-1, as well as location validation of subscriber addresses.
States that are setting up state-wide ESINets
Communications Service Providers who need to route emergency calls into the 9-1-1 system
Wireless Carriers, VoIP Service Providers, and other CSPs and LIS providers who need to validate address information of their subscribers
9-1-1 Service Providers who need to implement NG9-1-1 i3 compliant service offerings
Regional and local 9-1-1 Authorities for fine-grained 9-1-1 call routing and selective transfers within ESINets

Standards and Protocols
NG9-1-1 location-based call routing uses the Location to Service Translation (LoST) protocol which is defined by the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) in RFC 5222 and related RFCs. When a call is initially routed, spatial routing may be coarse grained just getting the call to the correct state or regional network. To reach the final destination for the call, spatial routing may utilize highly-detailed, locally-maintained GIS data in order to route calls to the correct PSAPs. GeoLynx Spatial Routers can be used by a variety of different systems within the NG9-1-1 system, ranging from CSPs to route to the correct state or regional ESINet, to ESRP/ECRFs within regional ESINets, and from PSAPs for standardized selective call transfers.

System Integration
GeoComm is presently working with 9-1-1 systems vendors to provide NG9-1-1 spatial call routing. Recently, GeoComm demonstrated spatial routing of live calls at the North Carolina APCO\NENA conference. A team of companies comprised of GeoComm, Avaya, Synergem, and 911-Inc placed live test calls across the PSTN and into an ESINet. In the ESINet calls were spatially routed between two virtual PSAP's located on the floor of the conference exhibit hall using the GeoLynx Spatial Router. GeoComm also demonstrated on-the-fly routing changes to route calls to an ad-hoc virtual PSAP setup in the field.

Features

LoST Compliant (IETF RFC 5222)
Provides NENA ECRF and LVF i3 functional elements
Includes legacy data gateway to conventional ALI DBMS for transitional NG9-1-1 systems
Secure web-based UI for administering and altering ad-hoc routing boundaries
Policy and rules engine controls how routing boundaries can be changed
Built on ESRI ArcGIS Server and Microsoft SQL Server in a fully redundant and secure design
Supports load balancing and geographic redundancy
Optimized for speed with dynamic cache architecture to decrease call setup time

Benefits

Improves response time by routing calls to PSAPs faster
Provides more accurate call routing
Flexible for dynamic call route changes in a few seconds, such as to a virtual PSAP during a public event or large-scale manmade or natural disaster
Standardizes selective call transfers across ESINets
Seamlessly integrates with GeoComm’s Family of Products for GIS Data Management
Available with GIS Service Bureau services from GeoComm to manage GIS data for 9-1-1 call routing
Uses industry leading ESRI ArcGIS Server and Microsoft SQL Server used by city and county enterprises across the US
Helps fulfill 9-1-1 Authority and CSP NG9-1-1 roles and responsibilities defined by NENA i3