Abstract

A method for operating a wireless telephone system to provide emergency service for a wireless telephone operating in the wireless telephone system. In the present invention, the wireless telephone system receives a request to connect the wireless phone to a predetermined telephone number from the wireless telephone. The telephone system then queries the wireless telephone for a unique identifying number identifying the wireless telephone. The unique identifying number enables the wireless telephone system to connect the wireless telephone to the wireless telephone system. The wireless telephone system maintains a set of direct inward dialing numbers (DIDs) that are used exclusively for emergency calls. Each of the DID allows a caller outside of the wireless telephone system to direct a call to a telephone within the wireless telephone system. The emergency call is assigned one of these DIDs and that DID is linked to the unique identifying number of the telephone placing the emergency call. The wireless telephone is then connected to an emergency operator and the emergency operator is given the assigned DID. The DID enables a call from the emergency operator to the wireless telephone through the wireless telephone system. In one embodiment of the present invention, the DID assigned to the wireless telephone also identifies the antenna closest to the wireless telephone. The assignment between the DID and the unique identifying number is terminated after a predetermined period of time which may be altered by the caller or those servicing the emergency call.