Chapter 1      Overview of ALI Formatting Tool

Understanding E911 and Cisco Emergency Responder Terminology

Understanding E911 and 

Cisco Emergency Responder Terminology

Table 1 1

 defines some of the key terminology used in this document.

Table 1 1

E911 and Cisco Emergency Responder Terminology

Term

Definition

ALI

Automatic location information. Information that ties an ELIN to a location, and 

is used to route emergency calls from that ELIN to the correct local PSAP. 

Information that is presented to the PSAP to help the PSAP locate the emergency 

caller. In Cisco Emergency Responder, you fill in ALI data for each ERL, and 

submit the ALI data to your service provider for inclusion in the ALI database.

ANI

Automatic number identification. ANI is another name for ELIN. 

CAMA

Centralized automated message accounting. An analog phone trunk that connects 

directly to an E911 selective router, bypassing the PSTN.

DID

Direct inward dial. A telephone number obtained from your service provider that 

can be used to dial into your telephone network. DIDs are used for ELINs.

ELIN

Emergency location identification number. A phone number that routes the 

emergency call to the local PSAP, and which the PSAP can use to call back the 

emergency caller. The PSAP might need to call the number if the emergency call 

is cut off, or if the PSAP needs additional information after normally ending the 

emergency call. See 

ALI

.

emergency call

A call made to the local emergency number, such as 911. 

Cisco Emergency Responder routes the call to the service provider's network, 

where the call is routed to the local public safety answering point (PSAP).

emergency caller

The person who places the emergency call. The caller might require help for a 

personal emergency, or might be reporting a more general emergency (fire, theft, 

accident, and so forth).

ERL

Emergency response location. The area from which an emergency call is placed. 

This is not necessarily the location of the emergency. If an emergency caller is 

reporting a general emergency, the actual emergency might be in a different area. 

In Cisco Emergency Responder, you assign switch ports and phones to ERLs, 

and ERL definitions include ALI data.

ALI Formatting Tool User Guide for SBC Pacific Bell

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