Techniques to support emergency calls with over-the-top service provider

• US 10,111,078 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2015
• Issued: 10/23/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Gellens, Randall Coleman, Edge, Stephen William, Williams, David Hugh, Du, Zhimin, Li, Yan
• Primary Examiner(s): Sivji, Nizar
• Application Number:
  US15/526,819
• Publication Number:
  US 20170374538A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,047 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4511 using domain name system [DNS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4541 Directories for service discovery
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4588 containing mobile subscriber information, e.g. home subscriber server [HSS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/5007 Internet protocol [IP] addresses
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/00 Automatic or semi-automatic exchanges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5116 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/30 Services specially adapted for particular environments, situations or purposes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/40 for vehicles, e.g. vehicle-to-pedestrians [V2P]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/48 for in-vehicle communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections

Abstract

Methods, systems, and devices are described for wireless communication. A wireless device such as an in-vehicle system (IVS) may transmit an emergency call (eCall) message to a third party eCall server using a communication session which may be packet based or circuit based. The eCall message may include session information and telematics data. The third party eCall server may relay the session information and telematics data to a public safety answering point (PSAP). For example, the third party eCall server may generate an automatic text-to-speech message that is transmitted to the PSAP over a public communications network. In some cases, the third party eCall server may transmit a response to the wireless device including metadata based on the telematics data transmitted in the eCall message. The eCall message may also include a call-back number, and the PSAP may contact the wireless device directly using the call-back number.

Claims

1. A method of communication at a wireless device, comprising:

transmitting a first Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message to a third party emergency call server while establishing a communication session, the first SIP message comprising at least a set of session information related to the communication session and a set of telematics data for the wireless device;

receiving, at a receiver of the wireless device, a second SIP message while establishing the communication session, the second SIP message comprising metadata based at least in part on a reception status or a content of the set of telematics data transmitted in the first SIP message; and

receiving a circuit switched (CS) voice call-back from the third party emergency call server or a public safety answering point (PSAP) based at least in part on determining that a media path between the wireless device and the third party emergency call server cannot be established or does not support at least one of;

a threshold bandwidth, or a threshold quality of service (QoS), or a threshold packet loss, or a threshold latency.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying an address of the third party emergency call server or a home network call server associated with the third party emergency call server based at least in part on a discovery process.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the discovery process is based at least in part on:

a domain name service (DNS) query, or a location-to-service translation (LoST) query, or data configured in the wireless device or in a module or entity connected to the wireless device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first SIP message comprises a call-back number for the wireless device and wherein the CS voice call-back is based at least in part on the call-back number.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the CS voice call-back is based at least in part on a call-back number stored with the third party emergency call server.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing a CS connection for voice or media data to the third party emergency call server based at least in part on the determination.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

establishing an internet protocol (IP) connection to a call server, wherein transmitting the first SIP message is based at least in part on the IP connection.

8. An apparatus for communication at a wireless device, comprising:

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor; and

instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to;

transmit a first Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message to a third party emergency call server using a communication session, the first SIP message comprising at least a set of session information related to a communication session and a set of telematics data for the wireless device;

receive, at a receiver of the wireless device, a second SIP message using the communication session, the second SIP g message comprising metadata based at least in part on a reception status or a content of the set of telematics data transmitted in the first SIP message; and

receive a circuit switched (CS) voice call-back from the third party emergency call server or a public safety answering point (PSAP) based at least in part on determining that a media path between the wireless device and the third party emergency call server cannot be established or does not support at least one of;

a threshold bandwidth, or a threshold quality of service (QoS), or a threshold packet loss, or a threshold latency.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to:

identify an address of the third party emergency call server or a home network call server associated with the third party emergency call server based at least in part on a discovery process.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the discovery process is based at least in part on:

a domain name service (DNS) query, or a location-to-service translation (LoST) query, or data configured in the wireless device or in a module connected to the wireless device.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first SIP message comprises a call-back number for the wireless device and wherein the CS voice call-back is based at least in part on the call-back number.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the CS voice call-back is based at least in part on a call-back number stored with the third party emergency call server.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to:

establish a CS connection for voice or media data to the third party emergency call server based at least in part on determining that the media path between the wireless device and the third party emergency call server cannot be established or does not support at least one of;

the threshold bandwidth, or the threshold quality of service (QoS), or the threshold packet loss, or the threshold latency.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to:

establish an internet protocol (IP) connection to a call server, wherein transmitting the first SIP message is based at least in part on the IP connection.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the call server is at least one of:

the third party emergency call server, or different than the third party emergency call server, or a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) Proxy, or managed by a home network operator for the wireless device, or part of a home network operator internet protocol (IP) multimedia subsystem (IMS) subsystem.

16. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first SIP message comprises a request for voice media, a callback number and a standardized set of data.

17. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the instructions to receive the second SIP message over the communication session are executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to:

receive an indication of whether the set of telematics data was received or satisfactorily received at the third party emergency call server, the indication comprising the metadata based at least in part on the reception status or the content of the set of telematics data.

18. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the instructions to receive the second SIP message over the communication session are executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to:

receive a request with respect to the set of telematics data, the request comprising the metadata based at least in part on the reception status or the content of the set of telematics data.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the request comprises at least one of:

a request to retransmit the set of telematics data, a request to transmit an updated set of telematics data, or a request to transmit a different set of telematics data.

20. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the instructions to receive the second SIP message over the communication session are executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to:

receive an instruction to take at least one action based at least in part on the reception status or the content of the set of telematics data, the instruction comprising the metadata based at least in part on the reception status or the content of the set of telematics data.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the at least one action comprises at least one of:

gathering additional telematics data, performing an action that affects a state of a vehicle, activating a component of a vehicle, deactivating a component of a vehicle, turning an ignition of a vehicle off, turning an ignition of a vehicle on, turning a fuel supply of a vehicle off, turning a fuel supply of a vehicle on, unlocking a door, locking a door, activating a horn of a vehicle, activating an externally audible sound, activating lights of a vehicle, activating flashers of a vehicle, actuating a power window, playing a recorded message, rendering media, or displaying a text message.

22. An apparatus for communication at a call service node, comprising:

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor; and

instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to;

receive a first Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message from a wireless device using a communication session, the first SIP message comprising at least a set of session information related to a communication session and a set of telematics data for the wireless device;

relay at least a portion of the first SIP message to a public safety answering point (PSAP); and

transmit a second SIP message to the wireless device using the communication session, the second SIP message comprising metadata based at least in part on a reception status or a content of the set of telematics data transmitted in the first SIP message; and

transmit a circuit switched (CS) voice call-back to the wireless device or the PSAP based at least in part on determining that a media path between the wireless device and the third party emergency call server cannot be established or does not support at least one of;

a threshold bandwidth, or a threshold quality of service (QoS), or a threshold packet loss, or a threshold latency.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to:

generate a verbal message based at least in part on the first SIP message; and

wherein the instructions to relay at least a portion of the first SIP message to the PSAP are executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to;

send the verbal message to the PSAP.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to:

receive a response from the PSAP; and

relay the response to the wireless device.

25. An apparatus for communication at a wireless device, comprising:

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor; and

instructions stored in the memory and executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to;

initiate a packet switched (PS) connection, with or without one or more media components, to the third party emergency call server based on the communication session;

transmit a first Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message to a third party emergency call server using a communication session over at least one of an Internet Protocol Multimedia Systems (IMS) service and an internet protocol (IP) connection, the first SIP message comprising at least a set of session information related to a communication session and a set of telematics data for the wireless device; and

receive a voice call-back over a circuit switched (CS) connection from the third party emergency call server or a public safety answering point (PSAP) when the PS call fails, the PS call is initiated with no media or the one or more media components lack sufficient quality.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the voice call-back is based at least in part on a call-back number (CBN) selected from the group consisting of provided by the wireless device, stored with the third party emergency call server, stored in a database accessible to the third party emergency call server, and stored with the PSAP.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the first SIP message comprises a call-back number (CBN) for the wireless device and a set of data.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to:

transmit the set of data over the CS connection when a transfer of the set of data via the first SIP message fails.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein transmitting the set of data is performed using signaling selected from the group consisting of single tone, multi-tone, dual-tone multi-frequency (DTMF), and varying tone.

30. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to cause the apparatus to:

determine at least one of a lack of suitable quality or a lack of suitable bandwidth for a voice over IP (VoIP) call;

wherein the first SIP message is transmitted without initiating a VoIP call based on the determination.