Method and network for emergency call services

• US 20020042260A1
• Filed: 06/13/2001
• Published: 04/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Flores, Raul D. Cardenas, Saucedo, Maria Selene Lugo
• Granted Patent: US 7,155,201 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/404.2
• 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

A method and network provide mobile information for emergency calls based on mobile position during a call in progress. As soon as an Emergency Services Call is invoked, the Mobile Station position information is gathered using a Serving Entity. The position is then sent to an Anchor Entity [typically an Anchor Mobile Switching Center (AMSC) and Anchor Mobile Position Center (AMPC)] in communication with the Emergency Services Network Entity (ESNE). After receiving the position information, the Anchor Entity makes the call setup to the ESNE, and the AMSC updates the AMPC.

In one alternative embodiment, the Position Determining Entity determines the troubled and non-troubled locations and sends them to the ESNE. In a second alternative embodiment, only the troubled party location is sent to the ESNE as a result of the non-troubled party triggering a special key code during the request for the ESNE.

Claims

1. A method of managing an Emergency Services Call (ESC) within a network while a party is engaged in an on-going call, wherein the network includes a serving entity, an anchor entity, a Position Determination Entity (PDE), and an Emergency Services Entity (ESE), and wherein the on-going call has been handed off from the anchor entity to the serving entity, comprising the steps of:

receiving a request for the ESC at the serving entity;

receiving a request for a current location of the party at the PDE;

determining the current location of the party by the PDE;

receiving the current location of the party at the serving entity;

sending the current location to the anchor entity;

setting up the ESC between the anchor entity and the ESE; and

subsequently updating the anchor entity with the current location.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving a request for the ESC at the serving entity further includes the step of:

receiving a request for the ESC after the on-going call is placed on hold.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the serving entity includes a Serving Mobile Switching Center (SMSC) and an associated Mobile Position Center (SMPC), and wherein the step of receiving a request for a current location of the party at the PDE further includes the steps of:

sending an ISPOSREQ message from the SMSC to the SMPC; and

sending a GPOSREQ from the SMPC to the PDE.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the serving entity includes a Serving Mobile Switching Center (SMSC) and an associated Mobile Position Center (SMPC), and wherein the step of receiving the current location of the party at the serving entity further includes the steps of:

sending a gposreq response including the current location of the party from the PDE to the SMPC; and

sending an isposreq response including the current location of the party from the SMPC to the SMSC.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the serving entity includes a Serving Mobile Switching Center (SMSC) and an associated Mobile Position Center (SMPC), and wherein the step of sending the current location to the anchor entity further includes the step of:

sending a FLASHREQ message including the current location from the serving entity to the anchor entity.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the anchor entity includes an Anchor Mobile Switching Center (AMSC) and an associated Mobile Position Center (AMPC), and wherein the step of subsequently updating the anchor entity with the current location further includes the step of:

sending a GPOSDIR message including the current location of the party from the AMSC to the AMPC.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the ESE is an Emergency Services Network Entity.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the party is a non-troubled party engaged in the on-going call with a troubled party at a troubled location, further including the steps of:

receiving a request for the troubled location at the PDE;

determining the troubled location of the troubled party by the PDE;

receiving the troubled location of the troubled party at the serving entity; and

sending the troubled location to the anchor entity.

9. A network for managing an Emergency Services Call (ESC) invoked by a party while the party is engaged in an on-going call that has been handed off to serve the party at a current location, comprising:

an Anchor Entity for updating the current location subsequent to setting up the ESC;

a Serving Entity in electronic communication with the Anchor Entity;

a Position Determining Entity (PDE) in electronic communication with the Serving Entity; and

an Emergency Services Entity (ESE) in electronic communication with the Anchor Entity.

10. The network of claim 9, wherein the Serving Entity includes:

a Serving Mobile Switching Center (SMSC) in electronic communication with the PDE; and

an associated Mobile Position Center (SMPC) in electronic communication with the SMSC.

11. The network of claim 9, wherein the Anchor Entity includes:

an Anchor Mobile Switching Center (AMSC) in electronic communication with the Serving Entity; and

an associated Mobile Position Center (AMPC) in electronic communication with the AMSC.

12. The network of claim 9, wherein the ESE is an Emergency Services Network Entity.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the request for the ESC includes a special key code indicating that the troubled location will be determined by the PDE.

13. A method of managing an Emergency Services Call (ESC) within a network while a non-troubled party is engaged in an on-going call with a troubled party at a troubled location, wherein the network includes a serving entity, an anchor entity, a Position Determination Entity (PDE), and an Emergency Services Entity (ESE), and wherein the on-going call has been handed off from the anchor entity to the serving entity, comprising the steps of:

receiving a request for the ESC at the serving entity;

receiving a request for the troubled location of the troubled party at the PDE;

determining the troubled location of the troubled party by the PDE;

receiving the troubled location of the troubled party at the serving entity;

sending the troubled location to the anchor entity; and

setting up the ESC between the anchor entity and the ESE.