Method and apparatus for disabling advanced call features during an emergency call

• US 20070189466A1
• Filed: 01/31/2006
• Published: 08/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/31/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Croak, Marian, Eslambolchi, Hossein
• Application Number:
  US11/344,634
• Publication Number:
  US 20070189466A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/37
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/04 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4228 in networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42348 Location-based services which utilize the location information of a target
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/54 Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0024 Services and arrangements where telephone services are combined with data services arrangements which combine a telephonic equipment and a computer H04M7/0012
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0084 Network monitoring; Error detection; Error recovery; Network testing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/128 Details of addressing, directories or routing tables

Abstract

A method and apparatus for disabling advanced call forwarding service features when a subscriber places an emergency call, e.g., an E911 call, during the E911 call until a normal call disconnect signaling protocol message is received for the E911 call are disclosed. In addition, the advanced call forwarding service features will remain disabled for a specified period by the network if a normal call disconnect signaling protocol message is not received for the E911 call.

Claims

1. A method for disabling an advanced call feature during an emergency call in a communication network, comprising:

receiving an emergency call setup message from an endpoint device for establishing an emergency call, where at least one call forwarding service feature is associated with said endpoint device;

deactivating said at least one call forwarding service feature during said emergency call; and

reactivating said at least one call forwarding service feature after a completion of said emergency call.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said communication network is a Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) network or a Service over Internet Protocol (SOIP) network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said emergency call is an Enhanced 911 (E911)call.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving comprises:

receiving said emergency call setup message from said endpoint device;

determining said at least one call forwarding service feature that is currently enabled; and

establishing said emergency call between said endpoint device and a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP).

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said reactivating comprises:

reactivating said at least one call forwarding service feature immediately after said emergency call is completed with a normal disconnect process;

or reactivating said at least one call forwarding service feature after a predefined period of time of the completion of said emergency call if said emergency call is not completed with said normal disconnect process.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said normal disconnect process is characterized by said completion of said call disconnect process with no error conditions in a processing of one or more call disconnect signaling messages.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said emergency call setup message is received by a Call Control Element (CCE).

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one call forwarding service feature is deactivated by a Call Control Element (CCE) by communicating with an Application Server (AS).

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one call forwarding service feature is reactivated by a Call Control Element (CCE) by communicating with an Application Server (AS).

10. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions including instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of a method for disabling an advanced call feature during an emergency call in a communication network, comprising:

receiving an emergency call setup message from an endpoint device for establishing an emergency call, where at least one call forwarding service feature is associated with said endpoint device;

deactivating said at least one call forwarding service feature during said emergency call; and

reactivating said at least one call forwarding service feature after a completion of said emergency call.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein said communication network is a Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) network or a Service over Internet Protocol (SoIP) network.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein said emergency call is an Enhanced 911 (E911)call.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein said receiving comprises:

receiving said emergency call setup message from said endpoint device;

determining said at least one call forwarding service feature that is currently enabled; and

establishing said emergency call between said endpoint device and a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP).

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein said reactivating comprises:

reactivating said at least one call forwarding service feature immediately after said emergency call is completed with a normal disconnect process;

or

reactivating said at least one call forwarding service feature after a predefined period of time of the completion of said emergency call if said emergency call is not completed with said normal disconnect process.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein said normal disconnect process is characterized by said completion of said call disconnect process with no error conditions in a processing of one or more call disconnect signaling messages.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein said emergency call setup message is received by a Call Control Element (CCE).

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein said at least one call forwarding service feature is deactivated by a Call Control Element (CCE) by communicating with an Application Server (AS).

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein said at least one call forwarding service feature is reactivated by a Call Control Element (CCE) by communicating with an Application Server (AS).

19. An apparatus for disabling an advanced call feature during an emergency call in a communication network, comprising:

means for receiving an emergency call setup message from an endpoint device for establishing an emergency call, where at least one call forwarding service feature is associated with said endpoint device;

means for deactivating said at least one call forwarding service feature during said emergency call; and

means for reactivating said at least one call forwarding service feature after a completion of said emergency call.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said communication network is a Voice over Internet Protocol (VOIP) network or a Service over Internet Protocol (SoIP) network.