METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING AUTOMATIC CRANKBACK FOR EMERGENCY CALLS

• US 20090052633A1
• Filed: 10/27/2008
• Published: 02/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hossein Eslambolchi, Marian Croak
• Original Assignee: Hossein Eslambolchi, Marian Croak
• Inventors: Croak, Marian, Eslambolchi, Hossein
• Granted Patent: US 7,843,841 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/37
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13034 A/D conversion, code compression/expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1316 Service observation, testing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13162 Fault indication and localisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13166 Fault prevention
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13176 Common channel signaling, CCS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13217 Cranckback in routing, trombone connection, loopback circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1337 Operator, emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13383 Hierarchy of switches, main and subexchange, e.g. satellite exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0025 Provisions for signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/66 Traffic distributors

Abstract

A method and apparatus for automating test procedures to determine if non-emergency signaling message processing errors impact emergency calls, e.g., E911 calls, are disclosed. In one embodiment, the present method alerts network engineers so that crankback procedures to alternative routes can be instituted when these E911 call impacting error conditions are detected in a network.

Claims

1. A method for providing automatic crankback for an emergency call in a communication network, comprising:

identifying at least one call signaling message error that impacts emergency call processing, wherein said identifying comprises;

injecting one or more test signaling message errors into said communication network;

injecting one or more test emergency calls into said communication network; and

identifying one or more of said one or more test signaling message errors that caused a negative impact on processing of one or more of said one or more test emergency calls; and

activating an automatic crankback procedure if said at least one call signaling message error is detected in said communication network.

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 at least one call signaling message error is identified by a Test Flow Generator via an automated test.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

compiling a list of test signaling message errors that caused said negative impact on processing of said one or more of said one or more test emergency calls.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more of said one or more test signaling message errors that caused said negative impact are identified by monitoring resulting test call flows generated by said injected one or more test signaling message errors.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one call signaling message error that impacts emergency call processing is monitored by a Fault Monitoring Server.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said activating comprises:

sending an alarm to warn a network operator of detection of said at least one call signaling message error that impacts emergency call processing; and

instructing an originating Border Element (BE) via an instruction to reroute all incoming emergency calls via a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said instruction to reroute is provided by a Fault Monitoring Server.

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 steps of a method for providing automatic crankback for an emergency call in a communication network, comprising:

identifying at least one call signaling message error that impacts emergency call processing, wherein said identifying comprises;

injecting one or more test signaling message errors into said communication network;

injecting one or more test emergency calls into said communication network; and

identifying one or more of said one or more test signaling message errors that caused a negative impact on processing of one or more of said one or more test emergency calls; and

activating an automatic crankback procedure if said at least one call signaling message error is detected in said communication network.

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 at least one call signaling message error is identified by a Test Flow Generator via an automated test.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, further comprising:

compiling a list of test signaling message errors that caused said negative impact on processing of said one or more of said one or more test emergency calls.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein said one or more of said one or more test signaling message errors that caused said negative impact are identified by monitoring resulting test call flows generated by said injected one or more test signaling message errors.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein said at least one call signaling message error that impacts emergency call processing is monitored by a Fault Monitoring Server.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein said activating comprises:

sending an alarm to warn a network operator of detection of said at least one call signaling message error that impacts emergency call processing; and

instructing an originating Border Element (BE) via an instruction to reroute all incoming emergency calls via a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein said instruction to reroute is provided by a Fault Monitoring Server.

19. An apparatus for providing automatic crankback for an emergency call in a communication network, comprising:

means for identifying at least one call signaling message error that impacts emergency call processing, wherein said means for identifying comprises;

means for injecting one or more test signaling message errors into said communication network;

means for injecting one or more test emergency calls into said communication network; and

means for identifying one or more of said one or more test signaling message errors that caused a negative impact on processing of one or more of said one or more test emergency calls; and

means for activating an automatic crankback procedure if said at least one call signaling message error is detected in said communication network.

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.