Call-back method in response to emergency call originating from cellular radiotelephone

• US 5,937,344 A
• Filed: 10/20/1998
• Issued: 08/10/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: GTE Mobilnet Service Corporation
• Original Assignee: GTE Mobilnet Service Corporation
• Inventors: Zicker, Robert G.
• Primary Examiner(s): CANGIALOSI, SALVATORE A
• Application Number:
  US09/175,639
• Time in Patent Office: 294 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404, 455/408, 455/432-433, 455/458-460, 379/37, 379/45
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• 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

An emergency call originates from a cellular radiotelephone (20) and communicates through one of A-side and B-side cellular systems. Upon receipt of the call, the cellular radiotelephone (20) is assigned a temporary substitute Mobile Identification Number (MIN) (100) by the receiving A-side or B-side cellular system MTSO (33). Upon termination of the emergency call, a call-back to the cellular radiotelephone (20) is routed to both of the A-side and B-side MTSOs (100), using the substitute MIN (100), by the Public Switched Telecommunications Network (36). Both A-side and B-side MTSOs (100) issue a page order message to cellular radiotelephone (20) by transmitting to the MIN (74). Paging order confirmation messages (78), conveying the MIN (74), are evaluated for a match with a unique Electronic Serial Number (76).

Claims

1. A method of operating a mobile telephone switching office (MTSO) to provide call-back to a cellular radiotelephone following an emergency call, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) detecting an emergency call from a cellular radiotelephone;

(b) obtaining an identity code for said radiotelephone, said identity code being comprised of a radiotelephone MIN and a radiotelephone Electronic Serial Number (ESN);

(c) assigning said cellular radiotelephone a substitute mobile identification number (MIN);

(d) storing said identity code in association with said substitute MIN;

(e) enabling said call from said radiotelephone to a Public Safety Answering Position (PSAP);

(f) detecting a return call to said substitute MIN;

(g) extracting said radiotelephone MIN from said identity code;

(h) transmitting a paging message addressed to said radiotelephone MIN;

(i) receiving a plurality of paging confirmation messages in response to said transmitting step, each of said plurality of paging confirmation messages conveying said radiotelephone MIN; and

(j) determining whether one of said plurality of paging confirmation messages conveys said radiotelephone ESN.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said steps (b), (c), (d), (g), (h), (i), and (j) are performed for all emergency calls.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said substitute MIN is a local MIN relative to said MTSO.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

said step (a) occurs at one of an A-side cellular system and a B-side cellular system;

said step (c) comprises the step of selecting said substitute MIN from a list of substitute MINs; and

said list of substitute MINs is accessible by said Aside and B-side systems.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4 additionally comprising the step of defining said list of substitute MINs so that said return call is routed by a central office to each of said A-side and B-side cellular systems.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said step (e) comprises the step of setting up said emergency call from said MTSO to said PSAP so that said PSAP is informed that said emergency call originates from said substitute MIN.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said steps (b), (c), (d), (g), (h), (i), and (j) are performed for unauthorized radiotelephones.

8. A method of operating a mobile telephone switching office (MTSO) for a first one of an A-side cellular system and a B-side cellular system to provide call-back to a cellular radiotelephone following an emergency call, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) detecting an emergency call initiated by said cellular radiotelephone;

(b) obtaining an identity code for said cellular radiotelephone;

(c) assigning said cellular radiotelephone a substitute mobile identification number (MIN) from a list of substitute MINs accessible by said A-side and B-side cellular systems;

(d) storing said identity code in association with said substitute MIN from said MTSO;

(e) enabling said call from said radiotelephone to a Public Safety Answering Position (PSAP);

(f) detecting a return call directed to said substitute MIN; and

(g) paging, in response to said step (f), said radiotelephone assigned said substitute MIN.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8 additionally comprising the step of defining said list of substitute MINs so that said return call is routed by a central office to each of said A-side and B-side cellular systems.

10. A method as claimed in claim 8 wherein:

said identity code is comprised of a radiotelephone MIN and a radiotelephone Electronic Serial Number (ESN); and

said step (g) comprises the steps of extracting said radiotelephone MIN and transmitting a message addressed to said radiotelephone MIN.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10 additionally comprising the steps of:

receiving a plurality of paging confirmation messages in response to said transmitting step, each of said plurality of paging confirmation messages conveying said radiotelephone MIN; and

determining whether one of said plurality of paging confirmation messages conveys said radiotelephone ESN.

12. A method as claimed in claim 8 wherein said step (e) comprises the step of setting up said emergency call from said MTSO to said PSAP so that said PSAP is informed that said emergency call originates from said substitute MIN.

13. A method of operating cellular radio telecommunication network having an A-side cellular system mobile telephone switching office (MTSO) and a B-side cellular system MTSO to provide call-back on each of said A-side and B-side cellular systems to a cellular radiotelephone following an emergency call, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) detecting an emergency call at a first one of said A-side and a B-side MTSOs from said cellular radiotelephone;

(b) obtaining, at said first MTSO, an identity code for said cellular radiotelephone;

(c) assigning a substitute mobile identification number (MIN) from a list of substitute MINs, said list being accessible to said A-side and B-side MTSOs;

(d) communicating said identity code and said substitute MIN to a second one of said A-side and B-side MTSOs;

(e) storing said identity code in association with said substitute MIN at each of said A-side and B-side MTSOs;

(f) enabling said call from said radiotelephone to a Public Safety Answering Position (PSAP) through said first MTSO;

(g) detecting a return call directed to said substitute MIN at each of said A-side and B-side MTSOs; and

(h) paging from each of said A-side and B-side MTSOs, in response to said step (g), said radiotelephone assigned said substitute MIN by transmitting a page order directed to said identity code.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13 additionally comprising the step of defining said list of substitute MINs so that said return call is routed concurrently by a central office to each of said A-side and B-side MTSOs.

15. A method as claimed in claim 13 wherein:

said identity code has a radiotelephone MIN and a radiotelephone Electronic Serial Number (ESN);

said step (h) comprises the steps of extracting said radiotelephone MIN and transmitting a message addressed to said radiotelephone MIN;

said method additionally comprises the step of receiving a plurality of paging confirmation messages in response to said transmitting step, each of said plurality of paging confirmation messages conveying said radiotelephone MIN; and

said method additionally comprising the step of determining whether one of said plurality of paging confirmation messages conveys said radiotelephone ESN.

16. A method as claimed in claim 13 wherein said step (h) occurs substantially concurrently at each of said A-side and B-side MTSOs.