Emergency disablement of termination restrictions

• US 6,249,674 B1
• Filed: 12/16/1998
• Issued: 06/19/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Verdonk, Timothy C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Thanh Cong
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRAN, PABLO N
• Application Number:
  US09/212,649
• Time in Patent Office: 916 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404, 455/414, 455/432, 455/433, 455/458, 455/121, 455/565, 455/8-9, 455/17, 455/462, 455/110, 455/411, 579/88.23, 579/88.25, 579/196-197, 579/201, 579/207, 579/230, 379/37-51
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/04 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42195 Arrangements for calling back a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy H04M3/48
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/5116 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13098 Mobile subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13152 Callback
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13213 Counting, timing circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1337 Operator, emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• 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 system are disclosed for automatically disabling termination restrictions of a mobile subscriber unit in response to a disconnection of an emergency call originated by said mobile subscriber unit. According to the present invention, a determination is first made that an emergency call has been originated from a mobile subscriber unit to a public safety answering point. Next, in response to a disconnection of the emergency call, a subscriber database that contains the termination restriction is automatically notified that the emergency call has been disconnected. Finally, in response to automatically notifying the subscriber database that the emergency call has been disconnected, the termination restriction is automatically disabled for a limited period of time, such that the public safety answering point may call the mobile subscriber unit back.

Claims

1. A method in a communications system for automatically disabling termination restrictions of a mobile subscriber unit in response to a disconnection of an emergency call originated by said mobile subscriber unit, said method comprising the steps of:

determining that an emergency call has been originated from a mobile subscriber unit to a public safety answering point, said mobile subscriber unit having a termination restriction;

in response to a disconnection of said emergency call, automatically notifying a subscriber database that said emergency call has been disconnected, said subscriber database including said termination restriction; and

automatically disabling said termination restriction, for a limited period of time, in response to said automatically notifying a subscriber database that said emergency call has been disconnected, such that said public safety answering point may establish a call back connection to said mobile subscriber unit.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said communication system includes a mobile switching center that is currently serving said mobile subscriber unit, and wherein said mobile switching center is utilized to perform the steps of:

determining that an emergency call has been originated from a mobile subscriber unit to a public safety answering point; and

in response to said emergency call being disconnected, automatically notifying a subscriber database that said emergency call has been disconnected.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said mobile switching center informs said subscriber database whether or not said disconnection is intentional.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said subscriber database is a home location register, said method further comprising the step of:

automatically disabling said termination restriction within said home location register in response to said automatically notifying said home location register that said emergency call has been disconnected.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said termination restriction is characterized as among a group consisting of termination denials, toll denials for incoming long distance calls, do-not-disturb restrictions, and call deflections such as call forwarding, call holding, and call waiting.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of automatically disabling said termination restriction in response to said automatically notifying a subscriber database that said emergency call has been disconnected is preceded by the steps of:

recording a start time at which said emergency call is disconnected; and

defining a time interval over which said termination restrictions will be disabled, said time interval commencing at said start time.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising the step of:

re-enabling said termination restriction when said time interval has elapsed.

8. A system for automatically disabling termination restrictions of a mobile subscriber unit in response to a disconnection of an emergency call originated by said mobile subscriber unit, said system comprising:

means for determining that an emergency call has been originated from a mobile subscriber unit to a public safety answering point, said mobile subscriber unit having a termination restriction;

means for, in response to a disconnection of said emergency call, automatically notifying a subscriber database that said emergency call has been disconnected, said subscriber database including said termination restriction; and

means for automatically disabling said termination restriction, for a limited period of time, in response to said automatically notifying a subscriber database that said emergency call has been disconnected, such that said public safety answering point may establish a call back connection to said mobile subscriber unit.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein said means for determining that an emergency call has been originated from a mobile subscriber unit to a public safety answering point, and said means for, in response to said emergency call being disconnected, automatically notifying a subscriber database that said emergency call has been disconnected, both utilize a mobile switching center, said mobile switching center currently serving said mobile subscriber unit.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said mobile switching center informs said subscriber database whether or not said disconnection is intentional.

11. The system of claim 8 wherein said subscriber database is a home location register, said home location register utilized as said means for automatically disabling said termination restriction in response to said automatically notifying a subscriber database that said emergency call has been disconnected.

12. The system of claim 8 wherein said termination restriction is characterized as among a group consisting of termination denials, toll denials for incoming long distance calls, do-not-disturb restrictions, and call deflections such as call forwarding, call holding, and call waiting.

13. The system of claim 8 wherein said means for automatically disabling said termination restriction in response to said automatically notifying a subscriber database that said emergency call has been disconnected, further comprises:

means for recording a start time at which said emergency call is disconnected; and

means for defining a time interval over which said termination restrictions will be disabled, said time interval commencing at said start time.

14. The system of claim 13 further comprising:

means for re-enabling said termination restriction when said time interval has elapsed.

15. A computer program product stored in signal bearing media for automatically disabling termination restrictions of a mobile subscriber unit in response to a disconnection of an emergency call originated by said mobile subscriber unit, said computer program product comprising:

instruction means stored in signal bearing media for determining that an emergency call has been originated from a mobile subscriber unit to a public safety answering point, said mobile subscriber unit having a termination restriction;

instruction means stored in signal bearing media for, in response to a disconnection of said emergency call, automatically notifying a subscriber database that said emergency call has been disconnected, said subscriber database including said termination restriction; and

instruction means stored in signal bearing media for automatically disabling said termination restriction, for a limited period of time, in response to said automatically notifying a subscriber database that said emergency call has been disconnected, such that said public safety answering point may establish a call back connection to said mobile subscriber unit.

16. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein said instruction means stored in signal bearing media for determining that an emergency call has been originated from a mobile subscriber unit to a public safety answering point, and said instruction means stored in signal bearing media for, in response to said emergency call being disconnected, automatically notifying a subscriber database that said emergency call has been disconnected, both utilize a mobile switching center, said mobile switching center currently serving said mobile subscriber unit.

17. The computer program product of claim 16 wherein said mobile switching center informs said subscriber database whether or not said disconnection is intentional.

18. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein said subscriber database is a home location register, said home location register containing instruction means stored in signal bearing media for automatically disabling said termination restriction in response to said automatically notifying a subscriber database that said emergency call has been disconnected.

19. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein said termination restriction is a call deflection instruction.

20. The computer program product of claim 15 wherein said instruction means stored in signal bearing media for automatically disabling said termination restriction in response to said automatically notifying a subscriber database that said emergency call has been disconnected, further comprises:

instruction means stored in signal bearing media for recording a start time at which said emergency call is disconnected; and

instruction means stored in signal bearing media for defining a time interval over which said termination restrictions will be disabled, said time interval commencing at said start time.

21. The computer program product of claim 20 further comprising:

instruction means stored in signal bearing media for re-enabling said termination restriction when said time interval has elapsed.