System and method for delivery of low battery indicator for emergency calls

• US 6,408,172 B1
• Filed: 09/23/1999
• Issued: 06/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Original Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Borg, Gunnar, Alperovich, Vladimir
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Vivian
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, DUC M
• Application Number:
  US09/405,435
• Time in Patent Office: 999 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404, 455/521, 455/572, 455/571, 455/127, 455/38.3, 455/517, 455/522, 455/69, 455/525, 455/436, 455/439
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3648 comprising digital calculation means, e.g. for performing an algorithm
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72418 for supporting emergency services
• 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 52/0225 using monitoring of external events, e.g. the presence of a signal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A telecommunications system and method is disclosed for providing a battery status indicator associated with a calling mobile station (MS) during an emergency call setup. The battery status indicator is transmitted to the emergency center as a new parameter or as a modified existing parameter, such as cell ID. The emergency center can provide special handling for such calls, such as displaying the low battery indicator to the emergency operator. In addition, the cellular network serving the MS can handover the call to a cell with lower power demands in order to prolong the battery life.

Claims

1. A telecommunications system for handling an emergency call within a wireless telecommunications system, comprising:

a mobile station having a battery associated therewith, said mobile station having monitoring means therein for monitoring the status of said battery and generating a battery status indicator associated with the status of said battery when said mobile station places an emergency call;

a mobile switching center in wireless communication with said mobile station, said mobile switching center receiving said emergency call and said battery status indicator from said mobile station;

a first base transceiver station in wireless communication with said mobile station and connected to said mobile switching center, said first base transceiver station having a first power output requirement;

a second base transceiver station having a second power output requirement, said mobile switching center instructing said first base transceiver station to perform a handover of said emergency call to said second base transceiver station when said second power output requirement is lower than said first power output requirement and said received battery status indicator indicates low battery power; and

an emergency node in communication with said mobile switching center, said emergency node receiving said emergency call and said battery status indicator from said mobile switching center, said emergency node handling said emergency call based upon said battery status indicator.

2. The telecommunications system of claim 1, wherein said battery status indicator indicates low battery power.

3. The telecommunications system of claim 2, further comprising:

an emergency station within said emergency node having a display thereon, said battery status indicator being provided on said display.

4. The telecommunications system of claim 2, further comprising:

an emergency station within said emergency node; and

a signal indicating said battery status indicator, said emergency node providing said signal to said emergency station.

5. The telecommunications system of claim 1, further comprising:

a base station controller connected to said first base transceiver station, said base station controller receiving said first and second power output requirement, comparing said first and second power output requirement to determine said second power output requirement is lower than said first power output requirement and instructing said mobile switching center to instruct said first base transceiver station to perform said handover.

6. The telecommunications system of claim 1, wherein said mobile switching center further forwards a cell ID parameter to said emergency node, said battery status indicator being included within said cell ID parameter.

7. The telecommunications system of claim 1, wherein said mobile switching center further forwards to said emergency node a battery status indicator parameter, said battery status indicator being included within said battery status indicator parameter.

8. The telecommunications system of claim 1, wherein said emergency node is a Public Safety Answering Point.

9. A method for handling an emergency call within a wireless telecommunications system, comprising the steps of:

monitoring the status of a battery associated with a mobile station;

generating a battery status indicator associated with the status of said battery;

placing an emergency call by said mobile station, said emergency call having said battery status indicator included therewith;

receiving, by a mobile switching center in wireless communication with said mobile station, said emergency call and said battery status indicator from said mobile station;

determining a first power output requirement associated with a first base transceiver station in wireless communication with said mobile station and connected to said mobile switching center and a second power output requirement associated with a second base transceiver station;

instructing, by said mobile switching center, said first base transceiver station to perform a handover of said emergency call to said second base transceiver station when said second power output requirement is lower than said first power output requirement and said received battery status indicator indicates low battery power;

receiving, by an emergency node in communication with said mobile switching center, said emergency call and said battery status indicator from said mobile switching center; and

handling, by said emergency node, said emergency call based upon said battery status indicator.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of:

displaying on an emergency station within said emergency node, said battery status indicator when said battery status indicator indicates low battery.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of:

providing a signal on an emergency station within said emergency node indicating said battery status indicator when said battery status indicator indicates low battery.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein said step of determining further comprises the steps of:

receiving, by a base station controller connected to said first base transceiver station, said first and second power output requirement;

comparing, by said base station controller, said first and second power output requirement to determine said second power output requirement is lower than said first power output requirement; and

instructing, by said base station controller, said mobile switching center to instruct said first base transceiver station to perform said handover.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of:

including said battery status indicator within a cell ID parameter transmitted via an interface between said mobile switching center and said emergency node.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of:

including said battery status indicator within a battery status indicator parameter transmitted via an interface between said mobile switching center and said emergency node.

15. A telecommunications system for handling an emergency call within a wireless telecommunications system, comprising:

a mobile station being served by a serving cell and having a battery associated therewith, said mobile station being capable of generating a battery status indicator associated with the status of said battery;

a base station controller in wireless communication with said mobile station, said base station controller being capable of receiving an emergency call and said battery status indicator from said mobile station, said base station controller further being capable of instructing said mobile station to perform a handover to a select one of at least one potential handover cell if power output requirements associated with said select handover cell are lower than power output requirements associated with said serving cell when said battery status indicator indicates low battery power; and

an emergency node in communication with said base station controller, said emergency node being capable of receiving said emergency call and said battery status indicator from said base station controller, said emergency node handling said emergency call based upon said battery status indicator.

16. The telecommunications system of claim 15, wherein said base station controller has a memory therein for storing said power output requirements for said serving cell and said power output requirements for each of said at least one potential handover cells.

17. The telecommunications system of claim 15, wherein said power output requirements of more than one of said at least one potential handover cells are lower than said power output requirements of said serving cell, said base station controller further being capable of receiving quality and signal strength measurement from said mobile station for said serving cell and said at least one potential handover cell, said select handover cell having the highest quality and signal strength measurements of all of said at least one potential handover cells having power output requirements lower than said power output requirements of said serving cell.