Method for transmitting emergency call messages in a radio communications system

• US 6,990,329 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2001
• Issued: 01/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WSOU Investments, LLC (WSOU Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Deinzer, Arnulf
• Primary Examiner(s): Cumming, William D.
• Application Number:
  US10/343,635
• Publication Number:
  US 20030176180A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,642 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.1, 370/7.31, 370/352
• 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

At least one of voice and data information is transmitted in connection mode via a radio interface in first radio zones. In second radio zones, voice or data information is transmitted exclusively in packet mode via a radio interface. When an emergency call is issued by a subscriber station from one of the first radio zones, a voice and/or data connection is established between the subscriber station and an emergency control center. When an emergency call is issued by a subscriber station from one of the second radio zones, at least one piece of emergency information which identifies the second radio zone is transmitted to an emergency control center.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting emergency call messages in a radio communications system, comprising:

transmitting at least one of speech and data information on a connection-oriented basis via a first radio interface in first radio cells;

transmitting at least one of speech and data information exclusively in a packet-oriented manner via a second radio interface in second radio cells;

setting up a connection between the subscriber station and an emergency call center for at least one of speech and data in response to a first emergency call originating from a first subscriber station in one of the first radio cells; and

transmitting emergency call information to the emergency call center, in response to a second emergency call originating from a second subscriber station in one of the second radio cells, the emergency call information identifying the one of the second radio cells.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the emergency call information is transmitted at least in sections in a packet-oriented manner to the emergency call center.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein the emergency call information is transmitted to the emergency call center via a network for packet-oriented data transmission.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the emergency call information identifies a position of the second subscriber station from which the emergency call is signaled within the one of the second radio cells.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein, at a network end, an information item relating to a position of the second subscriber station from which the second emergency call is being signaled is generated and is added to the emergency call information.

6. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein, at a subscriber station end, an information item relating to a position of the second subscriber station from which the second emergency call is being signaled is generated and is added to the emergency call information.

7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the emergency call information contains details for identification of the second subscriber station from which the second emergency call is being signaled.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising transmitting to the emergency call center, in response to the second emergency call originating from the second subscriber station, first speech information detected at a transmitter end, in a packet-data-oriented manner via the second radio interface and then via an interface for conversion of data based on a packet-oriented protocol to data based on a connection-oriented protocol.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, further comprising transmitting second speech information, detected at a receiver end, from the emergency call center to an interface for conversion of data based on a connection-oriented protocol to data based on a packet-oriented protocol, and then via a radio interface to the second subscriber station.

10. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein, for the second emergency call originating from the second subscriber station, first speech information detected at a transmitter end is converted to a sequence of data packets, and sent via a unidirectional connection to the emergency call center.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein, for the second emergency call originating from the second subscriber station, the second subscriber station is signaled that only packet-oriented services are available.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein emergency call data packets containing emergency call information at least one of identifying the one of the second radio cells and containing speech information detected at a second subscriber station end are assigned an increased transmission priority.