Apparatus and method of explicit indication of call from emergency call center

• US 7,139,549 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2006
• Issued: 11/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Willey, William Daniel, Islam, M. Khaledul, Estable, Luis P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Afshar, Kamran
• Application Number:
  US11/350,219
• Publication Number:
  US 20060128358A1
• Time in Patent Office: 286 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.1, 455/404.2, 4554561-456, 455/445, 455/457, 455/422.1, 455/433, 455/425, 455/550.1, 340/5.8, 340/539.1, 340/572.1, 340/825.49
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking 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 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections

Abstract

Herein are disclosed an apparatus and method of explicit indication of call from emergency call center. The method includes the steps of forming an emergency signal in relation to the mobile station terminated call; sending the emergency signal to the mobile station on behalf of the emergency call center; and detecting the emergency signal at the mobile station. The apparatus includes emergency signal forming means for forming an emergency signal in relation to the mobile station terminated call; emergency signal sending means for sending said emergency signal to the mobile station on behalf of the emergency call center; and emergency signal detecting means for detecting said emergency signal at the mobile station. A global emergency call information record is disclosed for use in cdma2000 type networks and the like. The apparatus and method may apply to other networks.

Claims

1. A method of enabling location services in a mobile station, comprising:

maintaining an emergency callback timer having an emergency callback period during which the mobile station operates in an emergency callback mode, the emergency callback timer being initiated in response to an emergency call originating from the mobile station;

location services being enabled on the mobile station during the emergency callback mode and disabled when the emergency callback timer has expired;

receiving a mobile terminated emergency call after the emergency callback timer has expired; and

in response to receiving the mobile terminated emergency call, enabling location services.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing location privacy at the mobile station.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

forming an emergency call signal in relation to the mobile station terminated call;

sending the emergency signal to the mobile station on behalf of an emergency call centre; and

detecting the emergency signal at the mobile station.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining an apparently continuous emergency call.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically transitioning from the mobile station originated emergency call to the mobile terminated emergency call.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising blocking a non-emergency mobile station terminated call in favor of the mobile station terminated emergency call.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising blocking a non-emergency mobile station terminated call in favor of the mobile station originated emergency call.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining if the mobile station terminated emergency call occurs outside of the emergency callback period; and

if the mobile station terminated emergency call occurs outside of the emergency callback period, then resetting the emergency callback timer to cause the mobile station to operate in emergency callback mode.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a location of the mobile station.

10. A mobile station configured to communicate with an emergency call center, comprising:

an emergency callback timer configured to measure an emergency callback period during which the mobile station operates in an emergency callback mode, the emergency callback period being initiated when an emergency call is originated from the mobile station;

an emergency continuity controller configured to determine if a mobile terminated emergency call is received outside of the emergency callback period;

the emergency continuity controller being further configured to enable location services for the mobile station if the mobile terminated emergency call occurs outside of the emergency callback period and the emergency continuity controller configured to disable location service when the emergency callback timer has expired, wherein the mobile terminated emergency call refers to an emergency call that is originated by the emergency call centre and is received by the mobile station.

11. The mobile station of claim 10, wherein the emergency continuity controller is further configured to provide location privacy at the mobile station.

12. The mobile station of claim 10, wherein the emergency continuity controller is further configured to receive an emergency call signal transmitted in relation to the mobile station terminated call.

13. The mobile station of claim 10, wherein the emergency continuity controller is further configured to block non-emergency calls in favor of the mobile station terminated emergency call.

14. The mobile station of claim 10, wherein the emergency continuity controller is further configured to determine if the mobile station terminated emergency call occurs outside of the emergency callback period, and if so then reset the emergency callback timer to cause the mobile station to operate in emergency callback mode.

15. The mobile station of claim 10, further comprising:

means for determining a geographic location of the mobile station.