Method and apparatus for providing automatic crankback for emergency calls

• US 7,447,160 B1
• Filed: 12/31/2005
• Issued: 11/04/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Croak, Marian, Eslambolchi, Hossein
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang; Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, HEMANT SHANTILAL
• Application Number:
  US11/322,522
• Time in Patent Office: 1,039 Days
• Field of Search: 379/240, 379/221.01, 379/221.03, 379/1.04, 379/7, 379/10.01, 379/14.01, 379/15.05, 379/16, 379/18, 379/35, 370/218, 370/225, 370/242, 370/248, 370/250, 370/252
• US Class Current: 370/242
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13034 A/D conversion, code compression/expansion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1316 Service observation, testing
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13162 Fault indication and localisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13166 Fault prevention
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13176 Common channel signaling, CCS7
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13217 Cranckback in routing, trombone connection, loopback circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1337 Operator, emergency services
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13383 Hierarchy of switches, main and subexchange, e.g. satellite exchange
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0025 Provisions for signalling
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/66 Traffic distributors

Abstract

A method and apparatus for automating test procedures to determine if non-emergency signaling message processing errors impact emergency calls, e.g., E911 calls, are disclosed. In one embodiment, the present method alerts network engineers so that crankback procedures to alternative routes can be instituted when these E911 call impacting error conditions are detected in a network.

Claims

1. A method for providing automatic crankback for an emergency call in a communication network, comprising:

identifying at least one call signaling message error that impacts emergency call processing, wherein said identifying comprises

injecting a plurality of test signaling message errors into said communication network;

injecting a plurality of test emergency calls into said communication network; and

identifying one or more of said test signaling message errors that caused a negative impact on processing of one or more of said plurality of test emergency calls; and

activating an automatic crankback procedure if said at least one call signaling message error is detected in said communication network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said communication network is a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network or a Service over Internet Protocol (SoIP) network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said emergency call is an Enhanced 911 (E911) call.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one call signaling message error is identified by a Test Flow Generator via an automated test.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

compiling a list of test signaling message errors that caused a negative impact on processing of said one or more of said plurality of test emergency calls.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more of said test signaling message errors that caused a negative impact are identified by monitoring resulting test call flows generated by said injected plurality of test signaling message errors.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one call signaling message error that impacts emergency call processing is monitored by a Fault Monitoring Server.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said activating comprises:

sending an alarm to warn a network operator of detection of said at least one call signaling message error that impacts emergency call processing; and

instructing an originating Border Element (BE) to reroute all incoming emergency calls via a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said instruction to reroute is provided by a Fault Monitoring Server.

10. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions including instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of a method for providing automatic crankback for an emergency call in a communication network, comprising:

identifying at least one call signaling message error that impacts emergency call processing, wherein said identifying comprises

injecting a plurality of test signaling message errors into said communication network;

injecting a plurality of test emergency calls into said communication network; and

identifying one or more of said test signaling message errors that caused a negative impact on processing of one or more of said plurality of test emergency calls; and

activating an automatic crankback procedure if said at least one call signaling message error is detected in said communication network.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein said communication network is a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network or a Service over Internet Protocol (SoIP) network.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein said emergency call is an Enhanced 911 (E911) call.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein said at least one call signaling message error is identified by a Test Flow Generator via an automated test.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, further comprising:

compiling a list of test signaling message errors that caused a negative impact on processing of said one or more of said plurality of test emergency calls.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein said one or more of said test signaling message errors that caused a negative impact are identified by monitoring resulting test call flows generated by said injected plurality of test signaling message errors.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein said at least one call signaling message error that impacts emergency call processing is monitored by a Fault Monitoring Server.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein said activating comprises:

sending an alarm to warn a network operator of detection of said at least one call signaling message error that impacts emergency call processing; and

instructing an originating Border Element (BE) to reroute all incoming emergency calls via a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).

18. An apparatus for providing automatic crankback for an emergency call in a communication network comprising:

means for identifying at least one call signaling message error that impacts emergency call processing, wherein said means for identifying comprises

means for injecting a plurality of test signaling message errors into said communication network;

means for injecting a plurality of test emergency calls into said communication network; and

means for identifying one or more of said test signaling message errors that caused a negative impact on processing of one or more of said plurality of test emergency calls; and

means for activating an automatic crankback procedure if said at least one call signaling message error is detected in said communication network.