Handling emergency calls using EAP

• US 7,787,600 B1
• Filed: 12/27/2005
• Issued: 08/31/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bari, Farooq
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz; Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Islam; Mohammad K
• Application Number:
  US11/318,687
• Time in Patent Office: 1,708 Days
• Field of Search: 370/352, 379/45
• US Class Current: 379/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0407 wherein the identity of one or more communicating identities is hidden cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for anonymous credentials or for identity based cryptographic systems H04L9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/162 at the data link layer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/205 involving negotiation or determination of the one or more network security mechanisms to be used, e.g. by negotiation between the client and the server or between peers or by selection according to the capabilities of the entities involved negotiation of communication capabilities H04L69/24
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/6081 Service authorization mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/04 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/387 using subscriber identification cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• 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 user (terminal) is allowed to make an emergency voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone call through an access network, such as a wireless local area network (WLAN) using Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP). The emergency call can be made with or without authentication credentials and is identified by the user'"'"'s terminal transmitting a Network Access Identifier (NAI) having a user part and/or realm part that indicates the emergency nature of the call, such as [e-mail]. In response to such an NAI, the caller can be immediately granted limited authentication for the purpose of connecting to an emergency call center. Alternatively, the user (terminal) can be authenticated through networks supporting emergency calls, such as the user'"'"'s home network, if the terminal indicates to the access network authentication server a preference or requirement for using such networks. The call can be routed to the emergency call center either directly or via one or more intermediary networks, such as networks that support emergency VoIP phone calls.

Claims

1. A method for placing an emergency voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP) call from a terminal in communication with an access network that is disparate from a home network of the terminal, the method comprising:

receiving, at the access network, an identity response from the terminal that includes a Network Access Identifier (NAI) comprising information indicative of emergency calling;

determining that the terminal is at least one of initiating or has initiated an emergency call based on the NAI; and

granting access to the terminal, in response to the determining, wherein the access is limited to enabling communication with an emergency call center via at least one of the access network or one or more intermediary networks, without authenticating the terminal.

2. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein, the receiving the identity response that includes the NAI comprises receiving the information indicative of the emergency calling within at least one of a user portion or a realm portion of the NAI.

3. The method claimed in claim 1, further comprising, receiving information, from the terminal, indicating a preference for each of the one or more intermediary networks through which the emergency VoIP call is to be routed, wherein the granting access includes allowing access only to the emergency call center via the at least one of the access network or a set of the one or more intermediary networks based in part on the received preference.

4. The method claimed in claim 1, further comprising, identifying a set of the one or more intermediary networks that support emergency call-handling capability based in part on data stored in a local database.

5. The method claimed in claim 4, further comprising,

transmitting information associated with the set of the one or more intermediary networks to the terminal;

and

receiving an intermediary network selection from the terminal in response to the transmitting of information.

6. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the receiving includes receiving an Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) Identity Response from an EAP Peer of the terminal in response to an EAP Identity Request, the EAP Identify Response comprises the NAI, which indicates that a call initiated by the terminal is an emergency VoIP call.

7. The method claimed in claim 1, further comprising, transmitting to the emergency call center, information indicating a location of an access point of the access network, to which the terminal connects.

8. The method claimed in claim 1, further comprising, communicating authentication information via at least one of the one or more intermediary networks that connect the access network and the home network to which the terminal subscribes.

9. The method claimed in claim 1, further comprising, transmitting an EAP Access Challenge message packet encapsulating an EAP Identity Request comprising information identifying the one or more intermediary networks that support emergency call-handling capability.

10. The method claimed in claim 9, wherein the receiving includes receiving from an EAP Peer of the terminal the Identity Response including the NAI decorated with an indication of a selection of the one or more intermediary networks.

11. A system for controlling placement of an emergency voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP) call from a terminal in communication with an access network, the system comprising:

an access point, within the access network, that receives information from the terminal including a Network Access Identifier (NAI) that is indicative of emergency calling associated with a VoIP call, the access network is different from a home network to which the terminal subscribes; and

an authentication, authorization and accounting (AAA) server, local to the access network, that allows the terminal access to only one or more emergency call centers via at least one of the access network or one or more intermediary networks regardless of authentication the terminal, if the NAI indicates that the terminal is at least one of initiating or has initiated the emergency VoIP call.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the AAA server allows the terminal to communicate with the one or more emergency call centers without receiving authorization information associated with the terminal from the home network.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein:

the information received from the terminal includes information indicating a preference for each of the one or more intermediary networks through which the emergency VoIP call is to be routed; and

the AAA server allows access to one or more emergency call centers via a set of the one or more intermediary networks that support emergency call-handling capability, the set selected based in part on the preference.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the access point receives an Extensible Authentication Protocol (EAP) Identity Response from an EAP Peer of the terminal in response to an EAP Identity Request sent by the access point, the EAP Identify Response includes at least the NAI.

15. The system of claim 11, further comprising a database local to the AAA server that stores information associated with emergency call-handling capability of each of the one or more intermediary networks, the AAA server facilitates transmission of the stored information to the terminal.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the AAA server communicates an access-challenge message to the access point, the access-challenge message includes a set of identities of the one or more intermediary networks that support emergency call-handling.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the access point transmits information from the access-challenge message to the terminal and in response receives an intermediary network selection from the terminal.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein the access network routes information, including a location of the access point, to the one or more emergency call centers.

19. The system of claim 11, wherein the AAA server facilitates authentication conversation with the home network via the one or more intermediary networks to at least one of authorize the terminal, authenticate the terminal, or account for network usage by the terminal.

20. A system for controlling placement of an emergency voice-over-Internet Protocol (VoIP) call from a terminal roaming within access network that is not the terminal'"'"'s home network, the system comprising:

means for receiving, within the access network, information from the terminal indicating that a VoIP call initiated by the terminal is an emergency VoIP call, the information is included within a Network Access Identifier (NAI);

means for allowing the terminal to access the access network without performing authentication of the terminal with the home network, wherein the access is limited to utilization of the access network for communication with an emergency call center during the emergency VoIP call via zero or more intermediary networks; and

means for routing location information, indicative of a geographical location of the means for receiving, to the emergency call center.