Method and apparatus for providing automatic crankback for emergency calls

• US 7,843,841 B2
• Filed: 10/27/2008
• Issued: 11/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property II LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Croak, Marian, Eslambolchi, Hossein
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel; Hemant
• Application Number:
  US12/259,226
• Publication Number:
  US 20090052633A1
• Time in Patent Office: 764 Days
• Field of Search: 370/218, 370/225, 370/242, 370/248, 370/250, 370/352, 379/1.04, 379/7, 379/10.01, 379/14.01, 379/15.05, 379/16, 379/18, 379/35, 455/404.1, 455/423, 709/224, 709228-229
• 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 a call signaling message error that impacts emergency call processing, wherein the identifying comprises;

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

injecting a test emergency call into the communication network; and

identifying at least one of the test signaling message errors that caused a negative impact on processing of the test emergency call; and

activating an automatic crankback procedure if the call signaling message error is detected in the communication network.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the communication network is an internet protocol network.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the emergency call is an enhanced 911 call.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the 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 the plurality of test signaling message errors that caused the negative impact on processing the test emergency call.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the test signaling message errors that caused the negative impact is identified by monitoring resulting test call flows generated by the injected plurality of test signaling message errors.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the call signaling message error that impacts emergency call processing is monitored by a fault monitoring server.

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

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

instructing an originating border element via an instruction to reroute all incoming emergency calls via a public switched telephone network.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the 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 a method for providing automatic crankback for an emergency call in a communication network, comprising:

identifying a call signaling message error that impacts emergency call processing, wherein the identifying comprises;

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

injecting a test emergency call into the communication network; and

identifying at least one of the test signaling message errors that caused a negative impact on processing of the test emergency call; and

activating an automatic crankback procedure if the call signaling message error is detected in the communication network.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the communication network is an internet protocol network.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the emergency call is an enhanced 911 call.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the 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 the plurality of test signaling message errors that caused the negative impact on processing of the test emergency call.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the at least one of the test signaling message errors that caused the negative impact is identified by monitoring resulting test call flows generated by the injected plurality of test signaling message errors.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the 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 the activating comprises:

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

instructing an originating border element via an instruction to reroute all incoming emergency calls via a public switched telephone network.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the instruction to reroute is provided by a fault monitoring server.

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

means for identifying a call signaling message error that impacts emergency call processing, wherein the means for identifying comprises;

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

means for injecting a test emergency call into the communication network; and

means for identifying at least one of the test signaling message errors that caused a negative impact on processing of the test emergency call; and

means for activating an automatic crankback procedure if the call signaling message error is detected in the communication network.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the communication network is an internet protocol network.