Emergency call notification for network services

• US 7,983,652 B1
• Filed: 01/10/2008
• Issued: 07/19/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Hursey, John, Carlson, Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): ZEWDU, MELESS NMN
• Application Number:
  US11/972,409
• Time in Patent Office: 1,286 Days
• Field of Search: 4554041-4042, 455/418, 455/445, 455/521, 455/550.1, 455/556.2, 455560-561, 455/403, 455/410, 455/415, 455/432.3, 455/433, 455/435.1, 455/456.1, 455/456.3, 379/45, 379/37, 725/33
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2005 Temporarily overriding a service configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/04 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42195 Arrangements for calling back a calling subscriber when the wanted subscriber ceases to be busy H04M3/48
• 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 76/18 Management of setup rejection or failure
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections

Abstract

Enhanced services, such as call restriction, call forwarding, anonymous call rejection, and proprietary services, may interfere with an emergency callback potentially preventing the callback from reaching the intended destination. Systems and methods for processing emergency calls to eliminate emergency callback failure in response to an emergency call being disconnected are provided herein.

Claims

1. A method for processing an emergency call originating from a mobile device associated with a customer, the emergency call having been received by a mobile switching center (MSC) and connected to a public safety answering point (PSAP), the method comprising:

receiving a request message at an emergency callback platform, the request message having be en generated by the MSC, and the request message seeking to determine whether the customer is subscribed to an enhanced service that, when activated, interferes with an emergency callback that is typically initiated in response to the emergency call being disconnected from the PSAP;

determining, at the emergency callback platform, that the customer is subscribed to the enhanced service that, when activated, interferes with an emergency callback that is typically initiated in response to the emergency call being disconnected from the PSAP;

responsive to determining that the customer is subscribed to the enhanced service, generating, at the emergency callback platform, a notification message directed to an enhanced service database that is configured to validate the customer and disable the enhanced service for a pre-determined time period so as to allow completion of the emergency callback; and

routing the notification message to the enhanced service database.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the request message comprises a mobile subscriber ISDN number (MSISDN), and the method further comprises:

validating, at the enhanced service database, the wireless telephone customer based upon the MSISDN; and

disabling, at the enhanced service database, the enhanced service for a pre-determined time period.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the request message comprises an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI), and the method further comprises:

validating, at the enhanced service database, the wireless telephone customer based upon the IMSI; and

disabling, at the enhanced service database, the enhanced service for a pre-determined time period.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the request message is an unstructured supplementary service data (USSD) message.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the request message is a short message service (SMS) message.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the request message is a CAMEL message.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the request message is an out-of-band message.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the request message is routed to the emergency callback platform in parallel with the emergency call being routed to the PSAP.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the enhanced service is a call restriction service.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the enhanced service is a call forwarding service.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the enhanced service is a bar all incoming calls (BAIC) service.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the enhanced service is an anonymous call rejection service.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the enhanced service is a proprietary service provided by one of a mobile carrier and a vendor.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification message is an unstructured supplementary service data (USSD) message.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification message is a short message service (SMS) message.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification message is a CAMEL message.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification message is an out-of-band message.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification message is routed to the emergency callback platform in parallel with the emergency call being routed to the PSAP.

19. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

the emergency call being disconnected from the PSAP;

receiving the emergency callback at the MSC response to the emergency call being disconnected from the PSAP;

querying the enhanced service database to determine a status of the enhanced service, the status identifying whether the enhanced service is one of enabled and disabled; and

connecting the emergency callback to the mobile device in accordance with normal call delivery procedures.

20. A method for processing an emergency call via an emergency transit switch, the emergency call originating from a mobile device associated with a customer, the emergency call having been received by a mobile switching center (MSC), routed to the emergency transit switch, and connected to a public safety answering point (PSAP), the method comprising:

receiving a request message at an emergency callback platform, the request message having been generated by the emergency transit switch, and the request message seeking to determine whether the customer is subscribed to an emergency service that, when activated, interferes with an emergency callback that is typically initiated in response to the emergency call being disconnected to the PSAP;

determining, at the emergency callback platform, that the customer is subscribed to the enhanced service that, when activated, interferes with an emergency callback that is typically initiated in response to the emergency call being disconnected from the PSAP;

validating the customer; and

disabling the enhanced service for a pre-determined time period, so as to allow completion of the emergency callback.

21. The method of claim 20 further comprising:

receiving the emergency callback, at the MSC, in response to the emergency call being disconnected from the PSAP;

querying the emergency callback platform to determine a status of the enhanced service, the status identifying whether the enhanced service is one of enabled and disabled; and

connecting the emergency callback to the mobile device in accordance with normal call delivery procedures.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the request message comprises a mobile subscriber ISDN number (MSISDN), and validating the customer comprises validating the customer based upon the MSISDN.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the request message comprises an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI), and validating the customer comprises validating the customer based upon the IMSI.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the request message is an unstructured supplementary service data (USSD) message.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein the request message is a short message service (SMS) message.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein the request message is a CAMEL message.

27. The method of claim 20, wherein the request message is an out-of-band message.

28. The method of claim 20, wherein the request message is routed to the emergency callback platform in parallel with the emergency call being routed to the PSAP.

29. The method of claim 20, wherein the enhanced service is a call restriction service.

30. The method of claim 20, wherein the enhanced service is a call forwarding service.

31. The method of claim 20, wherein the enhanced service is a bar all incoming call (BAIC) service.

32. The method of claim 20, wherein the enhanced service is an anonymous call rejection service.

33. The method of claim 20, wherein the enhanced service is a proprietary service provided by one of a mobile carrier and a vendor.

34. A method for processing an emergency call via a gateway mobile location center (GMLC), the emergency call originating from a mobile device associated with a customer, the emergency call having been received by a mobile switching center (MSC), and having been connected to a public switched answering point (PSAP), the method comprising:

receiving an event record at an emergency callback platform, the event record having been generated by the GMLC;

Determining, at the emergency callback platform, that the customer is subscribed to an enhanced service that, when activated, interferes with an emergency callback that is typically initiated in response to the emergency call being disconnected from the PSAP;

validating the customer; and

disabling the enhanced service for a pre-determined time period, so as to allow completion of the emergency callback.

35. The method of claim 34 further comprising:

receiving the emergency callback, at the MSC, in response to the emergency call being disconnected from the PSAP;

querying the emergency callback platform to determine a status of the enhanced service;

the status identifying whether the enhanced service is one of enabled and disabled; and

connecting the emergency callback to the mobile device in accordance with normal call delivery procedures.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein the identification information is event record comprises a mobile subscriber ISDN number (MSISDN), and validating the customer comprises validating the customer based upon the MSISDN.

37. The method of claim 34, wherein the event record comprises an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI), and validating the customer comprises validating the customer based upon the IMSI.

38. The method of claim 34, wherein the event record is routed to the emergency callback platform in parallel with the emergency call being routed to the PSAP.

39. The method of claim 34, wherein the enhanced service is a call restriction service.

40. The method of claim 34, wherein the enhanced service is a call forwarding service.

41. The method of claim 34, wherein the enhanced service is a bar all incoming calls (BAIC) service.

42. The method of claim 34, wherein the enhanced service is an anonymous call rejection service.

43. The method of claim 34, wherein the enhanced service is a proprietary service provided by one of a mobile carrier and a vendor.

44. A system for processing an emergency call, the system comprising:

a callback platform in communication with a mobile switching center (MSC), the callback platform being configured to receive and process a request message to determine that a wireless telephone service customer is subscribed to an enhanced service that, when activated, interferes with an emergency callback that is typically initiated in response to the emergency call being disconnected from a public safety answering point (PSAP);

the callback platform being further configured to validate the wireless telephone service customer and disable the enhanced service for a pre-determined time period so as to allow completion of the emergency callback.

45. The system of claim 44 further comprising:

an emergency transit switch, in communication with the MSC and the callback platform;

the emergency transit switch being configured to generate the request message and route the request message to the callback platform.

46. The system of claim 44 further comprising:

a gateway mobile location center (GMLC), in communication with the MSC and the callback platform;

the GMLC being configured to generate the request message and route the request message to the callback platform.

47. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method for processing an emergency call, the method comprising:

receiving a request message, the request message having been generated by a mobile switching center (MSC), and the request message seeking to determine whether a customer is subscribed to an enhanced service that, when activated, interferes with an emergency callback that is typically initiated in response to the emergency call being disconnected from a public safety answering point (PSAP);

determining that the customer is subscribed to the enhanced service that, when activated, interferes with an emergency callback that is typically initiated in response to the emergency call being disconnected from the PSAP;

responsive to determining that the customer is subscribed to the enhanced service, generating a notification message directed to an enhanced service database that is configured to validate the customer and disable the enhanced service for a pre-determined time period so as to allow completion of the emergency callback; and

routing the notification message to the enhanced service database.

48. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 47, wherein the request message comprises one of a mobile subscriber ISDN number (MSISDN) and an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI).

49. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 47,

wherein the request message is one of the following:

an unstructured supplementary service data (USSD) message;

a short message service (SMS) message;

a CAMEL message; and

an out-of-band message.

50. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 47,

wherein the enhanced service is one of the following:

a call restriction service;

a call forwarding service;

a bar all incoming calls (BAIC) service;

an anonymous call rejection service; and

a proprietary service provided by one of a mobile carrier and a vendor.

51. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 47, wherein the notification message is one of the following:

an unstructured supplementary service data (USSD) message;

a short message service (SMS) message;

a CAMEL message; and

an out-of-band message.

52. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method for processing an emergency call, the method comprising:

receiving a request message, the request message having been generated by an emergency transit switch, and the request message seeking to determine whether a customer is subscribed to an enhanced service that, when activated, interferes with an emergency callback that is typically initiated in response to the emergency call being disconnected from a public safety answering point (PSAP);

determining, following receipt of the request message, that the customer is subscribed to the enhanced service that, when activated, interferes with an emergency callback that is typically initiated in response to the emergency call being disconnected from the PSAP;

validating the customer; and

disabling the enhanced service for a pre-determined time period, so as to allow completion of the emergency callback.

53. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 52, wherein the request message comprises one of a mobile subscriber ISDN number (MSISDN) and an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI), and validating the customer comprises validating the customer based upon one of the MSISDN and the IMSI.

54. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 52, wherein the request message is one of the following:

an unstructured supplementary service data (USSD) message;

a short message service (SMS) message;

a CAMEL message; and

an out-of-band message.

55. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 52, wherein the enhanced service is one of the following:

a call restriction service;

a call forwarding service;

a bar all incoming calls (BA1C);

an anonymous call rejection service; and

a proprietary service provided by one of a mobile carrier and a vendor.

56. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 52, wherein the notification message is one of the following:

an unstructured supplementary service data (USSD) message;

a short message service (SMS) message;

a CAMEL message; and

an out-of-band message.

57. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method for processing an emergency call, the method comprising:

receiving an event record, the event record having been generated by a gateway mobile location center (GMLC), the event record being associated with whether a customer is subscribed to an enhanced service that, when activated, interferes with an emergency callback that is typically initiated in response to the emergency call being disconnected from a public safety answering point (PSAP);

determining, following receipt of the event record, that the customer is subscribed to the enhanced service that, when activated, interferes with an emergency callback that is typically initiated in response to the emergency call being disconnected from the PSAP;

validating the customer; and

disabling the enhanced service for a pre-determined time period, so as to allow completion of the emergency callback.

58. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 57, wherein the event record comprises one of a mobile subscriber ISDN number (MSISDN) and an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI), and validating the customer comprises one of validating the customer based upon one of the MSISDN and the IMSI.

59. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 57, wherein the enhanced service is one of the following:

a call restriction service;

a call forwarding service;

a bar all incoming calls (BAIC) service;

an anonymous call rejection service; and

a proprietary service provided by one of a mobile carrier and a vendor.