Method and apparatus for supporting emergency calls and location for femto access points

• US 8,620,255 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2009
• Issued: 12/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Edge, Stephen W., Burroughs, Kirk Allan
• Primary Examiner(s): Balaoing, Ariel
• Assistant Examiner(s): KOHLMAN, CHRISTOPHER J
• Application Number:
  US12/483,946
• Publication Number:
  US 20090311987A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,663 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.1, 455/404.2, 455/521, 455/414.2
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0045 involving hybrid, i.e. a mixture of public and private, or multi-vendor systems
• 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 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/045 using private Base Stations, e.g. femto Base Stations, home Node B

Abstract

Techniques for routing an emergency call originated by a mobile station via a femto access point (FAP) in a wireless network and for locating the mobile station are described. In an aspect, the emergency call may be routed to an appropriate emergency center based on location information for the FAP. In one design, the location information for the FAP may include a macro cell identity (ID) and/or a macro Mobile Switching Center (MSC) ID determined based on the FAP location. The macro cell ID and/or the macro MSC ID may be assigned to the FAP and used to access a database, which may store routing information for emergency centers versus cell IDs and MSC IDs. In another design, the location information for the FAP may include a location estimate for the FAP. The location estimate may be used to access a geographic database, which may store routing information for emergency centers for different geographic areas.

Claims

1. A method of supporting emergency calls in a wireless communication network, the method comprising:

receiving a first message at a first network entity to originate an emergency call for a mobile station accessing a Femto Access Point (FAP);

obtaining a macro Mobile Switching Center (MSC) ID that is based on a macro cell identity (ID); and

sending a second message, from the first network entity to a second network entity in response to receiving the first message, to select an emergency center for the emergency call, wherein the second message comprises the macro MSC ID and the macro cell ID, wherein the macro cell ID is based on a location of the FAP.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining the location of the FAP during initialization of the FAP.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

communicating with a Position Determination Entity (PDE) to obtain a location estimate for the FAP during initialization of the FAP, and wherein the location of the FAP comprises the location estimate.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the macro cell ID is for a macro cell having a strong received signal at the FAP or having overlapping coverage with the FAP.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a request for location of the FAP from the second network entity, and wherein the location of the FAP is sent by the first network entity in response to the request.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the location of the FAP is used as a location estimate for the mobile station and provided to the emergency center if requested.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the first network entity is the FAP and the second network entity is a Mobile Application Part (MAP) Femto Interworking Function (MFIF).

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the first network entity is a Mobile Application Part (MAP) Femto Interworking Function (MFIF) and the second network entity is a Mobile Positioning Center (MPC).

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

communicating with a Position Determination Entity (PDE) to obtain a location estimate for the FAP, the location estimate for the FAP being used as a location estimate for the mobile station and provided to the emergency center if requested.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the communicating with the PDE comprises establishing an IS-801 positioning session between the PDE and the FAP, wherein the location estimate for the FAP is obtained as a result of the IS-801 positioning session.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

forwarding messages exchanged between the mobile station and a Position Determination Entity (PDE) to obtain a location estimate for the mobile station after the emergency call is originated, the location estimate for the mobile station being provided to the emergency center if requested.

12. An apparatus for supporting emergency calls in a wireless communication network, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a first message to originate an emergency call for a mobile station accessing a Femto Access Point (FAP);

means for obtaining a macro Mobile Switching Center (MSC) ID that is based on a macro cell Identity (ID); and

means for sending a second message to a network entity, in response to receiving the first message, to select an emergency center for the emergency call, wherein the second message comprises the macro MSC ID and the macro cell ID, wherein the macro cell ID is based on a location of the FAP.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising:

means for determining the location of the FAP during initialization of the FAP.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising:

means for communicating with a Position Determination Entity (PDE) to obtain a location estimate for the FAP during initialization of the FAP, and wherein the location of the FAP comprises the location estimate.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the macro cell ID is for a macro cell having a strong received signal at the FAP or having overlapping coverage with the FAP.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising:

means for receiving a request for location of the FAP from the network entity, and wherein the means for sending are configured to send the location of the FAP in response to receiving the request.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the means for sending are configured to use the location of the FAP as a location estimate for the mobile station and to send the location of the FAP to the emergency center if requested.

18. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the apparatus is the FAP and the network entity is a Mobile Application Part (MAP) Femto Interworking Function (MFIF).

19. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the apparatus is a Mobile Application Part (MAP) Femto Interworking Function (MFIF) and the network entity is a Mobile Positioning Center (MPC).

20. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising:

means for communicating with a Position Determination Entity (PDE) to obtain a location estimate for the FAP, the means for sending being configured to use the location estimate for the FAP as a location estimate for the mobile station and to send the location estimate for the FAP to the emergency center if requested.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 wherein the means for communicating are configured to establish an IS-801 positioning session with the PDE and to obtain the location estimate for the FAP as a result of the IS-801 positioning session.

22. The apparatus of claim 12 further comprising:

means for forwarding messages exchanged between the mobile station and a Position Determination Entity (PDE) to obtain a location estimate for the mobile station after the emergency call is originated, the means for sending being configured to send the location estimate for the mobile station to the emergency center if requested.

23. A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions configured to cause a computer to supporting emergency calls in a wireless communication network by being configured to cause the computer to:

receive a first message to originate an emergency call for a mobile station accessing a Femto Access Point (FAP);

obtain a macro Mobile Switching Center (MSC) ID that is based on the macro cell ID; and

send a second message to a network entity, in response to receiving the first message, to select an emergency center for the emergency call, wherein the second message comprises the macro MSC ID and the macro cell ID, wherein the macro cell ID is based on a location of the FAP.

24. The storage medium of claim 23 further comprising instructions configured to cause the computer to:

determine the location of the FAP during initialization of the FAP.

25. The storage medium of claim 24 further comprising instructions configured to cause the computer to:

communicate with a Position Determination Entity (PDE) to obtain a location estimate for the FAP during initialization of the FAP, and wherein the location of the FAP comprises the location estimate.

26. The storage medium of claim 23 wherein the macro cell ID is for a macro cell having a strong received signal at the FAP or having overlapping coverage with the FAP.

27. The storage medium of claim 23 further comprising instructions configured to cause the computer to:

receive a request for location of the FAP from the network entity;

wherein the instructions configured to cause the computer to send are configured to cause the computer to send the location of the FAP in response to receiving the request.

28. The storage medium of claim 27 wherein the instructions configured to cause the computer to send are configured to use the location of the FAP as a location estimate for the mobile station and to send the location of the FAP to the emergency center if requested.

29. The storage medium of claim 23 further comprising instructions configured to cause the computer to:

communicate with a Position Determination Entity (PDE) to obtain a location estimate for the FAP, the instructions configured to cause the computer to send being configured to use the location estimate for the FAP as a location estimate for the mobile station and to send the location estimate for the FAP to the emergency center if requested.

30. The storage medium of claim 29 wherein the instructions configured to cause the computer to communicate are configured to cause the computer to establish an IS-801 positioning session with the PDE and to obtain the location estimate for the FAP as a result of the IS-801 positioning session.

31. The storage medium of claim 23 further comprising instructions configured to cause the computer to:

forward messages exchanged between the mobile station and a Position Determination Entity (PDE) to obtain a location estimate for the mobile station after the emergency call is originated, the instructions configured to cause the computer to send being configured to send the location estimate for the mobile station to the emergency center if requested.

32. An apparatus for supporting emergency calls in a wireless communication network, the apparatus comprising:

a communication unit; and

a processing unit, communicatively coupled to the communication unit, configured to;

receive a first message to originate an emergency call for a mobile station accessing a Femto Access Point (FAP);

obtain a macro Mobile Switching Center (MSC) ID that is based on the macro cell ID; and

send, via the communication unit and in response to receiving the first message, a second message to a network entity to select an emergency center for the emergency call, wherein the second message comprises the macro MSC ID and the macro cell ID, wherein the macro cell ID is based on a location of the FAP.

33. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the processing unit is further configured to:

determine the location of the FAP during initialization of the FAP.

34. The apparatus of claim 33 wherein the processing unit is further configured to:

communicate, via the communication unit, with a Position Determination Entity (PDE) to obtain a location estimate for the FAP during initialization of the FAP, and wherein the location of the FAP comprises the location estimate.

35. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the macro cell ID is for a macro cell having a strong received signal at the FAP or having overlapping coverage with the FAP.

36. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the processing unit is further configured to:

receive a request for location of the FAP from the network entity, and to send the location of the FAP in response to receiving the request.

37. The apparatus of claim 36 wherein the processing unit is configured to use the location of the FAP as a location estimate for the mobile station and to send the location of the FAP to the emergency center if requested.

38. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the apparatus is the FAP and the network entity is a Mobile Application Part (MAP) Femto Interworking Function (MFIF).

39. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the apparatus is a Mobile Application Part (MAP) Femto Interworking Function (MFIF) and the network entity is a Mobile Positioning Center (MPC).

40. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the processing unit is further configured to:

communicate, via the communication unit, with a Position Determination Entity (PDE) to obtain a location estimate for the FAP, the processing unit being configured to use the location estimate for the FAP as a location estimate for the mobile station and to send the location estimate for the FAP to the emergency center if requested.

41. The apparatus of claim 40 wherein the processing unit is configured to establish an IS-801 positioning session with the PDE and to obtain the location estimate for the FAP as a result of the IS-801 positioning session.

42. The apparatus of claim 32 wherein the processing unit is further configured to:

forward messages exchanged between the mobile station and a Position Determination Entity (PDE) to obtain a location estimate for the mobile station after the emergency call is originated, the processing unit being configured to send the location estimate for the mobile station to the emergency center if requested.