Monitoring application and method for establishing emergency communication sessions with disabled devices based on transmitted messages

• US 8,682,281 B2
• Filed: 04/26/2010
• Issued: 03/25/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Dunn, Timothy N., Silis, Arturo, Farrell, Declan, Chapman, Simon, Kumar, Jyot
• Primary Examiner(s): SAMS, MATTHEW C
• Application Number:
  US12/767,758
• Publication Number:
  US 20100273445A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,429 Days
• Field of Search: 4554041-4042, 379/37, 379/45
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 11/04 with alarm systems, e.g. fire, police or burglar alarm systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• 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 monitoring application and method in a disabled telecommunication device for monitoring communication sessions initiated by the device and detecting an emergency communication session that is initiated by the device. If an emergency communication session is detected, the monitoring application generates and transmits a message to a rating engine over a non-voice channel. The non-voice channel may be an unstructured supplementary service data (USSD) channel, a short message service (SMS) channel, or other like messaging channel. When the message is received via the non-voice channel, various callback techniques may be implemented to allow the disabled device to receive communications after the emergency communication session, even though such communications would normally be prevented as a result of a service lock.

Claims

1. A method to be performed by a disabled telecommunications device for notifying a telecommunications network component of an emergency communication session between the disabled telecommunications device and an emergency responder, the notification allowing communication with the disabled telecommunications device to be re-established in the event that the emergency communication session is terminated, the method comprising:

detecting, at a disabled telecommunications device, an attempt to establish an emergency communication session between the disabled telecommunications device and an emergency responder over a telecommunications network,

wherein the emergency communication session is initiated by the disabled telecommunications device;

determining whether the telecommunications network is capable of completing the emergency communication session between the disabled telecommunications device and the emergency responder;

if the telecommunications network is not capable of completing the emergency communication session between the disabled telecommunications device and the emergency responder, not attempting to establish the emergency communication session; and

if the telecommunications network is capable of completing the emergency communication session between the disabled telecommunications device and the emergency responder, transmitting a message to a network component associated with the disabled telecommunications device via a messaging channel,

wherein the message includes an identifier associated with the disabled telecommunications device and a code indicating that the emergency communication session is being established,

wherein the message enables a callback technique to be implemented in the event that the emergency communication session is terminated between the disabled telecommunications device and the emergency responder,

wherein the message is transmitted only when the telecommunications network has been determined capable of completing the emergency communication session, and

wherein the message is not transmitted when the telecommunications network has not been determined capable of completing the emergency communication session.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the emergency responder is a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP).

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the attempt to establish an emergency communication session is detected by monitoring key sequences to detect a key sequence indicative of an emergency communication.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the detected key sequence is “

911”

.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the detected key sequence is a messaging address of the emergency responder.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the attempt to establish an emergency communication session is detected by receiving an affirmative indication from a user to establish an emergency communication session.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the messaging channel is an unstructured supplementary service data (USSD) channel.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the messaging channel is a short message service (SMS) channel.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifier is a telephone number, a Mobile Subscriber Integrated Services Digital Network Number (MSISDN), an International Mobile Subscriber Identifier (IMSI), a MAC address, or an IP address.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the code is shared by multiple telecommunications devices.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the code is generated by the disabled telecommunications device.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a confirmation request from the network component seeking to confirm the validity of the message sent to the network component; and

transmitting a confirmation response to the network component indicating that the transmitted message was validly sent.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the confirmation response is a confirmation code.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the confirmation code is generated by a look-up table or a hash function.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the network component is a ratings engine.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions that, when executed by a processor of a telecommunications device having disabled communication service, cause the telecommunications device to implement a method to notify a telecommunications network component of an emergency communication session between the telecommunications device and an emergency responder, the notification allowing communication with the telecommunications device to be re-enabled in the event that the emergency communication session is terminated, the method comprising:

detecting, at a disabled telecommunications device, an attempt to establish an emergency communication session between the disabled telecommunications device and a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) over a telecommunications network, wherein the emergency communication session is initiated by the disabled telecommunications device;

determining whether the telecommunications network is capable of completing the emergency communication session between the disabled telecommunications device and the PSAP;

if the telecommunications network is not capable of completing the emergency communication session between the disabled telecommunications device and the PSAP, not attempting to establish the emergency communication session; and

if the telecommunications network is capable of completing the emergency communication session between the disabled telecommunications device and the PSAP, transmitting a message to a network component associated with the disabled telecommunications device via a messaging channel,

wherein the message includes an identifier associated with the disabled telecommunications device and a code indicating that the emergency communication session is being established,

wherein the message enables a callback technique to be implemented in the event that the emergency communication session is terminated between the disabled telecommunications device and the PSAP

wherein the message is transmitted only when the telecommunications network has been determined capable of completing the emergency communication session, and

wherein the message is not transmitted when the telecommunications network has not been determined capable of completing the emergency communication session.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the attempt to establish an emergency communication session is detected by monitoring key sequences to detect a key sequence indicative of an emergency communication.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the detected key sequence is “

911.”

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the detected key sequence is a messaging address of the PSAP.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the attempt to establish an emergency communication session is detected by receiving an affirmative indication from a user to establish an emergency communication session.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the messaging channel is an unstructured supplementary service data (USSD) channel.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the messaging channel is a short message service (SMS) channel.

23. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the identifier is a telephone number, a Mobile Subscriber Integrated Services Digital Network Number (MSISDN), an International Mobile Subscriber Identifier (IMSI), a MAC address, or an IP address.

24. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, further including instructions that, when executed by the processor of the telecommunications device, cause the telecommunications device to:

receive a confirmation request from the network component seeking to confirm the validity of the message sent to the network component; and

transmit a confirmation response to the network component indicating that the transmitted message was validly sent.

25. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 16, wherein the network component is a ratings engine.

26. A method in a telecommunications network of allowing an emergency responder to establish an emergency communication session with a telecommunications device following the termination of a prior emergency communication session with the telecommunications device, the telecommunications device having disabled service that would normally prevent a communication session from being established with the telecommunications device, the method comprising:

receiving a message from a telecommunications device via a messaging channel, the message including an identifier associated with the telecommunications device and a code indicating that an emergency communication session is being initiated by the telecommunications device with a first emergency responder, wherein the message is received only if a previous determination has been made that the telecommunications network is capable of completing the emergency communication session, and wherein the message is not received if a previous determination has not been made that the telecommunications network is capable of completing the emergency communication session;

storing an indication that the emergency communication session has been established between the telecommunications device and the first emergency responder;

receiving a request from a second emergency responder to establish an emergency communication session with the telecommunications device, the request to establish an emergency communication session occurring after the termination of the emergency communication session between the first emergency responder and the telecommunications device, the telecommunications device having disabled service that would normally prevent communication sessions from being established by the second emergency responder with the telecommunications device; and

authorizing the second emergency responder to establish the emergency communication session with the telecommunications device based on the stored indication of the prior emergency communication session between the telecommunications device and the first emergency responder.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the first emergency responder is the same as the second emergency responder.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the first emergency responder is a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP).

29. The method of claim 26, wherein the messaging channel is an unstructured supplementary service data (USSD) channel.

30. The method of claim 26, wherein the messaging channel is a short message service (SMS) channel.

31. The method of claim 26, wherein the identifier is a telephone number, a Mobile Subscriber Integrated Services Digital Network Number (MSISDN), an International Mobile Subscriber Identifier (IMSI), a MAC address, or an IP address.

32. The method of claim 26, wherein the code is shared by multiple telecommunications devices.

33. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

transmitting a confirmation request to the telecommunications device seeking to confirm the validity of the received message; and

receiving a confirmation response from the telecommunications device indicating that the received message was validly sent,

wherein the second emergency responder is authorized to establish the emergency communication session with the telecommunications device only if the confirmation response is received.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the confirmation response is a confirmation code.

35. The method of claim 26, wherein the stored indication is a threshold time and wherein the second emergency responder is authorized to establish the emergency communication session if the request from the second emergency responder is received within the threshold time.

36. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions that, when executed by a processor of a telecommunications network component, cause the telecommunications network component to implement a method to allow an emergency responder to establish an emergency communication session with a telecommunications device following the termination of a prior emergency communication session with the telecommunications device, the telecommunications device having disabled service that would normally prevent a communication session from being established with the telecommunications device, the method comprising:

receiving a message from a telecommunications device via a messaging channel, the message including an identifier associated with the telecommunications device and a code indicating that an emergency communication session is being initiated by the telecommunications device with a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP), wherein the message is received only if a previous determination has been made that the telecommunications network is capable of completing the emergency communication session, and wherein the message is not received if a previous determination has not been made that the telecommunications network is capable of completing the emergency communication session;

storing an indication that the emergency communication session has been established between the telecommunications device and the PSAP;

receiving a request from an emergency responder to establish an emergency communication session with the telecommunications device, the request to establish an emergency communication session occurring after the termination of the emergency communication session between the PSAP and the telecommunications device, the telecommunications device having disabled service that would normally prevent communication sessions from being established by the emergency responder with the telecommunications device; and

authorizing the emergency responder to establish the emergency communication session with the telecommunications device based on the stored indication of the prior emergency communication session between the telecommunications device and the PSAP.

37. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 36, wherein the emergency responder is the PSAP.

38. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 36, wherein the messaging channel is an unstructured supplementary service data (USSD) channel.

39. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 36, wherein the messaging channel is a short message service (SMS) channel.

40. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 36, wherein the identifier is a telephone number, a Mobile Subscriber Integrated Services Digital Network Number (MSISDN), an International Mobile Subscriber Identifier (IMSI), a MAD address, or an IP address.

41. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 36, wherein the code is shared by multiple telecommunications devices.

42. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 36, further including instructions that, when executed by the processor of the telecommunications network component, cause the telecommunications network component to:

transmit a confirmation request to the telecommunications device seeking to confirm the validity of the received message; and

receive a confirmation response from the telecommunications device indicating that the received message was validly sent,

wherein the emergency responder is authorized to establish the emergency communication session with the telecommunications device only if the confirmation response is received.

43. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 42, wherein the confirmation response is a confirmation code.

44. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 36, wherein the stored indication is a threshold time and wherein the emergency responder is authorized to establish the emergency communication session if the request from the emergency responder is received within the threshold time.