Method and apparatus for performing handover of an emergency call between wireless networks

• US 8,942,660 B2
• Filed: 06/03/2010
• Issued: 01/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Edge, Stephen W., Mahendran, Arungundram C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wang-Hurst, Kathy
• Application Number:
  US12/793,580
• Publication Number:
  US 20100311386A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,699 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.1, 455/404.2, 455/436, 455/442, 455/437, 455/438, 455/439, 455/440, 455/443, 455/444, 455/445
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 36/0022 for transferring data sessions between adjacent core network technologies
• 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

Techniques for supporting handover of an emergency call between wireless networks are described. A UE may communicate with a first wireless network (e.g., a 3GPP E-UTRAN) for an emergency call and may receive an indication to perform handover to a second wireless network (e.g., a CDMA2000 1xRTT network). In an aspect, the UE may send a message including an emergency indication (an emergency global number, or a reserved emergency number, or some other indication) to initiate handover to the second wireless network. A designated network entity may recognize the emergency call based on the emergency indication and may map the emergency indication to a local emergency number or an Emergency Session Transfer Number for SRVCC (E-STN-SR), which may be used to establish a new incoming call leg to a network server anchoring the emergency call. The UE may then communicate with the second wireless network via the network server for the emergency call after handover.

Claims

1. A method for wireless communication, comprising:

communicating with a packet-switched wireless network by a user equipment (UE) for an emergency call;

receiving an indication to perform handover from the packet-switched wireless network to a circuit-switched wireless network;

sending a message from the UE, the message comprising an emergency indication to initiate handover to the circuit-switched wireless network, the emergency indication comprising a preconfigured called party number,

wherein an Emergency Session Transfer Number for single radio voice call continuity (SRVCC) (E-STN-SR) for the emergency call of the UE is sent by a Mobile Positioning Center (MPC) to a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) of the circuit-switched wireless network in response to a query from the MSC;

communicating with the circuit-switched wireless network for the emergency call after handover;

obtaining location services via the packet-switched wireless network for the emergency call prior to handover; and

obtaining location services via the circuit-switched wireless network for the emergency call after handover.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the emergency call is anchored in a network server that replaces a first incoming call leg via the packet-switched wireless network with a second incoming call leg via the circuit-switched wireless network for handover of the emergency call.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the emergency indication is mapped to the E-STN-SR used to route the second incoming call leg to the network server.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the packet-switched wireless network utilizes a first radio access technology (RAT), and wherein the circuit-switched wireless network utilizes a second RAT different from the first RAT.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the communicating with the packet-switched wireless network comprises communicating with an Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN) for the emergency call prior to handover, and wherein the communicating with the circuit-switched wireless network comprises communicating with a 1xRTT Radio Access Network (RAN) for the emergency call after handover.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the sending the message comprises sending a 1xRTT Origination message comprising the emergency indication.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the UE is served by a source serving node in the packet-switched wireless network prior to handover and by a target serving node in the circuit-switched wireless network after handover, and wherein an identity of the target serving node is sent to a location server to support location services for the UE after handover.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the identity of the target serving node is sent by the target serving node to the location server in the circuit-switched wireless network.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the identity of the target serving node is sent by a source serving node in the packet-switched wireless network to the location server.

10. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

means for communicating with a packet-switched wireless network by a user equipment (UE) for an emergency call;

means for receiving an indication to perform handover from the packet-switched wireless network to a circuit-switched wireless network;

means for sending a message from the UE comprising an emergency indication to initiate handover to the circuit-switched wireless network, the emergency indication comprising a preconfigured called party number,

wherein an Emergency Session Transfer Number for single radio voice call continuity (SRVCC) (E-STN-SR) for the emergency call of the UE is sent by a Mobile Positioning Center (MPC) to a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) of the circuit-switched wireless network in response to a query from the MSC;

means for communicating with the circuit-switched wireless network for the emergency call after handover;

means for obtaining location services via the packet-switched wireless network for the emergency call prior to handover; and

means for obtaining location services via the circuit-switched wireless network for the emergency call after handover.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the emergency call is anchored in a network server that replaces a first incoming call leg via the packet-switched wireless network with a second incoming call leg via the circuit-switched wireless network for handover of the emergency call.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the emergency indication is mapped to the E-STN-SR used to route the second incoming call leg to the network server.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the UE is served by a source serving node in the packet-switched wireless network prior to handover and by a target serving node in the circuit-switched wireless network after handover, and wherein an identity of the target serving node is sent to a location server to support location services for the UE after handover.

14. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

at least one processing unit configured to communicate with a packet-switched wireless network by a user equipment (UE) for an emergency call, to receive an indication to perform handover from the packet-switched wireless network to a circuit-switched wireless network, to send a message comprising an emergency indication to initiate handover of the emergency call to the circuit-switched wireless network, the emergency indication comprising a preconfigured called party number,

wherein an Emergency Session Transfer Number for single radio voice call continuity (SRVCC) (E-STN-SR) for the emergency call of the UE is sent by a Mobile Positioning Center (MPC) to a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) of the circuit-switched wireless network in response to a query from the MSC, to communicate with the circuit-switched wireless network for the emergency call after handover, to obtain location services via the packet-switched wireless network for the emergency call prior to handover, and to obtain location services via the circuit-switched wireless network for the emergency call after handover.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the emergency call is anchored in a network server that replaces a first incoming call leg via the packet-switched wireless network with a second incoming call leg via the circuit-switched wireless network for handover of the emergency call.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the emergency indication is mapped to the E-STN-SR used to route the second incoming call leg to the network server.

17. A computer program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising;

code to cause at least one computer to communicate with a packet-switched wireless network by a user equipment (UE) for an emergency call;

code to cause the at least one computer to receive an indication to perform handover from the packet-switched wireless network to a circuit-switched wireless network;

code to cause the at least one computer to send a message comprising an emergency indication to initiate handover to the circuit-switched wireless network, the emergency indication comprising a preconfigured called party number,

wherein an Emergency Session Transfer Number for single radio voice call continuity (SRVCC) (E-STN-SR) for the emergency call of the UE is sent by a Mobile Positioning Center (MPC) to a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) of the circuit-switched wireless network in response to a query from the MSC;

code to cause the at least one computer to communicate with the circuit-switched wireless network for the emergency call after handover;

code to cause the at least one computer to obtain location services via the packet-switched wireless network for the emergency call prior to handover; and

code to cause the at least one computer to obtain location services via the circuit-switched wireless network for the emergency call after handover.

18. A method of supporting wireless communication, comprising:

receiving at a network entity a first message sent by a user equipment (UE) to initiate handover of an emergency call from a packet-switched wireless network to a circuit-switched wireless network;

recognizing the emergency call based on an emergency indication included in the first message;

determining a designated number for the emergency call from a location server;

replacing the emergency indication in the first message with the designated number for the emergency call to obtain a second message;

sending the second message from the network entity to a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) of the circuit-switched wireless network for call origination for handover of the emergency call,

wherein an Emergency Session Transfer Number for single radio voice call continuity (SRVCC) (E-STN-SR) for the emergency call of the UE is sent by a Mobile Positioning Center (MPC) to the MSC in response to a query from the MSC; and

sending an identity of a target serving node in the circuit-switched wireless network to the location server to support location services for the UE in the circuit-switched wireless network after handover and during at least the emergency call to maintain location continuity.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the emergency indication comprises an emergency global number (EGN), or a reserved emergency number, or a preconfigured number, or a designated indication used to identify the emergency call to the network entity.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the designated number for the emergency call comprises a local emergency number or the E-STN-SR.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein the emergency indication comprises an emergency global number (EGN), and wherein the designated number comprises a local emergency number.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein the emergency indication comprises an emergency global number (EGN), and wherein the designated number comprises the E-STN-SR.

23. The method of claim 18, wherein the network entity comprises an Interworking Solution Function (IWS) interfacing between the packet switched and circuit-switched wireless networks.

24. The method of claim 18, wherein the network entity comprises a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) of the packet-switched wireless network.

25. An apparatus for wireless communication, comprising:

means for receiving at a network entity a first message sent by a user equipment (UE) to initiate handover of an emergency call from a packet-switched wireless network to a circuit-switched wireless network;

means for recognizing the emergency call based on an emergency indication included in the first message;

means for determining a designated number for the emergency call from a location server;

means for replacing the emergency indication in the first message with the designated number for the emergency call to obtain a second message;

means for sending the second message from the network entity to a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) of the circuit-switched wireless network for call origination for handover of the emergency call,

wherein an Emergency Session Transfer Number for single radio voice call continuity (SRVCC) (E-STN-SR) for the emergency call of the UE is sent by a Mobile Positioning Center (MPC) to the MSC in response to a query from the MSC; and

means for sending an identity of a target serving node in the circuit-switched wireless network to the location server to support location services for the UE in the circuit-switched wireless network after handover and during at least the emergency call to maintain location continuity.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the emergency indication comprises an emergency global number (EGN), or a reserved emergency number, or a preconfigured number, or a designated indication used to identify the emergency call to the network entity.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the designated number for the emergency call comprises a local emergency number or the E-STN-SR.

28. A method of supporting wireless communication, comprising:

determining an Emergency Session Transfer Number for single radio voice call continuity (SRVCC) (E-STN-SR) for an emergency call for a user equipment (UE) at a network entity;

receiving a query for the UE at the network entity, the query being sent by a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) of a circuit-switched wireless network in response to handover of the emergency call from a packet-switched-wireless network to the circuit-switched wireless network;

sending, by a Mobile Positioning Center (MPC), the E-STN-SR for the emergency call for the UE from the network entity to the MSC in response to the query, the E-STN-SR being used to route the emergency call to a network server anchoring the emergency call; and

sending an identity of a target serving node in the circuit-switched wireless network to the location server to support location services for the UE in the circuit-switched wireless network after handover and during at least the emergency call to maintain location continuity.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the E-STN-SR is determined by the network entity during establishment of the emergency call, and wherein the query is received during initiation of handover of the emergency call.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the network entity comprises a Location and Routing Function (LRF).

31. An apparatus for supporting wireless communication, comprising:

means for determining an Emergency Session Transfer Number for single radio voice call continuity (SRVCC) (E-STN-SR) for an emergency call for a user equipment (UE) at a network entity;

means for receiving a query for the UE at the network entity, the query being sent by a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) of a circuit-switched wireless network in response to handover of the emergency call from a packet-switched wireless network to the circuit-switched wireless network;

sending, by a Mobile Positioning Center (MPC), the E-STN-SR for the emergency call for the UE from the network entity to the MSC in response to the query, the E-STN-SR being used to route the emergency call to a network server anchoring the emergency call; and

means for sending an identity of a target serving node in the circuit-switched wireless network to the location server to support location services for the UE in the circuit-switched wireless network after handover and during at least the emergency call to maintain location continuity.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the E-STN-SR is determined by the network entity during establishment of the emergency call, and wherein the query is received during initiation of handover of the emergency call.