E911 location reporting without PSAP support

• US 8,126,423 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2006
• Issued: 02/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Inventors: Dunn, Douglas L., Chang, Henry S., Kalhan, Amit
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHAM, TIMOTHY X
• Application Number:
  US11/494,151
• Publication Number:
  US 20080026722A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,043 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.1
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/66 Arrangements for connecting between networks having differing types of switching systems, e.g. gateways

Abstract

A wireless communications device and network having the ability to detect when a call session with a public service access point (PSAP) has not transferred location information for the wireless device to the PSAP. In on embodiment, the detection means includes a location request timer (LRT), which is started when the emergency call is initiated. If the LRT expires before a request for location information is received by the wireless communications device, the wireless device concludes that the PSAP does not have the location information. In another embodiment the wireless network determines the PSAP does not have location information without a timer. The location information is then presented to a caller on the wireless device, which allows the caller of the wireless device to relay the information to a human PSAP operator. The location information may also be provided to a human PSAP operator in a automated manner.

Claims

1. A method for enabling communication of location information from a mobile communications device to a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) system that cannot process location information from a wireless service provider, the method comprising:

detecting input of an emergency number;

detecting an indication that a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) that cannot process location information from a wireless service provider does not have location information, the indication at least partially based on an elapsed time;

generating location information corresponding to a current location of the mobile communications device; and

making the location information available to at least one external interface on the mobile communications device.

2. The method of claim 1 where the generating location information further comprises using Global Positioning System (GPS) pseudorange data received by the mobile communications device.

3. The method of claim 2 where the generating location information further comprises processing the GPS pseudorange data by the mobile communications device.

4. The method of claim 2 where the generating location information further comprises:

sending the GPS pseudorange data to a network; and

receiving location information from the network.

5. The method of claim 1 where the at least one external interface comprises text displayed on a screen.

6. The method of claim 1 where the at least one external interface comprises audio output.

7. The method of claim 1 where the at least one external interface comprises:

displaying the location information text on a screen; and

outputting the location information to an audio interface.

8. The method of claim 1 where the detecting an indication further comprises:

using a location request timer (LRT) on the mobile communications device to indicate that the PSAP does not have location information.

9. A method for enabling the communication of location information of a wireless mobile device to a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) system that cannot process location information from a wireless service provider, the method comprising:

detecting an indication that a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) that cannot process location information from a wireless service provider does not have location information, the indication at least partially based on an elapsed time;

determining location information of the wireless mobile device;

enabling the location information to be available to the wireless mobile device; and

providing the location information to the PSAP.

10. The method of claim 9 where the indication that the PSAP does not have location information further comprises:

failing to receive, by a position determining entity (PDE), a location determination request.

11. The method of claim 9 where the indication that the PSAP does not have location information further comprises:

failing to receive by the wireless mobile device a request for location information before a location request timer (LRT) expires.

12. The method of claim 9 where the determining location information further comprises:

using Global Positioning System (GPS) pseudorange data received by the wireless mobile device.

13. The method of claim 12 where determining location information further comprises:

processing the GPS pseudorange data by a network component.

14. The method of claim 12 where determining location information further comprises:

processing the GPS pseudorange data by the mobile wireless device.

15. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

sending the location information to the mobile device; and

providing the location information to the PSAP using the mobile device.

16. The method of claim 9 further comprising:

receiving a request for the location information from the mobile device; and

providing the location information to the mobile device in response to the request.

17. A method for enabling communication of location information for a wireless mobile device, the wireless mobile device accessing a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) system, the PSAP system being unable to process location information from a wireless carrier, the method comprising:

detecting an emergency call request;

detecting an indication that a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) that cannot process location information from a wireless service provider does not have location information, the indication at least partially based on an elapsed time;

determining location information associated with a physical location of the wireless device; and

enabling the location information to be available for at least one external interface on the wireless mobile device.

18. The method of claim 17 where the detecting an indication that the PSAP does not have location information further comprises basing the indication a location request timer (LRT).

19. The method of claim 17 where the at least one interface comprises one of:

a video interface, an audio interface, or, a Teletypewriter/Telecommunications Device for the Deaf (TTY/TDD) interface.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

sending, using the location information provided over the at least one interface, the location information in a manner receivable by a PSAP operator.