Roaming LTE emergency call with call back number retrieval

• US 9,967,723 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2017
• Issued: 05/08/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: T-Mobile USA, Inc. (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Sabeur, Nassereddine, Zait, Hichem
• Primary Examiner(s): Ly, Nghi H
• Application Number:
  US15/489,557
• Publication Number:
  US 20170366954A1
• Time in Patent Office: 386 Days
• Field of Search: 4554041, 455410, 4554141, 455466, 455418
• 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 8/08 Mobility data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/12 between location registers or mobility servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/042 Public Land Mobile systems, e.g. cellular systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements

Abstract

A roaming wireless user device on a Visited Public Land Mobile Network (VPLMN) may initiate a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) emergency call to a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP). Accordingly, a Proxy Call Session Control Function (P-CSCF) of the VPLMN may receive an anonymous Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) invite message for the LTE emergency call. The anonymous SIP invite message lacks a Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number (MSISDN) of the wireless user device but has an International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) of the wireless user device. The anonymous SIP invite message is forwarded to a Location Retrieval Function (LRF) in a Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC) of the VPLMN. The LRF obtains a MSISDN of the wireless user device that matches the IMEI in the anonymous SIP invite message from a database of the GMLC, such that the MSISDN is routed with the LTE emergency call to the PSAP.

Claims

1. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media of a Visited Public Land Mobile Network (VPLMN) storing computer-executable instructions that upon execution cause one or more processors to perform acts comprising:

receiving an anonymous Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) invite message at a Proxy Call Session Control Function (P-CSCF) of the VPLMN for a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) emergency call initiated from a wireless user device that is roaming on the VPLMN, the anonymous SIP invite message lacking a Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number (MSISDN) of the wireless user device and including an International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) of the wireless user device;

sending the anonymous SIP invite message from the P-CSCF to an Emergency Call Session Control Function (E-CSCF) of the VPLMN for the E-CSCF to forward the anonymous SIP invite message to a Location Retrieval Function (LRF) in a Gateway Mobile Location Centre (GMLC) of the VPLMN;

obtaining a MSISDN of the wireless user device that matches the IMEI in the anonymous SIP invite message via the LRF from a database of the GMLC, the MSISDN being obtained from the wireless user device and stored in the database of the GMLC during an initial connection bearer set up between the wireless user device and a core network of the VPLMN; and

sending a supplemented SIP invite message that includes the MSISDN from the GMLC to the E-CSCF for the E-CSCF to route the LTE emergency call with the MSISDN to a particular Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP).

2. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the acts further comprise, prior to the receiving of the anonymous SIP invite message at the P-CSCF:

receiving a SIP register request for the LTE emergency call that includes a user identifier from the wireless user device at a P-CSCF; and

sending a SIP registration rejection message from the P-CSCF to the wireless user device in response to a determination that the user identifier does not belong to a subscriber of the VPLMN.

3. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 2, wherein the user identifier is the MSISDN of the wireless user device.

4. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the acts further comprise retrieving a PSAP Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) of the particular PSAP via the LRF of the GMLC, the PSAP URI identifying the particular PSAP as corresponding to a geolocation of the wireless user device, wherein the supplemented SIP invite message as sent by the GMLC further includes the PSAP URI of the particular PSAP.

5. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 4, wherein the E-CSCF routes the LTE emergency call by sending the supplemented SIP invite that includes the MSISDN and the PSAP URI to a Media Gateway Control Function (MGCF) that forwards the LTE emergency call with the MSISDN to the particular PSAP.

6. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 4, wherein the particular PSAP is a PSAP that is nearest to the geolocation of the wireless user device, services a jurisdiction that encompasses the geolocation of the wireless user device, or is specifically assigned to handle emergency calls from an area that encompasses the geolocation of the wireless user device.

7. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the initial connection bearer set up includes acts comprising:

receiving a connection request from the wireless user device that is making a LTE emergency call at a Mobility Management Entity (MME) of the VPLMN, the connection request being one of a LTE attach request or a Public Data Network (PDN) connectivity request to set up an Evolved Packet System (EPS) call bearer;

retrieving at least the IMEI and the MSISDN from the wireless user device via an identity request sent to the wireless user device;

sending a create LTE emergency call session request that includes the IMEI from the MME to a gateway that is a Serving Gateway (SGW) or a Packet Data Network Gateway (PGW);

sending from the MME a service location register (SLR) message that includes at least the IMEI and the MSISDN of the wireless user device to the GMLC, the GMLC storing the IMEI and the MSISDN as associated identifier data for the wireless user device in the database of the GMLC;

receiving an acknowledgment of the SLR message at the MME from the GMLC; and

setting up one or more connection bearers between the wireless user device and the core network of the VPLMN.

8. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 7, wherein the retrieving includes retrieving an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) of the wireless user device along with the IMEI and the MSISDN of the wireless user device via the identity request sent to the wireless user device.

9. The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the MSISDN is used by particular PSAP to call back the wireless user device in an event the LTE emergency call is unintentionally disconnected.

10. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving an anonymous Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) invite message at a Proxy Call Session Control Function (P-CSCF) of a Visited Public Land Mobile Network (VPLMN) for a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) emergency call initiated from a wireless user device that is roaming on the VPLMN, the anonymous SIP invite message lacking a Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number (MSISDN) of the wireless user device and including an International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) of the wireless user device;

sending the anonymous SIP invite message from the P-CSCF to an Emergency Call Session Control Function (E-CSCF) of the VPLMN for the E-CSCF to forward the anonymous SIP invite message to a Location Retrieval Function (LRF) in a Gateway Mobile Location Centre (GMLC) of the VPLMN;

obtaining a MSISDN of the wireless user device that matches the IMEI in the anonymous SIP invite message via the LRF from a database of the GMLC; and

sending a supplemented SIP invite message that includes the MSISDN from the GMLC to the E-CSCF for the E-CSCF to route the LTE emergency call with the MSISDN to a particular Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP).

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, further comprising:

receiving a SIP register request for the LTE emergency call that includes a user identifier from the wireless user device at a P-CSCF; and

sending a SIP registration rejection message from the P-CSCF to the wireless user device in response to a determination that the user identifier does not belong to a subscriber of the VPLMN.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, further comprising retrieving a PSAP Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) of the particular PSAP via the LRF of the GMLC, the PSAP URI identifying the particular PSAP as corresponding to a geolocation of the wireless user device, wherein the supplemented SIP invite message as sent by the GMLC further includes the PSAP URI of the particular PSAP.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein the E-CSCF routes the LTE emergency call by sending the supplemented SIP invite that includes the MSISDN and the PSAP URI to a Media Gateway Control Function (MGCF) that forwards the LTE emergency call with the MSISDN to the particular PSAP, and wherein the particular PSAP is a PSAP that is nearest to the geolocation of the wireless user device, services a jurisdiction that encompasses the geolocation of the wireless user device, or is specifically assigned to handle emergency calls from an area that encompasses the geolocation of the wireless user device.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, wherein the MSISDN is obtained from the wireless user device and stored in the database of the GMLC during an initial connection bearer set up between the wireless user device and a core network of the VPLMN, the initial connection bearer set up includes acts comprising:

receiving a connection request from the wireless user device that is making a LTE emergency call at a Mobility Management Entity (MME) of the VPLMN, the connection request being one of a LTE attach request or a Public Data Network (PDN) connectivity request to set up an Evolved Packet System (EPS) call bearer;

retrieving at least the IMEI and the MSISDN from the wireless user device via an identity request sent to the wireless user device;

sending a create LTE emergency call session request that includes the IMEI from the MME to a gateway that is a Serving Gateway (SGW) or a Packet Data Network Gateway (PGW);

sending from the MME a service location register (SLR) message that includes at least the IMEI and the MSISDN of the wireless user device to the GMLC, the GMLC storing the IMEI and the MSISDN as associated identifier data for the wireless user device in the database of the GMLC;

receiving an acknowledgment of the SLR message at the MME from the GMLC; and

setting up one or more connection bearers between the wireless user device and the core network of the VPLMN.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, wherein the retrieving includes retrieving an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) of the wireless user device along with the IMEI and the MSISDN of the wireless user device via the identity request sent to the wireless user device.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 10, wherein the MSISDN is used by particular PSAP to call back the wireless user device in an event the LTE emergency call is unintentionally disconnected.

17. One or more computing devices on a Visited Public Land Mobile Network (VPLMN), comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory having instructions stored therein, the instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform acts comprising;

receiving an anonymous Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) invite message at a Proxy Call Session Control Function (P-CSCF) of the VPLMN for a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) emergency call initiated from a wireless user device that is roaming on the VPLMN, the anonymous SIP invite message lacking a Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number (MSISDN) of the wireless user device and including an International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) of the wireless user device;

sending the anonymous SIP invite message from the P-CSCF to an Emergency Call Session Control Function (E-CSCF) of the VPLMN for the E-CSCF to forward the anonymous SIP invite message to a Location Retrieval Function (LRF) in a Gateway Mobile Location Centre (GMLC) of the VPLMN;

obtaining a MSISDN of the wireless user device that matches the IMEI in the anonymous SIP invite message via the LRF from a database of the GMLC;

retrieving a PSAP Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) of a particular Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) via the LRF of the GMLC; and

sending a supplemented SIP invite message that includes the MSISDN and the PSAP URI from the GMLC to the E-CSCF for the E-CSCF to route the LTE emergency call with the MSISDN to the particular PSAP.

18. The one or more computing devices of claim 17, wherein the acts further comprise, prior to the receiving of the anonymous SIP invite message at the P-CSCF:

receiving a SIP register request for the LTE emergency call that includes a user identifier from the wireless user device at a P-CSCF; and

sending a SIP registration rejection message from the P-CSCF to the wireless user device in response to a determination that the user identifier does not belong to a subscriber of the VPLMN.

19. The one or more computing devices of claim 18, wherein the MSISDN is obtained from the wireless user device and stored in the database of the GMLC during initial connection bearer set up between the wireless user device and a core network of the VPLMN, the PSAP URI identifies the particular PSAP as corresponding to a geolocation of the wireless user device, and wherein the user identifier is the MSISDN of the wireless user device.

20. The one or more computing devices of claim 19, wherein the initial connection bearer set up includes acts comprising:

receiving a connection request from the wireless user device that is making a LTE emergency call at a Mobility Management Entity (MME) of the VPLMN, the connection request being one of a LTE attach request or a Public Data Network (PDN) connectivity request to set up an Evolved Packet System (EPS) call bearer;

retrieving at least the IMEI and the MSISDN from the wireless user device via an identity request sent to the wireless user device;

sending a create LTE emergency call session request that includes the IMEI from the MME to a gateway that is a Serving Gateway (SGW) or a Packet Data Network Gateway (PGW);

sending from the MME a service location register (SLR) message that includes at least the IMEI and the MSISDN of the wireless user device to the GMLC, the GMLC storing the IMEI and the MSISDN as associated identifier data for the wireless user device in the database of the GMLC;

receiving an acknowledgment of the SLR message at the MME from the GMLC; and

setting up one or more connection bearers between the wireless user device and the core network of the VPLMN.