5G Emergency Call Routing via Network Voice Support Indications
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Solution Overview
Problem
In Fifth Generation (5G) wireless networks, there is a challenge in determining whether to use the New Radio (NR) access technology or other technologies like LTE for emergency calls, as the NR access technology may not support voice services in all spectrum bands, leading to uncertainty for user equipment on how to handle emergency calls.
Innovation Solution
The 5G core network and radio access network provide indications to user equipment via non-access stratum signaling or access stratum signaling, such as radio resource control signaling or system information broadcasts, on whether to use NR or LTE for emergency calls, ensuring that emergency calls are handled appropriately based on supported technologies.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If 5G New Radio (NR) access technology is used for emergency calls, then broadband and low latency connectivity is improved, but reliability deteriorates when NR does not support voice services in certain spectrum bands
Solution Approach 1:
The network performs preliminary assessment of NR voice service support capability before emergency calling. The core network determines whether NR supports voice services in the current spectrum band and provides this information to the UE in advance through system information or dedicated signaling, enabling the UE to make informed routing decisions for emergency calls
Solution Approach 2:
The core network acts as an intermediary that mediates between the NR access technology and the UE for emergency call routing. It receives the emergency call indication from the UE, determines whether NR supports voice services, and either accepts the emergency call on NR or redirects the UE to alternative access technologies like E-UTRA, thus ensuring reliable emergency call handling regardless of NR voice support status
2Reliability
If 5G New Radio (NR) access technology is used for emergency calls, then quality of service is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple radio access technology support requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The UE autonomously determines the appropriate access technology for emergency calls based on network-provided indications about NR voice support status. When NR voice is supported, the UE uses NR for emergency calls; when not supported, the UE automatically falls back to E-UTRA or other available access technologies without requiring complex manual configuration or user intervention, thus simplifying device operation while maintaining high QoS
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, are provided for controlling emergency calling. In some example embodiments, there may be provided a method that includes receiving, at a user equipment, an indication for controlling whether the user equipment makes an emergency call over a fifth generation radio access technology or over another radio access technology as a fallback; and making, by the user equipment, the emergency call based on the received indication. Related systems, methods, and articles of manufacture are also described.