Emergency Location Platform Routing Calls to PSAPs
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current emergency call systems in heterogeneous networks face challenges in accurately identifying the location of emergency callers and routing calls to the correct Public-Safety Answering Point (PSAP) due to lack of standard interfaces, especially in 2G/3G networks, leading to delayed or inaccurate location information and potential failures in location queries.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that involves an eNodeB receiving emergency calls, an Evolved Serving Mobile Location Center (ESMLC) computing the user device's location, a Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC) identifying the serving cell, and an emergency location platform determining the associated PSAP and providing location information and parameters to the PSAP on an access network channel, ensuring seamless routing of emergency calls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If emergency call routing uses traditional TDM interface and MLP protocol in 2G/3G networks, then compatibility with existing PSAP infrastructure is maintained, but location information delivery is delayed and may fail due to sequential processing and network issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an Emergency Location Platform (ELP) as an intermediary component that receives emergency call requests, determines location information, and delivers it to PSAPs. This mediator coordinates between the core network and PSAPs, enabling parallel processing of call routing and location delivery, thus reducing delays while maintaining compatibility with existing TDM interfaces and MLP protocols
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary location determination by the ELP immediately upon receiving an emergency call request, before the call is fully routed to the PSAP. This advance preparation ensures location information is ready for immediate delivery, reducing the time loss associated with sequential processing in traditional systems
2Adaptability or versatility
If emergency call routing is implemented in heterogeneous networks with mixed 2G, 3G, and 4G environments, then broader subscriber coverage is achieved, but location identification accuracy deteriorates due to lack of standard interfaces in older networks
Solution Approach 1:
The Emergency Location Platform is designed with multi-functional capabilities to handle emergency call requests from diverse network environments (2G, 3G, 4G, HetNet). It implements multiple location determination methods including cell ID-based, GPS-based, and network-based positioning, allowing it to adapt to the capabilities of each network type while maintaining consistent service quality and location accuracy across all environments
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts location determination parameters based on the network type and available resources. For example, it may use GPS coordinates for 4G devices with satellite capability, fall back to cell ID triangulation for 2G/3G networks, or combine multiple sources for HetNet environments. This parameter adaptation ensures accurate location identification across heterogeneous networks
3Ease of manufacture
If PSAPs receive emergency calls over TDM interface only, then existing PSAP infrastructure is maintained, but automated location information delivery is prevented requiring manual MNP dip and location query processes
Solution Approach 1:
The Emergency Location Platform serves as an automated intermediary that receives location determination requests from PSAPs over TDM interfaces using standardized protocols. It automatically performs location lookup, subscriber information retrieval, and delivers complete location data packages back to PSAPs, eliminating the need for manual MNP dip and location query operations while maintaining compatibility with existing TDM infrastructure
Solution Approach 2:
The ELP implements self-service automation where the system automatically performs all location information retrieval operations without human intervention. When a PSAP receives an emergency call, the ELP autonomously queries the core network for location data, retrieves subscriber information, determines the serving PSAP, and delivers the complete package, thereby dramatically improving productivity while PSAPs maintain their existing TDM-based infrastructure
Data Source
AI summary
A method and a system for routing an emergency call to a PSAP [322]. Upon receiving an emergency call request from at least one user device [302] at an eNodeB [304], an ESMLC [310] computes a current location information of the at least one user device [302]. Further, a GMLC [312] identifies a serving cell identifier for the at least one user device [302] based on the current location. Furthermore, an emergency location platform [314] identifies at least one PSAP [322] in a cell site master database [316] based on the serving cell identifier and extracts one or more parameters for the at least one user device [302] from a subscriber information database [318]. Lastly, the emergency location platform [314] provides at least one of the current location information and the one or more parameters to the identified at least one PSAP [322] on an access network channel.