Emergency Service in IMS Network via Local Application Server Function

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

In the IMS communication network, emergency service requests often require special handling to prioritize calls and route them correctly, but existing systems involve unnecessary steps and entities, such as the S-CSCF, which can complicate and delay emergency service provisioning.

Innovation Solution

Implementing an emergency-related local service function (ERLSF) co-located at the application server (AS) to determine if a session is an emergency session and route requests directly to the E-CSCF, bypassing the S-CSCF, allowing for click-to-dial services and location-based checks to ensure appropriate emergency service delivery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If emergency service requests are routed through the S-CSCF in the IMS network, then network protocol compliance and service handling are ensured, but routing delays and system complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveemergency service handling reliabilityVSAvoidemergency call routing time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the emergency service handling process by separating the detection function (P-CSCF) from the service provision function (local service function co-located at AS). This allows emergency requests to be identified and routed directly to the appropriate emergency center without passing through the S-CSCF, reducing routing time while maintaining protocol compliance through the P-CSCF's initial involvement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The local service function acts as an intermediary between the P-CSCF and the emergency center. It receives emergency service requests from the P-CSCF, determines whether they are emergency sessions, and routes them directly to the appropriate emergency center, thereby eliminating the need for S-CSCF involvement in the routing path and reducing delays.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the P-CSCF detects all emergency service requests and routes them through the home network's S-CSCF, then proper IMS protocol handling is maintained, but visited network services cannot be applied and routing efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveIMS protocol complianceVSAvoidvisited network service applicability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The invention segments the service handling responsibilities by keeping the P-CSCF for protocol compliance and detection, while introducing a local service function for service-specific handling. This segmentation allows visited network services to be applied at the local service function level without requiring home network S-CSCF involvement, thus maintaining both protocol compliance and service adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The local service function serves as an intermediary that enables visited network services to be applied to emergency requests. It receives requests from the P-CSCF, applies local service logic and visited network service rules, and routes requests appropriately, thereby enabling service versatility without compromising IMS protocol compliance enforced by the P-CSCF.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If an application server implements click-to-dial service with location-based emergency checks, then user service capability is enhanced, but additional location verification steps increase processing time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveclick-to-dial emergency service capabilityVSAvoidlocation verification processing time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The application server performs location-based emergency checks as a preliminary action before initiating the full emergency call setup. By checking location information and determining emergency session applicability in advance, the system can quickly route eligible requests through the optimized path via P-CSCF and local service function, minimizing actual call setup time while maintaining service capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2502431B1Emergency service in IMS network
Publication Date: 2018.07.25 NOKIA SOLUTIONS & NETWORKS OY
  • EP2502431B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2502431B1 patent drawingFigure 2a
  • EP2502431B1 patent drawingFigure 2b

AI summary

The invention relates to an apparatus, method and a computer program product for establishing a request for a session by an application server (AS), determining by an emergency related local service function that the session comprises an emergency session, wherein the emergency related local service function is co-located at the application server (AS), and, transmitting the request for the session to an emergency call state control function (E-CSCF) of the internet protocol multimedia subsystem (IMS) based on the determination.