IMS Emergency Contact Notification via HSS
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current 3GPP standards do not provide mechanisms for automatically notifying emergency contacts of a user's location or contacting them during an emergency call in an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) network, leading to delays in reaching nearby friends or family who could assist in emergencies.
Innovation Solution
The mechanism involves storing emergency contact URIs and their locations in the Home Subscriber Server (HSS) within the IMS network, allowing these to be forwarded to the Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) during an emergency call, enabling the PSAP to decide whether to notify or contact these contacts based on their proximity to the user's location.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If emergency contact notification is implemented in IMS network, then response time for emergencies is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent stores emergency contact information (URIs and location data) in the HSS database in advance, before any emergency occurs. This preliminary preparation allows the system to quickly retrieve and forward contact information during an emergency call without requiring complex real-time processing or additional user input, thus reducing response time while keeping the system architecture relatively simple
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces the HSS as an intermediary component that stores and manages emergency contact information. The HSS acts as a mediator between the UE (user equipment) and the PSAP (public safety answering point), automatically forwarding contact URIs and location data during emergency calls. This intermediary approach centralizes the complexity in a single database component rather than distributing it across multiple system elements
2Speed
If emergency contact information is stored in HSS, then notification speed is improved, but information security risks increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different quality levels to different types of information stored in the HSS. Emergency contact URIs and location data are stored with appropriate access controls and permissions tailored to their specific security requirements. The system distinguishes between public emergency contact information and private user data, applying localized security measures to each type rather than a blanket security approach, enabling fast notification while maintaining targeted security
3Productivity
If automatic emergency contact notification is implemented, then assistance speed is improved, but user privacy concerns increase
Solution Approach 1:
Users are given the opportunity to pre-configure their emergency contact information and privacy preferences before any emergency occurs. The system stores these predetermined choices in the HSS, allowing automatic notification to proceed quickly during emergencies without requiring real-time user consent or input. This preliminary configuration balances fast assistance with user privacy by respecting pre-established user preferences
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where users can review and update their emergency contact information and privacy settings at any time. The system provides feedback to users about what information is being shared and with whom, allowing them to maintain control over their privacy while benefiting from automatic emergency notification. This continuous feedback loop ensures user awareness and control
Data Source
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AI summary
A method of operating an emergency call procedure in a telecommunications network includes storing, for a user of an IMS network, emergency contact Uniform Resource Identifiers (URis) of one or more emergency contacts of the user such as family or friends who may be contacted by emergency services in the event of an emergency call from the user. The method also includes receiving an emergency call from the user and providing the emergency contact URIs to a Public Safety Answering Point, PSAP.