OTT Emergency Call Routing via IMS Location Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Over-the-top (OTT) service providers face challenges in accurately and reliably supporting emergency calls due to restricted access to location information and lack of necessary infrastructure, which hinders the routing of emergency calls to the correct Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) and provision of accurate caller locations.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus for supporting emergency calls by receiving an emergency call request from user equipment (UE), obtaining mobile network operator (MNO) data, and using this data to determine routing information for a destination PSAP, involving the IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) to facilitate accurate location transfer and call routing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If an OTT service provider directly handles emergency calls without network infrastructure, then service independence is improved, but location accuracy and call routing reliability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces the serving wireless network and IMS as intermediary entities between the OTT service provider and the PSAP. The OTT provider initiates emergency calls through the serving network's IMS, which then routes the call to the appropriate PSAP. This intermediary approach allows the OTT provider to maintain service independence while leveraging the network infrastructure for reliable routing and location information.
2Device complexity
If an OTT service provider lacks network infrastructure, then operational simplicity is improved, but access to location information deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent leverages the serving wireless network's existing infrastructure for multiple functions: call routing, location information provision, and PSAP connectivity. The OTT service provider utilizes the network's base stations, location servers, and routing mechanisms without needing to deploy its own infrastructure, thus maintaining operational simplicity while accessing comprehensive location information.
3Ease of operation
If an OTT service provider uses simplified call routing, then operational ease is improved, but emergency call routing accuracy to correct PSAP deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the serving network's IMS receives the emergency call request from the OTT provider, determines the appropriate PSAP based on location information from the network infrastructure, and routes the call accordingly. The system uses real-time location data and routing information feedback to ensure accurate PSAP selection while maintaining ease of operation for the OTT provider.
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods and apparatuses for supporting location and emergency calls for an over-the-top (OTT) service provider are disclosed. A UE may send a request for an emergency call to an OTT service provider and may include in the request mobile network operator (MNO) data for a serving MNO for the UE. The OTT service provider may forward the emergency call request to an Internet Protocol (IP) Multimedia Subsystem (IMS). The IMS may determine routing information for the emergency call and either return the routing information to the OTT service provider to enable the OTT service provider to route the emergency call to a public safety answering point (PSAP) or may route the emergency call itself to the PSAP. The call request routed by the IMS or by the OTT service provider may include a reference identifier that may enable the PSAP to obtain a location for the UE from the IMS.