UE Location Transmission via Packet Data Network for Emergency Calls
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing emergency call systems often fail to provide accurate and timely location information to public safety answering points (PSAPs) due to issues with determining or transmitting UE location over traditional sources within the cellular network.
Innovation Solution
The solution involves detecting emergency calls and transmitting UE location information through both the cellular network and a packet data network, such as the internet, to an emergency monitoring node, using a combination of primary and secondary location sources, including GPS, AGPS, and IP addresses, with user permission and battery power management to ensure reliability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If UE location is transmitted only through traditional cellular network, then network infrastructure is simple, but location information delivery is unreliable and delayed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a packet data network (separate from traditional cellular network) as an intermediary transmission path for location information. This mediator provides an alternate route that bypasses cellular network problems, allowing location data to reach PSAP reliably through multiple independent channels simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a new dimension to the transmission architecture by using both traditional cellular network and packet data network in parallel. This multi-dimensional approach ensures that if one path fails, the other can still deliver location information, significantly improving reliability without requiring complex switching logic.
2Reliability
If UE uses multiple location sources and transmission paths, then location accuracy and reliability improve, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements partial action by selectively using transmission paths based on their success. The UE attempts location transmission through multiple paths, but stops using a path once it succeeds, rather than continuously using all paths. This reduces energy consumption while maintaining high reliability through the fallback mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the transmission system dynamic by adjusting the use of different transmission paths in real-time based on their operational status. When one path succeeds, the system dynamically shifts to use only that path, reducing energy consumption. When paths fail, the system dynamically activates alternative paths, maintaining reliability adaptively.
Data Source
AI summary
A solution for providing user equipment (UE) location information during an emergency call (e.g., an E911 call) includes: detecting an emergency call originating from the UE; determining a location of the UE; based on at least detecting the emergency call originating from the UE, transmitting the location of the UE across a cellular network to an emergency monitoring node (e.g., a public safety answering points (PSAP) and/or a gateway mobile location center (GMLC)); and based on at least detecting the emergency call originating from the UE, transmitting the location of the UE across a packet data network (e.g., the internet, using a data plan) to the emergency monitoring node. This provides an alternate path for the location information, and some examples use a larger set of location information sources. In some examples, during the emergency call, based on available battery power, the UE location information may be updated.