VoLTE Device Preference for E911 Positioning
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile devices may fail to determine their position during emergency calls, such as E911 calls, due to unsupported protocols or lack of GPS visibility, leading to unreliable positioning information for public safety answering points.
Innovation Solution
A VoLTE device preference mechanism that selects the most reliable network access technology, such as CDMA over LTE, to ensure accurate position determination by utilizing existing and more ubiquitous network infrastructure when GPS or other protocols fail.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a mobile device based PDE is used to determine position, then the device can support multiple protocols, but the device may not support all protocols and may fail to determine position due to unsupported protocols or lack of GPS visibility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a network-based PDE as an intermediary system to perform position determination when the mobile device-based PDE cannot determine position due to unsupported protocols or GPS visibility issues. The network-based PDE acts as a fallback mechanism that receives requests from the mobile device and determines position using network-based methods, thereby ensuring reliable position determination for E911 calls regardless of device capabilities or environmental conditions.
2Reliability
If GPS is used for position determination, then position can be determined independently of network protocols, but GPS visibility may be lacking in certain situations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a fallback mechanism that is prepared in advance for GPS visibility problems. The system is configured to attempt GPS-based position determination first, but has a pre-established backup plan to switch to network-based PDE if GPS fails due to visibility issues. This cushioning approach ensures that position determination reliability is maintained even when GPS signals are unavailable.
3Reliability
If network based PDE is used to ensure position determination, then the MPC can provide positional information to the ALI database, but the mobile device must utilize a particular mobile network access technology
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic selection mechanism that adapts the network access technology based on device capabilities and network availability. The mobile device and network work together to determine the most appropriate access technology (such as VoLTE or other technologies) for each specific situation, allowing the system to flexibly switch between different network technologies while ensuring reliable position determination through the network-based PDE.
Data Source
AI summary
A mobile device has several ways to determine position, some of which rely on interaction with the network. Once mobile device establishes a call, the call may remain on the network access technology and band over which the call was established, even if the call requires services not supported by the network access technology and/or band. So, when a call requires a position determination (e.g. emergency call), the mobile device selects a network access technology and band which will potentially improve the probability and accuracy of position determination, even if interaction with the network is not required because other position determination techniques (e.g. GPS) may be available.