Telecommunications – Radiotelephone system – Emergency or alarm communication
Reexamination Certificate
1997-01-14
2001-05-15
Nguyen, Lee (Department: 2683)
Telecommunications
Radiotelephone system
Emergency or alarm communication
C455S521000, C379S045000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06233445
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mobile telecommunications network and, in particular, to informing mobile stations as to prior requested emergency call connections from substantially the same geographic area.
2. Description of Related Art
The Emergency Service Bureau (ESB), more commonly known in the United States as 9-1-1 service, provides emergency assistance to persons in need of help. A mobile telephone subscriber, for example, seeking emergency service merely has to dial a short unique number (such as 911 in the U.S.) to establish a fast emergency call connection with a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) providing the ESB service. With the improvements and developments in mobile telecommunications technology, the PSAP is able to ascertain the approximate location of the mobile station (via cell identity, or global positioning system -GPS, etc.), and provide emergency assistance to the requesting mobile station based on mobile station location.
In case an emergency incident occurs within a densely populated or frequently traveled location, such as a major highway or crowded public place, it is known that a large number of emergency calls reporting the same incident are often generated towards an associated PSAP. This is because individuals reporting the incident are unable to previously determine whether the incident has already been reported to the PSAP. While the ESB does not want to discourage individuals from reporting emergencies, such an increase in the number of emergency 911 calls can inundate the PSAP terminals with known adverse effects. For example, such multiple reports of the same incident tie up the PSAP operators and associated communications links and, may prevent operators from handling new, and perhaps higher priority, emergency calls. Inability to answer and assist a new emergency situation is obviously undesirable within the ESB system.
Accordingly, there is a need for a mechanism to help limit or reduce the number of emergency calls placed and answered relating to the same emergency or incident.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A request for an emergency call connection is received by a mobile switching center (MSC) serving a particular mobile station. A determination is then made of the current location of the mobile station requesting the emergency call connection. A further determination is made as to whether another emergency call connection has already been received from approximately the same location area from another mobile station. In response to an affirmative determination, the mobile station is informed through an announcement message that an emergency has already been reported within the area of the current mobile station location. The mobile station may then terminate the emergency call connection or remain on-line to be connected to a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP).
In another embodiment of the present invention, a request for an emergency call connection is received by a serving MSC from a mobile station traveling within a particular geographic area. Thereafter, all other mobile stations traveling within approximately the same geographic area receive a message indicating that an emergency has been reported. Such a message may be transmitted by use of an unstructured data transmission to the mobile stations over one of the control channels. Mobile subscribers associated with the mobile stations receiving the message are then put on notice that an emergency has already been reported.
In yet another embodiment of the present invention, such announcement messages or unstructured data transmission are communicated only after a threshold number of emergency call connections or attempts have been received from approximately the same geographic area.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5052048 (1991-09-01), Heinrich
patent: 5479482 (1995-12-01), Grimes
patent: 5548583 (1996-08-01), Bustamante
patent: 5598460 (1997-01-01), Tendler
patent: 5689548 (1997-11-01), Maupin et al.
patent: 5712900 (1998-01-01), Maupin et al.
PCT International Search Report, Sep. 23, 1998, PCT/US 98/00753.
Alperovich Vladimir
Boltz David
Ericsson Inc.
Jenkens & Gilchrist
Nguyen Lee
Tran Congvan
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