U.S. patent application number 17/470887 was filed with the patent office on 2021-12-30 for conveying precise civic address with an emergency call.
The applicant listed for this patent is T-Mobile USA, Inc.. Invention is credited to Wei-Ming LAN.
Application Number | 20210409929 17/470887 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000005830257 |
Filed Date | 2021-12-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210409929 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
LAN; Wei-Ming |
December 30, 2021 |
CONVEYING PRECISE CIVIC ADDRESS WITH AN EMERGENCY CALL
Abstract
A system for appending an emergency call (e.g., E911) with a
location is described herein. The system appends the emergency call
to a public safety answering point (PSAP) with a location from
which the E911 call occurred. A user equipment (UE), which places
the emergency call, connects to the beacon via short-range
communication and acquires the location from a beacon. The UE
transmits the location to the PSAP via a telecommunications
network.
Inventors: |
LAN; Wei-Ming; (Morrisville,
NC) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
T-Mobile USA, Inc. |
Bellevue |
WA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000005830257 |
Appl. No.: |
17/470887 |
Filed: |
September 9, 2021 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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16887220 |
May 29, 2020 |
11134368 |
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17470887 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W 4/80 20180201; H04W
4/90 20180201; H04W 76/50 20180201 |
International
Class: |
H04W 4/90 20060101
H04W004/90; H04W 76/50 20060101 H04W076/50; H04W 4/80 20060101
H04W004/80 |
Claims
1. A user equipment (UE), comprising: a communication module
configured to transmit a beacon connection inquiry; and a processor
configured to: generate the beacon connection inquiry in response
to receiving user input that includes an emergency string, receive
a beacon inquiry response from a beacon that includes a beacon
precise location, in response to receiving the beacon inquiry
response, determine whether the beacon precise location is closer
in proximity to the UE than a stored location stored within a
memory of the UE, and an output configured to, based on the
determination of whether the beacon precise location is closer in
proximity to the UE than the stored location, transmit a
communication in response to the emergency string that includes the
beacon precise location or the stored location.
2. The system of claim 1, wherein the beacon precise location
includes one or more of a building number, a street name, a town,
an identifying location within the a building, a floor number, a
room number, and a directional corner.
3. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory is further configured
to store the beacon inquiry response or the beacon precise
location.
4. The system of claim 1, wherein the UE further includes a
short-range communication module, the short-range communication
module configured to receive the beacon inquiry response from the
beacon and to transmit the communication in response to the
emergency string that includes the beacon precise location.
5. The system of claim 4, wherein a short-range communication
protocol of the short-range communication module includes
Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Zigbee, or ultra-wideband.
6. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further
configured to: in response to receiving the beacon inquiry
response, determine that the beacon precise location is closer in
proximity to the UE than the stored location, and the output is
further configured to, based on the determination that the beacon
precise location is closer in proximity to the UE than the stored
location, transmit the communication in response to the emergency
string that includes the beacon precise location.
7. The system of claim 6, wherein the beacon inquiry response is a
first beacon inquiry response from a first beacon that includes a
first beacon precise location, and the processor is further
configured to: receive a second beacon inquiry response from a
second beacon that includes a second beacon precise location, in
response to receiving the first beacon inquiry response and the
second beacon inquiry response, determine that the first beacon
precise location or the second beacon precise location is closer in
proximity to the UE than the stored location stored within the
memory of the UE, and the output is further configured to, based on
the determination that the first beacon precise location or the
second beacon precise location is closer in proximity to the UE
than the stored location, transmit the communication in response to
the emergency string that includes the first beacon precise
location or the second beacon precise location, respectively.
8. The system of claim 7, wherein the processor is further
configured to determine whether the first beacon precise location
or the second beacon precise location is closer in proximity to the
UE based on a comparison of a feature of the first beacon inquiry
response and the second beacon inquiry response.
9. The system of claim 8, wherein the feature is a signal
strength.
10. The system of claim 9, wherein the processor is further
configured to determine the signal strength of the first beacon
inquiry response and the signal strength of the second beacon
inquiry response before comparing the signal strength of the first
beacon inquiry response and the second beacon inquiry response.
11. The system of claim 9, wherein the first beacon inquiry
response includes the signal strength of the first beacon inquiry
response, and the second beacon inquiry response includes the
signal strength of the second beacon inquiry response.
12. The system of claim 1, wherein the UE further includes a
network communicator configured to communicate with a network site
of a telecommunications network, the network communicator
configured to transmit the communication in response to the
emergency string including the beacon precise location or the
stored location to a public safety answering point (PSAP) via the
telecommunications network.
13. The system of claim 1, wherein the UE further includes a
movement module configured to: after receiving the beacon inquiry
response, determine movement of the UE from a first location to a
second location, transmit another beacon connection inquiry when
the UE is determined to have moved from the first location to the
second location, and receive another beacon inquiry response when
the UE is located at the second location.
14. A method of determining a precise location of a user equipment
(UE), comprising: receiving user input that includes an emergency
string, in response to receiving the user input that includes the
emergency string, generating a beacon connection inquiry,
transmitting the beacon connection inquiry to one of multiple
beacons; in response to transmitting the beacon connection inquiry,
receiving a beacon inquiry response that includes a beacon precise
location, in response to receiving the beacon inquiry response,
determining whether the beacon precise location is closer in
proximity to the UE than a stored location saved in a memory of the
UE, and based on determining whether the beacon precise location is
closer in proximity to the UE than the stored location,
transmitting a response communication to the emergency string that
includes the beacon precise location or the stored location,
respectively.
15. The method of claim 14, further comprising storing the beacon
inquiry response in the memory if the beacon precise location is
closer in proximity to the UE than the stored location.
16. The method of claim 14, further comprising: determining that
the beacon precise location is closer in proximity to the UE than
the stored location saved in the memory based on a signal strength
of the beacon precise location, and transmitting the response
communication to the emergency string that includes the beacon
precise location.
17. The method of claim 14, further comprising: determining that
the stored location is closer in proximity to the UE than the
beacon precise location based on a signal strength of the beacon
precise location, and transmitting the response communication to
the emergency string that includes the stored location.
18. The method of claim 14, further comprising: transmitting the
beacon connection inquiry to more than one of the multiple beacons,
in response to transmitting the beacon connection inquiry to more
than one of the multiple beacons, receiving multiple beacon inquiry
responses from the more than one of the multiple beacons, each of
the multiple beacon inquiry responses including a respective beacon
precise location, in response to receiving the multiple beacon
inquiry responses from the multiple beacons, determining whether
any one or more of the multiple beacon inquiry responses is in
closer proximity to the UE than the stored location, and based on
determining whether any one of the multiple beacon inquiry
responses is in closer proximity to the UE than the stored
location, transmitting the response communication to the emergency
string that includes the one or more beacon precise locations or
the stored location, respectively.
19. The method of claim 18, further comprising: determining that
one of the multiple beacon precise locations of the respective more
than one multiple beacon inquiry responses is closer in proximity
to the UE than the stored location, and based on determining that
the one of the multiple beacon precise locations of the respective
more than one multiple beacon inquiry responses is closer in
proximity to the UE than the stored location, transmitting the
response communication to the emergency string that includes the
one or more of the multiple beacon precise locations.
20. The method of claim 19, further comprising determining that one
of the multiple beacon precise locations is closer in proximity to
the UE than the stored location based on a comparison of a
respective signal strength of each of the multiple beacon precise
locations.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of and claims priority to
pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/887,220, filed May 29,
2020, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference in
their entirety.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Wired phone lines (or landlines) used to dominate the
telecommunications industry. Determining a location of the landline
associated with an emergency call was straightforward since the
landline was registered to a fixed physical location. The emergency
service could look-up the location of the landline, such as with an
ANI (Automatic Number Identification) and ALI (Automatic Location
Identification) system or a comparable system. However, as mobile
devices have become more ubiquitous, landlines have essentially
become obsolete.
[0003] Providing a location of the mobile device at the time an
emergency service is requested is more complicated than matching an
address to which the mobile device is registered because, by its
very nature, the mobile device physically moves around, such as
moving with its user.
[0004] Timely giving location information of a user requesting an
emergency service can be the difference between a minor
inconvenience and a major catastrophe. When an incorrect or
inaccurate location is provided, the emergency service must search
for the proper location, which can delay the requested or needed
help and potentially cause the requester of the emergency service
or others to suffer harm. However, providing the proper location
allows the emergency service to efficiently head directly to the
physical location of the incident requiring the emergency service.
The time delays caused by emergency services needing to search for
the location of the incident increase the risk and decrease the
safety of the incident for the affected person(s) or situation.
[0005] What is needed is a telecommunications network for providing
a more accurate location of a user equipment for deployment of
emergency services. What is further needed is a telecommunication
network for determining the location of the user equipment more
efficiently.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 illustrates an example network.
[0007] FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of an example location
system.
[0008] FIG. 3A illustrates a flowchart for an example process for
appending a location to an emergency call.
[0009] FIG. 3B illustrates a flowchart for another example process
for appending a location to an emergency call.
[0010] FIG. 4 illustrates a building having multiple example
beacons.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0011] A system for appending an emergency call (e.g., E911 call)
with a location is described herein. To ensure an emergency service
can properly locate a user requesting or requiring the emergency
service, a location, including an updated or up-to-the-minute
location, of the user equipment (UE) can be provided to the
emergency service.
[0012] The system appends the emergency call to a public safety
answering point (PSAP) with a location, such as a civic address,
associated with a beacon. The UE connects to the beacon via a
short-range communication protocol and requests the location. The
location is stored in memory, such as cache memory, of the UE. The
UE, upon recognizing the "911" string for the emergency call,
retrieves the location from the memory and appends the call with
the physical address.
[0013] FIG. 1 shows a system including a telecommunications network
100. The telecommunications network 100 includes an access network
(e.g., E-UTRAN; VoLTE; 5G NR; VoNR) 104 which includes a network
site (e.g., eNodeB or gNB). The access network 104 transmits data,
including data packets, between user equipment (UE) 102 and a
public switched telephone network (PSTN) 140, such as through a
data core 110 and IP multimedia subsystem (IMS) core 120. The
network site controls the UE 102 within a given cell of the
telecommunications network 100. For example, the network site sends
and receives radio transmission(s) to the UE 102 using analog and
digital signal processing functions of an access network air
interface. The network site also controls low-level operations of
the UE 102 via signaling messages, such as handover commands.
[0014] The network site includes a UE communication module
programmed to communicate with the UE 102 (i.e., transmit a signal
or data). The UE communication module can be an interface, such as
a UU or e-Uu interface. The network site also includes a data core
communication module programmed to communicate (i.e., transmit a
signal or data) with the data core 110. The data core communication
module can be an interface, such as a S1, GTP, or NG interface.
[0015] The UE 102 is any device used by an end-user for
communication or data transmission purposes, including, without
limitation, a mobile phone, a smartphone, a tablet, a personal
digital assistant, a laptop with mobile connectivity, or the
like.
[0016] The data core 110 is an IP-based core network infrastructure
that provides packet data services, such as to support the
convergence of licensed and unlicensed radio technologies (e.g., an
evolved packet core (EPC) or 5G Core). The data core 110 can be
defined around various paradigms, including mobility, policy
management, and security. The four elements of the data core
include a home subscriber server (HSS) 114, a mobility management
entity (MME) 112, a serving gateway (SGW) 116, and a packet data
network gateway (PGW) 118.
[0017] The MME 112 pages and authenticates the UE 102. The MME 112
can retain location information at the tracker level for each UE
102 and selects the appropriate gateway during the initial
registration process. The MME 112 can connect to the network site
via a S1-MME interface and to the SGW 116 via a S11 interface.
[0018] The SGW 116 forwards and routes packets (e.g., data packets)
to and from the network site and the PGW 118. The SGW 116 connects
to the network site via an S1-M and to the PGW 118 via a S5/S8
interface.
[0019] The PGW 118 provides connectivity between the UE 102 and
external data packet networks, including the IMS 120. The PGW 118
can be connected to a proxy call session control function (P-CSCF)
124 of the IMS 120 via a SGi interface. The PGW 118 can also be
connected to a media gateway (MGW) 128 of the IMS 120 via a SGi
interface.
[0020] The HSS 114 of the data core 110, which is in communication
with the MME 112 via a S6 interface, is a database that contains
user-related information and subscriber-related information.
[0021] The IMS 120, which is an architectural framework for
delivering IP multimedia services. The IMS 120 also handles session
management and media control. The IMS 120 can communicate with a
secondary network, such as the PSTN 140, via a gateway or function.
The IMS 120 can include a serving call state control function
(S-CSCF) 122, emergency call state control function (E-CSCF) 126,
the P-CSCF 124, the MGW 128, and a media gateway control function
(MGCF) 130.
[0022] The P-CSCF 124 can connect to the S-CSCF 122 via an Mw
interface, to the E-CSCF 126 via an Mw interface, and to the PGW
118 via a Gm interface. The P-CSCF 124 can handle registration
requests with an emergency public user identifier, detect and
prioritize an emergency session, prevent the assertion of an
emergency public user identifier in non-emergency requests, query
IP connectivity access network, select an E-CSCF 126 in the network
to handle the emergency session request, the like, or combinations
or multiples thereof
[0023] The S-CSCF 122 can determine the duration of the
registration for a received emergency registration. The S-CSCF 122
can also download or request a user profile.
[0024] The E-CSCF 126 can receive an emergency session
establishment request from the P-CSCF 124, request a location
retrieval function (LRF) 132 to retrieve location information
(including a validation request), determine or query the LRF 132
for proper routing information or PSAP destination, route emergency
session establishment requests to an appropriate destination,
forward session initiation protocol requests including UE location
information to a PSAP 142, the like, or combinations or multiples
thereof.
[0025] The MGCF 130 facilitates call control between the IMS 120
and the PSTN 140. The MGCF 130 can connect to the E-CSCF 126 via an
Mw interface. The MGW 128 can translate or convert media streams
between dissimilar telecommunications networks.
[0026] The LRF 132 can connect to the E-CSCF 126 via an Mi
interface and to the PSTN 140 via a Le interface. The LRF 132 can
retrieve location information for the UE 102 (including interacting
with one or more location servers), can route information, the
like, or combinations or multiples thereof.
[0027] The PSAP 142 is a call center where emergency calls (e.g.,
police, fire, ambulance) initiated by the UE 102 are received
(i.e., where the call terminates). The PSTN 140 can route or
direct, whether selectively or otherwise, a call to the PSAP 142,
such a as via router or selective router. The PSAP 142 can initiate
the emergency service response, such as by dispatching the
emergency service provider.
[0028] FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of a location system including
the UE 102 and a beacon 200. The beacon 200 includes memory 210 to
store a location 212, including a civic address (e.g., physical
address), at which the beacon 200 is located. The civic address can
include a building number, a street name, a town, a city, a zip
code, a zip plus 4, an identifying location within a building
(e.g., floor number, room number directional corner, the like, or
combinations thereof), the like, or combinations or multiples
thereof. In one example, the location 212 can be pre-programmed
(e.g., by a manufacturer) and not changeable when the beacon 200 is
intended to be fixed to the location 212. In another example, the
location 212 can be re-programmed (i.e., updated, changed, or
customized), such as by a user, when the beacon 200 is moved
around, placed in a unique location, or the like.
[0029] The beacon 200 also includes a short-range communicator 220
to communicate with one or more external devices, such as the UE
102, within range via a short-range communication protocol. The
short-range communication protocol can be Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Zigbee,
ultra-wideband, the like, or combinations or multiples thereof. In
one example, the short-range communication protocol has a range
less than or equal to 10 meters.
[0030] The short-range communicator 220 can acquire the location
212 of the UE, such as via a message or instruction to the memory
210, for transmission to the UE 102 via the short-range
protocol.
[0031] The beacon 200 also includes an identifier 230 to identify
the beacon 200 amongst other devices running the same short-range
communication protocol within range of the UE 102 that are
discoverable by the UE 102. The short-range communicator 220 can
broadcast the identifier 230 via the short-range protocol for
recognition by the UE 102 when within range. In one example, the UE
102 can select the beacon 200 automatically based on the emergency
number or string having been input into the UE 102. In another
example, a user or operator can select the beacon 200, such as from
a list of discoverable devices running the same short-range
communication protocol within range of the UE 102.
[0032] The UE 102 includes a communication module 250 including a
short-range communicator 252 and a network communicator 254. The
short-range communicator 252 communicates with one or more
discoverable devices, such as the beacon 200, within range via a
short-range communication protocol. The short-range communication
protocol can be Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, Zigbee, ultra-wideband, the like,
or combinations or multiples thereof. In one example, the
short-range communication protocol has a range less than or equal
to 10 meters.
[0033] The short-range communicator 252 can acquire the location
212 from the beacon 200 for transmission to the PSAP 142 via the
telecommunications network 100. To acquire the location 212, the UE
102 initially pairs with or connects to the beacon 200. To pair
with or connect to the beacon 200, the UE 102 identifies the beacon
200 based on the identifier 230. When multiple beacons are present,
the proper beacon is selected (e.g., automatically by the UE 102 or
with user or operator input). The UE 102, via the short-range
communicator 252, then sends a pairing request to the short-range
communicator 220 of the beacon 200 via the short-range protocol.
The beacon 200, via the short-range communicator 220, then sends a
pairing response accepting or rejecting the pairing request to the
short-range communicator 252 of the UE 102 via the short-range
protocol. When the pairing request is accepted, the short-range
communicator 252 of the UE 102 and the short-range communicator 220
of the beacon 200 then pair via legacy pairing or a secure
connection, including generating a temporary or secure key. A
connection, such as an encrypted connection, with the key generated
during the pairing step is then established.
[0034] The UE 102 can also detect the identifier 230 broadcasted by
the beacon 200 via the short-range communication protocol. To
detect the identifier 230, the beacon 200 and the UE 102 need not
be paired. In other words, the beacon 200 can be identified and
selected before the UE 102 and the beacon 200 are paired or
connected.
[0035] The network communicator 254 communicates with the
telecommunications network through the network site, such as via a
Uu or e-Uu interface. The network communicator 254 can output or
transmit the civic address (e.g., physical address) via a
message.
[0036] The UE 102 can also include a movement module 240 to
determine whether or not the UE 102 has changed locations,
including the rate of movement, the direction of movement, or both.
By determining whether or not the UE 102 has moved via the movement
module 240, the UE 102 can determine whether or not the location
stored within the memory 260 is still appropriate to send to the
emergency services or if a new location should be acquired via
another beacon.
[0037] The movement module 240 can include a magnetometer, a
gyroscope, an accelerometer, a pedometer, the like, or combinations
or multiples thereof The magnetometer measures magnetic fields and
can be used as a compass (i.e. determine orientation), due, at
least in part, to the earth's magnetic field. The accelerometer,
which measures one or more accelerations, can measure a change in
velocity since the acceleration is the first time derivative of the
velocity, and a change in position, such as by integrating the
acceleration signal. The gyroscope measures either changes in
orientation or rotational velocity. The pedometer counts the number
of steps taken by a user of the UE 102. In one example, the
movement module 240 can include a secondary location determiner to
validate or confirm the location or movement. The secondary
location determiner can be assisted GPA, Observed Time Difference
of Arrival (OTDOA), the magnetometer, the gyroscope, the
accelerometer, the pedometer, the like, or combinations or
multiples thereof.
[0038] The UE 102 also includes memory 260 to store information,
such as the location 212 acquired from the beacon 200, whether
temporarily or permanently. One type of memory 260 is cache memory
262. The cache memory 262 is temporary storage which is more
readily available or more efficiently retrievable than one or more
other types of memory 260. The cache memory 262 can be
chip-based.
[0039] FIG. 3A shows a flowchart for a process for appending an
emergency call with a location. At 302, an emergency number or
string (e.g., "911") is received by the UE 102 and a call to that
emergency number or string is initiated.
[0040] At 304, the UE 102 connects to the beacon 200 via the
short-range protocol implemented by the short-range communicators
252, 220, respectively. In one example, the UE 102, upon
recognizing the emergency number or string, can automatically pair
with the beacon 200. In another example, the UE 102, upon
recognizing the emergency number of string, displays the beacon 200
or a list of discoverable devices, including the beacon 200, to the
user or operator for selection.
[0041] At 306, the UE 102 acquires the location 212 from the beacon
200. To acquire the location 212, the UE 102, via the short-range
communicator 252, sends a message to the short-range communicator
220 of the beacon 200 via the short-range protocol. The message can
include an instruction or a request for the beacon 200 to return
the location 212. The beacon 200 processes the message and
retrieves the location 212 from the memory 210. The beacon 200, via
the short-range communicator 220, then transmits the location 212
to the short-range communicator 252 of the UE 102 via the
short-range protocol.
[0042] The UE 102 can then store the location 212 in the memory
260. Alternatively, the UE 102 can push the location 212 directly
to the PSAP 142 and forego, at least initially, storing the
location 212 within the memory 260.
[0043] In one example, steps 304 and 306 occur before step 302. The
UE 102 connects to the beacon 200 via the short-range protocol
implemented by the short-range communicators 252, 220,
respectively. The beacon 200 transmits the location 212 to the UE
102, which stores the location 212 in the memory 260. The UE 102
then receives the emergency number or string.
[0044] At 308, the location 212 of the beacon 200 is transmitted to
the PSAP 142 via the UE 102. The emergency call is appended with
the location 212. In the telecommunications network 100, as shown
in FIG. 1, the emergency number (e.g., 911) is recognized by the UE
102 and a prioritized communication channel to an emergency access
point name is established. In doing so, a default migration path or
tunnel is provided for signaling, such that a signaling pathway to
initiate a communication session is established. An instruction or
request is transmitted from the UE 102 via the access network 104
to the SGW 116 then to the PGW 118. The instruction or request is
then transmitted from the PGW 118 to the P-CSCF 124. The P-CSCF 124
detects an emergency request uniform resource identifier (R-URI)
from the instruction or request and the SIP INVITE to the E-CSCF
126. The E-CSCF 126, in response to the instruction or request,
queries the LRF 132 for the UE 102 location and routes the UE
location to the PSAP 142 via the MGCF 130 and the PSTN 140.
Alternatively, or additionally, the PSAP 142 can query the LRF 132
for the UE location. Alternatively, or additionally, the LRF 132
can query the UE 102 for the UE location. The S-CSCF 122 also
receives an emergency registration via the instruction or
request.
[0045] Furthermore, a user plane is provided for media, such that a
media pathway for a voice service is established. A voice signal is
transmitted from the UE 102 via the access network 104 to the SGW
116 then to the PGW 118. The voice signal is then transmitted from
the PGW 118 to the MGW 128. The voice signal is routed from the MGW
132 to the PSAP 142 via the PSTN 140.
[0046] In other words, the location 212 can be transmitted with the
instruction or request to initiate the communication session or in
response to a data pass. The voice signal can be transmitted on an
established user plane separate from the instruction or request
pathway.
[0047] FIG. 3B shows a flowchart for a process for appending an
emergency call with a location. At 310, the UE 102 disconnects from
a first beacon based on movement of the UE 102. The UE 102 can
disconnect from the first beacon because the first beacon is no
longer within range of the short-range communicator 252 of the UE
102, because a second beacon (to which the UE 102 subsequently
connects) includes a more accurate location (as determined by the
movement module 240 of the UE 102, by UE 102 comparison of signal
strengths of one or more beacons, or both), or both. At 312, the UE
102 connects to a second beacon within range of the short-range
communicator 252 of the UE 102.
[0048] Alternatively, at 320 and 322, the UE 102 moves within range
of the first beacon, such as by the UE 102 initially entering a
building or domicile, and connects to the first beacon.
[0049] For example, as shown in FIG. 4, a building 400 can include
multiple beacons 200a-200f. For convenience of discussion, each
beacon 200a-200f has a range of 10 meters, as shown by the
concentric dashed circles radiating from each beacon 200a-200f. The
first floor includes beacons 200a, 200b. The second floor includes
beacons 200c, 200d. The third floor includes beacons 200e, 200f.
Though the example depicts 3 floors with 2 beacons each, any number
of floors, rooms, beacons, or configuration is included.
[0050] In one example, the beacons 200a-200f can have different
ranges among the beacons 200a-200f (e.g., beacon 200a has a 10
meter range, beacon 200b has a 2 meter range, beacon 200c has a 20
meter range, and so on). In another example, the range of one or
more of the beacons 200a-200f can be customized based on the
physical space (e.g., a floor of a building is 5 meters by 5
meters, and the beacon range is set to 5 meters even when it has a
10 meter range capability). The ranges can be affected by or
customized by transmission power, emission capabilities, or
both.
[0051] As the UE 102 moves throughout the building 400, the UE 102
pairs to beacon 200a, then unpairs from beacon 200a and pairs with
one of the other beacons 200b-200f based on movement of the UE 102.
In other words, the UE 102 pairs to the beacon that is closest or
most proximal to the UE 102 to provide the most accurate location
of the UE 102 when calling an emergency service. To determine the
closest or most proximal beacon, the UE 102 can determine the
signal strength of the beacons 200a-200f and pair with the beacon
having the strongest signal. Alternatively, the UE 102 can display
a list to the user or operator showing the available beacons and
the respective signal strengths, to permit selection of the closest
or most proximal beacon.
[0052] Each beacon of the multiple beacons can have a unique
identifier (e.g., the beacon 200a can have an identifier of "First
Floor, NW Corner," the beacon 200f can have an identifier of "Third
Floor, SE Corner," etc.), a unique location (e.g., the beacon 200a
can have an identifier of "123 Main Street, Anytown, 09876, First
Floor, NW Corner," the beacon 200f can have an identifier of "123
Main Street, Anytown, 09876, Third Floor, SE Corner," etc.), or
both. The unique identifier is an identifier which is unique to an
individual beacon within range of the UE via the short-range
communication protocol, such as when one or more devices use the
short-range communication protocol. This permits the beacon to be
selected over one or more other devices, such as earbuds, speakers,
or the like, which run on or communicate with the same short-range
communication protocol.
[0053] Returning to FIG. 3B, at 314, the UE 102 acquires a location
associated with the second beacon (or the first beacon, where
appropriate) from the second beacon (or the first beacon, where
appropriate). To acquire the location, the UE 102, via the
short-range communicator 252, sends a message to the short-range
communicator of the second beacon (or the first beacon, where
appropriate) via the short-range protocol. The message can include
an instruction or a request for the second beacon (or the first
beacon, where appropriate) to return the location. The second
beacon (or the first beacon, where appropriate) processes the
message and retrieves the location from the memory 210. The second
beacon (or the first beacon, where appropriate), via the
short-range communicator 220, then transmits the location 212 to
the short-range communicator 252 of the UE 102 via the short-range
protocol.
[0054] The UE 102 can then store the beacon location in the memory
260. The UE 102 can also store the identifier 230 in the memory
260. Alternatively, the UE 102 can push the location 212 directly
to the PSAP 142 and forego, at least initially, storing the
location 212 within the memory 260.
[0055] At 316, an emergency number or string (e.g., "911") is input
into the UE 102 and a call to that emergency number or string is
initiated.
[0056] At 318, the location 212 of the second beacon (or the first
beacon, where appropriate) is transmitted to the PSAP 142 via the
UE 102. The emergency call is appended with the location. In the
telecommunications network 100, as shown in FIG. 1, the emergency
number (e.g., 911) is recognized by the UE 102 and a prioritized
communication channel to an emergency access point name is
established. In doing so, a default migration path or tunnel is
provided for signaling, such that a signaling pathway to initiate a
communication session is established. An instruction or request is
transmitted from the UE 102 via the access network 104 to the SGW
116 then to the PGW 118. The instruction or request is then
transmitted from the PGW 118 to the P-CSCF 124. The P-CSCF 124
detects an emergency request uniform resource identifier (R-URI)
from the instruction or request and the SIP INVITE to the E-CSCF
126. The E-CSCF 126, in response to the instruction or request,
queries the LRF 132 for the location and routes the location to the
PSAP 142 via the MGCF 130 and the PSTN 140. Alternatively, or
additionally, the PSAP 142 can query the LRF 132 for the location.
Alternatively, or additionally, the LRF 132 can query the UE 102
for the location. The S-CSCF 122 also receives an emergency
registration via the instruction or request.
[0057] Furthermore, a user plane is provided for media, such that a
media pathway for a voice service is established. A voice signal is
transmitted from the UE 102 via the access network 104 to the SGW
116 then to the PGW 118. The voice signal is then transmitted from
the PGW 118 to the MGW 128. The voice signal is routed from the MGW
132 to the PSAP 142 via the PSTN 140.
[0058] In other words, the location 212 can be transmitted with the
instruction or request to initiate the communication session or in
response to a data pass. The voice signal can be transmitted on an
established user plane separate from the instruction or request
pathway.
[0059] Embodiments of the invention can include a non-transitory
computer readable medium which can store instructions for
performing the above-described methods and any steps thereof,
including any combinations of the same. For example, the
non-transitory computer readable medium can store instructions for
execution by one or more processors or similar devices.
[0060] Further embodiments of the present invention can also
include the one or more user equipment(s), network sites, backend
network, or servers which read out and execute computer executable
instructions, such as a non-transitory computer-readable medium,
recorded or stored on a storage medium (which may be the same as or
different than the storage medium for storing images or files, as
discussed above), to perform the functions of any embodiment. The
user equipment or server may include one or more of a central
processing unit (CPU), micro processing unit (MPU), or other
circuitry, such as a processor, and may include a network of
separate user equipment or servers or separate computer processors.
The computer executable instructions may be provided to the user
equipment, network node, or server, for example, from a network or
the storage medium.
[0061] Though certain elements, aspects, components or the like are
described in relation to one embodiment or example of a
telecommunications network, those elements, aspects, components or
the like can be including with any other telecommunications
network, such as when it desirous or advantageous to do so.
[0062] The foregoing description, for purposes of explanation, used
specific nomenclature to provide a thorough understanding of the
disclosure. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art
that the specific details are not required in order to practice the
systems and methods described herein. The foregoing descriptions of
specific embodiments or examples are presented by way of examples
for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended
to be exhaustive of or to limit this disclosure to the precise
forms described. Many modifications and variations are possible in
view of the above teachings. The embodiments or examples are shown
and described in order to best explain the principles of this
disclosure and practical applications, to thereby enable others
skilled in the art to best utilize this disclosure and various
embodiments or examples with various modifications as are suited to
the particular use contemplated. It is intended that the scope of
this disclosure be defined by the following claims and their
equivalents.
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