Privacy-Related Requests for an IMS Emergency Session

Abstract

A network component is provided that includes a processor configured, upon the network component receiving an IMS (Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem) emergency call from a user equipment (UE), to detect in the emergency call an indicator requesting the network component to restrict presentation of private information related to the UE. The processor is further configured, when the indicator is present, to transmit the emergency call without at least some of the private information to a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP).

1 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . An IMS (Internet Protocol Multimedia Subsystem) network component comprising:
 a processor configured, upon the network component receiving an emergency request, to detect in the emergency request a request for privacy in relation to information associated with a user equipment (UE), and further configured, when privacy is requested, to forward to a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) the emergency request without at least some of the information associated with the UE.   
     
     
         25 . The network component of  claim 24 , wherein the network component is an emergency call session control function (E-CSCF) 
     
     
         26 . The network component of  claim 24 , wherein the at least some of the private information associated with the UE comprises a UE identity. 
     
     
         27 . The network component of  claim 24 , wherein the at least some of the private information associated with the UE comprises a UE location. 
     
     
         28 . The network component of  claim 24 , wherein the at least some of the private information associated with the UE comprises UE access network information. 
     
     
         29 . The network component of  claim 24 , wherein the emergency request is a second message which is received by the network component from a UE after the network component sends a first message to the UE containing an indicator indicating that the UE had made a previous emergency request. 
     
     
         30 . The network component of  claim 29 , wherein the UE is unaware that the previous emergency request was related to an emergency. 
     
     
         31 . The network component of  claim 29 , wherein the network component sends the first message to the UE to initiate a callback in response to the previous emergency request. 
     
     
         32 . The network component of  claim 24 , wherein the emergency request includes the at least some of the information associated with the UE. 
     
     
         33 . The network component of  claim 24 , wherein the processor is further configured to, prior to forwarding the emergency call to the PSAP, select the PSAP based on the at least some of the information associated with the UE. 
     
     
         34 . The network component of  claim 32 , wherein the at least some of the information associated with the UE includes location information. 
     
     
         35 . The network component of  claim 32 , wherein the processor is further configured to remove a location object from the emergency request. 
     
     
         36 . The network component of  claim 32 , wherein the processor is further configured to remove a geolocation header field from the emergency call. 
     
     
         37 . The network component of  claim 32 , wherein the processor is further configured to remove from the emergency call a Globally Routable UA (User Agent) (URI) Uniform Resource Identifier) (GRUU). 
     
     
         38 . The network component of  claim 24 , wherein the processor is further configured when privacy is requested to determine if an operator policy allows requests for suppression of public user identifiers and location information. 
     
     
         39 . A method for maintaining privacy, comprising:
 receiving an emergency request;   detecting in the emergency request a request for privacy in relation to information associated with a user equipment (UE); and   when privacy is requested, forwarding to a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) The emergency request without at least some of the information associated with the UE.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the method is performed by an emergency call session control function (E-CSCF) 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the at least some of the private information associated with the UE comprises a UE identity. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the at least some of the private information associated with the UE comprises a UE location. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the at least some of the private information associated with the UE comprises UE access network information. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the emergency request is a second message which is received from a UE after sending a first message to the UE containing an indicator indicating that the UE had made a previous emergency request. 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the UE is unaware that the previous emergency request was related to an emergency. 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the first message is sent to the UE to initiate a callback in response to the previous emergency request. 
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the emergency request includes the at least some of the information associated with the UE. 
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising prior to forwarding the emergency call to the PSAP, select the PSAP based on the at least some of the information associated with the UE. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the at least some of the information associated with the UE includes location information. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 47 , further comprising removing a location object from the emergency request. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 47 , further comprising removing a geolocation header field from the emergency call. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 47 , further comprising removing from the emergency call a Globally Routable UA (User Agent) (URI) Uniform Resource Identifier) (GRUU)). 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising when privacy is requested, determining if an operator policy allows requests for suppression of public user identifiers and location information.