# US 8,275,349 B2 · Method and system for providing tiered priority access to communication network resources

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- Number: US 8,275,349 B2
- Document ID: US8275349B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/273,146
- Filed: 2008-11-18
- Published: 2009-06-04
- Granted: 2012-09-25
- Earliest claimed: 2007-11-29
- Assignees: Rivada Networks, LLC
- Inventors: Clint Smith
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8275349B2

## CPC

- H04W 72/53: based on regulatory allocation policies
- H04L 47/24: Traffic characterised by specific attributes, e.g. priority or QoS
- H04W 4/90: Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
- H04W 24/08: Testing, {supervising or monitoring} using real traffic
- H04W 28/0215: {based on user or device properties, e.g. MTC-capable devices (services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC] H04W4/70; wireless resource selection or allocation plan definition based on terminal or device properties H04W72/51)}
- H04W 28/0247: {based on conditions of the access network or the infrastructure network (central resource management H04W28/16)}
- H04W 72/56: based on priority criteria
- H04W 72/566: of the information or information source or recipient
- H04W 76/50: for emergency connections
- H04W 36/22: for handling the traffic
- H04W 48/06: based on traffic conditions
- H04W 72/00: Local resource management
- H04W 76/36: for reassigning the resources associated with the released connections
- H04W 88/06: adapted for operation in multiple networks {or having at least two operational modes}, e.g. multi-mode terminals
- H04W 88/08: Access point devices
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)

## Abstract

Methods and systems automatically allocate cellular communication network resources to emergency response personnel during emergency situations which are detected by call volumes exceeding a predetermined maximum. Access to cellular communication network resources is provided by dedicating a portion of communication channels to emergency response personnel use. By reserving whole communication channels for emergency communication purposes, emergency personnel are able to both initiate and receive calls from both other mobile devices as well as conventional landline telephone stations. Qualified emergency response personnel can preregistered their phones and be assigned personal identification numbers to enable access to allocated network resources. Users can also be registered “on the fly.”

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for providing wireless communication resources during an emergency incident comprising:
monitoring a wireless network call volume;
determining whether the wireless network call volume exceeds a first pre-determined threshold;
partitioning the wireless network resources for emergency usage if use by mobile devices of emergency personnel when the wireless network call volume exceeds the first pre-determined threshold;
reserving at least a portion of the partitioned wireless network resources for emergency usage use by mobile devices of authorized emergency personnel;
monitoring incoming and outgoing calls to determine whether a call is made from or to an authorized emergency personnel mobile device;
allowing general access to the partitioned and reserved wireless network resources so long as no call is made from or to an authorized emergency personnel mobile device; and
restricting access to the partitioned and reserved wireless network resource to authorized emergency personnel mobile devices if the in response to determining that a call is made from or to an authorized emergency personnel mobile device.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring incoming and outgoing calls to determine whether a call is made from or to an authorized emergency personnel mobile device comprises:
determining if whether a call is to or from a pre-registered mobile device.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring incoming and outgoing calls to determine whether a call is made from or to an authorized emergency personnel mobile device comprises:
recognizing a call made with a special dialing procedure;
extracting a personal identification number (PIN) from numbers entered in the special dialing procedure; comparing the PIN to a database of PINs; and
granting access to the partitioned and reserved wireless network resource if the PIN matches an entry in the database of PINs.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
monitoring the call volume on the partitioned and reserved wireless network resource;
determining whether the call volume on the partitioned and reserved wireless network resource exceeds a second pre-determined threshold; and
restricting access to additional partitioned and reserved wireless network resources to the authorized emergency personnel mobile devices in response to the call volume on the partitioned and reserved wireless network resource exceeding the second pre-determined threshold.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
determining whether the call volume on the partitioned and reserved wireless network resource is less than a third pre-determined minimum; and
automatically allowing general access to a previously restricted, partitioned and reserved wireless network resource to mobile devices in response to the call volume on the restricted, partitioned and reserved network resource being less than the third pre-determined minimum.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
notifying mobile devices serviced by a wireless network cell of an emergency incident; and
requesting in the notification of the emergency incident that non-emergency personnel limit wireless network usage.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
notifying mobile devices serviced by the allocated network resource that an in progress call and data session will be terminated; and
terminating the in progress call and data session.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, further comprising:
notifying a user of a mobile device serviced by the allocated network resource that an in progress call and data session will be terminated;
allowing the user of the notified mobile device to override termination by entering a Personal Identification Number (PIN); and
terminating the progress call and data session in response to a valid PIN not being entered within a predetermined amount of time.

### Claim 9 (depends on 3)

The method of claim 3, further comprising:
tracking mobile devices from which a call was made using the special dialing procedure was entered; and
treating such mobile devices as pre-registered mobile devices for a limited duration.

### Claim 10

An emergency cellular communication system, comprising:
a plurality of base stations which include a plurality of communication channels, each of the plurality of communication channels being capable of establishing voice and data telecommunications links with mobile devices;
a central processor coupled to the plurality of base stations;
a central processor memory coupled to the central processor, wherein the central processor memory has stored therein software instructions configured to cause the central processor to perform operations comprising:
monitoring a wireless network call volume at each of the plurality of base stations;
determining whether the wireless network call volume at any of the plurality of base stations exceeds a first pre-determined threshold;
partitioning the communication channels for emergency usage if use by mobile devices of emergency personnel at the one or more of the plurality of base stations where wireless network call volume exceeds the first pre-determined threshold;
reserving at least a portion of the partitioned communication channels for emergency usage use by the mobile devices of authorized emergency personnel;
monitoring incoming and outgoing calls at the one or more of the plurality of base stations where wireless network call volume exceeds the first pre-determined threshold to determine whether a call is made from or to an authorized emergency personnel mobile device;
allowing general access to the partitioned and reserved communication channels so long as no call is made from or to an authorized emergency personnel mobile device; and
restricting access to the partitioned and reserved communication channels to authorized emergency personnel mobile devices if the in response to determining that a call is made from or to an authorized emergency personnel mobile device.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The emergency cellular communication system of claim 10, wherein the stored software instructions are configured to cause the central processor to determine whether a call is made from or to any an authorized emergency personnel mobile device further cause the central processor to perform operations comprising:
determining whether a call is to or from a pre-registered mobile device.

### Claim 12 (depends on 10)

The emergency cellular communication system of claim 10, wherein the stored software instructions are configured to cause the central processor to determine whether a call is made from or to an authorized emergency personnel mobile device further cause the central processor to perform operations comprising:
recognizing a call made with a special dialing procedure;
extracting a personal identification number (PIN) from numbers entered in the special dialing procedure;
comparing the PIN to a database of PINs; and
granting access to the partitioned and reserved wireless network resource when the PIN matches an entry in the database of PINs.

### Claim 13 (depends on 10)

The emergency cellular communication system of claim 10, wherein the stored software instructions are configured to cause the central processor to perform further operations comprising:
monitoring the call volume on the partitioned and reserved communication channel;
determining whether the call volume on the partitioned and reserved communication channel exceeds a second pre-determined threshold; and
restricting access to additional partitioned and reserved communication channels to the authorized emergency personnel mobile devices if in response to the call volume on the partitioned and reserved communication channel exceeding the second pre-determined threshold.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The emergency cellular communication system of claim 10, wherein the stored software instructions are configured to cause the central processor to perform further operations comprising:
determining whether the call volume on the partitioned and reserved communication channel is less than a third pre-determined minimum; and
automatically allowing general access to a previously restricted, partitioned and reserved communication channel to mobile devices in response to the call volume on the restricted, partitioned and reserved communication channel being less than the third pre-determined minimum.

### Claim 15 (depends on 10)

The emergency cellular communication system of claim 10, wherein the stored software instructions are configured to cause the central processor to perform further operations comprising:
notifying mobile devices serviced by the one of the plurality of base stations of an emergency incident; and
requesting in the notification of the emergency incident that non-emergency personnel limit wireless network usage.

### Claim 16 (depends on 10)

The emergency cellular communication system of claim 10, wherein the stored software instructions are configured to cause the central processor to perform further operations comprising:
notifying a user of a mobile devices serviced by the allocated communication channel that an in progress call and data session will be terminated;
allowing the user of the notified mobile device to override termination by entering a Personal Identification Number (PIN); and
terminating the in progress call and data sessions in response to a valid PIN not being entered within a predetermined amount of time.

### Claim 17 (depends on 12)

The emergency cellular communication system of claim 12, wherein the stored therein software instructions are configured to cause the central processor to perform further operations comprising:
tracking mobile devices from which a call was made using the special dialing procedure was entered; and
treating such mobile devices as pre-registered mobile devices for a limited duration.

### Claim 18

A non-transitory processor-readable tangible storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor in a cellular communication network to perform operations comprising:
monitoring a wireless network call volume at a base station;
determining whether the wireless network call volume at the base station exceeds a first pre-determined threshold;
partitioning communication channels for emergency usage if use by mobile devices of emergency personnel when the wireless network call volume at the base station exceeds the first pre-determined threshold;
reserving at least a portion of the partitioned communication channels for emergency usage use by mobile devices of authorized emergency personnel;
monitoring incoming and outgoing calls at the base station to determine whether a call is made from or to an authorized emergency personnel mobile device;
allowing general access to the partitioned and reserved communication channels so long as no call is made from or to an authorized emergency personnel mobile device; and
restricting access to the partitioned and reserved communication channels to authorized emergency personnel mobile devices if the in response to determining that a call is made from or to an authorized emergency personnel mobile device.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The non-transitory processor-readable tangible storage medium of claim 18, wherein the stored software instructions are configured to cause the processor to perform operations such that determining whether a call is made from or to an authorized emergency personnel mobile device comprises:
determining whether a call is to or from a pre-registered mobile device.

### Claim 20 (depends on 18)

The non-transitory processor-readable tangible storage medium of claim 18, wherein the stored software instructions are configured to cause the processor to perform operations such that determining whether a call is made from or to an authorized emergency personnel mobile device further comprises:
recognizing a call made with a special dialing procedure;
extracting a personal identification number (PIN) from numbers entered in the special dialing procedure;
comparing the PIN to a database of PINs; and
granting access to the partitioned and reserved communication channel when the PIN matches an entry in the database of PINs.

### Claim 21 (depends on 18)

The non-transitory processor-readable tangible storage medium of claim 18, wherein the stored software instructions are configured to cause the processor to perform further operations comprising:
monitoring the call volume on the partitioned and reserved communication channel;
determining whether the call volume on the partitioned and reserved communication channel exceeds a second pre-determined threshold; and
restricting access to additional partitioned and reserved communication channels to the authorized emergency personnel mobile device in response to the call volume on the partitioned and reserved communication channel exceeding the second pre-determined threshold.

### Claim 22 (depends on 18)

The non-transitory processor-readable tangible storage medium of claim 18, wherein the stored software instructions are configured to cause the processor to perform further operations comprising:
determining whether the call volume on the partitioned and reserved communication channel is less than a third pre-determined minimum; and
automatically allowing general mobile devices to access a previously restricted, partitioned and reserved communication channel to in response to the call volume on the restricted, partitioned and reserved communication channel being less than the third pre-determined minimum.

### Claim 23 (depends on 18)

The non-transitory processor-readable tangible storage medium of claim 18, wherein the stored software instructions are configured to cause the processor to perform further operations comprising:
notifying mobile devices serviced by the one of the plurality of base stations of an emergency incident; and
requesting in the notification of the emergency incident that non-emergency personnel limit wireless network usage.

### Claim 24 (depends on 18)

The non-transitory processor-readable tangible storage medium of claim 18, wherein the stored software instructions are configured to cause the processor to perform further operations comprising:
notifying a user of a mobile devices serviced by the allocated communication channel that an in progress call and data session will be terminated;
allowing the user of the notified mobile device to override termination by entering a Personal Identification Number (PIN); and
terminating the in progress call and data session in response to a valid PIN not being entered within a predetermined amount of time.

### Claim 25 (depends on 20)

The non-transitory processor-readable tangible storage medium of claim 20, wherein the stored software instructions are configured to cause the processor to perform further operations comprising:
tracking mobile devices from which a call was made using the special dialing procedure was entered; and
treating such mobile devices as pre-registered mobile devices for a limited duration.