Emergency call handling in a wireless communication system

A user equipment apparatus configured for reducing delay in placing an emergency call by a subscriber of a service provider in a wireless communication network, the apparatus comprising:

• a scanning module that scans a plurality of acceptable cells, wherein the acceptable cells include cells of the service provider and additional cells from one or more other service providers;
• a cell selection module that selects a cell with a highest power from the plurality of acceptable cells;
• and
• an emergency call module that places the emergency call on the selected cell, wherein the cell selection module acquires the cell without ever performing a location update to place the emergency call, wherein the delay is reduced by reducing a number of failed attempts in placing the emergency call.

A non-transitory machine-readable medium in a user equipment, the machine-readable medium comprising instructions for reducing delay in placing an emergency call by a subscriber of a service provider in a wireless communication network, the instructions causing the user equipment to:

• scan a plurality of acceptable cells, wherein the acceptable cells include cells of the service provider and additional cells from one or more other service providers;
• select a cell from the plurality of the acceptable cells, the selected cell having a highest power of the acceptable cells;
• and
• place the emergency call on the selected cell, wherein the selecting the cell comprises acquiring the cell without ever performing a location update to place the emergency call, wherein the delay is reduced by reducing a number of failed attempts in placing the emergency call.

A user equipment apparatus for reducing delay in placing an emergency call by a subscriber of a service provider in a wireless communication network, the apparatus comprising:

• means for scanning a plurality of acceptable cells, wherein the acceptable cells include cells of the service provider and additional cells from one or more other service providers;
• means for selecting a cell from the plurality of the acceptable cells, the selected cell having a highest power of the acceptable cells;
• and
• means for placing the emergency call on the selected cell, wherein the means for selecting the cell comprises means for acquiring the cell without ever performing a location update to place the emergency call, wherein the delay is reduced by reducing a number of failed attempts in placing the emergency call.