System and method for providing emergency service in an IP-based wireless network

1. A system for identifying emergency communication services in a wireless network implementing an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) architecture, the system comprising:

a first communication component configured to:

receive a session initiation protocol (SIP) message from a calling device, wherein the SIP message includes a request to initiate an emergency communication session and a device identifier; and

send an emergency response center information request based on the received SIP message, the information request containing the device identifier; and

a second communication component configured to:

receive the emergency response center information request;

evaluate capabilities of the calling device to determine one or more location techniques that are supported by the calling device;

initiate a location determination of the calling device using one of the determined one or more location techniques that are supported by the calling device based on the device identifier in the received information request;

receive a location of the calling device;

determine a destination emergency response center for providing service to the calling device, the destination emergency response center determined by identifying an emergency response center that has a geographical coverage area which encompasses the location of the calling device; and

transmit the destination emergency response center to the first communication component;

wherein the first communication component is further configured to:

modify the received SIP message to generate a modified SIP message containing routing information to the destination emergency response center; and

send the modified SIP message to the destination emergency response center.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first communication component is an Emergency Call Session Control Function (E-CSCF).

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second communication component is a gateway mobile location center (GMLC).

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the calling device is a mobile device.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the calling device is a fixed device, and wherein the location of the calling device is determined by looking up subscriber information specifying the geographical location.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the initiated location determination is selected from a list of potential location determination techniques that are supported by the calling device.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the emergency communication session is a voice call.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the emergency communication session is a messaging session.

9. A method for identifying emergency communication services in a wireless network implementing an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) architecture, the method comprising:

receiving a session initiation protocol (SIP) message from a calling device, wherein the SIP message includes a request to initiate an emergency communication session and a device identifier;

sending a public safety access point (PSAP) information request to a location server, the PSAP information request containing the device identifier, wherein the location server evaluates the capabilities of the calling device to determine one or more location techniques that are supported by the calling device, and uses a technique from the one or more location techniques to determine a geographical location of the calling device;

receiving a response message from the location server, wherein the response message includes location information specifying a network location of a destination PSAP, wherein the destination PSAP has a geographical coverage area that encompasses the geographical location of the calling device;

modifying the SIP message so that it contains routing information to the destination PSAP; and

sending the modified SIP message to the destination PSAP in order to initiate an emergency communication session between the calling device and the destination PSAP.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the modified SIP message is the response message received from the location server and is sent substantially unchanged.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the modified SIP message is generated by extracting the location information from the response message and modifying the received SIP message to include at least a portion of the location information.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the calling device is a mobile device.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the calling device is a fixed device, and wherein the location server determines the geographical location of the calling device by looking up subscriber information specifying the geographical location.

14. The method of claim 9 , further comprising determining an updated geographical location of the calling device and providing the updated geographical location to the destination PSAP during an emergency communication session between the calling device and the destination PSAP.

15. A system for providing E911 services in a wireless network implementing an IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) architecture, the system comprising:

a communication session control server including:

a first communication component configured to receive a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) message from a calling device, wherein the SIP message includes a request to initiate an emergency communication session and wherein the SIP message includes a device identifier;

a request component configured to generate a Public Safety Access Point (PSAP) information request based on the SIP message; and

a second communication component configured to send the PSAP information request; and

a third communication component configured to communicate with a plurality of PSAPs; and

a location server, including:

a capabilities component configured to evaluate capabilities of the calling device to determine one or more location techniques that are supported by the calling device;

a device location component configured to use a technique from the one or more location techniques to determine a geographical location of the calling device;

suggest a PSAP determination component configured to determine a destination PSAP, wherein the destination PSAP has a geographical coverage area, and wherein the destination PSAP is determined by correlating a geographical location of the requesting device with the geographical coverage area of the destination PSAP; and

a response component configured to provide location information associated with the destination PSAP to the communication session control server;

wherein the third communication component is further configured to send a modified SIP request to the destination PSAP, the modified SIP request generated based on the received SIP request and the location information.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the modified SIP message is the response message received from the location server and is sent substantially unchanged.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the modified SIP message is generated by extracting the location information from the response message and modifying the received SIP message to include at least a portion of the location information.

18. The system of claim 15 , wherein the calling device is a mobile device.

19. The system of claim 15 , wherein the calling device is a fixed device, and wherein the location server determines the geographical location of the calling device by looking up subscriber information specifying the geographical location.

20. The system of claim 15 , wherein the device location component is further configured to determine an updated geographical location of the calling device and provide the updated geographical location to the destination PSAP during an emergency communication session between the calling device and the destination PSAP.