Emergency Context Resolution with Internet Technologies
charter-ietf-ecrit-03-00

In a number of areas, the public switched telephone network (PSTN) has
been configured to recognize an explicitly specified number (usually one
that is short and easily memorized) as a request for emergency services.
These numbers (e.g., 911, 112) are related to an emergency service
context and depend on a broad, regional configuration of service contact
methods and a geographically-constrained approach for service delivery.
These calls are intended to be delivered to special call centers
equipped to manage emergency response. Successful delivery of an
emergency service call within those systems requires an association of
both the physical location of the originating device along with
appropriate call routing to an emergency service center.

Calls placed using Internet technologies do not use the same systems
mentioned above to achieve those same goals, and the common use of
overlay networks and tunnels (either as VPNs or for mobility) makes
meeting these goals even more challenging. There are, however, Internet
technologies available to manage location and to perform call routing.
This working group will describe where and how these mechanisms may be
used. The group will show how the availability of location data and call
routing information at different steps in the call session setup would
enable communication between a user and a relevant emergency response
center. Though the term "call routing" is used, it should be understood
that some of the mechanisms which will be described might be used to
enable other types of media streams.

Beyond human initiated emergency call request mechanisms, this group
will develop new methods to request emergency assistance, such as sensor
initiated emergency requests, and additional processes specified that
address topics such as authentication of location, service URN
definition and use, augmented information that could assist emergency
call takers or responders.

Explicitly outside the scope of this group is the question of pre-
emption or prioritization of emergency services traffic. This group is
considering emergency services calls which might be made by any user of
the Internet, as opposed to government or military services that may
impose very different authentication and routing requirements.

While this group anticipates a close working relationship with groups
such as NENA, EENA, 3GPP, and ETSI , any solution presented must be
general enough to be potentially useful in or across multiple regions or
jurisdictions, and it must be possible to use without requiring a
single, central authority. Further, it must be possible for multiple
delegations within a jurisdiction to be handled independently, things
such as call routing for specific emergency types, media types,
language contents, etc., may be routed differently depending on
established policies and availability.

This working group cares about privacy and security concerns, and will
address them within its documents.