U.S. patent application number 10/601945 was filed with the patent office on 2004-12-23 for network support for subscriber access to mobile caller location information.
This patent application is currently assigned to Lucent Technologies Inc.. Invention is credited to Benco, David S., Overend, Kevin J., Sheen, Baoling S., True, Sandra Lynn, Voight, Kenneth J..
Application Number | 20040257273 10/601945 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33518031 |
Filed Date | 2004-12-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040257273 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Benco, David S. ; et
al. |
December 23, 2004 |
NETWORK SUPPORT FOR SUBSCRIBER ACCESS TO MOBILE CALLER LOCATION
INFORMATION
Abstract
Geographic coordinates of user equipment of a calling party are
determined either by communicating with a GPS receiver associated
with the user equipment of the calling party or by cellular
triangulation. The geographic coordinates may be converted into an
associated common location description. For example the common
location description is a city name, an address, or a distance and
direction from a landmark. The common location description, or an
abbreviation thereof, is transmitted to user equipment of a called
party. Using this service, parents may verify the location of their
children. Security agencies or delivery services may verify and/or
log the location of their personnel.
Inventors: |
Benco, David S.; (Winfield,
IL) ; Overend, Kevin J.; (Elmhurst, IL) ;
Sheen, Baoling S.; (Naperville, IL) ; Voight, Kenneth
J.; (Sugar Grove, IL) ; True, Sandra Lynn;
(St. Charles, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Richard J. Minnich
Fay, Sharpe, Fagan, Minnich & McKee, LLP
Seventh Floor
1100 Superior Avenue
Cleveland
OH
44114
US
|
Assignee: |
Lucent Technologies Inc.
|
Family ID: |
33518031 |
Appl. No.: |
10/601945 |
Filed: |
June 23, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
342/357.43 ;
379/88.19; 455/415 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04M 3/42348 20130101;
H04M 3/42 20130101; H04M 2207/18 20130101; H04M 3/42042
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
342/357.1 ;
455/415; 379/088.19 |
International
Class: |
G01S 001/00; H04M
001/64; H04M 003/42 |
Claims
1. A method operative to include caller location information in
information made available to user equipment of a called party, the
method comprising: receiving an origination message from user
equipment of the calling party; extracting called party
identification information from the origination message;
determining that the called party subscribes to a caller location
service based on the extracted called party identification
information; determining a latitude and longitude of the calling
party; determining a common description of a location of the
calling party based on the latitude and longitude; including the
common description of the location of the calling party in a
message; and transmitting the message including the common
description of the location to the user equipment of the called
party.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein determining that the called party
subscribes to a caller location service comprises: accessing user
subscription information of a subscriber database of the called
party.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a latitude and
longitude of the calling party comprises: determining that the user
equipment of the calling party includes a GPS receiver; and
requesting GPS coordinates from the user equipment of the calling
party.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a latitude and
longitude of the calling party comprises: determining that the user
equipment of the calling party does not include a GPS receiver; and
requesting coordinates of the calling party user equipment from a
reference cell cite of the user equipment of the calling party.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a latitude and
longitude of the calling party comprises: determining that the user
equipment of the calling party does not include a GPS receiver; and
requesting coordinates of the calling party user equipment be
determined by cellular triangulation.
6. The method of claim 4 further comprising: transmitting a first
PSMM_Request message from a first cell site to the user equipment
of the calling party; transmitting a first response to the first
PSMM_Request message; determining a first delay from the first
response; transmitting a second PSMM_Request message from a second
cell site to the user equipment of the calling party; transmitting
a second response to the second PSMM_Request message; determining a
second delay from the second response; transmitting a third
PSMM_Request message from a third cell site to the user equipment
of the calling party; transmitting a third response to the third
PSMM_Request message; determining a third delay from the third
response; and, determining a relative position of the user
equipment of the calling party to the first, second and third cell
sites based on the first, second and third delays.
7. The method of claim 4 further comprising: transmitting a
plurality of PSMM_Request messages from a plurality of cell sites
to the user equipment of the calling party; transmitting a
plurality of responses to the plurality of PSMM_Request messages;
determining a plurality of delays from the plurality of responses;
and, determining a relative position of the user equipment of the
calling party to the plurality of cell sites from the plurality of
delays.
8. The method of claim 6 further comprising calculating an absolute
position of the user equipment of the calling party from the
relative position of the user equipment and known positions of the
first second and third cell sites.
9. The method of claim 7 further comprising calculating an absolute
position of the user equipment of the calling party from the
relative position of the user equipment and known positions of the
plurality of cell sites.
10. The method of claim 3 wherein determining a common description
of a location of the calling party comprises: receiving the GPS
coordinates; and using the GPS coordinates as an index into a
common location description database to determine at least one of
an address, a city name, and a distance and heading from a
landmark.
11. The method of claim 4 wherein determining a common description
of a location of the calling party comprises: receiving the
coordinates; and using the coordinates as an index into a common
location description database to determine at least one of an
address, a city name, and a distance and heading from a
landmark.
12. A method operative to include caller location information in
information made available to user equipment of a called party, the
method comprising: receiving a call request from the calling party;
extracting called party identification information from the call
request; determining that the called party subscribes to a caller
location service based on the extracted called party identification
information; verifying that the calling party is included in a list
of potential calling parties for which the called party desires
location information; determining a latitude and longitude of the
calling party; determining a common description of a location of
the calling party based on the latitude and longitude; including
the common description of the location of the calling party in a
message; and transmitting the message including the common
description of the location to the user equipment of the called
party.
13. A method operative to provide caller location information to
user equipment of a called party, the method comprising: receiving
an origination message from user equipment of the calling party;
extracting called party identification information from the
origination message; determining that the called party subscribes
to a caller location service based on the extracted called party
identification information; determining if the user equipment of
the calling party is GPS enabled; requesting GPS coordinates from
the user equipment of the calling party if the user equipment of
the calling party is GPS enabled; requesting cellular triangulation
services be used to generate location information regarding the
user equipment of the calling party if the user equipment of the
calling party is not GPS enabled; determining a common description
of a location of the calling party based on the GPS coordinates or
the generated location information; including a representation of
the common description of the location in a caller ID field of a
message; and transmitting the message to the user equipment of the
called party.
14. The method of claim 13 further comprising: extracting calling
party user equipment identification information from the
origination message; retrieving a list of potential calling party
user equipment for which the called party desires location
information; comparing the extracted calling party user equipment
identification information to entries in the list of potential
calling party user equipment; and determining that one of the
entries in the list matches the extracted calling party user
equipment identification information.
15. The method of claim 13 wherein determining that the called
party subscribes to a caller location service based on the
extracted called party identification information comprises:
querying a subscriber database associated with the called party;
and retrieving location feature subscription information regarding
the called party.
16. The method of claim 13 wherein determining if the user
equipment of the calling party is GPS enabled comprises: extracting
calling party user equipment identification information from the
call request; retrieving a list of potential calling party user
equipment for which the called party desires location information,
the list including GPS enablement status information regarding the
potential, calling party user equipment.
17. The method of claim 13 wherein determining if the user
equipment of the calling party is GPS enabled comprises: sending a
GPS enablement query message to the user equipment of the calling
party.
18. The method of claim 13 wherein requesting cellular
triangulation services comprises: transmitting a plurality of PSMM
data collection messages to a respective plurality of cell sites
within range of the user equipment of the calling party.
19. A system operative to include caller location information in
information made available to user equipment of a called party, the
system comprising: means for receiving a an origination message
from user equipment of the calling party; means for extracting
called party identification information from the origination
message; means for determining that the called party subscribes to
a caller location service based on the extracted called party
identification information; means for determining a latitude and
longitude of the calling party; means for determining a common
description of a location of the calling party based on the
latitude and longitude; means for including the common description
of the location of the calling party in a message; and means for
transmitting the message including the appended common description
of the location to the user equipment of the called party.
20. The system of claim 19 wherein the means for determining that
the called party subscribes to a caller location service comprises:
means for accessing user subscription information of a subscriber
database of the called party.
21. The system of claim 19 wherein the means for determining a
latitude and longitude of the calling party comprises: means for
determining that the user equipment of the calling party includes a
GPS receiver; and means for requesting GPS coordinates from the
user equipment of the calling party.
22. The system of claim 19 wherein the means for determining a
latitude and longitude of the calling party comprises: means for
determining that the user equipment of the calling party does not
include a GPS receiver; and means for requesting coordinates of the
calling party user equipment from a reference cell cite of the user
equipment of the calling party.
23. The system of claim 19 wherein the means for determining a
latitude and longitude of the calling party comprises: means for
determining that the user equipment of the calling party does not
include a GPS receiver; and means for requesting coordinates of the
calling party user equipment be determined by cellular
triangulation.
24. The system of claim 22 further comprising: means for
transmitting a first PSMM_Request message from a first cell site to
the user equipment of the calling party; means for transmitting a
first response to the first PSMM_Request message; means for
determining a first delay from the first response; means for
transmitting a second PSMM_Request message from a second cell site
to the user equipment of the calling party; means for transmitting
a second response to the second PSMM_Request message; means for
determining a second delay from the second response; means for
transmitting a third PSMM_Request message from a third cell site to
the user equipment of the calling party; means for transmitting a
third response to the third PSMM_Request message; means for
determining a third delay from the third response; and, means for
determining a relative position of the user equipment of the
calling party to the first, second and third cell sites based on
the first, second and third delays.
25. The system of claim 22 further comprising: means for
transmitting a plurality of PSMM_Request messages from a plurality
of cell sites to the user equipment of the calling party; means for
transmitting a plurality of responses to the plurality of
PSMM_Request messages; means for determining a plurality of delays
from the plurality of responses; and, means for determining a
relative position of the user equipment of the calling party to the
plurality of cell sites from the plurality of delays.
26. The system of claim 24 further comprising means for calculating
an absolute position of the user equipment of the calling party
from the relative position of the user equipment and known
positions of the first second and third cell sites.
27. The system of claim 25 further comprising means for calculating
an absolute position of the user equipment of the calling party
from the relative position of the user equipment and known
positions of the plurality of cell sites.
28. The system of claim 21 wherein the means for determining a
common description of a location of the calling party comprises:
means for receiving the GPS coordinates; and means for using the
GPS coordinates as an index into a common location description
database to determine at least one of an address, a city name, and
a distance and heading from a landmark.
29. The system of claim 22 wherein the means for determining a
common description of a location of the calling party comprises:
means for receiving the coordinates; and means for using the
coordinates as an index into a common location description database
to determine at least one of an address, a city name, and a
distance and heading from a landmark.
30. The system of claim 19 further comprising: means for verifying
that the calling party is included in a list of potential calling
parties for which the called party desires location
information.
31. A mobile switching center operative to provide calling party
location information to user equipment of a called party, the
mobile switching center comprising: a subscription feature
determiner operative to determine if the called party subscribes to
a location service based on called party identification information
extracted from an origination message; a coordinate determiner
operative to determine geographic coordinates of user equipment of
a calling party if the subscription feature determiner determines
that the called party subscribes to a location service; a
coordinate converter operative to determine a common description of
a geographic location associated with the geographic coordinates
determined by the coordinate determiner; and, a network interface
operative to transmit the common description to the user equipment
of the called party.
32. The mobile switching center of claim 31 wherein the coordinate
determiner comprise: a GPS coordinate determiner operative to send
a request for GPS coordinates to the user equipment of the calling
party and receive GPS coordinates from the user equipment of the
calling party.
33. The mobile switching center of claim 31 wherein the coordinate
determiner comprise: a cellular triangulator operative to
coordinate the collection of measurements associated with the user
equipment of the calling party and the calculation of geographic
coordinates associated with the location of the user equipment of
the calling party based on the collected measurements.
34. The mobile switching center of claim 33 wherein the cellular
triangulator is operative to collect the measurements associated
with the user equipment through the transmission of a plurality of
PSMM_Request messages.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention is directed to the art of providing
information about calling parties to called parties. More
particularly, the present invention is directed to systems and
methods for providing location information regarding a calling
party to the called party where the calling party is using mobile
user equipment such as a mobile or cellular phone, personal digital
assistant (PDA) or other device.
[0002] In the United States, the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) is requiring wireless carriers to be able to locate users on
their network when they make a 911 emergency call. Regulations in
this area are referred to generally as Enhanced 911 or E911. As a
result, various user locating technologies have been, and are
being, implemented in wireless communications networks.
[0003] For example, some user equipment, such as, mobile phones and
personal digital assistance (PDAs) include global positioning
system receivers and can provide GPS coordinates of the user
equipment to the mobile network over which they communicate. Other
locating systems do not rely on GPS technology.
[0004] Instead, cellular triangulation techniques are used. Some
cellular triangulation techniques measure the signal strength of
the target piece of user equipment at, for example, three or more
cell sites, and use those measurements to determine a distance to
the user equipment from each of the cell sites. Other cellular
triangulation techniques are based on a measurement of time delays
of signals transmitted from the user equipment to the plurality of
cell sites. The time delays are used to calculate distances.
Additionally, or alternatively cellular triangulation can include
the use of directional antennas. By rotating a directional antenna
and monitoring the strength of signals from the user equipment an
antenna orientation associated with a strongest or weakest signal
strength can be determined. That antenna orientation is associated
with a direction to the user equipment. By projecting vectors from
two or more cell sites toward the user equipment an intersection of
the vectors can be found. The intersection of the vectors is the
location of the user equipment.
[0005] Location information regarding calling parties can be useful
in situations beyond the 911 emergency call scenario. For example,
where lost travelers call someone at their desired destination in
order to receive new or updated directions, it can be useful to
provide the called party with accurate location information
regarding the lost travelers so that specific and customized
directions can be provided. Caller location information can also be
useful where there is a need or desire to verify the location of
the calling party. For example, parents may want to verify the
location of their children. Dispatchers may want to verify or
accurately determine the location of security or delivery
personnel. Parole officers can use location information to
determine whether or not parolees checking in by phone are within
prescribed boundaries.
[0006] Therefore, there is a desire to provide location information
regarding calling parties to called parties on a more general basis
than is currently available.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] A method operative to include caller location information in
information made available to user equipment of a called party
includes receiving a call request from the calling party,
extracting called party identification information from the call
request, determining that the called party subscribes to a caller
location service based on the extracted called party identification
information, determining a latitude and longitude of the calling
party, determining a common description of a location of the
calling party based on the latitude and longitude, including the
common description of the location of the calling party in a
message, and transmitting the message to the user equipment of the
called party.
[0008] Determining that the called party subscribes to a caller
location service can include accessing user subscription
information of a subscriber database of the called party.
[0009] Determining a latitude and longitude of the calling party
can include determining that the user equipment of the calling
party includes a GPS receiver and requesting GPS coordinates from
the user equipment of the calling party. Alternatively, determining
a latitude and longitude of the calling party can include
requesting coordinates of the calling party user equipment be
determined by cellular triangulation.
[0010] Determining a common description of a location of the
calling party can include receiving GPS coordinates and using the
GPS coordinates as an index into a common location description
database to determine at least one of an address, a city name, and
a distance and heading from a landmark. Alternatively, determining
a common description of a location of the calling party can include
receiving coordinates based on cellular triangulation and using the
coordinates as an index into a common location description database
to determine at least one of an address, a city name, and a
distance and heading from a landmark.
[0011] Where providing location information of a calling party is
an optional service, the method can include verifying that the
calling party is included in a list of potential calling parties
for which the called party desires location information.
[0012] Some embodiments include a method operative to provide
caller location information to user equipment of a called party.
The method includes receiving a call request from the calling
party, extracting called party identification information from the
call request, determining that the called party subscribes to a
caller location service based on the extracted called party
identification information, determining if the user equipment of
the calling party is GPS enabled, requesting GPS coordinates from
the user equipment of the calling party if the user equipment of
the calling party is GPS enabled, requesting cellular triangulation
services be used to generate location information regarding the
user equipment of the calling party if the user equipment of the
calling party is not GPS enabled, determining a common description
of a location of the calling party based the GPS coordinates or the
generated location information, including a representation of the
common description of the location in a caller ID field of a
message, and transmitting the message to the user equipment of the
called party.
[0013] Some of those embodiments include extracting calling party
user equipment identification information from the call request,
retrieving a list of potential calling party user equipment for
which the called party desires location information, comparing the
extracted calling party user equipment identification information
to entries in the list of potential calling party user equipment,
and determining that one of the entries in the list matches the
extracted calling party user equipment identification
information.
[0014] Determining that the called party subscribes to a caller
location service based on the extracted called party identification
information can include querying a subscriber database associated
with the called party, and retrieving location feature subscription
information regarding the called party.
[0015] Determining if the user equipment of the calling party is
GPS enabled can include extracting calling party user equipment
identification information from the call request, retrieving a list
of potential calling party user equipment for which the called
party desires location information, the list including GPS
enablement status information regarding the potential calling party
user equipment. Alternatively, determining if the user equipment of
the calling party is GPS enabled can include sending a GPS
enablement query message to the user equipment of the calling
party.
[0016] Requesting cellular triangulation services can include
transmitting a plurality of Pilot Strength Measurement (PSM) data
collection messages to a respective plurality of cell sites within
range of the user equipment of the calling party.
[0017] A system operative to include caller location information in
information made available to user equipment of a called party
includes means for receiving a call request from the calling party,
means for extracting called party identification information from
the call request, means for determining that the called party
subscribes to a caller location service based on the extracted
called party identification information, means for determining a
latitude and longitude of the calling party, means for determining
a common description of a location of the calling party based on
the latitude and longitude, means for including the common
description of the location of the calling party in a message, and
means for transmitting the message including the appended common
description of the location to the user equipment of the called
party.
[0018] Some embodiments also include means for transmitting a first
PSMM_Request message from a first cell site to the user equipment
of the calling party, means for transmitting a first response to
the first PSM message, means for determining a first delay from the
first response, means for transmitting a second PSMM_Request
message from a second cell site to the user equipment of the
calling party, means for transmitting a second response to the
second PSM message, means for determining a second delay from the
second response, means for transmitting a third PSMM_Request
message from a third cell site to the user equipment of the calling
party, means for transmitting a third response to the third PSM
message, means for determining a third delay from the third
response, and means for determining a relative position of the user
equipment of the calling party to the first, second and third cell
sites based on the first, second and third delays.
[0019] Some embodiments include means for transmitting a plurality
of PSMM_Request messages from a plurality of cell sites to the user
equipment of the calling party, means for transmitting a plurality
of responses to the plurality of PSM messages, means for
determining a plurality of delays from the plurality of responses,
and means for determining a relative position of the user equipment
of the calling party to the plurality of cell sites from the
plurality of delays.
[0020] Additionally, some embodiments include means for calculating
an absolute position of the user equipment of the calling party
from the relative position of the user equipment and known
positions of the first second and third cell sites.
[0021] Where providing location information of a calling party is
an optional service, embodiments can include means for verifying
that the calling party is included in a list of potential calling
parties for which the called party desires location
information.
[0022] Some systems include a mobile switching center operative to
provide calling party location information to user equipment of a
called party. The mobile switching center includes a coordinate
determiner operative to determine geographic coordinates of user
equipment of a calling party, a coordinate converter operative to
determine a common description of a geographic location associated
with the geographic coordinates determined by the coordinate
determiner, and a network interface operative to transmit the
common description to the user equipment of the called party.
[0023] For example, the coordinate determiner can include a GPS
coordinate determiner operative to send a request for GPS
coordinates to the user equipment of the calling party and receive
GPS coordinates from the user equipment of the calling party.
Additionally, or alternatively, the coordinate determiner can
include a cellular triangulator operative to coordinate the
collection of measurements associated with the user equipment of
the calling party and the calculation of geographic coordinates
associated with the location of the user equipment of the calling
party based on the collected measurements. Some cellular
triangulators are operative to collect the measurements associated
with the user equipment through the transmission of a plurality of
PSM messages.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] The invention may take form in various components and
arrangements of components, and/or in various procedures and
arrangements of procedures. The drawings are only for purposes of
illustrating preferred embodiments. They are not to scale, and are
not to be construed as limiting the invention.
[0025] FIG. 1 is a flow chart outlining a method for providing
location information regarding mobile user equipment of a calling
party to user equipment of a called party.
[0026] FIG. 2 is a call flow diagram outlining aspects of an
embodiment of the method of FIG. 1 where the user equipment of the
calling party includes a GPS receiver.
[0027] FIG. 3 is a call flow diagram outlining aspects of an
embodiment of the method of FIG. 1 where the user equipment of the
calling party is not GPS enabled.
[0028] FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a system for providing location
information regarding mobile user equipment of a calling party to
user equipment of a called party.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0029] Referring to FIG. 1, a method 110 for providing caller
location information to user equipment of a called party begins
with the reception on 114 of a call request. If caller location
information is to be provided only under certain circumstances,
tests may be performed to determine if the circumstances are met.
For example, called party and calling party identification
information may be extracted 118 from the received call request. A
determination 122 can be made as to whether the called party
subscribes to a caller location service. If the called party does
subscribe to a location service a determination 126 can be made as
to whether the called party desires location information for the
calling party. If 122 the called party does not subscribe to the
location service or if 126 the called party does subscribe to a
location service but does not subscribe to location information for
the calling party, the call is processed 130 without further
concern for location information.
[0030] If a determination 122, 126 is made, that location
information is to be provided to the called party. The method 110
includes determining a location of the calling party. For example,
a determination 134 is made as to whether or not user equipment of
the calling party includes Global Positioning (GPS) equipment. If
134 the user equipment of the calling party does include a GPS
receiver, a request 138 is made of the user equipment for the
current GPS coordinates of the user equipment. If the user
equipment of the calling party does not include a GPS receiver, a
request 142 is made for cellular triangulation of the calling
parties user equipment. By one method or another, location
information or coordinates regarding the calling party or the user
equipment of the calling party is received 146.
[0031] The received coordinates are converted 150 into a more
common location description. The common location description, or
some representation or abbreviation thereof is then transmitted 154
to the user equipment of the called party. For example, a street
address, a city name, or other location description or an
abbreviation therefore is included in a caller ID field of a
message transmitted to the user equipment of the called party. The
user equipment of the called party may then display, read via voice
synthesis, log or otherwise process the location description as
desired by the called party.
[0032] Extracting 118 called and/or calling party identification
information can include for example extracting caller ID
information to identify the calling party. The directory number of
the called party can act as an identifier of the called party.
Additionally, or alternatively, other identifiers can be used, such
as, for example, Mobile Identification Numbers or Electronic Serial
Numbers.
[0033] The called party identification information can be used to
determine 122 whether or not the called party subscribes to the
location service. For instance, a directory number of the called
party can be used as an index into a subscriber database containing
subscriber service subscription information. For example, the
subscription information of the called party may indicate that
location information is desired for everyone that calls the called
party. Alternatively, the subscriber database may include a list of
specific individuals or specific user equipment for which location
information is desired. For example, the list may include a
plurality of directory numbers, Mobile Identification Numbers
(MINs) and/or Electronic Serial Numbers (ESNs) for which location
information is to be collected. The extracted 118 calling party
identification information can be compared to the listed party or
user equipment identification information to make the determination
126 as to whether the called party desires location information
with regard to the calling party. For instance, parents may only be
interested and therefore may only subscribe for location
information with regard to their children or the cell phones of
their children. A delivery service may only list user equipment
associated with delivery vehicles or delivery personnel.
[0034] The location or coordinate information received 146 may be
in any convenient format. For example, location information may be
received 146 in the form of latitude and longitude. If necessary,
conversion 150 of the location information may be performed by
network elements. For example, a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) or
visitor location/home location register (VLR/HLR) may house a
location look-up database including, for example, common
descriptors such as addresses, street names, city names and/or
landmark names for a geographic area local to the Mobile Switching
Center. Alternatively, a more central location look-up database can
include common location descriptors for a much wider area, such as,
for example, an entire state, country, continent or for the whole
world. Independent of the database configuration or dissemination,
the received 146 location information is used as an index or key
into an appropriate location look-up database to determine or
retrieve the common descriptor for the location of the user
equipment of the calling party.
[0035] The common location description can then be transmitted 154
to the user equipment of the called party. For example, the
location descriptor may be appended to, or included instead of, the
caller ID information.
[0036] For example, referring to FIG. 2, in a first scenario, a
calling party places a call using mobile user equipment 210 such as
a cellular phone or personal digital assistant. The user equipment
210 issues a mobile origination message 214 to a serving cell site
218. The cell site 218 relays content of the mobile origination
message 222 to a Mobile Switching Center 226. The Mobile Switching
Center (MSC) 226 receives 114 the origination call message or
request 222 and extracts 118 called and calling party
identification information from the call request 222. The Mobile
Switching Center 226 sends appropriate messages 230 to a subscriber
database 234. The subscriber database 234 is included, for example,
in a Visitor Location Register/Home Location Register (VLR/HLR).
For instance, the message 230 requests the state of a location
display feature activation bit associated with the called party
identification information. Additionally, the message 230 requests
a list of directory numbers or other calling party identifiers for
which the called party desires location information. The subscriber
database 234 responds with a message 238 including the state of the
location display feature activation bit and, if applicable, the
list of devices for which the called party desires location
information. The MSC 226 examines the information contained in the
response 238 to determine 122 if the call party subscribes to the
location display feature and; if the called party does subscribe to
the feature determines 126 if the mobile user equipment 210 of the
called party is included in the list of devices for which the
called party desires location information.
[0037] If identification information associated with the mobile
device 210 is included in the list of devices for which location
information is desired, the MSC 226 determines 134 whether or not
the mobile device 210 can provide GPS location information. For
example, the MSC 226 sends a GPS enable inquiry message 242 to the
subscriber database 234 in association with identification
information associated with the mobile user equipment 210. For
instance, the GPS enable inquiry 242 includes a directory number,
an MIN and/or ESN of the mobile device 210. Alternatively,
information regarding whether or not the mobile devices are GPS
enabled is included in the list provided in the response message
238. In a further alternative, the GPS inquiry is sent to the
mobile user equipment 210.
[0038] In any event, if the mobile user equipment 210 is GPS
enabled, an indication 246 thereof is sent to the MSC 226. In that
case, the MSC 226 requests 138 current GPS coordinates from the
mobile user equipment 210. For example, the MSC 226 sends a GPS
location request message 250 to the serving cell site 218. The cell
site 218 relays the location request 250 to the mobile device 210.
The mobile device 210 transmits a GPS location response message 254
including, for example, latitude and longitude coordinates to the
cell site 218. The cell site 218 relays the location response 254
to the MSC 226. The MSC 226 may then send a location conversion
request message 258 to a common location description look-up
database 262. For example, the location look-up database 262 may
also be housed in a VLR/HLR. Alternatively, the location look-up
database 262 is local to the MSC 226 or is part of a remote network
adjunct. The location look-up database 262 provides a common
description for the location associated with the coordinates
received in the location response message 254. For example, the
location look-up database 262 transmits a location identifier
message 266 including a city name, state name, street address,
nearest intersection, distance and direction from a landmark or an
abbreviation therefore. The MSC then includes the common location
description when an MSC_Network Origination message 270 is sent via
a communications network 274 to the user equipment of the called
party. For example, the common location description is included in
a caller ID field of the MSC_Network Origination message 270 either
in addition to or in place of the standard caller ID
information.
[0039] Referring to FIG. 3, if a calling party uses mobile user
equipment 310 that is not GPS enabled, the call processing proceeds
in a manner similar to that described in reference to FIG. 2 up to
the point the MSC 226 attempts to determine 134 whether or not the
mobile device 310 can provide GPS coordinates. Instead of receiving
an indication 246 that the device is GPS enabled, the MSC 226
receives an indication 346 that the mobile device 310 is not GPS
enabled. The MSC 226 then attempts to retrieve location information
regarding mobile device 310 by some other means. For example, the
MSC initiates a cellular triangulation procedure.
[0040] For instance, the MSC 226 uses the serving cell site 218 as
a reference cell site. The MSC 226 identifies a plurality of
additional cell sites e.g. 350, 354 neighboring the reference cell
site 218. For instance, the MSC 226 identifies from 2 to about 5
additional cell sites in the vicinity of the mobile user equipment
310 of the calling party. The MSC 226 sends a plurality of Pilot
Strength Measurement (PSM) data collection messages e.g. 358, 360,
362 to the cell sites e.g. 218, 350, 354 in the vicinity of the
mobile device 310. In turn, the cell sites send Pilot Strength
Measurement data collection messages (e.g. 364, 366, 368) to the
mobile device 310. The mobile device 310 replies to each PSM data
collection message (e.g. 364, 366, 368) with a PSM response message
370, 372, 374. Each of the plurality of cell sites e.g. 350, 354
and the reference site 218 relay the response messages 370, 372,
374 to the MSC 226. The MSC 226 uses signal strength or message
delay parameter values associated with the response messages 370,
372, 374 to calculate a position of the mobile device 310 relative
to the cell sites (e.g. 218, 350, 354). This relative position is
combined with absolute positions of the cell sites (e.g. 218, 350,
354) available to the MSC 226 in order to determine an absolute
position of the mobile device 310. Then, in a manner similar to
that described in reference to FIG. 2, the calculated absolute
position of the mobile device 310 can be included in a common
location description request message 378 sent by the MSC 226 to the
common location description look-up database 262. The calculated
location coordinates included in the common location description
request message 378 may be in a different format than used in the
GPS based common location description request message 258 mentioned
in reference to FIG. 2.
[0041] As described in reference to FIG. 2, the location look-up
database 262 responds to the MSC 226 with the location identifier
message 266 including some common description of the location of
the mobile device 310 and the MSC 226 includes that description in
an MSC_Network Origination message sent via the network 274 to the
user equipment of the called party.
[0042] The procedures of the method 110 can be performed by a wide
variety of network elements. The responsibility for carrying out
the procedures of the method can be distributed among a variety of
network elements or implemented in a more concentrated fashion by
various combinations of hardware and software.
[0043] Referring to FIG. 4, in one implementation, a mobile
switching center 414 includes a subscription feature determiner
418, a GPS coordinate determiner 422, a cellular triangulator 426,
and a coordinate converter 430. Of course, the mobile switching
center 414 also includes main MSC functions 434 as are known in the
art, and the MSC 414 includes a network interface 438 for
communicating with a network 442 for carrying out the main MSC
functions 434 and functions 422, 418, 430, 426 of the method
110.
[0044] The subscription feature determiner 418 may determine 122 if
a called party subscribes to a location service and if so may
determine 126 if the called party desires location information for
a particular calling party. For example, the subscription feature
determiner 418 may generate the appropriate messages 230 for
retrieving a location feature activation bit and if applicable a
list of parties or user equipment for which location information is
desired. For instance, the subscription feature determiner 418
communicates with the subscriber database 234 by sending the
appropriate messages 230 through the network interface 438 and
through the network 442 to the subscriber database 234. Information
from the subscriber database 234 is delivered to the subscription
feature determiner 418 through the network 442 and the network
interface 438. The subscription feature determiner 418 may analyze
the list of user equipment to determine if the user equipment of
the calling party is GPS enabled. The results of such a
determination are communicated to the GPS coordinate determiner 422
and/or the cellular triangulator 426.
[0045] If the subscription feature determiner 418 informs the GPS
determiner 422 that the user equipment of a calling party is GPS
enabled (e.g. 210) the GPS coordinate determiner 422 generates and
transmits a GPS location request message 250. The GPS location
request message 250 is transmitted to the user equipment (e.g. 210)
of the calling party through the services of the network interface
438, the network 442 and a serving cell site (e.g. 218).
[0046] Alternatively, if the description feature determiner 418
does not provide an indication as to whether or not the user
equipment of the calling party is GPS enabled the GPS coordinate
determiner 422 may generate a query 242 as to whether or not the
user equipment of the calling party can provide GPS coordinates.
The GPS query 242 may be transmitted to the subscriber database 234
through the network interface and intervening network 442.
Alternatively, the GPS query 242 may be directed to the user
equipment of the calling party. (e.g. 210, 310) via the network
interface 438, network 442 and a serving base station (e.g. 218).
If a response to the query indicates that the user equipment of the
calling party is GPS enabled, the GPS coordinate determiner 422
generates and transmits a GPS location request message 250 as
described above. If no response is received or if the response
indicates that the user equipment of the calling party is not GPS
enabled, the GPS coordinate determiner 422 so informs the cellular
triangulator 426.
[0047] When informed that location information of the calling party
is desired but that GPS coordinates are unavailable, the cellular
triangulator 426 coordinates the collection of locating information
with regard to the user equipment (e.g. 310) of the calling party.
For example, the cellular triangulator 426 generates and
coordinates the transmission of a plurality of PSM data collection
messages 358, 360, 362, 364, 366, 368. For instance, the cellular
triangulator 426 accesses knowledge 446 of the mobile network to
determine a location of the serving cell site 218 and the identity
and location of a plurality of neighboring cells sites (e.g. 350,
354) that may be in range of the user equipment of the calling
party (e.g. 310) for which location information is desired. The
cellular triangulator 426 then initiates the transmission of the
PSM data collection messages 358, 360, 362 to the serving cell site
218 in the plurality of neighboring cell sites 350, 354,
respectively. In turn, the cell sites 218, 350, 354 transmit PSM
data collection messages 364, 366, 368 to the user equipment of the
calling party (e.g. 310). The user equipment responds to each PSM
data collection message 364, 366, 368 with a PSM response message
370, 372, 374. Those messages 370, 372, 374 are relayed by the cell
sites 218, 350, 354 to the cellular triangulator 426 through the
services of the network 442 and network interface 438. The cellular
triangulator 426 then uses information contained in the PSM
response messages 370, 372, 374 and knowledge 446 about the
locations of the cell sites 218, 350, 354 to determine a location
of the user equipment of the calling party (e.g. 310). For example,
the cellular triangulator 426 uses message delay information and/or
signal strength information contained within the PSM response
messages 370, 372, 374 to determine a relative position of the user
equipment of the calling party to the cell sites 218, 350, 354. The
cellular triangulator 426 combines that calculated relative
position with the knowledge 446 available with regard to the
absolute positions of the cell sites 218, 350, 354 to determine an
absolute position or coordinates of the user equipment (e.g. 310)
of the calling party.
[0048] Coordinate information, whether collected from a GPS
location response message 254 received by the GPS coordinate
determiner 422 or generated through cellular triangulation by the
cellular triangulator 426 may be delivered to the coordinate
converter 430. If so, the coordinate converter 430 generates a
coordinate conversion message 258, 378 and transmits the coordinate
conversion message 258, 378 to the common location description
look-up database 262 through the services of the network interface
438 and the intervening network 442. The location look-up database
262 responds with a common description or location identifier 266
related to the position of the user equipment (e.g. 310) of the
calling party. The location identifier 266 is transmitted to the
coordinate converter 430 through the services of the network 442
and the network interface 438. The coordinate converter 430
generates an MSC_Network Origination message 270 and transmits the
MSC_Network Origination message 270 to user equipment 450 of the
called party. Again, the message 270 is transmitted through the
services of the network interface 438 and the intervening network
442. The MSC_Network Origination message 270 includes the common
description of the location of the calling party. For example, the
location description is appended to or replaces caller ID
information. The user equipment 450 of the called party may be a
mobile or wired device. The location information may be displayed
before the call is answered, may be communicated to the called
party when the call is answered or at some point during the
conversation, and/or may be logged for future reference.
Alternatively, unconverted coordinate information may be included
in the MSC_Network Origination message.
[0049] The invention has been described with reference to preferred
embodiments. Obviously, modifications and alterations will occur to
others upon reading and understanding the present specification. It
is ended that the invention be construed as including all such
modifications and alterations insofar as they come within the scope
of the appended claims or the equivalents thereof.
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