U.S. patent application number 11/399528 was filed with the patent office on 2007-10-11 for mobile based area event handling when currently visited network doe not cover area.
Invention is credited to John Gordon Hines, Yinjun Zhu.
Application Number | 20070238455 11/399528 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38575961 |
Filed Date | 2007-10-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070238455 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Zhu; Yinjun ; et
al. |
October 11, 2007 |
Mobile based area event handling when currently visited network doe
not cover area
Abstract
An area event handler informs when a target mobile enters or
leaves a network covering a pre-defined target area, and re-aims an
original area event request. When the event occurs, the mobile
sends a location report to an initiator of the request. A PLMN list
with estimated geographic coverage areas is stored in a Home GMLC,
and sent to each relevant mobile. When a mobile enters new network
coverage, it uses this list for network access selection. When the
Home GMLC discovers that the currently visited PLMN does not serve
the original target area, it modifies the area event to the that
mobile, so that the Home GMLC will be notified when the target
mobile once again enters a PLMN that serves the original target
area. Then, after being so notified, the Home GMLC re-sends the
original area event location service request to the target
mobile.
Inventors: |
Zhu; Yinjun; (Sammamish,
WA) ; Hines; John Gordon; (Kirkland, WA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MANELLI DENISON & SELTER PLLC
7th Floor
2000 M Street, N.W.
Washington
DC
20036-3307
US
|
Family ID: |
38575961 |
Appl. No.: |
11/399528 |
Filed: |
April 7, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
455/422.1 ;
455/433 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W 4/02 20130101; H04W
8/08 20130101; H04W 4/029 20180201; H04W 8/10 20130101; H04W 8/04
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
455/422.1 ;
455/433 |
International
Class: |
H04Q 7/20 20060101
H04Q007/20 |
Claims
1. A method of reporting an area-based event in a wireless network,
comprising: defining a given target area event; sending at least
one target area definition to a mobile device to be watched;
receiving notification that a visited public land mobile network
currently visited by said mobile device does not serve said given
target area; and modifying said target area event such that
notification to a home location service will be triggered when said
mobile device enters a wireless network that serves said given
target area; wherein an original area event request is
re-aimed.
2. The method of reporting an area-based event in a wireless
network according to claim 1, further comprising: resending an
original target area event location service request to said mobile
device after notification that said mobile device has entered a
wireless network that again serves said given target area.
3. The method of reporting an area-based event in a wireless
network according to claim 1, further comprising: storing a public
land mobile network list with said at least one target area
accessible by a home location service.
4. The method of reporting an area-based event in a wireless
network according to claim 2, further comprising: storing a public
land mobile network list with said at least one target area
accessible by a home location service.
5. The method of reporting an area-based event in a wireless
network according to claim 1, wherein: said given target area is
defined by at least one geographic boundary.
6. The method of reporting an area-based event in a wireless
network according to claim 1, wherein: said given target area is
defined by a municipality boundary.
7. The method of reporting an area-based event in a wireless
network according to claim 1, wherein: said given target area is
defined by X and Y coordinates.
8. The method of reporting an area-based event in a wireless
network according to claim 1, wherein: said given target area is
defined by at least one zip code.
9. The method of reporting an area-based event in a wireless
network according to claim 1, wherein: said target area event
includes a time range for activation.
10. (canceled)
11. The method of reporting an area-based event in a wireless
network according to claim 1, wherein said given target area event
comprises: at least one geographic parameter associated with at
least one time-based parameter.
12. Apparatus for providing a service to notify the occurrence of
an area-based event in a wireless network, comprising: means for
defining a given target area event; means for sending at least one
target area definition to a mobile device to be watched; means for
receiving notification that a visited public land mobile network
currently visited by said mobile device does not serve said given
target area; and means for modifying said target area event such
that notification to a home location service will be triggered when
said mobile device enters a wireless network that serves said given
target area; wherein an original area event request is
re-aimed.
13. Apparatus for providing a service to notify the occurrence of
an area-based event in a wireless network according to claim 12,
further comprising: means for resending an original target area
event location service request to said mobile device after
notification that said mobile device has entered a wireless network
that again serves said given target area.
14. Apparatus for providing a service to notify the occurrence of
an area-based event in a wireless network according to claim 12,
further comprising: means for storing a public land mobile network
list with said at least one target area accessible by a home
location service.
15. Apparatus for providing a service to notify the occurrence of
an area-based event in a wireless network according to claim 13,
further comprising: means for storing a public land mobile network
list with said at least one target area accessible by a home
location service.
16. Apparatus for providing a service to notify the occurrence of
an area-based event in a wireless network according to claim 12,
wherein: said given target area is defined by at least one
geographic boundary.
17. Apparatus for providing a service to notify the occurrence of
an area-based event in a wireless network according to claim 12,
wherein: said given target area is defined by a municipality
boundary.
18. Apparatus for providing a service to notify the occurrence of
an area-based event in a wireless network according to claim 12,
wherein: said given target area is defined by X and Y
coordinates.
19. Apparatus for providing a service to notify the occurrence of
an area-based event in a wireless network according to claim 12,
wherein: said given target area is defined by at least one zip
code.
20. Apparatus for providing a service to notify the occurrence of
an area-based event in a wireless network according to claim 12,
wherein: said target area event includes a time range for
activation.
21. (canceled)
22. Apparatus for providing a service to notify the occurrence of
an area-based event in a wireless network according to claim 12,
wherein said given target area event comprises: at least one
geographic parameter associated with at least one time-based
parameter.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates generally to wireless and long
distance carriers, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), and
information content delivery services/providers and long distance
carriers. More particularly, it relates to location services for
the wireless industry.
[0003] 2. Background of Related Art
[0004] The Location Interoperability Forum (LIF), the Wireless
Application Protocol (WAP) Forum, and 3.sup.rd Generation
Partnership Project (3GPP) have attempted to define an area trigger
via Application Protocol Interfaces (APIs) specific to these
groups. This type of service allows a location application to
define an area event for a mobile. For example, an area event may
be that the target mobile entered or left a pre-defined geographic
area, and when the area event occurs, which in turn triggers
notification to the relevant application.
[0005] Currently 3GPP is modifying the location service
specification 23.271 regarding area event location services. 3GPP
recommends a mobile-based solution. In this scenario, a pre-defined
area event will be downloaded to the mobile, and it is the target
mobile that detects whether the area event occurs. It is expected
that the visited Gateway Mobile Location Center will translate a
pre-defined geographic area to the corresponding network
identities, e.g., cells, location areas, etc. Because of this,
there is a problem in handling a pre-defined target area when the
currently visited network does not provide coverage for the target
area. Since the Visited-Gateway Mobile Location Center does not
know the target area, it will reject such a request. This will
downgrade the service for roaming scenarios support.
[0006] Conventionally, the Home Gateway Mobile Location Center may
reject the deferred area event location service when the visited
Gateway Mobile Location Center informs that the predefined target
area is not in it's service coverage. Or, as an option, the Home
Gateway Mobile Location Center may modify the original area event
to occur when the target mobile leaves the current serving Public
Land Mobile Network. The Home Gateway Mobile Location Center then
re-sends the original area event request to the new visited GMLC.
If it fails again (e.g., if the new visited network still does not
cover the target area), this procedure will repeat.
[0007] Unfortunately, particularly with respect to the second
option, if the mobile is on the boundary between two networks, the
Home Gateway Mobile Location Center will generate a significant
amount of traffic.
[0008] Thus, conventional area event handling systems are
disadvantageous because they are inefficient, limiting the relevant
service, and as a result may cause rejection of the deferred area
event location service in roaming scenarios.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] In accordance with the principles of the present invention,
a method and apparatus for reporting an area-based event in a
wireless network are provided, comprising defining a given target
area event. At least one target area definition is sent to a mobile
device to be watched. Notification is received that a visited
public land mobile network currently visited by the mobile device
does not serve the given target area. The target area event is
modified such that notification to a home location service will be
triggered when the mobile device enters a wireless network that
serves the given target area, wherein an original area event
request is re-aimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] Features and advantages of the present invention will become
apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description
with reference to the drawings, in which:
[0011] FIG. 1A shows a typical area event location service when a
target mobile is in its Home Public Land Mobile Network when a
request is initiated, and a pre-defined triggering area is in the
Home Public Land Mobile Network.
[0012] FIG. 1B shows a MESSAGE FLOW diagram showing the relevant
messages for FIG. 1A.
[0013] FIG. 2A shows an area event location service when a target
mobile is in a visited Public Land Mobile Network when a request is
initiated, and the pre-defined triggering area is in the Home
Public Land Mobile Network.
[0014] FIG. 2B shows a MESSAGE FLOW diagram showing the relevant
messages for FIG. 2A.
[0015] FIG. 3A shows a typical area event location service when a
target mobile is not in its Home Public Land Mobile Network when a
request is initiated, and the pre-defined triggering area is in a
visited Public Land Mobile Network.
[0016] FIG. 3B shows a MESSAGE FLOW diagram showing the relevant
messages for FIG. 3A.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS
[0017] The inventive solution enables a location system to be
informed when a target mobile enters one of multiple possible
networks covering a pre-defined target area, and re-aim the
original area event request. It also overcomes the potential issue
related to network selection when there are multiple networks
available at a certain area.
[0018] With this area event location service, a location based
service provider is able to pre-define a geographic area, which can
be a geopolitical name, one or more network identities, or an area
described by X, Y coordination, and type of event. The event can be
that the target subscriber enters or leaves the pre-defined area.
Once this kind of location request is sent to the network, an event
trigger is sent to the target mobile. When the pre-defined event
occurs, the mobile device (UE) initiates a location report to the
initiator of the request.
[0019] The visited Gateway Mobile Location Center is responsible
for converting the predefined area to network identities known
locally in the visited network (Home Gateway Mobile Location Center
may not know), for modifying the area event, and for sending the
modified area event to the target mobile. However, considering the
roaming scenarios, the visited network may not be the network that
has coverage on the target area and hence it may reject the
request. This is a technical issue that needs to be resolved, so
that area event location service can be functional even in various
roaming scenarios.
[0020] An enhanced procedure in accordance with the principles of
the present invention is based on a Public Land Mobile Network list
with estimated geographic coverage areas stored in the Home GMLC.
The list includes the Public Land Mobile Networks defined in
"HPublic Land Mobile Network Selector with Access Technology" and
"Operator Controlled Public Land Mobile Network Selector with
Access Technology" (3GPP 23.122), and the estimated service
coverage of each Public Land Mobile Network in the stored list. The
"Home Public Land Mobile Network Selector with Access Technology"
and "Operator Controlled Public Land Mobile Network Selector with
Access Technology" are defined for network access selection
procedure in GSM. These lists are to be stored in the SIM of each
subscriber. When a mobile enters new network coverage, it uses
these lists to make a decision for network access selection.
Although the network selection can be done manually by the user,
these lists may be predefined by the operator based on roaming
agreements, so the final decision should be up to one of the Public
Land Mobile Networks in these lists.
[0021] When the Home Gateway Mobile Location Center discovers that
the current visited Public Land Mobile Network does not serve the
original target area, it modifies the area event to UE entering one
of Public Land Mobile Networks, so that the Home Gateway Mobile
Location Center will get notified when the target UE enters a
Public Land Mobile Network that serves the original target area.
After being notified, the Home Gateway Mobile Location Center
re-sends the original area event location service request to the
target UE.
[0022] FIG. 1A shows a typical area event location service when the
target mobile is in its Home Public Land Mobile Network (H-PLMN)
when a request is initiated, and a pre-defined triggering area is
in the Home Public Land Mobile Network.
[0023] In particular, as shown in FIG. 1A, a mobile device 102
moves within a home network 150 into a pre-defined area 100,
causing a triggering event. A location client 120 resides in a
separate network 170, which includes a remote GMLC 130. The home
network 150 includes, e.g., a home/visited GMLC 125, an HLR/HSS
127, and a visited MSC/SGSN 140.
[0024] FIG. 1B shows a MESSAGE FLOW diagram showing the relevant
messages for FIG. 1A.
[0025] In particular, as shown in FIG. 1B, in step 1, an LCS
Service Request contains a change of area type deferred location
request information, i.e., details of the target area and the
nature of the event, whether the event to be reported is the User
Equipment (UE), i.e., a mobile device, being inside, entering into
or leaving the target area, etc. The LCS service request contains
information such as whether the deferred area event may be reported
one time only, or several times. If the change of area event is
reported one time only, the Location Service request is completed
after the first area event has occurred. The REQUESTING-Gateway
Mobile Location Center (R-GMLC) assigns a LDR reference number to
this LCS Service request. If the target area is expressed by local
coordinate system or geopolitical name, the REQUESTING-Gateway
Mobile Location Center shall convert the target area to
geographical area expressed by a shape defined in 3GPP
TS23.032.
[0026] In step 2, if the REQUESTING-Gateway Mobile Location Center
already knows, (e.g., from a previous location request or an
internal lookup table), or is able to determine, (e.g., it is
possible to use a DNS lookup mechanism similar to IETF RFC 2916),
the network address of the Home Gateway Mobile Location Center
(H-GMLC) of the target UE, or in case the location service request
contains the target UE's pseudonym, which includes the target UE's
Home-Gateway Mobile Location Center address, or a pseudonym from
which the target UE's Home-Gateway Mobile Location Center address
can be deduced, then this step 2 and step 3 may be skipped.
Otherwise, the REQUESTING-Gateway Mobile Location Center sends a
SEND_ROUTING_INFO_FOR_LCS message to the home HLR/HSS of the target
UE to be located with the IMSI or MSISDN of the UE.
[0027] In step 3, the HLR/HSS verifies whether the
REQUESTING-Gateway Mobile Location Center is authorized to request
UE location information. If not, an error response is returned.
Otherwise the HLR/HSS returns one or several of the network
addresses of the current SGSN and/or VMSC/MSC server, the LCS core
network signalling capabilities of the serving nodes if available
and whichever of the IMSI and MSISDN that was not provided in step
2. The HLR/HSS returns the address of the Home Gateway Mobile
Location Center (H-GMLC). The HLR/HSS also returns the address of
the PPR and Visited Gateway Mobile Location Center (V-GMLC), if
available.
[0028] In step 4, the REQUESTING-Gateway Mobile Location Center
finds out that it is the HOME GMLC, the signalling steps 4, 13 and
19 are skipped. If the REQUESTING-Gateway Mobile Location Center
did not receive the Home Gateway Mobile Location Center address in
step 3 and can not retrieve the Home Gateway Mobile Location Center
address in some other way (e.g. DNS lookup), then steps 4, 5, 6, 7
and 8 are skipped and the REQUESTING-Gateway Mobile Location Center
directly sends the PSL message to the serving node. Otherwise, the
REQUESTING-Gateway Mobile Location Center sends the location
request to the HOME GMLC. If one or several of the network
addresses of the current SGSN and/or VMSC/MSC server, the LCS core
network signalling capabilities of the serving nodes, IMSI and
MSISDN for the target UE, and the Visited Gateway Mobile Location
Center and the PPR have been retrieved in step 3, the
REQUESTING-Gateway Mobile Location Center passes the information
with the location request to the HOME GMLC. The REQUESTING-Gateway
Mobile Location Center also sends the service coverage information
to the HOME GMLC, if the information is available.
[0029] In step 5, the Home Gateway Mobile Location Center verifies
whether the REQUESTING-Gateway Mobile Location Center is authorized
to request UE location information. If the REQUESTING-Gateway
Mobile Location Center is not authorized, an error response is
returned. If the LCS service request contains the pseudonym of the
target UE and the Home Gateway Mobile Location Center cannot
resolve the PMD address from the pseudonym, the Home Gateway Mobile
Location Center itself determines the verinym (MSISDN or IMSI) of
the target UE. If the Home Gateway Mobile Location Center can
resolve the address of PMD from the pseudonym, the Home Gateway
Mobile Location Center requests the verinym from its associated
PMD, see clause 9.1.1.3. In this case, if Home Gateway Mobile
Location Center is not able to obtain the verinym of the target UE,
the Home Gateway Mobile Location Center cancels the location
request. The Home Gateway Mobile Location Center performs a privacy
check on the basis of the UE user's privacy profile stored in the
Home Gateway Mobile Location Center and the capabilities of the
serving nodes (MSC/VLR and/or SGSN), if available. The Home Gateway
Mobile Location Center may ask the PPR to perform the privacy check
as described in clause 9.1.1.1. If the key of the UE user's privacy
profile (i.e. MSISDN or IMSI) is not available, the privacy check
in this step is performed after step 7. The HOME GMLC/PPR verifies
LCS barring restrictions in the UE user's privacy profile in the
HOME GMLC/PPR. In verifying the barring restrictions, barring of
the whole location request is assumed if any part of it is barred
or any requisite condition is not satisfied. If the location
service request is to be barred, an error response is returned to
the REQUESTING-Gateway Mobile Location Center or the LCS client. As
a result of the privacy check, the HOME GMLC/PPR selects an
indicator of the privacy check related action and/or a
pseudo-external identity.
[0030] In step 6, if the Home Gateway Mobile Location Center
already knows both the VMSC/MSC server or SGSN location or the
network address of Visited Gateway Mobile Location Center and IMSI
for the particular MSISDN or PDP address, (e.g. from a previous
location request), the rest of this step and step 7 may be skipped.
Otherwise, the Home Gateway Mobile Location Center sends a
SEND_ROUTING_INFO_FOR_LCS message to the home HLR/HSS of the target
UE to be located with the IMSI, PDP address or MSISDN of this
UE.
[0031] In step 7, the HLR/HSS verifies the network address of the
Home Gateway Mobile Location Center in order to check that the Home
Gateway Mobile Location Center is authorized to request UE location
information. The HLR/HSS then returns one or several of the network
addresses of the current SGSN and/or VMSC/MSC server, the LCS core
network signalling capabilities of the serving nodes and whichever
of the IMSI and MSISDN was not provided in step 2 or 6 for the
particular UE. The HLR/HSS may also return the address of the
VISITED-GMLC, if available.
[0032] In step 8, in this scenario, the Home Gateway Mobile
Location Center finds out itself is also the VISITED-GMLC, and the
pre-defined area of the area event in the received location request
is in its service coverage. If the received target area is
expressed by a shape defined in 3GPP TS23.032, Visited Gateway
Mobile Location Center converts the target area into an Area
Definition consisting of the corresponding list of cell identities,
location areas or routing area. If the received target area is
expressed by country code or Public Land Mobile Network identity,
the Visited Gateway Mobile Location Center shall use the country
code or Public Land Mobile Network identity as the Area Definition.
The Visited Gateway Mobile Location Center sends the Area
Definition to MSC/SGSN in the Provide Subscriber Location request
(deferred) and includes the LDR reference number, the
REQUESTING-Gateway Mobile Location Center address and the Home
Gateway Mobile Location Center address in the request. The message
defines whether the event to be reported is the UE being inside,
entering into or leaving the area. The message may also include
information such as the minimum interval time between area event
reports, or whether the deferred area event may be reported one
time only or several times, if applicable.
[0033] In step 9, the MSC/SGSN verifies the UE capabilities with
regard to the change of area event. If either the MSC/SGSN or the
UE does not support the deferred location request for the change of
area event (for temporary or permanent reasons), a Provide
Subscriber Location return error shall be returned with a suitable
cause in step 7. If the UE is in idle mode, the core network
performs paging, authentication and ciphering. If privacy
notification/verification is requested, the MSC/SGSN sends an LCS
Location Notification Invoke message to the target UE indicating
the change of area type deferred location request and whether
privacy verification is required. LCS Location Notification is
further specified in clauses 9.1.2 and 9.1.6. If privacy
verification was requested, the UE returns an LCS Location
Notification Return Result to the MSC/SGSN indicating whether
permission is granted or denied.
[0034] In step 10, the MSC/SGSN sends the LCS Area Event Invoke to
the UE carrying the Area Definition, other area event information,
the LDR reference number, the REQUESTING-Gateway Mobile Location
Center address and the Home Gateway Mobile Location Center address.
The message also defines whether the event to be reported is the UE
being inside, entering into, leaving the area. The message may also
include additional information such as the minimum interval time
between area event reports, and whether the deferred area event may
be reported one time only, or several times, if applicable.
[0035] In step 11, if the LCS Area Event Invoke is successfully
received by the UE and the UE supports the change of area type
deferred location request, the UE sends acknowledgement to MSC/SGSN
and begins monitoring for the change of area event. The UE
determines whether it is inside, entering into or leaving the
target area by comparing the current serving cell identity,
location area, routing area, Public Land Mobile Network identity or
country code to the Area Definition received from the MSC/SGSN. In
case of soft handover, it is sufficient if one of the cells belongs
to the target area. In case the Area Definition consists of a
location or routing area, Public Land Mobile Network or country
identity the UE checks for the area event during the normal
location or routing area update procedure. The change of area event
detection mechanism preferably does not influence on the normal UE
cell selection and reselection procedures. If the UE does not
support the deferred location request (for temporary or permanent
reasons), it sends the LCS Area Event Invoke acknowledgement (ack)
with an appropriate error cause.
[0036] In step 12, if either the MSC/SGSN or the UE does not
support the deferred location request for the change of area event
(for temporary or permanent reasons), a Provide Subscriber Location
return error is returned to the Visited Gateway Mobile Location
Center with a suitable cause. If both the SGSN/MSC and UE support
the deferred location request for the change of area event, a
Provide Subscriber Location ack is returned to the Visited Gateway
Mobile Location Center without a location estimate. MSC/SGSN
preferably includes the result of the notification/verification in
the response to the VISITED-GMLC, if the notification/verification
is needed. The response message includes the LDR reference number,
the REQUESTING-Gateway Mobile Location Center address and the Home
Gateway Mobile Location Center address. The change of area event
invoke result is preferably also included, if necessary. After
sending the Provide Subscriber Location ack to the VISITED-GMLC,
the deferred location request is completed in the MSC/SGSN.
[0037] In steps 13 and 14, the Visitor Home Gateway Mobile Location
Center returns the LCS Service Response via REQUESTING-Gateway
Mobile Location Center to the LCS Client to notify whether the
request was successfully accepted or not.
[0038] In step 15, the UE detects that the requested area event has
occurred.
[0039] In step 16, before sending the LCS Area Event Report the UE
establishes either a CS radio connection or PS signalling
connection. The UE sends the LCS Area Event Report to the VMSC/SGSN
including the original LDR reference number, the REQUESTING-Gateway
Mobile Location Center address and the Home Gateway Mobile Location
Center address. The report also includes the result of the
notification/verification procedure, if the
notification/verification is needed. If the UE was requested to
report the change of area event one time only, the deferred
location request is completed. In case multiple reports were
requested, the UE preferably does not send a repeated LCS Area
Event Report more often than the requested minimum interval
indicated in the LCS Area Event Invoke.
[0040] In step 17a, if the MSC/SGSN does not support the deferred
location request for the change of area event (for temporary or
permanent reasons), the MSC/SGSN sends the subscriber location
report to its associated Visited Gateway Mobile Location Center
with a suitable error cause. Otherwise, the MSC/SGSN sends the
subscriber location report to its associated Visited Gateway Mobile
Location Center with an indication of the event occurrence, the LDR
reference number, the REQUESTING-Gateway Mobile Location Center
address and the Home Gateway Mobile Location Center address.
Visited Gateway Mobile Location Center sends an acknowledgement to
MSC/SGSN in step 13b and the MSC/SGSN may record billing
information.
[0041] In step 17b, if the Visited Gateway Mobile Location Center
does not supports the deferred location request for the change of
area event (for temporary or permanent reasons), the Visited
Gateway Mobile Location Center sends an LCS Service Response to the
Home Gateway Mobile Location Center with a suitable error cause.
Otherwise, the Visited Gateway Mobile Location Center sends the LCS
Service Response to the Home Gateway Mobile Location Center with an
indication of the event occurrence, the LDR reference number, the
REQUESTING-Gateway Mobile Location Center address and the Home
Gateway Mobile Location Center address. The LDR reference number,
the REQUESTING-Gateway Mobile Location Center address and the Home
Gateway Mobile Location Center address will be used to identify the
source of the original deferred location request in the case that
the UE has relocated before the area event occurred.
[0042] In step 18, the Home Gateway Mobile Location Center performs
the privacy check as described in clause 9.1.1.
[0043] In step 19, the Home Gateway Mobile Location Center sends
the LCS Service Response to REQUESTING-GMLC. Unless multiple
reports were requested, the deferred location request is completed
in the Home Gateway Mobile Location Center after sending the LCS
Service Response to the REQUESTING-GMLC.
[0044] In step 20, the REQUESTING-Gateway Mobile Location Center
sends the LCS Service Response to the LCS client. Unless multiple
reports were requested, the deferred location request is completed
in the REQUESTING-Gateway Mobile Location Center after sending the
LCS Service Response to the LCS client.
[0045] FIG. 2A shows an area event location service when the target
mobile is in a visited Public Land Mobile Network when a request is
initiated, and a pre-defined triggering area is in the Home Public
Land Mobile Network.
[0046] In particular, as shown in FIG. 2A, a mobile device 102
moves from a visited network 160 to a home network 150 into a
pre-defined area 100, causing a triggering event. A location client
120 resides in a separate network 170, which includes a remote GMLC
130. The home network 150 includes, e.g., a home GMLC 125, an
HLR/HSS 127, and a MSC/SGSN 140.
[0047] FIG. 2B shows a MESSAGE FLOW diagram showing the relevant
messages for FIG. 2A.
[0048] In particular, as shown in FIG. 2B, steps 1 to 7 are
identical to the similarly numbered steps shown in and described
with connection to FIG. 1B.
[0049] In step 8 of FIG. 2B, without implementing the present
invention, the Home Gateway Mobile Location Center sends the
location request to the Visited Gateway Mobile Location Center with
all network addresses associated with this request. It is possible
that the Home Gateway Mobile Location Center may still initiate
this step when the Home Gateway Mobile Location Center is not sure
if the current visited Public Land Mobile Network covers the
pre-defined area (also see step 10).
[0050] In accordance with the principles of the present invention,
a Home Gateway Mobile Location Center may realize that the current
visited Public Land Mobile Network does not cover the pre-defined
area by comparing the pre-defined area with stored information of
the coverage of the roaming partners networks. Then step 9 and 10
are skipped.
[0051] In step 9, the Visited Gateway Mobile Location Center finds
out that it cannot convert the pre-defined area in geographic
shapes included in the area event location request to a network
identity; the Visited Gateway Mobile Location Center rejects the
request and sends a LCS Service Response with error. Without
implementing this invention, the Home Gateway Mobile Location
Center rejects the request as well. Procedure of area event
location request with steps 17 and 18 and ends. With implementing
this invention, the procedure continues with step 10.
[0052] In step 10, with implementation of the present invention,
the Home Gateway Mobile Location Center can generate a modified
deferred LCS service request in order to get notified when the
target UE enters a Public Land Mobile Network that serves the
target area. The modified target area event is that the target UE
enters one of the Public Land Mobile Networks that serve the
original target area. Note that the new area event may include
multiple Public Land Mobile Networks (identified by Public Land
Mobile Network IDs) if there are more than one Public Land Mobile
Network that serves the original target area, based on the stored
Public Land Mobile Network list and the corresponding estimated
coverage in the HOME GMLC. To ensure that the mobile will select a
Public Land Mobile Network in the Public Land Mobile Network list
being sent, the Home Gateway Mobile Location Center includes both
the "Home Public Land Mobile Network Selector with Access
Technology" and "Operator Controlled Public Land Mobile Network
Selector" defined in 3GPP TS 23.122. The Home Gateway Mobile
Location Center then generates a new location request with the new
defined area event and the same rest of the information in the
original request and sends to the VISITED-GMLC, meanwhile the Home
Gateway Mobile Location Center stores the original area event
location request received from REQUESTING-GMLC.
[0053] Steps 11 to 15 are identical to steps 8 to 12 shown in and
described with connection to FIG. 1B.
[0054] In step 16, the Visited Gateway Mobile Location Center
passes the LCS Service Response to the HOME GMLC.
[0055] Steps 17 and 18 are identical to steps 13 and 14 shown in
and described with connection to FIG. 1B.
[0056] In step 19, the UE detects that it enters one of Public Land
Mobile Networks included in the modified area event request, after
the UE selects a Public Land Mobile Network either automatically
and manually. UE then sends an LCS Area Event Report to the visited
MSC/SGSN with the information included in the original area event
requests, e.g. network addresses of HOME GMLC, REQUESTING-Gateway
Mobile Location Center and the LDR reference number, so that the
new Visited Gateway Mobile Location Center in the newly selected
Public Land Mobile Network knows where to route the report.
[0057] Steps 20 to 22 are identical to steps 16 to 17b shown in and
described in connection with FIG. 1B.
[0058] In step 23, the new Visited Gateway Mobile Location Center
in the newly selected Public Land Mobile Network sends a LCS
Service Response back to the HOME GMLC, included the network
addresses of Home Gateway Mobile Location Center and
REQUESTING-GMLC, and the LDR reference number.
[0059] In step 24, upon receipt of the notification that the target
UE has entered a Public Land Mobile Network that serves the
pre-defined area in the original area event location request, the
Home Gateway Mobile Location Center sends the original LCS Service
Request stored in Home Gateway Mobile Location Center to the new
Visited Gateway Mobile Location Center (FIG. 2A shows Home Gateway
Mobile Location Center is the new VISITED-GMLC, so this step is
skipped).
[0060] Steps 25 to 29 are identical to steps 8 to 12 shown in and
described in connection with FIG. 1B.
[0061] In step 30, the Visited Gateway Mobile Location Center sends
a LCS Service Response back to HOME GMLC, acknowledging the
delivery of area event to the UE. As the Home Gateway Mobile
Location Center is actually the new Visited Gateway Mobile Location
Center shown in FIG. 2A, this step is skipped.
[0062] In step 31, the UE detects the area event has occurred.
[0063] Steps 32 to 34 are identical to steps 16 to 17b shown in and
described in connection with FIG. 1B.
[0064] In step 35, the Visited Gateway Mobile Location Center sends
a LCS Service Response to HOME GMLC, to report the area event has
occurred. As the Home Gateway Mobile Location Center is actually
the new Visited Gateway Mobile Location Center shown in FIG. 2A,
this step is skipped.
[0065] Steps 36 to 38 are identical to steps 18 to 20 shown in and
described in connection with FIG. 1B.
[0066] FIG. 3A shows a typical area event location service when a
target mobile is not in its Home Public Land Mobile Network when a
request is initiated, and a pre-defined triggering area is in the
visited Public Land Mobile Network. FIG. 3B shows a MESSAGE FLOW
diagram showing the relevant messages for FIG. 3A.
[0067] In particular, as shown in FIG. 3B, steps 1 to 7 are
identical to steps 1 to 7 shown in and described in connection with
FIG. 1B.
[0068] In step 8, the Home Gateway Mobile Location Center sends the
LCS Service Request to the VISITED-GMLC.
[0069] Steps 9 to 16 are identical to steps 11 to 18 shown in and
described in connection to FIG. 2B.
[0070] Steps 17 to 19b are identical to steps 15 to 17b shown in
and described in connection with FIG. 1B.
[0071] In step 20, the Visited Gateway Mobile Location Center sends
a LCS Service Response to HOME GMLC, to report the area event has
occurred. As the Home Gateway Mobile Location Center is actually
the new Visited Gateway Mobile Location Center shown in FIG. 2A,
this step is skipped.
[0072] Steps 21 to 23 are identical to steps 18 to 20 shown in and
described in connection with FIG. 1B.
[0073] The present invention resolves issues relating to roaming
support for area event location service efficiently, without
generating significant amounts of core network traffic. Moreover,
it is capable of providing service even when there are multiple
networks covering a pre-defined target area.
[0074] The present invention is foreseen to have a substantial
market with operators who want to provide area event location
services.
[0075] While the invention has been described with reference to the
exemplary embodiments thereof, those skilled in the art will be
able to make various modifications to the described embodiments of
the invention without departing from the true spirit and scope of
the invention.
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