U.S. patent application number 14/928093 was filed with the patent office on 2016-02-25 for emergency text messaging.
The applicant listed for this patent is TeleCommunication Systems, Inc.. Invention is credited to Dara Ung.
Application Number | 20160057600 14/928093 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 48168583 |
Filed Date | 2016-02-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160057600 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ung; Dara |
February 25, 2016 |
Emergency Text Messaging
Abstract
A location privacy configuration module enables location
determination to emergency services only relating to an emergency
text message or emergency text message session. An emergency text
message transmitted to an emergency number is routed to an
emergency text message server, which initiates an emergency text
indicator for each emergency text message, and requests location
information for the emergency texting device by transmitting the
emergency text indicator and a location request to a location
determination server. Location of the emergency texting device may
be obtained without acquiring customer authorization for location
determination. The originating text messaging device acknowledges
receipt of the emergency text indicator/location request
combination and checks the location privacy setting configured
thereon. Location determination is permitted if configured to
permit location determination if emergency text messaging.
Inventors: |
Ung; Dara; (Harwood,
MD) |
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Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
TeleCommunication Systems, Inc. |
Annapolis |
MD |
US |
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|
Family ID: |
48168583 |
Appl. No.: |
14/928093 |
Filed: |
October 30, 2015 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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14565769 |
Dec 10, 2014 |
9204277 |
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14928093 |
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13659198 |
Oct 24, 2012 |
8929854 |
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14565769 |
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61552181 |
Oct 27, 2011 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
455/404.2 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W 12/02 20130101;
H04W 4/90 20180201; H04W 4/14 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04W 4/22 20060101
H04W004/22; H04W 4/14 20060101 H04W004/14; H04W 12/02 20060101
H04W012/02; H04W 4/02 20060101 H04W004/02 |
Claims
1-14. (canceled)
15. A method of providing location privacy to a text messaging
wireless device, comprising: receiving, at a text messaging device,
a location request message with an indicator depicting authority to
obtain location for said text messaging device; determining a
privacy configuration of said text messaging device is set to
restrict location determination by said text messaging device in
response to said location request message with said indicator
depicting authority to obtain location for said text messaging
device; and denying location information from said text messaging
device in response to said location request message including said
indicator depicting authority to obtain location for said text
messaging device.
16. The method of providing location privacy to a text messaging
wireless device according to claim 15, further comprising: routing
said indictor depicting authority to obtain location for said text
messaging device, over an emergency interface.
17. The method of providing location privacy to a text messaging
wireless device according to claim 16, wherein: wherein said
emergency interface is an MLP ELIR.
18. The method of providing location privacy to a text messaging
wireless device according to claim 15, further comprising: routing
said indicator depicting authority to obtain location for said text
messaging device, back to said text messaging device without
sending a consent request to said text messaging device.
19. The method of providing location privacy to a text messaging
wireless device according to claim 15, wherein said network-based
server comprises: a physical location based services (LBS)
server.
20. The method of providing location privacy to a text messaging
wireless device according to claim 15, wherein: said location
request message is associated with a text message.
21. The method of providing location privacy to a text messaging
wireless device according to claim 20, wherein said text message
comprises: a short messaging system (SMS) text message.
22. The method of providing location privacy to a text messaging
wireless device according to claim 20, wherein: said location
request message originates from a source that received said text
message.
23. The method of providing location privacy to a text messaging
wireless device according to claim 15, wherein said denying
location information comprises: returning a restricted response to
said network-based server.
24. The method of providing location privacy to a text messaging
wireless device according to claim 15, wherein said network-based
server comprises: a physical location based services (LBS)
server.
25. The method of providing location privacy to a text messaging
wireless device according to claim 15, wherein said network-based
server comprises: an emergency text message server.
26. The method of providing location privacy to a text messaging
wireless device according to claim 15, wherein: said network-based
server identifies said location request message as being related to
an established emergency session including said text message.
27. The method of providing location privacy to a text messaging
wireless device according to claim 15, further comprising:
transmitting an acknowledgement message acknowledging receipt of
said text message.
28. The method of providing location privacy to a text messaging
wireless device according to claim 15, wherein: said location
information is denied from said text messaging device in response
to non-emergency location requests.
29. A method of providing location privacy to a text messaging
wireless device, comprising: receiving a location request message
with an indicator depicting authority to obtain location for a
given text messaging device, said indicator indicating that said
received location request message is in association with a given
text message, and that no consent need be sent to said given text
messaging device that originated said text message during a
location determination process to locate said given text messaging
device; determining that a location privacy setting in said text
messaging device indicates location determination by said text
messaging device is restricted in response to said location request
including said indicator depicting authority to obtain location for
said given text messaging device; and denying location information
from said text messaging device in response to said location
request message including said indicator depicting authority to
obtain location for said given text messaging device.
30. The method of providing location privacy to a text messaging
wireless device according to claim 29, wherein said text message
comprises: a short messaging system (SMS) text message.
31. The method of providing location privacy to a text messaging
wireless device according to claim 29, wherein said location
request message originates from a source that received said text
message.
32. The method of providing location privacy to a text messaging
wireless device according to claim 31, wherein said text message
comprises: a short messaging system (SMS) text message.
33. The method of providing location privacy to a text messaging
wireless device according to claim 29, further comprising:
returning a restricted response to a network-based server.
34. The method of providing location privacy to a text messaging
wireless device according to claim 33, wherein said network-based
server comprises: a physical location based services (LBS)
server.
35. The method of providing location privacy to a text messaging
wireless device according to claim 29, further comprising:
transmitting an acknowledgement message acknowledging receipt of
said text message.
36. The method of providing location privacy to a text messaging
wireless device according to claim 29, wherein: said location
information is denied from said text messaging device in response
to non-emergency location requests.
Description
[0001] The present invention claims priority from U.S. Application
No. 61/552,181, filed Oct. 27, 2011, entitled "Emergency Text
Messaging", the entirety of which is expressly incorporated herein
by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] This invention relates to wireless communications. More
particularly, it relates to emergency wireless communications, and
to emergency text messaging.
[0004] 2. Background of the Related Art
[0005] As location based services become increasingly prevalent and
useful, location services also begin to raise concern for user
privacy.
[0006] A conventional wireless device includes a location privacy
setting to either allow or disallow requesting applications to
obtain location information from that particular wireless device.
The conventional setting is either ALLOW (Location ON) or DISALLOW
(Location OFF) all requests for applications to obtain location
information.
[0007] FIG. 5 demonstrates an illustrative example of the location
privacy setting available on a conventional wireless device.
[0008] As depicted in FIG. 5, conventional wireless devices
typically comprise an "E9-1-1 Only" location privacy setting 400
(permitting the disclosure of location only to E9-1-1 emergency
services requesters); or a "Location On" location privacy setting
410 (permitting the disclosure of location to all requesting
applications),
[0009] A "Location On" type location privacy setting 410 is a
conventional opt-in location privacy technique that provides
customer authorization for location disclosure to all requesting
types. With "Location On" enabled, a relevant Location based
application(s) that is/are active on a wireless device are
continuously permitted to obtain location information for that
particular device, either on board or from a location determining
service via the wireless network.
[0010] Alternatively, location based applications that are active
on or with a wireless device that are not enabled for a "Location
On" type location privacy setting 410, are not permitted to obtain
location information for that particular device to applications (or
to requesting third parties.) Hence, the "Location On" type
location privacy setting 410 in an "off" position does not permit
location of a wireless device to be disseminated to any requesting
application or third party.
[0011] By FCC regulation mandate in the United States, the location
of an E9-1-1 calling device may be obtained at all times by
emergency services, regardless of the relevant wireless device's
location privacy setting. Thus, location information may be
obtained without acquiring user consent if location information is
authorized to be obtained and/or required by applicable law, e.g.,
location information that is obtained to assist emergency
situations, E9-1-1 voice calls, etc.
[0012] A conventional "E9-1-1 emergency services Only" type
location privacy setting 400 permits location information for that
wireless device to be disseminated only to emergency services in
response to an E9-1-1 location request. Hence, if the "E9-1-1
emergency services Only" type location privacy setting 400 is
enabled, all non-emergency location requests are denied.
[0013] A Mobile Positioning Center (MPC) in a traditional E9-1-1
system transmits a location request to a Position Determining
Entity (PDE) to locate the position of an E9-1-1 calling device
(e.g., a wireless device that has placed an E9-1-1 call), The
Position Determining Entity (PDE) retrieves a geographic location
of an E9-1-1 calling device via a known location determination
technique, e.g., a Global Positioning System, triangulation, etc.
Once retrieved, the Position Determining Entity (PDE) provides
location coordinates for the E9-1-1 calling device to the Mobile
Positioning Center (MPC). The Mobile Positioning Center (MPC)
inserts a geographic location for the relevant E9-1-1 calling
device into an E9-1-1 database, for later retrieval by an
appropriate Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) (i.e. a dispatch
office that receives 9-1-1 calls from the public).
[0014] However, with conventional systems, location is permitted
only for emergency voice calls. Text messages, including a text
message to an emergency services recipient, will not trigger
permission to obtain location for the emergency-texting wireless
device.
[0015] A detailed description of an exemplary text messaging
emergency 911 system may be found in commonly-owned U.S. Pat. No.
8,185,087, entitled "Emergency 911 Data Messaging", to Mitchell,
Jr., the entirety of which is hereby expressly incorporated by
reference.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0016] In accordance with the principles of the present invention,
a location privacy module enabling location determination for
emergency text messages comprises a location privacy wireless
device module including a configurable setting module on a wireless
device to permit current location determination of the wireless
device to be determined in relation to an emergency text message
addressed to an emergency destination. A location privacy network
server module, associated with an emergency text message server,
indicates to a location determination server that a particular
location request is associated with an emergency text message and
thus location is to be provided.
[0017] A method of providing location privacy to an emergency text
messaging wireless device in accordance with another aspect of the
invention comprises transmitting an emergency text indicator from a
network-based emergency text message server to a location
determination server. The emergency text indicator is conveyed to
an emergency texting device. Location determination of the
emergency texting device is performed without sending a consent
request to the emergency texting device.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] 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:
[0019] FIG. 1 shows a high level 911 network diagram as it relates
to a non-voice emergency communication (e.g., an emergency text
message), in accordance with the principles of the present
invention.
[0020] FIG. 2 depicts an exemplary wireless device providing
emergency texting location privacy control, in accordance with the
principles of the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 3 shows an exemplary location determination and privacy
checking call flow, in accordance with the principles of the
present invention.
[0022] FIG. 4 depicts exemplary location privacy determination
performed via the Location privacy module on an emergency text
messaging device, in accordance with the principles of the present
invention.
[0023] FIG. 5 demonstrates an illustrative example of location
privacy settings available on a conventional wireless device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS
[0024] The present inventors have appreciated that there is a need
for a location privacy capability in a wireless device that permits
a location of a wireless device to be disseminated to a Public
Safety Answering Point (PSAP) during text messaging to 911
emergency text services, without the need to then permit disclosure
of location to other requesting, but non-emergency, applications,
services, or third parties that may otherwise desire location
information.
[0025] The present invention comprises a wireless device including
a module that provides a user interface to set an emergency text
messaging 911 location privacy setting that permits location
information for a wireless device in non-voice emergency
communication (e.g., emergency text messaging to 911) to be
disseminated only to 911 or E9-1-1 emergency services. The
inventive permissive location privacy setting for emergency text
messaging (e.g. a setting such as "permit location for emergency
voice and emergency text messaging only") permits the current
location of a wireless device to be provided only when an emergency
voice call, emergency text message, or other emergency-related
communication is initiated relating to that particular wireless
device.
[0026] The determination that a given request for location is
related to an emergency communication may be presumed when
requested by an authorized PSAP or other government-sanctioned
emergency services requester. A request from an authorized
emergency services source, together with permission granted by the
relevant wireless device that location may be provided when not in
an active voice call to an emergency services destination (e.g.,
when in an active call to "911"), is preferably permitted.
Alternatively, location may be restricted to a request from a
source which has previously been texted with an emergency text
message (e.g., a text message to "911" or similar was recently
logged.) The inventive emergency 911 location privacy setting for
non-voice communications enables location of a wireless device to
be obtained by a requesting 911 emergency service when the wireless
device makes a non-voice emergency call, e.g., an emergency text
message to 911--without requiring that the relevant wireless device
permit location to be provided to all requesting third parties as
would be required in a conventional wireless device.
[0027] The inventive wireless device including a non-voice
emergency 911 location privacy setting as disclosed is enabled by
suitable application modules on both the physical wireless device
as well as on a physical location-based services server within a
wireless network tasked with determining if location of a given
wireless device is authorized.
[0028] Thus, the inventive emergency non-voice communication
setting for location dissemination enables denial of all requests
for location information relating to that wireless device that are
not requested in relation to a non-voice emergency communication,
e.g., an emergency text message, MMS, video clip or feed, etc.,
addressed to 9-1-1 or other emergency destination.
[0029] A network-based software module enables an emergency text
911 server to identify a location request as being related to an
established emergency session including non-voice communication.
The emergency text message 911 server preferably transmits an
emergency text indicator with a given location request so that the
location request is flagged as relating to an emergency
communication made to emergency 911 services. Moreover, instead of
using an emergency text indicator in the existing message (e.g.,
SUR or ELIR), another option in accordance with the principles of
the present invention is to use a different message altogether.
[0030] FIG. 1 shows a high level 911 network diagram as it relates
to a non-voice emergency communication (e.g., an emergency text
message), in accordance with the principles of the present
invention.
[0031] In particular, as shown in step 1 of FIG. 1, a wireless
device 500 transmits an emergency text message to an emergency
number (e.g. 911).
[0032] In step 2, the transmitted emergency text message traverses
the base station 510, and is delivered to a Mobile Switching Center
(MSC) 520,
[0033] In step 3, the Mobile Switching Center (MSC) 520 transmits
the emergency text message received thereon to a Short Message
Service Center (SMSC) 530.
[0034] In step 4, upon receipt, the Short Message Service Center
(SMSC) 530 routes the emergency text message (e.g., an SMS message
in the disclosed embodiment) to an emergency text message 911
server 540.
[0035] In step 5, the emergency text message 911 server 540
requests the precise latitude/longitude (latilon) and/or rough
position (tower/sector) of the emergency texting wireless device
500 from a location determination server 550. The request for
location information preferably includes an indicator of "Emergency
Services" or similar designation depicting authority to obtain
location for the emergency texting wireless device 500.
[0036] In step 6, the location determination server 550 calculates
the position of the emergency texting wireless device 500, and
returns retrieved location information to the emergency text
message 911 server 540.
[0037] In step 7, the emergency text message 911 server 540 uses
the location of the emergency texting wireless device 500 to
determine routing for the emergency text message.
[0038] In step 8, the emergency text message 911 server 540 routes
the emergency text message and location information retrieved for
the emergency texting wireless device 500, to an appropriate Public
Safety Answering Point (PSAP) 560 via conventional routing
procedures.
[0039] Thus, when a wireless device transmits an emergency text
message (e.g., an SMS text message, an IP based text message, etc.)
to an emergency text number (e.g. 911), that emergency text message
is routed to an emergency text message 911 server 540. In
accordance with the principles of the present invention, when an
emergency text message 911 server 540 receives an emergency text
message (e.g., an SMS message addressed to an emergency text
number), the emergency text message 911 server 540 generates an
emergency text indicator.
[0040] The emergency text message 911 server 540 transmits an
emergency text indicator and a location request (e.g., an emergency
text message location request) to a location determination server
550 to request location information for a corresponding emergency
texting wireless device 500 (e.g., a wireless device that has
transmitted the emergency text message), An emergency text
indicator/location request combination indicates to the location
determination server 550 that location information should be
retrieved absent customer authorization (i.e., the location server
shall inhibit the sending of consent request to the user to obtain
consent). (Note that in conventional systems, at this point, the
location server attempts to send a consent request message to the
handset requesting consent from the user. With the inventive use of
an emergency text indicator, the server must bypass this
procedure.)
[0041] In accordance with the principles of the present invention,
a location determination server 550 transmits each emergency text
indicator received thereon, to a corresponding requesting device
during attempted location determination. An emergency text
indicator indicates to the location determination server 550 that
location information is being requested to aid emergency text
messaging 911 services,
[0042] In accordance with the principles of the present invention,
a wireless device (e.g., Srnartphone) with suitable emergency
location application recognizes the receipt of a request for
location directly from the emergency texting wireless device 500.
The request for location includes an emergency text indicator.
Acknowledgement of the emergency text indicator/location request
combination prompts a wireless handset emergency location
application on the wireless device 500 to check its own setting of
location privacy, If, e.g., an "E9-1-1 Only" or "E9-1-1 and SMS 911
Only" is set as the wireless devices location privacy setting, or a
"Location On" location privacy setting 410 is configured on the
emergency texting wireless device 500, location determination is
permitted to proceed. Otherwise, location determination is
restricted.
[0043] FIG. 2 depicts an exemplary wireless device provided with
emergency texting location privacy control, in accordance with the
principles of the present invention.
[0044] As depicted in FIG. 2, a location privacy module in the
wireless handset 500 provides an SMS 911 location privacy setting
through a provisioning interface 100. A mobile subscriber activates
an E9-1-1 and SMS 911 Only location privacy setting 100a, by
selecting the setting 100a (step 10) from a compilation of location
privacy settings available on a relevant wireless device.
[0045] As portrayed in FIG. 2, inventive handset software provides
the following location privacy settings through a provisioning
interface 100: [0046] 1. E9-1-1 Only (i.e. allow location
determination for E9-1-1 voice calls only) (conventional location
privacy setting) 400 [0047] 2. E9-1-1 and SMS 911 Only (i.e. allow
location determination for E9-1-1 voice calls and SMS 911 only)
(inventive location privacy setting) 100a [0048] 3. Location On
(i.e. allow location determination for all service types)
(conventional location privacy setting) 410
[0049] As depicted in FIG. 2, a wireless subscriber 110 triggers an
emergency text messaging 911 location request when they transmit an
emergency text message from a wireless device 500 to an emergency
text number, e.g., 911 (step 12).
[0050] The emergency text message addressed to the emergency text
number, e.g., 911, is routed to the emergency text messaging 911
server 540 on the requesting device's wireless network. Receipt of
an emergency text message (i.e. an SMS message addressed to an
emergency text number) prompts the emergency text message 911
server 540 to request location information for the corresponding
emergency text messaging device 500, by transmitting a location
request and an emergency text indicator to the location
determination server 550.
[0051] Receipt of an emergency text indicator, provokes the
location determination server 550 to retrieve location information
for the emergency text messaging device 500, without first
requesting customer authorization for the location determination.
Moreover, receipt of an emergency text indicator/location request
combination prompts the location determination server 550 to
forward an emergency text indicator and a location request to the
relevant emergency text messaging device 500 to initiate location
determination (step 14).
[0052] A location privacy module 140 on the relevant emergency text
messaging device 500 acknowledges receipt of the emergency text
indicator/location request combination. An emergency text indicator
prompts the location privacy module 140 to determine whether or not
location determination is permitted to proceed (step 16), depending
upon the location privacy setting configured on the emergency text
messaging device 500. If the location privacy setting is configured
as "E9-1-1 and SMS 911 Only" or the like 100a, or as "Location On",
the location privacy module 140 permits location information for
the emergency text messaging device 500 to be disseminated to the
location determination server 550 (step 18). Otherwise, location
determination is restricted.
[0053] In operation, a text message that is transmitted by an
emergency text messaging device 500 to an emergency text number
(e.g. 911), is routed to an emergency text message 911 server 540,
e.g., on the requesting device's wireless network.
[0054] When the emergency text message 911 server 540 receives the
emergency text message from the emergency text messaging device
500, the emergency text message 911 server 540 facilitates the
determination of the location of the emergency text messaging
device 500 by initiating a location request to the location
determination server 550.
[0055] In accordance with the principles of the present invention,
the emergency text message 911 server 540 generates an emergency
text indicator for each emergency text message that is received
thereon. The emergency text message 911 server 540 then requests
location information for the emergency text messaging device 500,
by transmitting a location request and an emergency text indicator
to the location determination server 550.
[0056] An emergency text indicator/location request combination is
preferably transmitted to the location determination server 550 via
an existing emergency interface (e.g. MLP ELIR). However, a
location request and an emergency text indicator may alternatively
be transmitted to the location determination server 550 via a
non-standardized interface for location.
[0057] An emergency text indicator received together with a
location request indicates to the location determination server 550
that the location request is a request for location of an emergency
text messaging device to aid emergency 911 services. When the
location determination server 550 receives the location request for
an emergency text messaging device, indicated by way of an
emergency text indicator, the location determination server 550 is
instructed to perform location determination for the emergency text
messaging device 500, without first acquiring consent of the user
of the emergency text messaging device 500. Hence, an emergency
text indicator enables the location determination server 550 to
waive user consent for location determination, i.e., user consent
for location determination is considered impliedly granted or not
necessary when the emergency location request is received on the
location determination server 550.
[0058] Once the location determination server 550 acknowledges
receipt of an emergency text indicator/location request
combination, the location determination server 550 forwards the
emergency text indicator and a location request to the
corresponding emergency text messaging device 500, to initiate
location determination thereon.
[0059] The inventive location privacy module 140 acknowledges
receipt of an emergency text indicator/location request combination
from an emergency text messaging device 500. Receipt of the
emergency text indicator/location request combination prompts the
location privacy module 140 to check the location privacy setting
configured on the relevant emergency text messaging device 500. If
the privacy setting is configured as "E9-1-1 and SMS 911 Only" or
the like 100a, or "Location On", on the emergency text messaging
device 500, the location privacy module 140 permits location
determination to proceed. Otherwise, location determination is
restricted.
[0060] Results of the location request are then returned to the
emergency text message 911 server 540 for subsequent routing to the
appropriate Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP).
[0061] FIG. 3 shows an exemplary location determination and privacy
checking call flow, in accordance with the principles of the
present invention.
[0062] In particular, text message 911 emergency services are
initiated when a mobile device 500 transmits a text message
addressed in the header to an emergency text number, e.g., 911, as
depicted in step 1.
[0063] In step 2, the transmitted emergency text message is
received on the emergency text messaging mobile device's wireless
network 160, and then is routed to an emergency text message 911
server 540, based on destination digits indicated therein.
[0064] In step 3, a node (e.g. a Short Message Service Center) on
the mobile device's wireless network 160 routes a message
containing delivery status for the transmitted emergency text
message, back to the originating mobile device 500.
[0065] A message acknowledging the receipt of the emergency text
message on the emergency text message 911 server 540 is then
transmitted to a node on the originating device's wireless network
160, as depicted in step 4.
[0066] In step 5, the emergency text message 911 server 540 detects
that the emergency text message received thereon is an emergency
text message, and thus associates an emergency text indicator
therewith. The emergency text message 911 server 540 then transmits
the location request containing the emergency text indicator and a
mobile directory number for the originating mobile device 500 to
the location determination server 550.
[0067] In step 6, the location determination server 550 on the
mobile device's 500 wireless network 160, receives the location
request and detects the accompanying emergency text indicator. Upon
detection, the location determination server 550 disables the
requirement for user consent, and transmits a location
request/emergency text indicator combination to the originating
mobile device 500.
[0068] In step 7, the location request transmitted by the location
determination server 550 is received on the originating device's
wireless network 160 and thereby forwarded to the originating
mobile device 500.
[0069] In step 8, the originating mobile device 500 receives the
request for location and detects the accompanying emergency text
indicator. The emergency texting wireless device 500 determines if
location determination is permitted to proceed (step 8a), or if
location determination must be restricted (step 8b).
[0070] As depicted in step 9, results of the location determination
process are returned to the emergency text message 911 server 540
for subsequent routing to a Public Safety Answering Point
(PSAP),
[0071] FIG. 4 depicts exemplary location privacy determination
performed via the Location privacy module on an emergency text
messaging device, in accordance with the principles of the present
invention.
[0072] In particular, as shown in step 300 of FIG. 4, an emergency
text messaging device 500 receives a location request from a
location determination server 550.
[0073] Upon receipt, a location privacy module 140 on the emergency
text messaging device 500 determines if an emergency text indicator
accompanies or is included within the location request, as shown in
step 310.
[0074] If an emergency text indicator is not received with the
location request, then privacy control procedures are performed in
an otherwise conventional manner, as shown in step 320. However, if
an emergency text indicator is received with the location request,
the location privacy module 140 checks the location privacy setting
(step 330) configured on the emergency text messaging device 500,
to determine if location determination is permitted to emergency
text messaging 911 services. If the location privacy is configured
as "Location On", or as "E9-1-1 and emergency text message 911
Only" or the like 100a, then the location privacy module 140
permits location determination to proceed, as depicted in step
340.
[0075] If location privacy is not configured as "Location On", and
not configured as "E9-1-1 and emergency text message 911 Only" or
the like 100a, then location determination is restricted as
depicted in step 350.
[0076] In application, the following occurs:
[0077] When the emergency text message 911 server 540 receives a
request from the emergency texting device 500, the emergency text
message 911 server 540 must determine the location of the emergency
texting device 500 by performing a request to the location
determination server 550. Prior to doing so, it performs the
following:
[0078] a) Select the existing emergency interface (e.g., MLP ELIR)
to be used to query the location request. The emergency text
message 911 server 540 generates an emergency_text_indicator to the
location determination server 550. This causes the location
determination server 550 to convey the emergency_text_indicator to
be sent back to the emergency texting device 500 during the
location determination process and to perform location
determination of the emergency texting device 500 without sending a
consent request to the emergency texting device 500.
[0079] b) For non-standardized interface for location
determination, an emergency_text_indicator will be set in the
message from the emergency text message 911 server 540 to the
location determination server 550 to indicate that the location
request is in association with an emergency text message and that
no consent need be sent to the emergency texting device 500 during
the location determination process.
[0080] c) In either case, the emergency_text_indicator is sent back
to the emergency texting device 500 to assist the emergency texting
device 500 to determine whether current location information is
allowed to proceed depending upon the location privacy setting in
emergency texting device (e.g., wireless handset/phone) 500.
[0081] During an emergency text message origination, when the
emergency text messaging device 500 receives a location request
from the network to perform location determination, the location
privacy module looks for an emergency_text_indicator. If the
emergency_text_indicator is set and the privacy setting indicates
that it allows location determination for emergency voice and text
only, or if it allows location determination for all service types,
the emergency texting device 500 allows location determination to
proceed;
[0082] otherwise, location determination is restricted.
[0083] The present invention has particular applicability to cell
phone manufacturers, text message 911 server manufacturers,
location/position determination server manufacturers, and/or
cellular network manufacturers. Particular applications include
location privacy consent, privacy category setting and detection,
emergency text category, and emergency text indicator setting.
[0084] 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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