Interface for wireless location information

• US 20020077119A1
• Filed: 11/19/2001
• Published: 06/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Unwired Planet LLC (JP Morgan Chase & Co)
• Original Assignee: Unwired Planet LLC (JP Morgan Chase & Co)
• Inventors: Fitch, James A., McKnight, Michael, Hose, David A.
• Application Number:
  US09/989,091
• Publication Number:
  US 20020077119A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.2
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0244 Accuracy or reliability of position solution or of measurements contributing thereto
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/12 by co-ordinating position lines of different shape, e.g. hyperbolic, circular, elliptical or radial
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/08 Mobility data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/18 Service support devices; Network management devices

Abstract

Multiple location finding equipment (LFE) inputs are used to enhance the location information made available to wireless location-based applications. In one implementation, the invention is implemented in a wireless network including an MSC (112) for use in routing communications to or from wireless stations (102), a network platform (114) associated with the MSC (112), and a variety of LFE systems (104, 106, 108 and 110). A Location Finding System (LFS) (116) in accordance with the present invention is resident on the platform (114). The LFS (116) receives location information from the LFEs (104, 106, 108 and 110) and provides location information to wireless location based applications (118). In this regard, the LFS (116) can receive input information at varying time intervals. of varying accuracies and in various formats, and can provide standardized outputs to the applications (118), for example, depending on the needs of the applications (118). Multiple inputs may also be co-processed for enhanced accuracy.

Claims

1. A method for use in a wireless network to obtain requested location information regarding a wireless station and provide the requested location information to a wireless location application, the wireless network being associated with at least a first location source and a second location source for providing information regarding locations of wireless stations in the network, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a system for receiving location information from the first and second location sources, where the first and second location sources employ first and second location finding technologies for locating wireless stations;

establishing an interface for communications between said system and said wireless location application, where said interface defines a standard for requesting and providing said requested location information;

first receiving, at said system via said interface, a location request regarding said wireless station from said wireless location application, said location request requesting said requested location information in accordance with said standard of said interface;

storing data in memory accessible by said system relating to said first location input and said second location input;

second receiving, at said system, a first location input based on first location information provided by said first location source, and a second location input based on second location information provided by said second location source;

obtaining said requested location information by selectively retrieving data from said memory based on said location request; and

outputting said requested location information to said wireless location application in accordance with said standard of said interface, wherein said wireless location application is selectively supported by said first location source and said second location source via said interface.