Method of operating a gateway with a location information system

• US 20040003125A1
• Filed: 04/11/2003
• Published: 01/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Ichimura, Shigehiro
• Granted Patent: US 7,428,571 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/249
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0027 of actual mobile position, i.e. position determined on mobile
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/566 Grouping or aggregating service requests, e.g. for unified processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel

Abstract

In response to a first location request message from a client terminal, a gateway stores the message and requests the location information of a target mobile terminal from a location information system. If a second location request message is received from other client terminal requesting the location information of the same mobile terminal while the initial client terminal is waiting for the requested information, the second location request message is stored. Reply messages are sent simultaneously to these client terminals when the requested information is received. In a modified embodiment, if location request messages are received from multiple client terminals for the same target mobile terminal, they are stored in a memory, which is then searched at periodic intervals. If the message of at least one client terminal is detected, the gateway acquires location information of the target terminal from the system and transmits a reply message to client terminals.

Claims

1. A method of operating a gateway with a location information system, comprising a step of performing, on a real-time basis, reception of a plurality of location request messages from a plurality of client terminals requesting location information of a common mobile terminal, acquisition of the requested information from said system in one transaction and transmission of a plurality of reply messages, each containing the acquired information, to said client terminals.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said location request messages are received within a time interval during which said requested information is acquired from said system.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said requested information is acquired from said system immediately following the receipt of a location request message which arrived first in said time interval.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said step comprises:

a) receiving a location request message from a client terminal concerning location information of said mobile terminal;

b) creating a client entry in a memory for mapping the address of the said client terminal to said mobile terminal;

c) repeating steps (a) and (b) until said requested information is acquired from said system if location information of the same mobile terminal is requested by a subsequent location request message from a further client terminal, so that a plurality of client entries are created in said memory; and

d) reading a plurality of addresses from said memory when said location information is acquired from said system, encapsulating the acquired information in reply messages destined to the read addresses and transmitting the reply messages.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of deleting said client entries from said memory after the reply messages are transmitted to said client terminals.

6. The method of claim 2, 3 or 4, further comprising:

storing the acquired location information of mobile terminal in a memory;

receiving a further location request message from a further client terminal; and

transmitting the stored information to the further client terminal if the further location request message is requesting location information of said mobile terminal.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising deleting the stored location information when a predetermined time interval has lapsed.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the information acquired from said system indicates auxiliary information of said mobile terminal and wherein the acquired information is transmitted to the further client terminal if the auxiliary information thereof satisfies a condition specified by the location request message.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the location request message of said further client terminal contains preference data, and- wherein said acquired information is transmitted to said further client terminal if the auxiliary information satisfies said preference data.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said preference data is stored in a memory, and wherein said acquired information is transmitted to said further client terminal if the auxiliary information satisfies said stored preference data.

11. The method of claim 8, 9 or 10, wherein said preference data indicates a degree of accuracy of the acquired information desired by said further client terminal.

12. The method of claim 8, 9 or 10, wherein said preference data indicates an age of the acquired information desired by said further client terminal.

13. The method of claim 8, 9 or 10, wherein said auxiliary information indicates a travelling speed of said mobile terminal.

14. The method of claim 8, 9 or 10, wherein said auxiliary information indicates a degree of accuracy of the acquired information.

15. The method of claim 8, 9 or 10, wherein said auxiliary information indicates a time of day at which the acquired location information is received from said system.

16. A method of operating a gateway with a location information system, comprising the steps of:

a) receiving a location request message from a client terminal concerning location information of a mobile terminal;

b) acquiring the location information from said system;

c) transmitting the acquired information to the client terminal and storing the acquired information in a memory; and

d) receiving a further location request message from a client terminal, repeating steps (b) and (c) if the further location request message concerns location information of a mobile terminal unless the location information of said mobile terminal is stored in the memory, and transmitting the stored information to the client terminal if the further location request message concerns the location information stored in the memory.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising deleting the stored location information when a predetermined time interval has lapsed.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the information acquired from said system indicates auxiliary information of said mobile terminal and wherein the acquired information is transmitted to the further client terminal if the auxiliary information thereof satisfies a condition specified by the location request message.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the location request message of said further client terminal contains preference data, and wherein said acquired information is transmitted to said further client terminal if the auxiliary information satisfies the preference data.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein said preference data is stored in a memory, and wherein said acquired information is transmitted to said further client terminal if the auxiliary information satisfies said stored preference data.

21. The method of claim 18, 19 or 20, wherein said preference data indicates a degree of accuracy of the acquired information desired by said further client terminal.

22. The method of claim 18, 19 or 20, wherein said preference data indicates an age of the acquired information desired by said further client terminal.

23. The method of claim 18, 19 or 20, wherein said auxiliary information indicates a travelling speed of said mobile terminal.

24. The method of claim 18, 19 or 20, wherein said auxiliary information indicates a degree of accuracy of the acquired information.

25. The method of claim 18, 19 or 20, wherein said auxiliary information indicates a time of day at which the acquired location information is received from said system.

26. A method of operating a gateway with a location information system, comprising the steps of:

a) receiving a plurality of location request messages from a plurality of client terminals for location information of a mobile terminal, and storing the location request messages in a memory; and

b) making a search through said memory at periodic intervals for detecting at least one location request message, requesting the location information of said mobile terminal from said location information system if there is at least one location request message is detected in said memory, and transmitting a reply message to the client terminal from which said detected message is received and deleting the detected message from the memory.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein step (a) comprises:

a₁) creating a plurality of client entries in a memory for mapping the addresses of the client terminals to said mobile terminal; and

a₂) setting a flag to “

0”

in each of said client entries;

wherein step (b) comprises;

b₁) repeatedly making said search for detecting at least one client entry whose flag is set to “

0”

;

b₂) requesting said location information from said system;

b₃) setting the flag to “

1”

in the detected client entry;

b₄) reading the address from the detected client entry whose flag is set to “

1”

when the requested location-information is received from said system, encapsulating the received location information in reply messages destined to the read address, and transmitting the reply message.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein step (b₂) comprises requesting said location information from said system if multiple client entries are detected by the search or if there is only one client entry is detected whose time lapse is expected to exceed a predetermined time-out period when said search is subsequently repeated.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein the location information acquired from said system includes auxiliary information, wherein step (a) comprises:

a₁) creating a plurality of client entries in a memory for mapping the addresses of the client terminals to said mobile terminal; and

a₂) setting a flag to “

0”

in each of said client entries;

a₃) determining whether the received location request message contains preference data;

a₄) if the location request message of a client entry contains preference data, setting a flag to “

0”

in the client entry, and if the location request message does not contain preference data, requesting the location information of said mobile terminal from said system and setting a flag to “

1”

in the client entry; and

a₅) reading an address from at least one client entry whose flag is set to “

1” and

whose preference data satisfies a condition specified by said auxiliary information when the location information is received from said system, encapsulating the received information in a reply message destined to the read address, transmitting the reply message, and deleting said client entry from said memory,

wherein step (b) comprises;

b₁) repeatedly making a search through said memory at periodic intervals for detecting multiple client entries whose flag is set to “

0” and

whose preference data satisfies said specified condition or a single client entry whose flag is set to “

0” and

whose preference data is expected not to satisfy said specified condition when said search is subsequently repeated, and setting the flag of each of said multiple client entries and said single client entry to “

1”

;

b₂) requesting the location information of said mobile terminal from said location information system for said multiple client entries or said single client entry; and

b₃) reading an address from at least one client entry whose flag is set to “

1”

when the requested location information is received from the location information system, encapsulating the received location information in a reply message destined to the read address, transmitting the reply message and deleting the client entry from said memory.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein step (a₄) further comprises the steps of:

making a search through said memory for detecting at least one client entry whose flag is set to “

0” and

whose preference data satisfies said specified condition if the location request message does not contain preference data; and

if said at least one client entry is detected by the search, setting the flag of said at least one client entry to “

1”

.

31. The method of claim 26, wherein the location information acquired from said system includes auxiliary information, wherein step (a) comprises:

a₁) creating a plurality of client entries in a memory for mapping the addresses of the client terminals to said mobile terminal;

a₂) setting a flag to “

0”

in each of said client entries;

a₃) determining whether the received location request message contains preference data; and

a₄) if the location request message of a client entry contains preference data, setting a flag to “

0”

in the client entry, and if the location request message does not contain preference data, reading preference data from a memory and storing the read preference data in the client entry, and setting a flag to “

0”

in the client entry,

wherein step (b) comprises;

b₁) repeatedly making a search through said memory at periodic intervals for detecting multiple client entries whose flag is set to “

0” and

whose preference data satisfies said specified condition or a single client entry whose flag is set to “

0” and

whose preference data is expected not to satisfy said specified condition when said search is subsequently repeated, and setting the flag of each of said multiple client entries and said single client entry to “

1”

;

b₂) requesting the location information of said mobile terminal from said location information system for said multiple client entries or said single client entry; and

b₃) reading an address from at least one client entry whose flag is set to “

1”

when the requested location information is received from the location information system, encapsulating the received location information in a reply message destined to the read address, transmitting the reply message and deleting the client entry from said memory.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein step (a₅) further comprises making a search through said memory, prior to reading said address, for detecting at least one client entry whose flag is either “

0”

or “

1” and

whose preference data satisfies said specified condition.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein said preference data indicates an age of the acquired information desired by said further client terminal.

34. The method of claim 29, wherein said preference data indicates a degree of accuracy of the acquired information desired by said further client terminal.

35. The method of claim 29, wherein said auxiliary information indicates a travelling speed of said mobile terminal.

36. The method of claim 29, wherein said auxiliary information indicates a degree of accuracy of the acquired information.

37. The method of claim 29, wherein said auxiliary information indicates a time of day at which the acquired location information is received from said system.

38. A gateway for a location information system, comprising:

a memory; and

a processor for receiving a location request message from a client terminal for location information of a mobile terminal, storing the request message in said memory, acquiring the location information from said system, receiving and storing a further location request message from other client terminal in said memory if the further location request message is requesting location information of said mobile terminal, transmitting the acquired message to said client terminals in response to receipt of the location information from said system, and deleting the stored request messages from said memory.

41. The gateway of claim 38, 39 or 40, wherein said memory includes:

a first table having a plurality of entries, each mapping the address of each client terminal to said mobile terminal; and

a second table having a plurality of entries, each mapping the address of said mobile terminal to the location information of the mobile terminal received from said location information system.

39. A gateway for a location information system, comprising the

a memory;

and

a processor for receiving a location request message from a client terminal for location information of a mobile terminal, acquiring the location information from said system, transmitting the acquired information to the client terminal, and storing the received information in said memory,

said processor receiving a further location request message from a client terminal, and transmitting the stored information to the client terminal if the further location request message is requesting location information of said mobile terminal.

40. A gateway for a location information system, comprising:

a memory; and

a processor for receiving a plurality of location request messages from a plurality of client terminals for location information of a mobile terminal, storing the location request messages in said memory, and making a search through said memory at periodic intervals for detecting at least one location request message, acquiring the location information of said mobile terminal from said location information system if at least one location request message is detected in said memory, and transmitting the acquired message to the client terminal of said detected message is received and deleting the detected message from the memory.

42. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for operating a gateway with a location information system, said program comprising a step of performing, on a real-time basis, reception of a plurality of location request messages from a plurality of client terminals requesting location information of a common mobile terminal, acquisition of the requested information from said system in one transaction and transmission of a plurality of reply messages, each containing the acquired information, to said client terminals.

43. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 42, wherein said location request messages are received within a time interval during which said requested information is acquired from said system.

44. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 43, wherein said requested information is acquired from said system immediately following the receipt of a location request message which arrived first in said time interval.

45. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 43, wherein said step comprises:

a) receiving a location request message from a client terminal concerning location information of said mobile terminal;

b) creating a client entry in a memory for mapping the address of the said client terminal to said mobile terminal;

c) repeating steps (a) and (b) until said requested information is acquired from said system if location information of the same mobile terminal is requested by a subsequent location request message from a further client terminal, so that a plurality of client entries are created in said memory; and

d) reading a plurality of addresses from said memory when said location information is acquired from said system, encapsulating the acquired information in reply messages destined to the read addresses and transmitting the reply messages.

46. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 45, further comprising the step of deleting said client entries from said memory after the reply messages are transmitted to said client terminals.

47. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 43, 44 or 45, further comprising:

storing the acquired location information of mobile terminal in a memory;

receiving a further location request message from a further client terminal; and

transmitting the stored information to the further client terminal if the further location request message is requesting location information of said mobile terminal.

48. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 47, further comprising deleting the stored location information when a predetermined time interval has lapsed.

49. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 47, wherein the information acquired from said system indicates auxiliary information of said mobile terminal and wherein the acquired information is transmitted to the further client terminal if the auxiliary information thereof satisfies a condition specified by the location request message.

50. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 49, wherein the location request message of said further client terminal contains preference data, and wherein said acquired information is transmitted to said further client terminal if the auxiliary information satisfies said preference data.

51. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 49, wherein said preference data is stored in a memory, and wherein said acquired information is transmitted to said further client terminal if the auxiliary information satisfies said stored preference data.

52. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 49, 50 or 51, wherein said preference data indicates a degree of accuracy of the acquired information desired by said further client terminal.

53. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 49, 50 or 51, wherein said preference data indicates an age of the acquired information desired by said further client terminal.

54. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 49, 50 or 51, wherein said auxiliary information indicates a travelling speed of said mobile terminal.

55. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 49, 50 or 51, wherein said auxiliary information indicates a degree of accuracy of the acquired information.

56. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 49, 50 or 51, wherein said auxiliary information indicates a time of day at which the acquired location information is received from said system.

58. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 47, further comprising deleting the stored location information when a predetermined time interval has lapsed.

59. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 47, wherein the information acquired from said system indicates auxiliary information of said mobile terminal and wherein the acquired information is transmitted to the further client terminal if the auxiliary information thereof satisfies a condition specified by the location request message.

60. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 59, wherein the location request message of said further client terminal contains preference data, and wherein said acquired information is transmitted to said further client terminal if the auxiliary information satisfies the preference data.

61. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 59, wherein said preference data is stored in a memory, and wherein said acquired information is transmitted to said further client terminal if the auxiliary information satisfies said stored preference data.

62. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 59, 60 or 61, wherein said preference data indicates a degree of accuracy of the acquired information desired by said further client terminal.

63. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 59, 60 or 61, wherein said preference data indicates an age of the acquired information desired by said further client terminal.

64. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 59, 60 or 61, wherein said auxiliary information indicates a travelling speed of said mobile terminal.

65. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 59, 60 or 61, wherein said auxiliary information indicates a degree of accuracy of the acquired information.

66. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 59, 60 or 61, wherein said auxiliary information indicates a time of day at which the acquired location information is received from said system.

57. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for operating a gateway with a location information system, said program comprising the steps of:

a) receiving a location request message from a client terminal concerning location information of a mobile terminal;

b) acquiring the location information from said system;

c) transmitting the acquired information to the client terminal and storing the acquired information -in a memory; and

d) receiving a further location request message from a client terminal, repeating steps (b) and (c) if the further location request message concerns location information of a mobile terminal unless the location information of said mobile terminal is stored in the memory, and transmitting the stored information to the client terminal if the further location request message concerns the location information stored in the memory.

67. A computer-readable storage medium storing a program for operating a gateway with a location information system, said program comprising the steps of:

a) receiving a plurality of location request messages from a plurality of client terminals for location information of a mobile terminal, and storing the location request messages in a memory; and

b) making a search through said memory at periodic intervals for detecting at least one location request message, requesting the location information of said mobile terminal from said location information system if there is at least one location request message is detected in said memory, and transmitting a reply message to the client terminal from which said detected message is received and deleting the detected message from the memory.

68. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 67, wherein step (a) comprises:

a₁) creating a plurality of client entries in a memory for mapping the addresses of the client terminals to said mobile terminal; and

a₂) setting a flag to “

0”

in each of said client entries;

wherein step (b) comprises;

b₁) repeatedly making said search for detecting at least one client entry whose flag is set to “

0”

;

b₂) requesting said location information from said system;

b₃) setting the flag to “

1”

in the detected client entry;

b₄) reading the address from the detected client entry whose flag is set to “

1”

when the requested location information is received from said system, encapsulating the received location information in reply messages destined to the read address, and transmitting the reply message.

69. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 68, wherein step (b₂) comprises requesting said location information from said system if multiple client entries are detected by the search or if there is only one client entry is detected whose time lapse is expected to exceed a predetermined time-out period when said search is subsequently repeated.

70. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 67, wherein the location information acquired from said system includes auxiliary information, wherein step (a) comprises:

a₁) creating a plurality of client entries in a memory for mapping the addresses of the client terminals to said mobile terminal; and

a₂) setting a flag to “

0”

in each of said client entries;

a₃) determining whether the received location request message contains preference data;

a₄) if the location request message of a client entry contains preference data, setting a flag to “

0”

in the client entry, and if the location request message does not contain preference data, requesting the location information of said mobile terminal from said system and setting a flag to “

1”

in the client entry; and

a₅) reading an address from at least one client entry whose flag is set to “

1” and

whose preference data satisfies a condition specified by said auxiliary information when the location information is received from said system, encapsulating the received information in a reply message destined to the read address, transmitting the reply message, and deleting said client entry from said memory,

wherein step (b) comprises;

b₁) repeatedly making a search through said memory at periodic intervals for detecting multiple client entries whose flag is set to “

0” and

whose preference data satisfies said specified condition or a single client entry whose flag is set to “

0” and

whose preference data is expected not to satisfy said specified condition when said search is subsequently repeated, and setting the flag of each of said multiple client entries and said single client entry to “

1”

;

b₂) requesting the location information of said mobile terminal from said location information system for said multiple client entries or said single client entry; and

b₃) reading an address from at least one client entry whose flag is set to “

1”

when the requested location information is received from the location information system, encapsulating the received location information in a reply message destined to the read address, transmitting the reply message and deleting the client entry from said memory.

71. The method of claim 70, wherein step (a₄) further comprises the steps of:

making a search through said memory for detecting at least one client entry whose flag is set to “

0” and

whose preference data satisfies said specified condition if the location request message does not contain preference data; and

if said at least one client entry is detected by the search, setting the flag of said at least one client entry to “

1”

.

72. The method of claim 67, wherein the location information acquired from said system includes auxiliary information, wherein step (a) comprises:

a₁) creating a plurality of client entries in a memory for mapping the addresses of the client terminals to said mobile terminal;

a₂) setting a flag to “

0”

in each of said client entries;

a₃) determining whether the received location request message contains preference data; and

a₄) if the location request message of a client entry contains preference data, setting a flag to “

0”

in the client entry, and if the location request message does not contain preference data, reading preference data from a memory and storing the read preference data in the client entry, and setting a flag to “

0”

in the client entry,

wherein step (b) comprises;

b₁) repeatedly making a search through said memory at periodic intervals for detecting multiple client entries whose flag is set to “

0” and

whose preference data satisfies said specified condition or a single client entry whose flag is set to “

0” and

whose preference data is expected not to satisfy said specified condition when said search is subsequently repeated, and setting the flag of each of said multiple client entries and said single client entry to “

1”

;

b₂) requesting the location information of said mobile terminal from said location information system for said multiple client entries or said single client entry; and

b₃) reading an address from at least one client entry whose flag is set to “

1”

when the requested location information is received from the location information system, encapsulating the received location information in a reply message destined to the read address, transmitting the reply message and deleting the client entry from said memory.

73. The method of claim 70, wherein step (a₅) further comprises making a search through said memory, prior to reading said address, for detecting at least one client entry whose flag is either “

0”

or “

1” and

whose preference data satisfies said specified condition.

74. The method of claim 70, wherein said preference data indicates an age of the acquired information desired by said further client terminal.

75. The method of claim 70, wherein said preference data indicates a degree of accuracy of the acquired information desired by said further client terminal.

76. The method of claim 70, wherein said auxiliary information indicates a travelling speed of said mobile terminal.

77. The method of claim 70, wherein said auxiliary information indicates a degree of accuracy of the acquired information.

78. The method of claim 70, wherein said auxiliary information indicates a time of day at which the acquired location information is received from said system.