Location system

• US 20040166856A1
• Filed: 09/09/2003
• Published: 08/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Niemenmaa, Jarko
• Application Number:
  US10/657,700
• Publication Number:
  US 20040166856A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/436
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

A method of locating user equipment in a communication network during handover. The method includes requesting the location of the user equipment which is communicating on a first channel and initiating the determination of the location of the user equipment, and handing over the user equipment for communicating on a second channel. The determination of the location of the user equipment is suspended until the handing over has been completed.

Claims

1. A method of locating user equipment in a communication network, the method comprising:

requesting a location of user equipment which is communicating on a first channel;

initiating a determination of the location of the user equipment; and

handing over the user equipment for communicating on a second channel,

wherein said determination of the location of the user equipment is suspended until said handing over has been completed.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving a signal indicating that the step of handing over has started.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising controlling the first and second channels by a same controller.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the step of controlling the first and second channels by a same controller comprises controlling the first and second channels by a base station controller.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the base station controller controls a plurality of base stations.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of requesting a location of comprises requesting a location of a mobile station.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein determination of the location of the user equipment comprises using a time difference of arrival (TDOA) method.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the communications network comprises a wireless communication system having a plurality of base stations, each having a location measuring unit, the initiating step further comprises using signals received at a plurality of location measuring units of respective base stations from said user equipment.

9. A system for locating user equipment in a communications network, the system comprising:

a location entity;

a controller, configured to send a request to the location entity for locating user equipment which is configured to communicate on a first channel, the location entity being configured to initiate a determination of a location of said user equipment,

wherein when said user equipment is being handed over to communicate on a second channel, the location entity is configured to suspend the determination of the location of the user equipment until handing over has been completed.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein the first and second channels are controlled by a same controller.

11. The system according to claim 9, wherein the location entity comprises a serving mobile location center.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein said location entity is configured to use a time difference of arrival method.

13. A location entity for use in a system for locating user equipment in a communications network, the system comprising a controller, and said location entity being configured to:

receive a request from a controller for locating user equipment which is configured to communicate on a first channel,

initiate a determination of a location,

wherein said location entity is configured so that when the user equipment is being handed over to communicate on a second channel, determination of the location of the user equipment is suspended until said handing over has been completed.

14. A system for locating user equipment in a communication network, the system comprising:

requesting means for requesting a location of user equipment which is communicating on a first channel;

initiating means for initiating a determination of the location of the user equipment;

handing over means for handing over the user equipment for communicating on a second channel,

wherein said determination of the location of the user equipment is suspended until said handing over has been completed.

15. The system according to claim 14, further comprising receiving means for receiving a signal indicating that handing over has started.

16. The system according to claim 14, wherein the first and second channels are controlled by a same controller.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the controller comprises a base station controller.

18. The system according to claim 17, wherein the base station controller controls a plurality of base stations.

19. The system according to claim 14, wherein the user equipment comprises a mobile station.

20. The system according to claim 14, wherein determination of the location of the user equipment comprises using a time difference of arrival (TDOA) method.

21. The system according to claim 20, wherein the communications network comprises a wireless communication system having a plurality of base stations, each having a location measuring unit, the initiating means using signals received at a plurality of location measuring units of respective base stations from said user equipment.