Localization of a mobile end user unit by monitoring a geographical area

• US 20040203867A1
• Filed: 07/30/2002
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Karst Schmidt
• Original Assignee: Karst Schmidt
• Inventors: Schmidt, Karst
• Application Number:
  US10/209,429
• Publication Number:
  US 20040203867A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72457 according to geographic location
• 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 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel
• 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 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

A method for localization of a mobile end user unit by monitoring a geographical area utilizing a cellular communications environment, comprising steps of, defining a geographical monitoring area, the geographical monitoring area being a geographical area to be monitored, mapping the geographical monitoring area to at least one cell of the cellular communications environment such that a geographical area corresponding to the at least one cell of the cellular communication environment comprises the geographical monitoring area, identifying at least one cell of the cellular communications environment wherein the mobile end user unit is active, comparing the at least one cell wherein the mobile end user unit is active and the at least one cell the geographical monitoring is mapped to, and monitoring the geographical monitoring area on the basis of a result of the comparing step in order to localize the mobile end user unit.

Claims

1. A method for localization of a mobile end user unit by monitoring a geographical area utilizing a cellular communications environment, the method comprising the steps of:

defining a geographical monitoring area, the geographical monitoring area being a geographical area to be monitored;

mapping the geographical monitoring area to at least one cell of the cellular communications environment such that a geographical area corresponding to the at least one cell of the cellular communications environment comprises the geographical monitoring area;

identifying at least one cell of the cellular communications environment wherein the mobile end user unit is active;

comparing the at least one identified cell and the at least one mapped cell; and

monitoring the geographical monitoring area on the basis of a result of a comparing step to localize the mobile end user unit.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the defining step comprises:

moving the mobile end user unit in a geographical area at least partially corresponding to the geographical monitoring area.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the mapping step comprises:

obtaining information characterizing geographical cell areas, each geographical cell area being a geographical area corresponding to one of the cells of the cellular communications environment; and

selecting at least one of the geographical cell areas such that the at least one selected geographical cell area comprises the geographical monitoring area.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein cells of the cellular communications environment having a geographical cell area outside the geographical monitoring area are excluded from the mapping step.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the mapping step comprises:

moving the mobile end user unit in a geographical area at least partially corresponding to the geographical monitoring area;

determining cells of the cellular communication environment in which the mobile end user unit is moved; and

using the cells in which the mobile end user unit is moved as cells to which the geographical monitoring area is mapped.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the identification of the cells in which the mobile end user unit is moved is based on data characterizing at least one cell communications unit of the cellular communications environment, wherein each cell communications unit characterizing data indicates a cell communications unit which is associated to a respective one of the cells of the cellular communications environment.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the cell communications unit characterizing data is utilized by the mobile end user unit for carrying out the mapping step.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the cell communications unit characterizing data is used by at least one of the at least one cell communications unit of the cellular communications environment and a mainframe system of the cellular communications environment for carrying out the mapping step.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification of the at least one identified cell comprises:

obtaining mobile end user unit unique identification data from the mobile end user unit.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification of the at least one identified cell comprises:

obtaining cell communications unit identifying data from at least one of the cells of the cellular communications environment, the cell communications unit identifying data uniquely identifying a cell communication unit associated to a corresponding one of the cells of the cellular communications environment.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring of the geographical monitoring area is used to determine whether the mobile end user unit is within the geographical monitoring area.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring of the geographical monitoring area is used to determine whether the mobile end user unit has left the geographical monitoring area.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the comparison step comprises:

determining whether the at least one identified cell corresponds with one of the at least one mapped cell.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the monitoring of the geographical monitoring area indicates that the mobile end user unit is within the geographical monitoring area if the determination indicates that one of the at least one identified cell corresponds with one of the at least one mapped cell.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing information indicating a result of the monitoring step.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the information indicating the result of the monitoring step is communicated from the mobile end user unit.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the information indicating the result of the monitoring step is communicated by a cell communications unit of the cellular communication environment, the cell communications unit providing communications in a respective one of the cells cellular communications environment.

19. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile end user unit is a mobile telephone and the cellular communications environment is a cellular telephone network using radio base stations as cell communications units for its network cells.

20. A geographical area monitoring unit for localization of a mobile end user unit in a cellular communications environment, the geographical area monitoring unit comprising:

a connection unit for connecting to the mobile end user unit; and

a processing unit for identifying at least one cell of the cellular communications environment wherein the mobile end user units is active and for comparing the at least one identified cell with at least one cell of the cellular communications environment to which a geographical monitoring area is mapped wherein the geographical monitoring area is a geographical area to be monitored and comprised by at least one geographical cell area associated with the at least one mapped cell and for monitoring the geographical monitoring area on the basis of a result of the comparison to localize the mobile end user unit.

21. The geographical area monitoring unit of claim 20, comprising:

an area memory for storing information indicating the at least one mapped cell.

51. The geographical area monitoring unit of claim 20, wherein the processing unit is adapted to be operated according to the steps of:

defining a geographical monitoring area, the geographical monitoring area being a geographical area to be monitored;

mapping the geographical monitoring area to at least one cell of the cellular communications environment such that a geographical area corresponding to the at least one cell of the cellular communications environment comprises the geographical monitoring area;

identifying at least one cell of the cellular communications environment wherein the mobile end user unit is active;

comparing the at least one identified cell to the at least one mapped cell; and

monitoring the geographical monitoring area on the basis of a result of a comparing step to localize the mobile end user unit.

52. The geographical area monitoring unit of claim 20, comprising:

a memory wherein a software program product, comprising software program code portions for carrying out the steps of defining a geographical monitoring area, the geographical monitoring area being a geographical area to be monitored;

mapping the geographical monitoring area to at least one cell of the cellular communications environment such that a geographical area corresponding to the at least one cell of the cellular communications environment comprises the geographical monitoring area;

identifying at least one cell of the cellular communications environment wherein the mobile end user unit is active;

comparing the at least one identified cell to the at least one mapped cell; and

monitoring the geographical monitoring area on the basis of a result of a comparing step to localize the mobile end user unit, is stored.

53. The geographical area monitoring unit of claim 20, being adapted to be used for at least one of the group comprised of:

a mobile end user unit for localization in a cellular communications environment, the mobile end user unit comprising a geographical area monitoring unit for identifying at least one cell of the cellular communications environment wherein the mobile end user units is active and for comparing the at least one identified cell with at least one cell of the cellular communications environment to which a geographical monitoring area is mapped, wherein the geographical monitoring area is a geographical area to be monitored and comprised by at least one geographical cell area associated with the at least one mapped cell and for monitoring the geographical monitoring area on the basis of a result of the comparison to localize the mobile end user unit;

a cell communications unit for localization of a mobile end user unit in a cellular communication environment, the cell communications unit comprising a geographical area monitoring unit for identifying at least one cell of the cellular communications environment wherein the mobile end user units is active and for comparing the at least one identified cell with at least one cell of the cellular communications environment to which a geographical monitoring area is mapped wherein the geographical monitoring area is a geographical area to be monitored and comprised by at least one geographical cell area associated with the at least one mapped cell and for monitoring the geographical monitoring area on the basis of a result of the comparison to localize the mobile end user unit;

a cellular communications environment; and

a service comprising the steps of offering the service to a party which requests monitoring of a geographical area in order to localize the mobile end user unit;

mapping the geographical monitoring area to at least one cell of the cellular communications environment such that a geographical area corresponding to the at least one cell of the cellular communications environment comprises the geographical monitoring area;

identifying at least one cell of the cellular communications environment wherein the mobile end user unit is active;

comparing the at least one identified cell and the at least one mapped cell; and

monitoring the geographical monitoring area on the basis of a result of the comparing step to localize of the mobile end user unit.

22. A mobile end user unit for localization in a cellular communications environment, the mobile end user unit comprising:

a geographical area monitoring unit for identifying at least one cell of the cellular communications environment wherein the mobile end user units is active and for comparing the at least one identified cell with at least one cell of the cellular communications environment to which a geographical monitoring area is mapped, wherein the geographical monitoring area is a geographical area to be monitored and comprised by at least one geographical cell area associated with the at least one mapped cell and for monitoring the geographical monitoring area on the basis of a result of the comparison to localize the mobile end user unit.

23. The mobile end user unit of claim 22, comprising:

an area memory for storing information indicating the at least one mapped cell.

54. The mobile end user unit of claim 22, wherein the geographical area monitoring unit comprises:

a connection unit for connecting to the mobile end user unit; and

a processing unit for identifying at least one cell of the cellular communications environment wherein the mobile end user units is active and for comparing the at least one identified cell with at least one cell of the cellular communications environment to which a geographical monitoring area is mapped wherein the geographical monitoring area is a geographical area to be monitored and comprised by at least one geographical cell area associated with the at least one mapped cell and for monitoring the geographical monitoring area on the basis of a result of the comparison to localize the mobile end user unit.

55. The mobile end user unit of claim 22, being adapted to be operated according to the steps of:

defining a geographical monitoring area, the geographical monitoring area being a geographical area to be monitored;

mapping the geographical monitoring area to at least one cell of the cellular communications environment such that a geographical area corresponding to the at least one cell of the cellular communications environment comprises the geographical monitoring area;

identifying at least one cell of the cellular communications environment wherein the mobile end user unit is active;

comparing the at least one identified cell to the at least one mapped cell; and

monitoring the geographical monitoring area on the basis of a result of a comparing step to localize the mobile end user unit.

56. The mobile end user unit of claim 22, comprising:

a memory wherein a software program product, comprising software program code portions for carrying out the steps of defining a geographical monitoring area, the geographical monitoring area being a geographical area to be monitored;

mapping the geographical monitoring area to at least one cell of the cellular communications environment such that a geographical area corresponding to the at least one cell of the cellular communications environment comprises the geographical monitoring area;

identifying at least one cell of the cellular communications environment wherein the mobile end user unit is active;

comparing the at least one identified cell to the at least one mapped cell; and

monitoring the geographical monitoring area on the basis of a result of a comparing step to localize the mobile end user unit, is stored.

57. The mobile end user unit of claim 22, being adapted to be used for at least one of the group comprised of:

a cell communications unit for localization of a mobile end user unit in a cellular communication environment, the cell communications unit comprising;

a geographical area monitoring unit for identifying at least one cell of the cellular communications environment wherein the mobile end user units is active and for comparing the at least one identified cell with at least one cell of the cellular communications environment to which a geographical monitoring area is mapped wherein the geographical monitoring area is a geographical area to be monitored and comprised by at least one geographical cell area associated with the at least one mapped cell and for monitoring the geographical monitoring area on the basis of a result of the comparison to localize the mobile end user unit;

a cellular communications environment; and

the service comprising the steps of offering the service to a party which requests monitoring of a geographical area in order to localize the mobile end user unit;

mapping the geographical monitoring area to at least one cell of the cellular communications environment such that a geographical area corresponding to the at least one cell of the cellular communications environment comprises the geographical monitoring area;

identifying at least one cell of the cellular communications environment wherein the mobile end user unit is active;

comparing the at least one identified cell and the at least one mapped cell; and

monitoring the geographical monitoring area on the basis of a result of the comparing step to localize of the mobile end user unit.

24. A cell communications unit for localization of a mobile end user unit in a cellular communication environment, the cell communications unit comprising:

a geographical area monitoring unit for identifying at least one cell of the cellular communications environment wherein the mobile end user units is active and for comparing the at least one identified cell with at least one cell of the cellular communications environment to which a geographical monitoring area is mapped wherein the geographical monitoring area is a geographical area to be monitored and comprised by at least one geographical cell area associated with the at least one mapped cell and for monitoring the geographical monitoring area on the basis of a result of the comparison to localize the mobile end user unit.

25. The cell communications unit of claim 24, comprising:

an area memory for storing information indicating the at least one mapped cell.

26. The cell communications unit of claim 24, wherein the cell communications unit is a radio base station for a cellular telephone network.

58. The cell communications unit of claim 24, being adapted to be operated according to the steps of:

defining a geographical monitoring area, the geographical monitoring area being a geographical area to be monitored;

mapping the geographical monitoring area to at least one cell of the cellular communications environment such that a geographical area corresponding to the at least one cell of the cellular communications environment comprises the geographical monitoring area;

identifying at least one cell of the cellular communications environment wherein the mobile end user unit is active;

comparing the at least one identified cell to the at least one mapped cell; and

monitoring the geographical monitoring area on the basis of a result of a comparing step to localize the mobile end user unit.

59. The cell communications unit of claim 24, comprising:

a memory wherein a software program product, comprising software program code portions for carrying out the steps of defining a geographical monitoring area, the geographical monitoring area being a geographical area to be monitored;

mapping the geographical monitoring area to at least one cell of the cellular communications environment such that a geographical area corresponding to the at least one cell of the cellular communications environment comprises the geographical monitoring area;

identifying at least one cell of the cellular communications environment wherein the mobile end user unit is active;

comparing the at least one identified cell to the at least one mapped cell; and

monitoring the geographical monitoring area on the basis of a result of a comparing step to localize the mobile end user unit, is stored.

60. The cell communications unit of claim 24, being adapted to be used for at least one of the group comprised of:

a cellular communications environment; and

a service comprising the steps of offering the service to a party which requests monitoring of a geographical area in order to localize the mobile end user unit;

mapping the geographical monitoring area to at least one cell of the cellular communications environment such that a geographical area corresponding to the at least one cell of the cellular communications environment comprises the geographical monitoring area;

identifying at least one cell of the cellular communications environment wherein the mobile end user unit is active;

comparing the at least one identified cell and the at least one mapped cell; and

monitoring the geographical monitoring area on the basis of a result of the comparing step to localize of the mobile end user unit.

27. A software program product, comprising:

software program code portions for carrying out the steps of;

defining a geographical monitoring area, the geographical monitoring area being a geographical area to be monitored;

mapping the geographical monitoring area to at least one cell of the cellular communications environment such that a geographical area corresponding to the at least one cell of the cellular communications environment comprises the geographical monitoring area;

identifying at least one cell of the cellular communications environment wherein the mobile end user unit is active;

comparing the at least one identified cell to the at least one mapped cell; and

monitoring the geographical monitoring area on the basis of a result of a comparing step to localize the mobile end user unit.

28. The software program product of claim 27, wherein the software program product is stored on a computer readable storage medium or in a computer readable storage device.

29. A service for localization of a mobile end user unit by monitoring a geographical area utilizing a cellular communications environment, the service comprising the steps of:

offering the service to a party which requests monitoring of a geographical area in order to localize the mobile end user unit;

mapping the geographical monitoring area to at least one cell of the cellular communications environment such that a geographical area corresponding to the at least one cell of the cellular communications environment comprises the geographical monitoring area;

identifying at least one cell of the cellular communications environment wherein the mobile end user unit is active;

comparing the at least one identified cell and the at least one mapped cell; and

monitoring the geographical monitoring area on the basis of a result of the comparing step to localize of the mobile end user unit.

30. The service of claim 29, wherein the defining step is performed on the basis of information provided by the party requesting the monitoring of the geographical area.

31. The service of claim 29, wherein a result of the monitoring step is provided to the party requesting the monitoring of the geographical area.

32. The service of claim 29, being a service provided in connection with a cellular telephone network.

33. The service of claim 29, wherein the service is offered via the Internet.

34. The service of claim 29, wherein the defining step comprises:

moving the mobile end user unit in a geographical area at least partially corresponding to the geographical monitoring area.

35. The service of claim 29, wherein the mapping step comprises:

obtaining information characterizing geographical cell areas, each geographical cell area being a geographical area corresponding to one of the cells of the cellular communications environment; and

selecting at least one of the geographical cell areas such that the at least one selected geographical cell area comprises the geographical monitoring area.

36. The service of claim 35, wherein cells of the cellular communications environment having a geographical cell area outside the geographical monitoring area are excluded from the mapping step.

37. The service of claim 29, wherein the mapping step comprises:

moving the mobile end user unit in a geographical area at least partially corresponding to the geographical monitoring area;

determining cells of the cellular communication environment in which the mobile end user unit is moved; and

using the cells in which the mobile end user unit is moved as cells to which the geographical monitoring area is mapped.

38. The service of claim 37, wherein the determination of the cells in which the mobile end user unit is moved is based on data characterizing at least one cell communications unit of the cellular communications environment, wherein each cell communications unit characterizing data indicates a cell communications unit which is associated to a respective one of the cells of the cellular communications environment.

39. The service of claim 38, wherein the cell communications unit characterizing data is utilized by the mobile end user unit for carrying out the mapping step.

40. The service of claim 38, wherein the cell communications unit characterizing data is used by at least one of the at least one cell communications unit of the cellular communications environment and a main frame system of the cellular communications environment for carrying out the mapping step.

41. The service of claim 29, wherein the identification of the at least one identified cell comprises:

obtaining mobile end user unit unique identification data from the mobile end user unit.

42. The service of claim 29, wherein the identification of the at least one identified cell comprises:

obtaining cell communications unit identifying data from at least one of the cells of the cellular communications environment, the cell communications unit identifying data uniquely identifying a cell communication unit associated to a corresponding one of the cells of the cellular communications environment.

43. The service of claim 29, wherein the monitoring of the geographical monitoring area is used to determine whether the mobile end user unit is within the geographical monitoring area.

44. The service of claim 29, wherein the monitoring of the geographical monitoring area is used to determine whether the mobile end user unit has left the geographical monitoring area.

45. The service of claim 29, wherein the comparison step comprises:

determining whether the at least one identified cell corresponds with one of the at least one mapped cell.

46. The service of claim 45, wherein the monitoring of the geographical monitoring area indicates that the mobile end user unit is within the geographical monitoring area if the determination indicates that one of the at least one identified cell corresponds with one of the at least one mapped cell.

47. The service of claim 29, comprising:

providing information indicating a result of the monitoring step.

48. The service of claim 47, wherein the information indicating the result of the monitoring step is communicated from the mobile end user unit.

49. The service of claim 47, wherein the information indicating the result of the monitoring step is communicated by a cell communications unit of the cellular communication environment, the cell communications unit providing communications in an associated one of the cells of the cellular communications environment.

61. A cellular communications environment, comprising at least one of the group comprised of:

a geographical area monitoring unit for localization of a mobile end user unit in a cellular communications environment, the geographical area monitoring unit comprising a connection unit for connecting to the mobile end user unit, and a processing unit for identifying at least one cell of the cellular communications environment wherein the mobile end user units is active and for comparing the at least one identified cell with at least one cell of the cellular communications environment to which a geographical monitoring area is mapped wherein the geographical monitoring area is a geographical area to be monitored and comprised by at least one geographical cell area associated with the at least one mapped cell and for monitoring the geographical monitoring area on the basis of a result of the comparison to localize the mobile end user unit, wherein the geographical monitoring unit is used in combination with a mobile end user unit;

a mobile end user unit for localization in a cellular communications environment, the mobile end user unit comprising a geographical area monitoring unit for identifying at least one cell of the cellular communications environment wherein the mobile end user units is active and for comparing the at least one identified cell with at least one cell of the cellular communications environment to which a geographical monitoring area is mapped, wherein the geographical monitoring area is a geographical area to be monitored and comprised by at least one geographical cell area associated with the at least one mapped cell and for monitoring the geographical monitoring area on the basis of a result of the comparison to localize the mobile end user unit;

a cell communications unit for localization of a mobile end user unit in a cellular communication environment, the cell communications unit comprising a geographical area monitoring unit for identifying at least one cell of the cellular communications environment wherein the mobile end user units is active and for comparing the at least one identified cell with at least one cell of the cellular communications environment to which a geographical monitoring area is mapped wherein the geographical monitoring area is a geographical area to be monitored and comprised by at least one geographical cell area associated with the at least one mapped cell and for monitoring the geographical monitoring area on the basis of a result of the comparison to localize the mobile end user unit; and

a software program product, comprising software program code portions for carrying out the steps of defining a geographical monitoring area, the geographical monitoring area being a geographical area to be monitored;

mapping the geographical monitoring area to at least one cell of the cellular communications environment such that a geographical area corresponding to the at least one cell of the cellular communications environment comprises the geographical monitoring area;

identifying at least one cell of the cellular communications environment wherein the mobile end user unit is active;

comparing the at least one identified cell to the at least one mapped cell; and

monitoring the geographical monitoring area on the basis of a result of a comparing step to localize the mobile end user unit.

64. The cellular communications environment of claim 61, wherein the cellular communications network environment is a cellular telephone network.

62. A cellular communications environment, being adapted to be operated according to the steps of:

defining a geographical monitoring area, the geographical monitoring area being a geographical area to be monitored;

mapping the geographical monitoring area to at least one cell of the cellular communications environment such that a geographical area corresponding to the at least one cell of the cellular communications environment comprises the geographical monitoring area;

identifying at least one cell of the cellular communications environment wherein the mobile end user unit is active;

comparing the at least one identified cell to the at least one mapped cell; and

monitoring the geographical monitoring area on the basis of a result of a comparing step to localize the mobile end user unit.

65. The cellular communications environment of claim 62, wherein the cellular communications network environment is a cellular telephone network.

63. A cellular communications environment, being adapted for use for the service comprising the steps of:

offering the service to a party which requests monitoring of a geographical area in order to localize the mobile end user unit;

mapping the geographical monitoring area to at least one cell of the cellular communications environment such that a geographical area corresponding to the at least one cell of the cellular communications environment comprises the geographical monitoring area;

identifying at least one cell of the cellular communications environment wherein the mobile end user unit is active;

comparing the at least one identified cell and the at least one mapped cell; and

monitoring the geographical monitoring area on the basis of a result of the comparing step to localize of the mobile end user unit.

66. The cellular communications environment of claim 63, wherein the cellular communications network environment is a cellular telephone network

67. A system for localization of a mobile end user unit comprising

definition means for defining a geographical monitoring area, the geographical monitoring area being a geographical area to be monitored;

mapping means for mapping the geographical monitoring area to at least one cell of the cellular communications environment such that a geographical area corresponding to the at least one cell of the cellular communications environment comprises the geographical monitoring area;

identification means for identifying at least one cell of the cellular communications environment wherein the mobile end user unit is active;

comparison means for comparing the at least one identified cell to the at least one mapped cell; and

monitoring means for monitoring the geographical monitoring area on the basis of a result of a comparing step to localize the mobile end user unit.

68. A computer system for localization of a mobile end user unit comprising a processor and a memory coupled to the processor, the memory encoding one or more programs, the one or more programs causing the processor to perform a method comprising:

defining a geographical monitoring area, the geographical monitoring area being a geographical area to be monitored;

mapping the geographical monitoring area to at least one cell of the cellular communications environment such that a geographical area corresponding to the at least one cell of the cellular communications environment comprises the geographical monitoring area;

identifying at least one cell of the cellular communications environment wherein the mobile end user unit is active;

comparing the at least one identified cell to the at least one mapped cell; and

monitoring the geographical monitoring area on the basis of a result of a comparing step to localize the mobile end user unit.