Providing location information for wireless devices using name service

• US 20050079879A1
• Filed: 10/14/2003
• Published: 04/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Carlson, Steven I., Billera, Anthony F.
• Granted Patent: US 7,603,114 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/457
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/57 Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set at the operator set in a manual exchange H04M5/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42042 Notifying the called party of information on the calling party details within substation equipment H04M1/57, signalling details H04Q3/72
• 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 8/10 between location register and external networks

Abstract

A caller number is provided to a network element that associates name information with the caller number. The network element receives location information for the caller and provides the location information and name information as a response to being provided the caller number.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing a caller number to a network element that associates name information with the caller number;

the network element receiving location information for the caller; and

the network element providing the location information and name information as a response to being provided the caller number.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the network element receiving location information for the caller from a Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC).

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the network element combining the location information and name information according to settings for the caller.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the network element combining the location information and name information according to settings for a called party.

5. The method of claim 1, the network element comprising a Line Information Database (LIDB).

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the network element abbreviating the location information in the response.

7. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

the network element locating a Friend Finder ID associated with the caller, and providing the Friend Finder ID to the GMLC.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

the caller number provided to the network element as part of a Caller Name Address Presentation (CNAP) service.

9. A wireless device comprising:

a processor; and

logic that, when applied to the processor, results in locating detailed location information for a caller, corresponding to abbreviated location information received along with name information for the caller.

10. The wireless device of claim 9, further comprising:

logic that, when applied to the processor, results in locating a street address corresponding to the abbreviated location information.

11. The wireless device of claim 9, further comprising:

logic that, when applied to the processor, results in locating and displaying a location on a map corresponding to the abbreviated location information.

12. The wireless device of claim 9, further comprising:

logic that, when applied to the processor, results in locating detailed location information configured by a user of the wireless device to correspond to the abbreviated location information.

13. The wireless device of claim 9, further comprising:

a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) comprising the detailed location information.

14. A network element comprising:

a processor;

at least one port; and

logic that, when applied to the processor, results in associating a caller number received via the at least one port with caller name information, obtaining location information for the caller via the at least one port, and providing at least one of the the name information and the location information via the at least one port.

15. The network element of claim 14, further comprising:

logic that, when applied to the processor, obtains settings for the caller via the at least one port and applies the settings to determine how to combine the name information and location information.

16. The network element of claim 14, further comprising:

logic that, when applied to the processor, abbreviates the location information before providing the location information along with the name information via the at least one port.

17. The network element of claim 14, further comprising:

logic that, when applied to the processor, provides Calling Name Address Presentation including the name information and location information.

18. The network element of claim 14, further comprising:

logic that, when applied to the processor, locates a Friend Finder ID corresponding to the caller, and provides the Friend Finder ID via the at least one port to a GMLC.