Providing location-specific services to a mobile node

• US 20050138144A1
• Filed: 12/23/2003
• Published: 06/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sethi, Aseem
• Granted Patent: US 7,228,141 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/219
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0806 for initial configuration or provisioning, e.g. plug-and-play
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/4552 Lookup mechanisms between a plurality of directories; Synchronisation of directories, e.g. metadirectories
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/18 Negotiating wireless communication parameters
• 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

Abstract

A method for providing network services includes receiving a configuration request. The configuration request identifies a mobile node. The method also includes determining a location of the mobile node and selecting a directory agent based at least on the location of the mobile node. Additionally, the method includes transmitting to the mobile node a configuration response that identifies the directory agent.

Claims

1. A method for providing network services comprising:

receiving a configuration request, wherein the configuration request identifies a mobile node;

determining a location of the mobile node;

selecting a directory agent based at least on the location of the mobile node; and

transmitting a configuration response to the mobile node, wherein the configuration response identifies the directory agent.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration response identifies the directory agent by an Internet Protocol (IP) address.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the configuration request identifies the mobile node by an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) number.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein determining the location of the mobile node comprises:

transmitting a Location Based Service (LBS) request to an LBS server, wherein the LBS request includes the IMSI of the mobile node; and

receiving an LBS response, wherein the LBS response includes the location of the mobile node.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the configuration request includes location information provided by a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver associated with the mobile node, and wherein determining a location of the mobile node comprises determining a location of the mobile node based on the location information.

6. A method for providing network services comprising:

receiving a service request from a mobile node, wherein the service request includes a requested service type and a location of the mobile node;

selecting a service agent based on at least the service type and the location of the mobile node; and

transmitting a service response, wherein the service response identifies the service agent.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the service response identifies the service agent by an Internet Protocol (IP) address.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein selecting the service agent comprises selecting the service agent closest to the location of the mobile node.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein selecting the service agent comprises:

reading a plurality of service agent records stored in a memory, wherein each service agent record identifies a service agent and includes a service agent location and an offered service type;

identifying one or more matching service agents, wherein the matching service agents have a service type that matches the requested service type; and

selecting, from the matching service agents, the matching service agent located closest to the location of the mobile node.

10. An apparatus for identifying services available on a network comprising:

an address assignment server, the address assignment server operable to;

receive a configuration request, wherein the configuration request identifies a mobile node;

determine a location of the mobile node;

select a directory agent based at least on the location of the mobile node; and

transmit a configuration response to the mobile node, wherein the configuration response identifies the directory agent.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the configuration response identifies the directory agent by an Internet Protocol (IP) address.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the configuration request identifies the mobile node by an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) number.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the address assignment server is operable to determine the location of the mobile node by:

transmitting a Location Based Service (LBS) request to an LBS server, wherein the LBS request includes the IMSI of the mobile node; and

receiving an LBS response, wherein the LBS response includes the location of the mobile node.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the configuration request includes location information provided by a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver associated with the mobile node, and wherein the location of the mobile node is determined based on the location information.

15. An apparatus for identifying services available on a network, comprising:

a directory agent, operable to;

receive a service request, wherein the service request includes a requested service type and a mobile node location;

select a service agent based on at least the service type and the mobile node location; and

transmit a service response, wherein the service response identifies the service agent.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the service response identifies the service agent by an Internet Protocol (IP) address.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the directory agent is operable to select the service agent by selecting the service agent closest to the location of the mobile node.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the directory agent is operable to select the service agent by:

reading a plurality of service agent records stored in a memory, wherein each service agent record identifies a service agent and includes a service agent location and an offered service type;

identifying one or more matching service agents, wherein the matching service agents have a service type that matches the requested service type; and

selecting from the matching service agents, the matching service agent located closest to the location of the mobile node.

19. Software for identifying service available on a network, the software being embodied in a computer readable medium and comprising computer code such that when executed is operable to:

receive a configuration request, wherein the configuration request identifies a mobile node;

determine a location of the mobile node;

select a directory agent based at least on the location of the mobile node; and

transmit a configuration response to the mobile node, wherein the configuration response identifies the directory agent.

20. The medium of claim 19, wherein the configuration response identifies the directory agent by an Internet Protocol (IP) address.

21. The medium of claim 19, wherein the configuration request identifies the mobile node by an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) number.

22. The medium of claim 21, wherein the code is further operable to determine the location of the mobile node by:

transmitting a Location Based Service (LBS) request to an LBS server, wherein the LBS request includes the IMSI of the mobile node; and

receiving an LBS response, wherein the LBS response includes the location of the mobile node.

23. The medium of claim 21, wherein the configuration request includes location information provided by a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver associated with the mobile node, and wherein determining a location of the mobile node comprises determining a location of the mobile node based on the location information.

24. Software for identifying service available on a network, the software being embodied in a computer readable medium and comprising computer code such that when executed is operable to:

receive a service request, wherein the service request includes a requested service type and a mobile node location;

select a service agent based on at least the service type and the mobile node location; and

transmit a service response, wherein the service response identifies the service agent.

25. The medium of claim 24, wherein the service response identifies the service agent by an Internet Protocol (IP) address.

26. The medium of claim 24, wherein the code is further operable to select the service agent by selecting the service agent closest to the location of the mobile node.

27. The medium of claim 24, wherein the software is further operable to select the service agent by:

reading a plurality of service agent records stored in a memory, wherein each service agent record identifies a service agent and includes a service agent location and an offered service type;

identifying one or more matching service agents, wherein the matching service agents have a service type that matches the requested service type; and

selecting from the matching service agents, the matching service agent located closest to the location of the mobile node.

28. A system for providing a network service comprising:

a mobile node, operable to transmit a configuration request identifying the mobile node and to transmit a service request identifying a requested service type;

an access server, operable to receive the configuration request and to identify a directory agent for the mobile node based on a location of the mobile node; and

a plurality of directory agents, each directory agent operable to receive a service request and to transmit a service response, the service response identifying a service agent of the requested service type.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the configuration response identifies the directory agent by an Internet Protocol (IP) address.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein the configuration request identifies the mobile node by an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) number.

31. The system of claim 28, further comprising:

a Location Based Service (LBS) server, wherein the access server is operable to transmit a location request, and wherein the LBS server is operable to receive the location request and to transmit a location response identifying the location of the mobile node.

32. The system of claim 28, wherein the configuration request includes location information provided by a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver associated with the mobile node.

33. The system of claim 28, wherein the configuration request further identifies position information, and wherein determining a location of the mobile node comprises determining a location of the mobile node based on the position information.

34. The system of claim 28, further comprising:

a plurality of service agents, wherein each directory agent is further operable to select one of the service agents based on the location of the mobile node and to transmit a service response, the service response identifying the selected service agent.

35. A system for providing network services comprising:

means for receiving a configuration request, wherein the configuration request identifies a mobile node;

means for determining a location of the mobile node;

means for selecting a directory agent based at least on the location of the mobile node; and

means for transmitting a configuration response to the mobile node, wherein the configuration response identifies the directory agent.

36. A system for providing network services comprising:

means for receiving a service request, wherein the service request includes a requested service type and a mobile node location;

means for selecting a service agent based on at least the service type and the mobile node location; and

means for transmitting a service response, wherein the service response identifies the service agent.