Providing location information

• US 20050153687A1
• Filed: 03/17/2004
• Published: 07/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Niemenmaa, Jarko, Ruutu, Ville
• Granted Patent: US 7,317,910 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.200
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2854 Wide area networks, e.g. public data networks

Abstract

In a method in association with a communication system a request for a connection is signaled between a user equipment and another party. The requested connection is then analyzed. Subsequent to detection that location information is required in association with the requested connection, a process for determining information about the location of the user equipment is activated. First information in association with the determining process is communicated on a control plane between the user equipment and the communication system, while second information in association with the determining process is communicated on a user plane between the user equipment and the communication system. An arrangement in association with location services and a user equipment capable of providing location information is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method in association with a communication system for providing location information, the method comprising:

signaling a request for a connection between user equipment and another party;

analyzing the requested connection;

detecting whether location information is required in association with the requested connection;

activating a process for determining information about a location of the user equipment;

communicating first information in association with the determining process on a control plane between the user equipment and the communication system; and

communicating second information in association with the determining process on a user plane between the user equipment and the communication system.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of communicating first information comprises requesting from the user equipment information about the location of the user equipment.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2, comprising the step of requesting supporting information by sending, in response to receiving said first information in the user equipment, second information from the user equipment to the communication system on the user plane.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of detecting comprises detecting by the user equipment that location information is required in association with the requested connection.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the step of detecting is followed by a step of requesting supporting information by sending the second information from the user equipment to the communication system on the user plane.

6. A method as claimed in claim 1, comprising further steps of sending to the user equipment a request for information supporting determination of location information on the control plane in response to detection that the location information is required in association with the requested connection.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of analyzing comprises analyzing information associated with routing of the connection.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the step of analyzing comprises verifying if a destination number of the connection satisfies a predefined condition.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1, comprising further steps of determining the location of the user equipment by the user equipment and communicating information about the determined location from the user equipment on the control plane.

10. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of communicating second information comprises communicating assistance data on the user plane.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the step of communicating second information further comprises communicating a request for assistance data on the user plane.

12. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of detecting comprises detecting that the connection is for an emergency call.

13. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of communicating second information comprises communicating Global Positioning System assistance data.

14. A method as claimed in claim 1, comprising a further step of detecting that the user equipment supports a satellite based positioning system.

15. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium, said medium comprising program code configured to execute at least one step of an analyzing method for providing location information in a communication system, when the program code is run on a computer, the steps of the analyzing method comprising:

signaling a request for a connection between a user equipment and another party;

analyzing the requested connection;

detecting whether location information is required in association with the requested connection;

activating a process for determining information about a location of the user equipment;

communicating first information in association with the determining process on a control plane between the user equipment and the communication system; and

communicating second information in association with the determining process on a user plane between the user equipment and the communication system..

16. An arrangement for providing location information in association with a communication system configured for communication of information relating to determination of a location of user equipment, the communication system comprising:

a controller configured to detect if location information is required in association with a connection and to activate a process for determining information about a location of user equipment in response to detection that information about the location of the user equipment is required; and

connection means for providing a connection between the user equipment and another party, the connection means being configured to communicate first information in association with a location determining process on a control plane and second information in association with the location determining process on a user plane.

17. An arrangement as claimed in claim 16, wherein the controller is provided in the user equipment.

18. An arrangement as claimed in claim 16, wherein the controller is provided in association with a location service entity connected to the communication system.

19. A arrangement as claimed in claim 16, wherein said second information comprises supporting information for the location determining process.

20. An arrangement as claimed in claim 16, wherein the controller is configured to detect if the connection is for an emergency call.

21. An arrangement as claimed in claim 16, comprising a first location service entity configured for control plane communications and a second location service entity configured for user plane communications.

22. An arrangement as claimed in claim 16, comprising a location service entity configured for user and control plane communications.

23. A user equipment comprising:

a controller configured to activate a process for determining information about a location of user equipment in response to detection that information about the location of the user equipment is required;

a location information processing entity configured to process information required by the location determining process; and

a transceiver for wireless communication of information required by the location determining process for communication of first information in association with the location determining process on a control plane and second information in association with the location determining process on a user plane.

24. A user equipment as claimed in claim 23, wherein the user equipment is configured to detect if location information is required in association with a connection.

25. A node for a communication system configured for processing location information, the node comprising:

a controller configured to activate determination of information associated with a location of user equipment in response to detection that information about the location of the user equipment is required; and

connection means configured to communicate first information in association with a location determining process on a control plane and second information in association with the location determining process on a user plane.

26. A controller node as claimed in claim 25, wherein the controller node comprises a location service server connected to the communication system.

27. A controller node as claimed in claim 25, wherein the controller node comprises a gateway.

28. A gateway for a communication system configured for processing location information, the gateway comprising:

a controller configured to activate determination of information associated with a location of user equipment in response to detection that information about the location of the user equipment is required; and

connection means configured to communicate at least one of first information and second information in association with a location determining process with a user equipment that is configured to communicate said first information on a control plane and said second information on a user plane.

29. A user equipment comprising:

activating means for activating a process for determining information about a location of user equipment in response to detection that information about the location of the user equipment is required;

location information processing means for processing information required by the location determining process; and

communication means for communicating information required by the location determining process for communication of first information in association with the location determining process on a control plane and second information in association with the location determining process on a user plane.

30. A user equipment as claimed in claim 29, wherein the user equipment is configured to detect if location information is required in association with a connection.