Method of processing a periodic location request

• US 20060099961A1
• Filed: 11/03/2005
• Published: 05/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd. (Huawei Investment & Holding Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Duan, Xiaoqin
• Granted Patent: US 7,599,701 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/08 Mobility data transfer

Abstract

Disclosed is a method of processing a periodic location request when a location service system receives the periodic location request sent by a location service (LCS) client in relation to target user equipment and confirms the periodic location request as a periodic location request. The location service system allocates a reference number for the periodic location request based on a predefined rule. After locating the target user equipment, location service system returns a location result of the target user equipment, which carries the reference number, to the LCS client. According to the reference numbers allocated by the location service system, the LCS client can associate a location result of the target user equipment returned by the location service system with the periodic location request initiated by this LCS client, so as to guarantee processing normality of the periodic location request. In addition, with the reference number, the LCS client can explicitly identify which periodic location request should be cancelled when the LCS client initiates a cancellation procedure.

Claims

1. A method of processing a location request received and confirmed by a location service system to be a periodic location request, the periodic location request having been initiated by a location service (LCS) client in relation to target user equipment (UE), the method comprising the steps of:

(A) the location service system allocating a reference number for the periodic location request based on a predefined rule; and

(B) after locating the target UE, the location service system returning a location result of the target UE to the LCS client, the location result carrying said reference number.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein step (A) comprises the step of allocating a same reference number for every to-be-processed location request included in the periodic location request.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

the location service system processing a current location request, setting a periodic timer and allocating a further reference number for the current location request;

when said periodic timer is timeout, judging whether the processing step has finished;

if the processing step has not finished, the location service system continuing processing the current location request; and

if the processing step has finished, the location service system returning the location result of the target UE to the LCS client such that a further location request is then processed by the location service system by setting a further periodic timer and by reallocating the further reference number for the further location request.

4. The method according to claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

the LCS client transmitting a cancellation request for the periodic location request to the location service system; and

the location service system canceling the periodic location request corresponding to said reference number.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein step (A) comprises the step of allocating different reference numbers for a first location request currently being processed and a second location request to be processed after the first location request.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising the steps of:

the location service system processing a current location request, setting a periodic timer and allocating a further reference number for the current location request;

when said periodic timer is timeout, judging whether the processing step has finished;

if the processing step has not finished, the location service system continuing processing the current location request;

if the processing step has finished, the location service system returning the location result of the target UE to the LCS client such that a further location request is then processed by the location service system by setting a further periodic timer and by reallocating the further reference number for the further location request.

7. The method according to claim 5, further comprising before step (B) the step of the location service system transmitting the reference number to the LCS client, wherein the reference number corresponds with the first location request.

8. The method according to claim 5, further comprising the steps of:

the LCS client transmitting a cancellation request for the periodic location request to the location service system; and

the location service system canceling the periodic location request corresponding to said reference number.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said periodic location request is a periodic deferred location request or a periodic immediate location request.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

the LCS client transmitting a cancellation request for the periodic location request to the location service system; and

the location service system canceling the periodic location request corresponding to said reference number.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising before step (B) the step of the location service system transmitting the reference number to the LCS client, wherein the reference number corresponds with the first location request.