Method in a mobile telecommunication network for obtaining location and time information about users

• US 20060142023A1
• Filed: 07/09/2002
• Published: 06/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sten Lannerstrom
• Original Assignee: Sten Lannerstrom
• Inventors: Lannerstrom, Sten
• Application Number:
  US10/519,893
• Publication Number:
  US 20060142023A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00106 using land mobile radio networks, e.g. mobile telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

The method is for obtaining location and time information about users. A digital content is first created which is stored in a user terminal. Location data is then retrieved from the user terminal. Either or both of the location data and the digital content are digitally signed in the user terminal. The signed content and location data is combined and the combination is time-stamped by a trusted third party.

Claims

1. Method in a mobile telecommunication network for obtaining location and time information about users, the telecommunication network comprising one or more user terminals, a service entity, a time-stamp server and an operator, the method comprising the following steps:

a) creating a digital content,

b) storing the digital content in a user terminal,

c) retrieving location data from the user terminal,

d) digitally signing the location data in the user terminal,

e) distributing of a signed combination of the digital content and the location data to a trusted third party for time-stamping, and

f) the trusted third-party time-stamping the signed combination.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the digital signing is performed after step c), and whereafter the combination of signed content and location data is time-stamped.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the digital content is created in step a) is a text file or a voice message.

4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the digital content is created in step a) by taking a picture with a digital camera.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the digital camera is linked with a mobile device that directly receives the picture.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the digital camera is a separate network element and the picture taken by the digital camera is downloaded to a work-station and thereafter sent to a mobile station.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the digital signature is performed in step c) with a user'"'"'s private key stored in the user terminal.

8. The method according to claim 7 wherein a PIN code is entered by the user to access the private key.

9. The method according to claim 1 wherein location data is retrieved from the user terminal during a signature process as an attribute which is separately signed.

10. The method according to claim 1 wherein the location data is translated to understandable geographical data before the location data are signed.

11. The method according to claim 1 wherein the signed combination is distributed to a work-station for time-stamping.

12. The method according to claim 1 wherein the location data is retrieved from the user terminal over-the-air through an application residing in a work-station.