Method of distributing the location data of a mobile device

• US 20060173612A1
• Filed: 11/07/2003
• Published: 08/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Steel, Christopher G
• Granted Patent: US 8,090,357 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/207
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

A method of distributing the location of a mobile device is disclosed together with a mobile device, a server and a remote terminal for the same. The method comprising the steps of determining the location of the mobile device; encrypting the determined location using an encryption key; transmitting the encrypted location to a server; storing the encrypted at the server; querying the server from a remote terminal; transmitting from the server to the remote terminal the encrypted location in response to the query; sharing the predetermined encryption key between the mobile device and the remote terminal but not with the server; and decrypting the location at the remote terminal using the predetermined encryption key.

Claims

1. A method of distributing the location of a mobile device comprising the steps of:

determining the location of the mobile device

encrypting the determined location using an encryption key;

transmitting the encrypted location to a server;

storing the encrypted location at the server;

querying the server from a remote terminal;

transmitting from the server to the remote terminal the encrypted location in response to the query;

sharing the predetermined encryption key between the mobile device and the remote terminal but not with the server; and

decrypting the location at the remote terminal using the predetermined encryption key.

2. A mobile device configured to determine its location, encrypt its location using an encryption key, transmit the encrypted location to a server, and share the predetermined encryption key with a remote terminal but not the server.

3. A server configured to receive and store an encrypted location which is encrypted with an encryption key and corresponds to a mobile device;

and in response to a query from a remote terminal, to transmit to the remote terminal the encrypted location;

wherein between receipt and transmission of the encrypted location by the server, the server is not in possession of the encryption key.

4. A terminal configured to query a remote server for the location of a particular mobile device with which it has shared an encryption key independently of the server;

and upon receipt of an encrypted location encrypted with the encryption key, decrypting the location.