Method for the provision of location information

• US 20060211432A1
• Filed: 05/23/2006
• Published: 09/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Muhonen, Janne, Ignatius, Jan, Kokkonen, Petri, Kraufvelin, Sebastian
• Granted Patent: US 7,269,426 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.200
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 Access control lists [ACL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• 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 8/16 selectively restricting mobility data tracking

Abstract

In a communication system a request for location information associated with a target user is signalled from an entity. Said request contains information identifying the requestor of said location information. A verification is performed based on said identifying information if the target user has authorised the requester to initiate provision of location information that associates with the target user. The location provision is initiated if it is determined that the requester is authorised by the target user to initiate provision of location information that associates with the target user.

Claims

1-21. -21. (canceled)

22. A method in a communication system, the method comprising:

signaling to a location middleware server entity a request for location information associated with a target user, said request containing information identifying the requestor of said location information;

verifying based on said identifying information if the target user has authorized the requester to initiate provision of location information that associates with the target user; and

if the requester is authorized by the target user to initiate provision of location information that associates with the target user, sending said request from said middleware server entity to a location service server entity,

wherein said request is signaled to said location middleware server entity other than via said location server entity.

23. A method as claimed in claim 22, wherein the request is generated at a user equipment of the requester and the location service server entity is a Gateway Mobile Location Centre.

24. A method as claimed in claim 22, wherein location information associated with the target user is provided only for requesters who are determined by the target user as being authorized to receive information associated with the location of the target user.

25. A method as claimed in claim 22, wherein at least a part of the information about the authorizations by the target user is stored in storage means provided in the communication system.

26. A method as claimed in claim 22, wherein the at least a part of information about the authorizations by the target user is fetched from a second communication system, said second communication system being accessible for the entities of the communication system wherein the verification is performed.

27. A method as claimed in claim 25, wherein a verification entity of the communication system accomplished the verification based on said stored information and identifying information.

28. A method as claimed in claim 22, wherein the verification comprises verifying if an identifier of the requester can be found from a list of identifiers associated with the target user.

29. A method as claimed in claim 22, comprising signalling of said identifying information to the user equipment of the target user for the authorization.

30. A method as claimed in claim 29, wherein initiation of provision of location information is authorized or denied at the user equipment of the target user in response to receiving said identifying information.

31. A method as claimed in claim 29, wherein information about the authorizations by the target user is stored in storage means provided at the user equipment of the target user, and wherein the user equipment verifies based on the received information if the storage means of the user equipment contains an authorization for the requester.

32. A method as claimed in claim 29, wherein said identifying information comprises the name or nickname of the requester.

33. A method as claimed in claim 32, wherein the name or nickname is contained in a client information parameter.

34. A method as claimed in claim 29, wherein the user of the user equipment authorizes the requester on a case by case basis.

35. A method as claimed in claim 22, comprising translation of an identifier to a format based on which the verification can be performed.

36. A method as claimed in claim 22, comprising modifying information about the authorizations by the target user that is stored in storage means by means of the user equipment of the target user.

37. A communication system comprising:

a location service server entity;

a location middleware server entity;

communication media for signalling from a client entity to the location middleware server entity a request for location information associated with a target user, said request containing information identifying the requester of said location information; and

verification means for verifying based on said identifying information if the target user has authorized the requester, wherein said request for location information is from said location middleware server entity sent to said location service server entity only if such authorization is given,

wherein said request is signaled to said location middleware server entity other than via said location service server entity.

41. A system according to claim 37, wherein the location service server entity is a Gateway Mobile Location Centre.

38. A location middleware server for use in a communication system, the location middleware server being arranged to receive a request for location information associated with a target user, said request containing information identifying the requester of said location information and to verify based on said identifying information if the target user has authorized the requester, whereby the location middleware server sends said request for location information to a location service server only for requesters authorized by the target user, and wherein said request is signaled to said location middleware server entity other than via said location service server entity.

42. A location middleware server according to claim 38, wherein the location service server is a Gateway Mobile Location Centre.

39. A user equipment for communication with a location middleware server via a communication system, the user equipment being arranged to receive and process messages that associate with requests for the provision of information about the location of the user equipment, and to send to said location middleware server messages authorizing the transmission of said requests from said location middleware server to a location service server, wherein said request is signaled to said location middleware server entity other than via said location service server entity.

40. A user equipment as claimed in claim 39, comprising a user interface arranged to enable the user to authorize or deny requests for location information and/or for modifying information regarding authorizations stored in a storage means.

43. A user equipment according to claim 39, wherein the location server entity is a Gateway Mobile Location Centre.