Method for generating triggers based on the position of a terminal in a mobile communication network, related network and computer program product therefor

• US 20070123268A1
• Filed: 09/30/2003
• Published: 05/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telecom Italia S.p.A.
• Original Assignee: Telecom Italia S.p.A.
• Inventors: Parata, Dario
• Granted Patent: US 7,885,664 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

Triggers for the provision of location based services in a mobile communication network supporting a plurality of mobile terminals over a given territory, are generated by defining a set of target areas within the territory covered by the network, each target area being identified by respective geographic data, transforming the geographic data in a respective set of values of network related entities, the respective set of values being expected to be encountered by a mobile terminal when located in the corresponding target area, monitoring the values in the respective set as experienced by at least one monitored mobile terminal in the mobile communication network, checking whether the values as monitored match with the set of values are expected to be encountered, and when a match is found, which is indicative of the monitored mobile terminal being located in a given target area of the set, generating a trigger for prompting delivery of location based services related to the target area considered toward the monitored mobile terminal.

Claims

1-29. -29. (canceled)

30. A method of generating triggers for the provision of location based services in a mobile communication network supporting a plurality of mobile terminals over a given territory, comprising the steps of:

defining a set of target areas within said territory, each target area in said set being identified by respective geographic data;

transforming said geographic data in a respective set of values of network related entities, said respective set of values being expected to be associated with a mobile terminal of said mobile network when located in the corresponding target area;

monitoring the values in said respective set as associated to at least one monitored mobile terminal in said mobile communication network;

checking whether said values as monitored match with said set of values as expected to be encountered; and

when a match is found, which is indicative of said monitored mobile terminal being located in a given target area of said set, generating a trigger for prompting delivery of location based services related to said given target area in said set toward said monitored mobile terminal.

31. The method according to claim 30, wherein for each mobile terminal, said set of values includes at least one value selected among a power value, a time value or a cell identifier relative to a cell different from a cell serving said mobile terminal.

32. The method according to claim 31, wherein said set of values comprises at least one value selected from CPICH RSCP, PCCPCH RSCP, GSM carrier RSSI, RTT in FDD, Rx Timing Deviation in TDD, SFN-SFN, RXLEV, and TA.

33. The method according to claim 31, wherein said set of values comprises at least one value selected from location areas, routing areas, cell identifiers, and corresponding adjacent frequencies.

34. The method according to claim 30, wherein said step of monitoring is carried out with said mobile terminal.

35. The method according to claim 30, wherein said step of checking is carried out with said mobile terminal.

36. The method according to claim 30, wherein said set of expected values comprises at least one entity external to said mobile network.

37. The method according to claim 30, comprising the step of starting, when said match is found, a set of location actions to improve the location of said mobile terminal being monitored within said given target area.

38. The method according to claim 30, wherein said step of checking is carried at the network node level.

39. The method according to claim 30, wherein said step of monitoring is carried at the network node level.

40. The method according to claim 30, wherein said operation of transforming said geographic data is carried out at the network infrastructure level.

41. The method according to claim 30, wherein said operation of transforming said geographic data is carried out at the mobile terminal level.

42. The method according to claim 30, wherein said step of providing location based services is carried out at the network infrastructure level.

43. The method according to claim 30, wherein said step of providing location based services is carried out at the mobile terminal level.

44. The method according to claim 43, comprising the step of providing communication facilities for permitting said monitored mobile terminal to receive information from at least one data base containing information related to said location base services.

58. A computer program product loadable in the memory of at least one computer and comprising software code portions capable of performing the steps of the method of any one of claims 30 to 40 when said product is capable of being run on a computer.

45. A mobile communication network supporting a plurality of mobile terminals over a given territory and adapted to provide location based services to said mobile terminals, said territory comprising a set of target areas, each target area in said set being identified by respective geographic data, comprising:

a transformer module configured for transforming said geographic data in a respective set of values of network related entities, said respective set of values being expected to be associated with a mobile terminal of said mobile network when located in the corresponding target area,

a monitor module configured for monitoring the values comprised in said respective set associated with at least one monitored mobile terminal in said mobile communication network, and checking whether said values as monitored match with said set of values, and wherein said monitor module is configured so that, when a match is found, which is indicative of said monitored mobile terminal being located in a given target area of said set, a trigger is generated for prompting delivery of said location based services related to said given target area in said set toward said monitored mobile terminal.

46. The network according to claim 45, wherein for each mobile terminal, said set of values comprises at least one value selected among a power value, a time value or a cell identifier relative to a cell different from a cell serving said mobile terminal.

47. The network according to claim 46, wherein said set of values comprises at least one value selected from:

CPICH RSCP, PCCPCH RSCP, GSM carrier RSSI, RTT in FDD, Rx Timing Deviation in TDD, SFN-SFN, RXLEV, and TA.

48. The network according to claim 46, wherein said set of values comprises at least one value selected from:

location areas, routing areas, cell identifiers, and corresponding adjacent frequencies.

49. The network according to claim 45, wherein said monitor module is at least partly hosted in said mobile terminals.

50. The network according to claim 45, wherein said set of expected values includes at least one entity external to said mobile network.

51. The network according to claim 45, wherein said monitoring module is configured for starting, when said match is found, a set of location actions to improve the location of said mobile terminal being monitored within said given target area.

52. The network according to claim 45, wherein said transformer module is hosted at the network infrastructure level.

53. The network according to claim 45, wherein said transformer module is hosted at the mobile terminal level.

54. The network according to claim 45, comprising a service delivery module for providing said location based services, said service delivery module being hosted at the network infrastructure level.

55. The network according to claim 45, comprising a service delivery module for providing said location based services, said service delivery module being at least partly hosted at the mobile terminal level.

56. The network according to claim 55, comprising communication facilities for permitting said monitored mobile terminal to receive information from at least one data base containing information related to said location based services.

57. The network according to any of claim 45, wherein said monitor module is hosted at the network node level.