Mobile based area event handling when currently visited network doe not cover area

• US 20070238455A1
• Filed: 04/07/2006
• Published: 10/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Original Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Inventors: Zhu, Yinjun, Hines, John
• Application Number:
  US11/399,528
• Publication Number:
  US 20070238455A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/422.100
• 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 8/04 Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/08 Mobility data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/10 between location register and external networks

Abstract

An area event handler informs when a target mobile enters or leaves a network covering a pre-defined target area, and re-aims an original area event request. When the event occurs, the mobile sends a location report to an initiator of the request. A PLMN list with estimated geographic coverage areas is stored in a Home GMLC, and sent to each relevant mobile. When a mobile enters new network coverage, it uses this list for network access selection. When the Home GMLC discovers that the currently visited PLMN does not serve the original target area, it modifies the area event to the that mobile, so that the Home GMLC will be notified when the target mobile once again enters a PLMN that serves the original target area. Then, after being so notified, the Home GMLC re-sends the original area event location service request to the target mobile.

Claims

1. A method of reporting an area-based event in a wireless network, comprising:

defining a given target area event;

sending at least one target area definition to a mobile device to be watched;

receiving notification that a visited public land mobile network currently visited by said mobile device does not serve said given target area; and

modifying said target area event such that notification to a home location service will be triggered when said mobile device enters a wireless network that serves said given target area;

wherein an original area event request is re-aimed.

2. The method of reporting an area-based event in a wireless network according to claim 1, further comprising:

resending an original target area event location service request to said mobile device after notification that said mobile device has entered a wireless network that again serves said given target area.

3. The method of reporting an area-based event in a wireless network according to claim 1, further comprising:

storing a public land mobile network list with said at least one target area accessible by a home location service.

4. The method of reporting an area-based event in a wireless network according to claim 2, further comprising:

storing a public land mobile network list with said at least one target area accessible by a home location service.

5. The method of reporting an area-based event in a wireless network according to claim 1, wherein:

said given target area is defined by at least one geographic boundary.

6. The method of reporting an area-based event in a wireless network according to claim 1, wherein:

said given target area is defined by a municipality boundary.

7. The method of reporting an area-based event in a wireless network according to claim 1, wherein:

said given target area is defined by X and Y coordinates.

8. The method of reporting an area-based event in a wireless network according to claim 1, wherein:

said given target area is defined by at least one zip code.

9. The method of reporting an area-based event in a wireless network according to claim 1, wherein:

said target area event includes a time range for activation.

11. The method of reporting an area-based event in a wireless network according to claim 1, wherein said given target area event comprises:

at least one geographic parameter associated with at least one time-based parameter.

10. (canceled)

12. Apparatus for providing a service to notify the occurrence of an area-based event in a wireless network, comprising:

means for defining a given target area event;

means for sending at least one target area definition to a mobile device to be watched;

means for receiving notification that a visited public land mobile network currently visited by said mobile device does not serve said given target area; and

means for modifying said target area event such that notification to a home location service will be triggered when said mobile device enters a wireless network that serves said given target area;

wherein an original area event request is re-aimed.

13. Apparatus for providing a service to notify the occurrence of an area-based event in a wireless network according to claim 12, further comprising:

means for resending an original target area event location service request to said mobile device after notification that said mobile device has entered a wireless network that again serves said given target area.

14. Apparatus for providing a service to notify the occurrence of an area-based event in a wireless network according to claim 12, further comprising:

means for storing a public land mobile network list with said at least one target area accessible by a home location service.

15. Apparatus for providing a service to notify the occurrence of an area-based event in a wireless network according to claim 13, further comprising:

means for storing a public land mobile network list with said at least one target area accessible by a home location service.

16. Apparatus for providing a service to notify the occurrence of an area-based event in a wireless network according to claim 12, wherein:

said given target area is defined by at least one geographic boundary.

17. Apparatus for providing a service to notify the occurrence of an area-based event in a wireless network according to claim 12, wherein:

said given target area is defined by a municipality boundary.

18. Apparatus for providing a service to notify the occurrence of an area-based event in a wireless network according to claim 12, wherein:

said given target area is defined by X and Y coordinates.

19. Apparatus for providing a service to notify the occurrence of an area-based event in a wireless network according to claim 12, wherein:

said given target area is defined by at least one zip code.

20. Apparatus for providing a service to notify the occurrence of an area-based event in a wireless network according to claim 12, wherein:

said target area event includes a time range for activation.

22. Apparatus for providing a service to notify the occurrence of an area-based event in a wireless network according to claim 12, wherein said given target area event comprises:

at least one geographic parameter associated with at least one time-based parameter.

21. (canceled)