Methods and apparatus for location based services in wireless networks

• US 20070298806A1
• Filed: 06/26/2006
• Published: 12/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Venkatachalam, Muthaiah
• Granted Patent: US 8,391,894 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/450
• 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 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and apparatus for location based services provided through wireless networks. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at a location agent (LA), a location measurement parameter request message, from a location controller (LC) of a wireless network comprising a plurality of LAs, relating to at least one radio parameter for a mobile station (MS) within the wireless network;

transmitting, from the LA, a location management parameter response message, to the LC, that includes at least one radio parameter for the MS for distribution to other LAs;

receiving, at the LA, at least one protocol data unit (PDU) from at least one other LA;

analyzing, at the LA, the at least one PDU with respect to a reception parameter to obtain a location measurement; and

transmitting, from the LA, the location measurement to the LC.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising triggering, by the LA, a location determination for the MS.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing, at the LA, the at least one radio signal comprises determining a time of arrival at the LA for the PDU.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing, at the LA, the at least one radio signal comprises determining an angle of arrival at the LA for the PDU.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting, from the LA, a request for at least radio parameter from the MS.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising receiving, at the LA, the at least one radio parameter from the MS.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving, at the LA, comprises at least receiving at least one PDU from another LA located at the MS.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving, at the LA, comprises at least receiving at least one PDU from another LA located at a base station within the wireless network.

9. An apparatus comprising:

a transmit block adapted to transmit a location measurement parameter request message to at least one location agent (LA) within a wireless network comprising a plurality of LAs, the location measurement parameter request message relating to at least one radio parameter for a mobile station (MS) within the wireless network, and the transmit block being adapted to transmit the at least one radio parameter to at least one other LA, the transmit block being further adapted to transmit a location measurement request message to one or more LAs within the wireless network;

a receive block adapted to receive a location measurement parameter response message that includes at least one radio parameter for the MS, and to receive location measurement response messages, from the one or more LAs, each location measurement response message including at least one location measurement parameter relating to reception of at least one protocol data unit (PDU) from the MS; and

a control block, operatively coupled to the transmit block and the receive block, and adapted to determine a location of the MS based upon the location measurement parameters.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the control block is further adapted to trigger a location determination for the MS.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein at least the transmit and receive blocks are part of a transceiver having at least one common component.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the transmit block is further adapted to transmit the location of the MS to a converged services network.

13. A system comprising:

an omnidireactional antenna; and

a location agent (LA) at a mobile station (MS) in a wireless network comprising a location controller and a plurality of LAs, the LA being operatively coupled to the omnidireactional antenna and being adapted to receive a request for location information relating to location of the MS, the LA also being adapted to obtain the location information and to transmit the location information to a location controller.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the location information comprises location of the MS and at least one location measurement is obtained by the LA from a global positioning satellite (GPS), the location agent being further adapted to determine the location of the MS based upon the at least one location measurement.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the location measurement is the location of the MS.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the location information is obtained based upon at least one reception parameter for a radio signal received by the LA from at least one other LA within the network.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the LA is adapted to transmit the location information to the location controller via another LA.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the LA is adapted to transmit the location information directly to the location controller.

19. An article of manufacture comprising:

a storage medium; and

a plurality of instructions stored in the storage medium and designed to enable a location agent (LA) within a wireless network comprising a plurality of LAs to perform a plurality of operations, a location controller (LC) within the wireless network to perform a plurality of LC operations, or both;

the plurality of LA operations including;

receiving a location measurement parameter request message, from the LC, relating to at least one radio parameter for a station (MS) within the wireless network;

transmitting a location management parameter response, to the LC, that includes at least one radio parameter for the MS for distribution to other LAs;

receiving at least one protocol data unit (PDU) from at least one other LA;

analyzing the at least one PDU with respect to a reception parameter to obtain a location measurement; and

transmitting the location measurement to the LC;

the plurality of LC operations including;

transmitting a location measurement parameter request message to an LA;

transmitting radio parameters to at least one other LA within the wireless network, the transmit block being further adapted to transmit a location measurement request message to one or more LAs;

receiving location measurements; and

interpreting the location measurements to determine a location of the MS.

20. The article of manufacture of claim 19, wherein the plurality of instructions are further designed to enable the LA to trigger a location determination for the MS.

21. The article of manufacture of claim 19, wherein the plurality of instructions are further designed to enable the LA to analyze the at least one radio signal by determining a time of arrival at the LA for the PDU.

22. The article of manufacture of claim 19, wherein the plurality of instructions are further designed to enable the LA to analyze the at least one radio signal by determining an angle of arrival at the LA for the PDU.

23. The article of manufacture of claim 19, wherein the plurality of instructions are further designed to enable the LA to transmit a request for at least one radio parameter from the MS, and to receive the at least one radio parameter from the MS.

24. The article of manufacture of claim 19, wherein the plurality of instructions are further designed to enable the LC to trigger a location determination for the MS.

25. The article of manufacture of claim 19, wherein the plurality of instructions are further designed to enable the LC to transmit the location of the MS to a converged services network.