User plane location services over session initiation protocol (SIP)

• US 20080126535A1
• Filed: 12/14/2006
• Published: 05/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Original Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Inventors: Marshall, Roger, Burton, Victor, Zhu, Yinjun, Hines, John Gordon, Yang, Fei
• Application Number:
  US11/638,548
• Publication Number:
  US 20080126535A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/043 using or handling presence information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0209 Architectural arrangements, e.g. perimeter networks or demilitarized zones
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1096 Supplementary features, e.g. call forwarding or call holding systems providing special services or facilities to telephony subscribers H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/04 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42348 Location-based services which utilize the location information of a target
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/088 using filters or firewalls
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/003 locating network equipment

Abstract

A method and mechanism to allow a location server to initiate a user plane location service (e.g., SUPL defined by OMA) procedure to a user plane enabled device via Instant Messaging, or alternatively, via an existing SIP session if a multimedia session is already established. The location request is signaled to the user plane enabled device via a SIP INFO message. The location request uses SIP messaging to overcome firewall and other network security issues. Location using SUPL over SIP may be provided about a caller making an E911 emergency call. An Instant Message may be sent to the user plane enabled device, e.g., a VoIP wireless phone.

Claims

1. A method for obtaining a location of a subscriber, comprising:

initiating a user plane location service procedure; and

if a session initiation protocol (SIP) session already exists, signaling a location request to a user plane enabled subscriber device via session initiation protocol (SIP).

3. The method for obtaining a location of a subscriber according to claim 1, wherein:

said location request is signaled to said user plane enabled subscriber device via a SIP INFO message.

4. The method for obtaining a location of a subscriber according to claim 1, wherein:

said location request uses SIP messaging as a transport message of said user plane location service procedure to overcome an issue otherwise introduced by network security.

5. The method for obtaining a location of a subscriber according to claim 4, wherein:

said issue otherwise introduced by network security is a firewall.

6. The method for obtaining a location of a caller according to claim 1, wherein:

a call relating to said caller is an emergency call.

7. The method for obtaining a location of a subscriber according to claim 1, wherein said initiating comprises:

sending an Instant Message to said user plane enabled subscriber device.

8. The method for obtaining a location of a subscriber according to claim 1, wherein:

said user plane enabled caller device is a voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone.

9. The method for obtaining a location of a subscriber according to claim 8, wherein:

said VoIP phone is a wireless VoIP phone.

10. The method for obtaining a location of a subscriber according to claim 1, wherein:

said user plane location service procedure complies with a secure user plane for location (SUPL) standard defined by Open Mobile Alliance (OMA).

2. A method for obtaining a location of a subscriber, comprising:

initiating a user plane location service procedure via XMPP protocol.

11. Apparatus for obtaining a location of a subscriber, comprising:

means for initiating a user plane location service procedure; and

means for signaling a location request, if a session initiation protocol (SIP) session already exists, to a user plane enabled subscriber device via session initiation protocol (SIP).

12. The apparatus for obtaining a location of a subscriber according to claim 11, wherein:

said means for signaling said location request signals to said user plane enabled subscriber device via a SIP INFO message.

13. The apparatus for obtaining a location of a subscriber according to claim 11, wherein:

said means for signaling said location request uses SIP messaging as a transport message of said user plane location service procedure to overcome an issue otherwise introduced by network security.

14. The apparatus for obtaining a location of a subscriber according to claim 13, wherein:

said issue otherwise introduced by network security is a firewall.

15. The apparatus for obtaining a location of a caller according to claim 11, wherein:

a call relating to said caller is an emergency call.

16. The apparatus for obtaining a location of a subscriber according to claim 11, wherein said means for initiating comprises:

means for sending an Instant Message to said user plane enabled subscriber device.

17. The apparatus for obtaining a location of a subscriber according to claim 11, wherein:

said user plane enabled caller device is a voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone.

18. The apparatus for obtaining a location of a subscriber according to claim 17, wherein:

said VoIP phone is a wireless VoIP phone.

19. The apparatus for obtaining a location of a subscriber according to claim 11, wherein:

said user plane location service procedure complies with a secure user plane for location (SUPL) standard defined by Open Mobile Alliance (OMA).

20. A method for obtaining a location of a subscriber, comprising:

determining if a multimedia session is already established with a subscriber; and

obtaining updated location information of said subscriber via an existing session initiation protocol (SIP) session if a multimedia session is already established with said subscriber.

21. Apparatus for obtaining a location of a subscriber, comprising:

means for determining if a multimedia session is already established with a subscriber; and

means for obtaining updated location information of said subscriber via an existing session initiation protocol (SIP) session if a multimedia session is already established with said subscriber.

22. A method for determining whether a target device is in a conventional mobile network, comprising:

examining an identifier of a target device.

23. A method for seamlessly interworking with a mobile network and a wireless IP network, comprising:

initiating a WAP Push/SMS message; and

initiating a presence service/Instant Message.

24. The method for seamlessly interworking with a mobile network and said wireless IP network according to claim 23, wherein:

said WAP Push/SMS message and said presence service/Instant Message are performed in parallel.

25. The method for seamlessly interworking with a mobile network and said wireless IP network according to claim 23, wherein:

said WAP Push/SMS message and said presence service/Instant Message are performed one after the other.