Location object proxy

• US 20080259908A1
• Filed: 09/26/2007
• Published: 10/23/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Original Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Inventors: Johnson, Darrin, Hines, John Gordon, Croy, Jonathan A.
• Application Number:
  US11/902,846
• Publication Number:
  US 20080259908A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/352
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2101/385 Uniform resource identifier for session initiation protocol [SIP URI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 61/30 Managing network names, e.g. use of aliases or nicknames name-to-address mapping H04L61/45
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• 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: H04Q 2213/1307 Call setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13141 Hunting for free outlet, circuit or channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13337 Picturephone, videotelephony
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13348 Channel/line reservation
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13389 LAN, internet
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

The function of determination of location is separated from the function of gathering information based on determined location by use of a Location Object (LO) proxy between an initiating VoIP capable device and a positioning center. The LOProxy queries an appropriate location database using a location key, and injects a PIDF-LO into a routing SIP message otherwise without location. A SIP request without location is received from a VoIP capable device. The SIP request contains messages indicating the type of location generator or service needed. A location key (like a telephone number or SIP URI), in addition to the type of location generator or service needed, is included in a SIP request. A location object (LO) broker may be used between a routing SIP message and a positioning center to direct a routing SIP message to an appropriate one of a plurality of location object (LO) proxies.

Claims

1. Apparatus for injecting a location object into a routing SIP message, comprising:

a location object proxy to receive a SIP message being routed toward a positioning center; and

a location generator to query an appropriate location database and determine in response a location of an initiator of said SIP message;

wherein said location object proxy injects a location object relating to said determined location into said SIP message, said SIP message then continuing toward said positioning center.

2. The apparatus for injecting a location object into a routing SIP message according to claim 1, wherein said positioning center comprises:

a VoIP positioning center (VPC).

3. The apparatus for injecting a location object into a routing SIP message according to claim 1, wherein said location generator comprises:

means for querying a database with a unique location key; and

means for receiving in response a location of an initiator of said SIP message.

4. The apparatus for injecting a location object into a routing SIP message according to claim 3, wherein said database comprises:

a static location database.

5. The apparatus for injecting a location object into a routing SIP message according to claim 3, wherein said unique location key comprises:

a telephone number.

6. The apparatus for injecting a location object into a routing SIP message according to claim 3, wherein said unique location key comprises:

a uniform resource identifier (URI).

7. A method for injecting a location object into a routing SIP message, comprising:

receiving a SIP message being routed toward a positioning center at a location object proxy; and

querying an appropriate location database using a location generator, and receiving in response a location of an initiator of said SIP message;

wherein said location object proxy injects a location object relating to said determined location into said SIP message, said SIP message then continuing toward said positioning center.

8. The method for injecting a location object into a routing SIP message according to claim 7, wherein said positioning center comprises:

a VoIP positioning center (VPC).

9. The method for injecting a location object into a routing SIP message according to claim 7, wherein said querying comprises:

querying a database with a unique location key; and

receiving in response a location of an initiator of said SIP message.

10. The method for injecting a location object into a routing SIP message according to claim 9, wherein said database comprises:

a static location database.

11. The method for injecting a location object into a routing SIP message according to claim 9, wherein said unique location key comprises:

a telephone number.

12. The method for injecting a location object into a routing SIP message according to claim 9, wherein said unique location key comprises:

a uniform resource identifier (URI).