Intelligent location tracking based on predictive modelling

• US 20100062789A1
• Filed: 09/19/2007
• Published: 03/11/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Solutions and Networks GmbH & Co. KG (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Siemens Networks GmbH & Company KG (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Sangam, Praveen, Mallikarjunappa, Niranjana, Agarwal, Salil
• Granted Patent: US 8,391,883 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/04 using triggered events
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

Tracking a mobile station, MS, (108) of a telecommunications network including a LCS client (102), Location services client, for a GMLC, Gateway Mobile Location Centre, (104). The GMLC (104) checking a prediction database to find a predicted location area of the MS. If the prediction data is valid then location estimation procedure will not be started, the GMLC (104) requesting an MSC 106 to forward the location update information to the GMLC (104) for the MS (108). In case an location area update is done before an end of a prediction period and the MS (108) moves out of the predicted area then an location estimation procedure will be started for the MS (108).

Claims

1. A method for tracking a mobile station (108) of a telecommunications network, comprising the steps of checking prediction data in a prediction database to find a predicted location area of the mobile station;

whilst the prediction data is valid not triggering a location estimation procedure;

requesting a mobile switching center (106) to forward location area update information to a gateway mobile location center (104) for the mobile station (108); and

in the event that a location area update is received before the end of a prediction period which indicates that the mobile station (108) has moved out of the predicted location area triggering a location estimation procedure for the mobile station (108).

2. The method of claim 1 characterized in that, periodically executing the foregoing steps and returning a location estimate of the mobile station (108) to a location services client (102).

3. The method of claim 1 characterized in that in the event that the mobile station (108) re-enters the predicted location area in the prediction period the location estimation procedure will be stopped.

4. The method of claim 1 characterized in that checking prediction data in a prediction database to find a predicted location area of the mobile station is carried out by the gateway mobile location center (104).

5. The method of claim 1 characterized in that requesting a mobile switching center (106) to forward location area update information to the gateway mobile location center (104) for the mobile station (108) is carried out by the gateway mobile location center (104).

6. A telecommunications network for tracking a mobile station (108) comprising a gateway mobile services center (104), a prediction database, and a mobile switching center (106), characterized in that the gateway mobile services center is capable of:

checking prediction data in the prediction database to find a predicted location area of the mobile station; and

requesting the mobile switching center to forward location area update information to the gateway mobile location center for the mobile station, the network being capable of not triggering a location estimation procedure whilst the prediction data is valid and in the event that a location area update is received before the end of a prediction period which indicates that the mobile station has moved out of the predicted location area triggering a location estimation procedure for the mobile station.

7. A network node (104) for controlling tracking of a mobile station (108), characterized in that the network node is capable of:

checking prediction data in a prediction database to find a predicted location area of the mobile station; and

requesting a mobile switching center (106) to forward location area update information to the network node for the mobile station;

not triggering a location estimation procedure whilst the prediction data is valid; and

triggering a location estimation procedure for the mobile station in the event that a location area update is received before the end of a prediction period which indicates that the mobile station has moved out of the predicted location area.

8. The network node (104) of claim 7 characterized in that it comprises a gateway mobile location center.

9. The network node (104) of claim 7 characterized in that it comprises an intelligent network node.

10. The network node (104) of claim 7 characterized in that it comprises the prediction database.

11. The network node (104) of claim 7 characterized in that it checks prediction data in the prediction database which is located in a home location register.

12. A prediction database for containing checkable prediction data to enable a network node to control the tracking mode of a mobile station (108), characterized in that the prediction database is capable of:

allowing a network node (104) to check the prediction data to find a predicted location area of the mobile station, so that the network node can, in response to location area update information for the mobile station received from a mobile switching center (106) not trigger a location estimation procedure whilst the prediction data is valid or trigger a location estimation procedure for the mobile station in the event that a location area update is received before the end of a prediction period which indicates that the mobile station has moved out of the predicted location area.