METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING A GLOBAL SECURE USER PLANE LOCATION (SUPL) SERVICE

• US 20100182196A1
• Filed: 03/30/2010
• Published: 07/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Limited (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Global Locate Incorporated (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Abraham, Charles
• Granted Patent: US 8,085,195 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 342/357.420
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/05 providing aiding data
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/06 employing an initial estimate of the location of the receiver as aiding data or in generating aiding data
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/04 using triggered events
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/10 between location register and external networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/12 between location registers or mobility servers

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing assistance data for satellite positioning system receivers utilizing a secure user plane location (SUPL) service. In one embodiment, the assistance data is supplied by a global secure user plane location center that contains global assistance data.

Claims

12. A method of providing location based services comprising:

initializing a secure user plane location service from a cellular network by transmitting a notification message through an IP network to a mobile station.

1. A method of providing location based services for a mobile station having a satellite positioning system receiver, comprising:

receiving a request for assistance data for the satellite positioning system receiver at a global secure user plane location center (G-SLC), where the G-SLC comprises a database of global assistance data;

generating assistance data at the G-SLC, where the assistance data corresponds to a position estimate for the mobile station; and

sending the assistance data to the mobile station.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

requesting assistance data from a home SLC; and

if assistance data is not available from the home SLC, requesting assistance data from the G-SLC.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising maintaining, within the G-SLC, a database of cell identifiers and a position for each cell identifier for cell towers located substantially throughout the world.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the generating step further comprises:

generating assistance data having a content that is based upon an accuracy of the position estimate of the mobile station.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein, when the position estimate is unknown, generating, as at least a portion of the assistance data, satellite ephemeris for all satellites in a the satellite positioning system.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising prompting the request for assistance data after initialization of a secure user plane location service.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

prompting the request for assistance data to be transmitted by the mobile station using a notification message propagated to the mobile station via an IP network.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the notification message is an e-mail message.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the notification message is a TCP/IP communication.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

prompting the request for assistance data to be transmitted by the mobile station using a notification message propagated via a telephone call.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said notification message prompts the mobile station to request a position from a secure user plane location center.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the notification message is an e-mail message.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising sending the notification message from a secure user plane location server.

14-1. The method of claim 12 wherein the notification message is a TCP/IP communication.

16. Apparatus for providing location based services, comprising:

a global SUPL center (G-SLC) for providing assistance data to a satellite positioning system receiver using TCP/IP communications, where said assistance data improves signal acquisition or enhance sensitivity for the satellite positioning system receiver, and where said G-SLC comprises a database of global assistance data.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the G-SLC comprises a database of cell identifiers and a position for each cell identifier for cell towers located substantially throughout the world.

18. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the G-SLC generates assistance data having content that is based upon the accuracy of a position estimate of the satellite positioning system receiver.

19. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein, when a position estimate is unknown, the G-SLC sends, as at least a portion of the assistance data, ephemeris for all satellites in the satellite positioning system.

20. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein the G-SLC further comprises means for selecting one of a plurality of protocols used to communicate with network components that provide a position estimate for a mobile station.

21. The apparatus of claim 16 further comprising a home SLC that contains a limited amount of assistance data, when a mobile station cannot receive useful assistance data from the home SLC, the G-SLC provides the assistance data to the mobile station.