Network-Assisted Optimization of Continual Location Determination

• US 20110143777A1
• Filed: 12/14/2009
• Published: 06/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Shankaranarayanan, Nemmara K., Kim, Byoung-Jo
• Granted Patent: US 8,644,856 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.3
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/34 Power consumption
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

A mobile device that can use both data from a GPS or other GNSS receiver and signals from a wireless network to provide location based services based on the location of the mobile device is controlled at least partly by a locationing resource control module in the wireless network. The module provides network-assisted optimization of utilization of the GPS receiver and other resources by activating the GPS receiver and associated components when fine resolution location data is needed for provision of the location based services, and deactivating the GPS components when coarse resolution will suffice. The selective control of the GPS components is performed in the wireless network in response to receipt from the mobile device of location requisition data, conditions specifying what actions are to be performed by the mobile device, and current location data from the wireless network. The wireless network may also specify and prioritize at least some conditions.

Claims

1. A system for controlling locationing functionality of a GNSS-equipped mobile device operating in a wireless network, comprising:

a location processor for determining the location of the mobile device; and

a locationing resource control module in the wireless network for;

receiving location requisition data from the mobile device;

accessing conditions that define actions to be taken by the mobile device, based on whether the conditions are met;

determining whether any of the conditions are met, based on the location requisition data and the determined location; and

directing the mobile device to perform the actions associated with the conditions that are met.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the locationing resource control module is further for directing the mobile device to perform the actions associated with the conditions by activating a GNSS receiver in the mobile device.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the locationing resource control module is further for directing the mobile device to perform the actions associated with the conditions by deactivating a GNSS receiver in the mobile device.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the locationing resource control module is further for accessing the conditions by generating at least some of the conditions.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the locationing resource control module is further for accessing the conditions by receiving the conditions from a location based services application operated on the mobile device.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising an over-the-air (OTA) system for paging the mobile device from the wireless network, and wherein directing the mobile device to perform the actions associated with the conditions that are met comprises signaling the mobile device via the OTA system.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising short message service center (SMSC) for sending a message from the wireless network to the mobile device, and wherein directing the mobile device to perform the actions associated with the conditions that are met comprises sending a message via the SMSC to the mobile device, the message causing the mobile device to perform the actions associated with the conditions that are met.

8. The system of claim 1, the location processor being further for determining the location of a GNSS-equipped mobile device at least in part by querying a home location register (HLR) associated with the mobile device.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the location of the mobile device using a location processor comprises at least in part querying a home location register (HLR) associated with the mobile device.

9. A method, performed in a wireless network, for controlling locationing functionality of a GNSS-equipped mobile device operating in the wireless network, comprising:

receiving location requisition data from the mobile device;

accessing conditions that define actions to be taken by the mobile device, based on whether the conditions are met;

determining the location of the mobile device using a location processor;

determining whether any of the conditions are met, based on the location requisition data and the determined location; and

directing the mobile device to perform the actions associated with the conditions that are met.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein directing the mobile device to perform the actions associated with the conditions comprises activating a GNSS receiver in the mobile device.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein directing the mobile device to perform the actions associated with the conditions comprises deactivating a GNSS receiver in the mobile device.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein accessing the conditions comprises generating at least some of the conditions.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein accessing the conditions comprises receiving the conditions from a location based services application operated on the mobile device.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein directing the mobile device to perform the actions associated with the conditions that are met comprises paging the mobile device using an over-the-air (OTA) system in the wireless network.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein directing the mobile device to perform the actions associated with the conditions that are met comprises sending a message via a short message service center (SMSC), the message causing the mobile device to perform the actions associated with the conditions that are met.

17. A computer-readable medium on which instructions are stored, the instructions being executable to cause a mobile device to perform the method of claim 9.

18. A mobile device, comprising:

a GNSS receiver for receiving GNSS signals that indicate the location of the mobile device;

a memory; and

an LBS application stored in the memory, the LBS application comprising computer-readable instructions that are executable to;

generate location requisition data;

generate conditions;

transmit the location requisition data and the conditions to the wireless network; and

receive instructions from the wireless network, the instructions operable to cause the mobile device to perform at least one action selected from the group consisting of activating the GNSS receiver and deactivating the GNSS receiver.