Method For Conditional Location Retrieval

• US 20110212734A1
• Filed: 10/29/2008
• Published: 09/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Noldus, Rogier
• Granted Patent: US 8,200,216 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.2
• 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 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/08 Mobility data transfer

Abstract

The invention discloses a method for obtaining a location of mobile station connected in a mobile network where a request for the location contains a condition specifying if a location stored in the mobile network can be used. The condition comprises an expression regarding an accuracy threshold for the location. When the stored location does not meet the condition the mobile network actively determines the location of the mobile station. The location is reported back. The method can be applied in a Home Location Register in the network, in a Visiting Mobile Service Center or in both. The HLR contains location information for registered mobiles and the VMSC for connected mobiles.

Claims

1. A method of a telecommunication service retrieving a location of a mobile station connected in a mobile network, comprising the steps of:

including a condition with a request for current location by the requesting telecommunication service,

sending said request to the mobile network,

checking if a current stored location in the mobile network of the mobile station meets the condition by the mobile network,

reporting the current stored location back to the requesting service when the condition is met,

measuring a location of the mobile station and reporting back to the requesting service when the condition is not met.

2. The method according to claim 1 where the mobile network deploys at least one Visiting Mobile Service Centre (VMSC), wherein the VMSC to which the mobile station is connected performs the steps comprising:

receiving the request for current location determination including a condition,

checking if the current stored location in the VMSC of the mobile station meets the condition by the VMSC,

reporting the current stored location back when the condition is met,

measuring a location of the mobile station and reporting back when the condition is not met.

3. The method according to claim 1 where the mobile network deploys at least one Home Location Register (HLR) connected to at least one Visiting Mobile Service Centre (VMSC), wherein the HLR where the mobile station is registered performs the steps comprising:

receiving the request for current location determination including a condition,

checking if the current stored location in the HLR of the mobile station meets the condition,

reporting the current stored location back, when the condition is met,

forwarding the request to the VMSC where the mobile station is currently connected to and reporting back the location received from the VMSC, when the condition is not met.

4. The method according claim 1 where the condition comprises a condition identifier and none or more of the following conditions:

age threshold,

speed threshold or

granularity.

5. The method according to claim 3 where the request is contained in a Mobile Application Part—

Any Time Interrogation (MAP-ATI) message and the reported location is included in a MAP-ATI response message.

6. The method according to claim 2 where the request is contained in a Mobile Application Part—

Provide Subscriber Info (MAP-PSI) message and the reported location is included in a MAP-PSI response message.

7. The method according to claim 2 where the condition is overruled by the VMSC when the request contains a granularity condition with value LOW.

8. A Home Location Register (HLR) for registering mobile stations, the HLR comprising:

a transceiver for Mobile Application Part (MAP) messages,

a store for subscriptions of registered mobile stations including location of those mobile stations and

a processing means for handling map messages and maintaining the store of subscriptions wherein the processing means is specially adapted to perform the method as claimed in claim 3.

9. A Visiting Mobile Service Centre (VMSC) for handling connected mobile stations in a mobile network, the VMSC comprising:

a location measurement controller for controlling determination of a position of a mobile station,

a transceiver for Mobile Application Part (MAP) messages,

a store for location of connected mobile stations and

a processing means for handling map messages and maintaining the store of locations wherein the processing means is specially adapted to perform the method as claimed in claim 2.

10. A software product contained on a carrier comprising instructions for performing the method of claim 2.