Method of Triggering Location Based Events in a User Equipment

• US 20110219226A1
• Filed: 06/09/2009
• Published: 09/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Lundstrom, Olof, Montero Arizmendi, Gerardo, Olsson, Hjalmar, Carlsson, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 8,737,619 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/150
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6245 Protecting personal data, e.g. for financial or medical purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2111 Location-sensitive, e.g. geographical location, GPS
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/18 Information format or content conversion, e.g. adaptation by the network of the transmitted or received information for the purpose of wireless delivery to users or terminals
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 for social networking applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 48/16 Discovering, processing access restriction or access information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support

Abstract

Methods, a user equipment, a server host, a client application, computer program products, and a server computer program. These methods and components can be utilized by a location based service. One method regards triggering of events in the user equipment based on a position of the user equipment, comprising the steps of:—looking up, in a server database at least one network cell-identity associated with a predefined geographical area,—sending the network cell-identity to the user equipment,—storing the network cell-identity in a database in the user equipment,—obtaining a current network cell-identity to which the user equipment currently is connected,—comparing in the user equipment the current network cell-identity with network cell-identities stored in the database, and—retrieving content associated with the current network cell-identity if the current network cell identity is among the network cell-identities in the database.

Claims

1. A method performed by a user equipment, comprising the steps of:

receiving at least one network cell-identity from a first server host,

storing the at least one received network cell-identity in a database in the user equipment,

obtaining a current network cell-identity to which the user equipment currently is connected,

comparing the current network cell-identity with network cell-identities stored in the database, and

retrieving content associated with the current network cell-identity if the current network cell-identity is among the network cell-identities stored in the database.

2. A method according to claim 1, comprising the step of requesting the at least one network cell identity before receiving the at least one network cell identity from the first server host.

3. A method according to claim 1 or 2, comprising the steps of:

receiving the content from the first server host, and

storing the content in the database in such a way that the content is associated in the database with the network cell identity.

4. A method according to claim 3, comprising the step of requesting further content from the first server host or a second server host based on the content associated with one of the network cell-identities stored in the database.

5. A method according to claim 4, comprising the step of, if the current network cell-identity is the same as at least one network cell identity stored in the database, checking if the content or further content associated with the current network cell-identity has previously been used for alerting a user of the user equipment.

6. A method according to claim 4 or 5, comprising the step of displaying a message or an icon on a display of the user equipment, said message or icon corresponding to the content or further content associated with the current network cell-identity.

7. A method according to any one of claims 4-6, wherein the content comprises at least one Uniform Resource Locator associated with the first server host or the second server host.

8. A method according to claim 7, wherein the content comprises at least two or more Uniform Resource Locators for retrieval of further content from two or more different servers.

9. A client application comprising computer readable code means which when run on a user equipment causes the user equipment to:

receive at least one network cell-identity from a first server host,

store the at least one received network cell-identity in a database in the user equipment,

obtain a current network cell-identity to which the user equipment currently is connected,

compare the current network cell-identity with network cell-identities stored in the database, and

retrieve content associated with the current network cell-identity if the current network cell-identity is among the network cell-identities stored in the database.

10. A computer program product comprising computer readable means and a client application according to claim 9, the client application being stored on the computer readable means.

11. A method performed by a user equipment, comprising the steps of:

receiving from a first server host at least one cryptographically hashed network cell-identity cryptographically hashed according to a cryptographic hash function,

storing the at least one cryptographically hashed network cell-identity in a database in the user equipment,

obtaining a current network cell-identity to which the user equipment currently is connected,

generating a cryptographically hashed current network cell-identity by cryptographically hashing the current network cell-identity according to the cryptographic hash function,

comparing the cryptographically hashed current network cell-identity with cryptographically hashed network cell-identities stored in the database, and

retrieving content associated with the cryptographically hashed current network cell-identity if the cryptographically hashed current network cell-identity is among the cryptographically hashed network cell-identities stored in the database.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein the cryptographic hash function is a message-digest algorithm 5.

13. A method according to claim 11, comprising the step of sending a request message requesting the at least one cryptographically hashed network cell identity before receiving the at least one cryptographically hashed network cell identity from the first server host.

14. A method according to claim 13, wherein the request message comprises geographical coordinates.

15. A method according to any one of claims 11-14, comprising the steps of:

receiving the content from the first server host, and

storing the content in the database in such a way that the content is associated in the database with the cryptographically hashed network cell-identity.

16. A method according to claim 15, comprising the step of requesting further content from the first server host or a second server host based on the content associated with one of the cryptographically hashed network cell-identities stored in the database.

17. A method according to claim 16, comprising the step of, if the cryptographically hashed current network cell-identity is the same as at least one cryptographically hashed network cell identity stored in the database, checking if the content or further content associated with the cryptographically hashed current network cell-identity has previously been used for alerting a user of the user equipment.

18. A method according to claim 16 or 17, comprising the step of displaying a message or an icon on a display in the user equipment, said message or icon corresponding to the content or further content associated with the cryptographically hashed current network cell-identity.

19. A client application comprising computer readable code means which when run on a user equipment causes the user equipment to:

receive from a first server host at least one cryptographically hashed network cell-identity cryptographically hashed according to a cryptographic hash function,

store the at least one cryptographically hashed network cell-identity in a database in the user equipment,

obtain a current network cell-identity to which the user equipment currently is connected,

generate a cryptographically hashed current network cell-identity by cryptographically hashing the current network cell-identity according to the cryptographic hash function,

compare the cryptographically hashed current network cell-identity with cryptographically hashed network cell-identities stored in the database, and

retrieve content associated with the cryptographically hashed current network cell-identity if the cryptographically hashed current network cell-identity is among the cryptographically hashed network cell-identities stored in the database.

20. A computer program product comprising computer readable means and a client application according to claim 19, the client application being stored on the computer readable means.

21. A method performed by a first server host in a communications network, comprising the steps of

looking up, in a server database, which may be comprised in the first server host or a second server host, at least one network cell-identity associated with a predefined geographical area,

receiving from the server database the at least one network cell-identity, and

sending the at least one network cell-identity to a user equipment together with content associated with the at least one network cell-identity.

22. A method according to claim 21 comprising the step of receiving a request from the user equipment about the at least one network cell identity before sending the at least one network cell identity to the user equipment.

23. A method according to claim 21 comprising the step of triggering the step of looking up the at least one network cell-identity through a timer function executed in the first server host.

24. A method according to any one of claim 21-23, comprising the step of sending to the user equipment at least one updated network cell-identity for a network cell being a current network cell in which the user equipment is positioned or a network cell in a second geographical area surrounding the current network cell, if the network cell-identity for the network cell has been changed.

25. A server computer program comprising computer readable code means which when run on a first server host connectable to a user equipment causes the first server host to:

look up, in a server database, which may be comprised in the first server host or a second server host, at least one network cell-identity associated with a predefined geographical area,

receive from the server database the at least one network cell-identity, and

send the at least one network cell-identity to a user equipment together with content associated with the at least one network cell-identity.

26. A computer program product comprising computer readable means and a server computer program according to claim 25, the server computer program being stored on the computer readable means.

27. A method performed by a first server host in a communications network, comprising the steps of:

looking up, in a server database, which may be comprised in the first server host or a second server host, at least one network cell-identity associated with a predefined geographical area,

receiving from the server database the network cell-identity,

generating a cryptographically hashed network cell-identity by cryptographically hashing the network cell-identity according to a cryptographic hash function, and

sending the cryptographically hashed network cell-identity to a user equipment together with content associated with the network cell-identity.

28. A method according to claim 27, comprising the step of receiving a request message from the user equipment about the network cell identity before looking up the at least one network cell identity.

29. A method according to claim 28, wherein the geographical area is defined by geographical coordinates in the request message and the method comprises the step of generating a look up request comprising the geographical coordinates for use in the step of looking up.

30. A method according to claim 27 comprising the step of triggering the step of looking up the network cell-identity through a timer function executed in the first server host.

31. A method according to any one of claim 27-30, comprising the step of sending to the user equipment at least one updated cryptographically hashed network cell-identity for a network cell being a current network cell in which the user equipment is positioned or a network cell in a second geographical area surrounding the current network cell, if the network cell-identity for the network cell has been changed.

32. A server computer program comprising computer readable code means which when run on a first server host connectable to a user equipment causes the first server host to:

look up, in a server database, which may be comprised in the first server host or a second server host, at least one network cell-identity associated with a predefined geographical area,

receiving from the server database the network cell-identity,

generating at a cryptographically hashed network cell-identity by cryptographically hashing the network cell-identity according to a cryptographic hash function, and

sending the cryptographically hashed network cell-identity to a user equipment together with content associated with the network cell-identity.

33. A computer program product comprising computer readable means and a server computer program according to claim 32, the server computer program being stored on the computer readable means.

34. A user equipment comprising:

receiving means configured to receive at least one network cell-identity from a first server host,

a database configured to store the received at least one network cell-identity,

obtaining means configured to obtain a current network cell-identity to which the user equipment currently is connected,

comparing means configured to compare the current network cell-identity with network cell-identities stored in the database, and

retrieving means configured to retrieve content associated with the current network cell-identity if the current network cell-identity is among the network cell-identities stored in the database.

35. A user equipment according to claim 34, comprising requesting means configured to request the at least one network cell identity before receiving the at least one network cell identity from the first server host.

36. A user equipment according to claim 35, wherein the requesting means is capable of requesting updated network cell-identities from the first server host at regular time intervals.

37. A user equipment according to claim 35 or 36, wherein the requesting means is capable of requesting updated network cell-identities from the first server host upon manual initiation by a user of the user equipment.

38. A user equipment according to anyone of claims 34-37, wherein the retrieving means is configured to receive the content from the first server host and that the database stores the content in the database in such a way that the content is associated in the database with the at least one network cell identity.

39. A user equipment according to claim 38, wherein the retrieving means is configured to request further content from the first server host or a second server host based on the content associated with one of the network cell-identities stored in the database.

40. A user equipment according to claim 39, comprising checking means configured to, if the current network cell-identity is the same as at least one network cell identity stored in the database, check if the content or further content associated with the current network cell-identity has previously been used for alerting a user of the user equipment.

41. A user equipment according to claim 39 or 40, comprising a display and a displaying means configured to display a message or an icon on the display, the message or icon corresponding to the content or further content associated with the current network cell-identity.

42. A user equipment according to anyone of claims 38-41, wherein the database comprises a hashtable in which the network cell identities stored in the database are keys and the associated content are values.

43. A user equipment according to any one of claims 34-42, wherein the content is related to predefined points of interest.

44. A user equipment comprising:

receiving means for receiving from a first server host at least one cryptographically hashed network cell-identity cryptographically hashed according to a cryptographic hash function,

a database configured to store the at least one cryptographically hashed network cell-identity,

obtaining means configured to obtain a current network cell-identity to which the user equipment currently is connected,

hashing means configured to generate a cryptographically hashed current network cell-identity by cryptographically hashing the current network cell-identity according to the cryptographic hash function,

comparing means configured to compare the cryptographically hashed current network cell-identity with cryptographically hashed network cell-identities stored in the database, and

retrieving means configured to retrieve content associated with the cryptographically hashed current network cell-identity if the cryptographically hashed current network cell-identity is among the cryptographically hashed network cell-identities stored in the database.

45. A user equipment according to claim 44, comprising requesting means configured to send a request message requesting the at least one cryptographically hashed network cell identity before receiving the at least one cryptographically hashed network cell identity from the first server host.

46. A user equipment according to claim 45, wherein the requesting means is configured to send geographical coordinates in the request message.

47. A user equipment according to any one of claims 44-46, wherein the retrieving means is configured to receive the content from the first server host and that the database stores the content in the database in such a way that the content is associated in the database with the at least one cryptographically hashed network cell identity.

48. A user equipment according to claim 47, wherein the retrieving means is configured to request further content from the first server host or a second server host based on the content associated with one of the cryptographically hashed network cell-identities stored in the database.

49. A user equipment according to claim 48, comprising checking means configured to, if the cryptographically hashed current network cell-identity is the same as at least one cryptographically hashed network cell identity stored in the database, check if the content or further content associated with the cryptographically hashed current network cell-identity has previously been used for alerting a user of the user equipment.

50. A user equipment according to claim 48 or 49, comprising a display and a displaying means configured to display a message or an icon on the display, the message or icon corresponding to the content or further content associated with the cryptographically hashed current network cell-identity.

51. A first server host adapted for being connected to a communications network, comprising:

lookup means configured to look up in a server database, which may be comprised in the first server host or a second server host, at least one network cell-identity associated with a predefined geographical area,

first receiving means configured to receive from the server database the at least one network cell-identity, and

sending means configured to send the at least one network cell-identity to a user equipment together with content associated with the at least one network cell-identity.

52. A first server host according to claim 51, comprising second receiving means configured to receive a request from the user equipment about the at least one network cell identity before sending the at least one network cell identity to the user equipment.

53. A first server host according to claim 51, comprising a timer function for triggering the look up.

54. A first server host according to any one of claims 51-53, wherein the sending means is configured to send to the user equipment at least one updated network cell-identity for a network cell being a current network cell in which the user equipment is positioned or a network cell in a second geographical area surrounding the current network cell, if the network cell-identity for the network cell has been changed.

55. A first server host adapted for being connected to a communications network, comprising:

lookup means configured to look up in a server database, which may be comprised in the first server host or a second server host, at least one network cell-identity associated with a predefined geographical area,

first receiving means configured to receive from the server database the network cell-identity,

cryptographic hashing means configured to generate at a cryptographically hashed network cell-identity by cryptographically hashing the network cell-identity according to a cryptographic hash function, and

sending means configured to send the cryptographically hashed network cell-identity to a user equipment together with content associated with the network cell-identity.

56. A first server host according to claim 55, comprising second receiving means configured to receive a request message from the user equipment about the network cell identity before looking up the at least one network cell identity.

57. A first server host according to claim 56, wherein the geographical area is defined by geographical coordinates in the request message and wherein the look up means is configured to generate a look up request comprising the geographical coordinates for the look up in the server database.

58. A first server host according to claim 55, comprising a timer function for triggering the look up.

59. A first server host according to any one of claims 55-58, wherein the sending means is configured to send to the user equipment at least one updated cryptographically hashed network cell-identity for a network cell being a current network cell in which the user equipment is positioned or a network cell in a second geographical area surrounding the current network cell, if the network cell-identity for the network cell has been changed.

60. A method of triggering events in a user equipment based on a geographical position of the user equipment, comprising the steps of:

looking up, in a server database, which may be comprised in the first server host or a second server host, at least one network cell-identity associated with a predefined geographical area,

receiving in the first server host the at least one network cell-identity from the server database,

sending from the first server host the at least one network cell-identity to the user equipment,

receiving in the user equipment the at least one network cell-identity,

storing the at least one received network cell-identity in a database in the user equipment,

obtaining in the user equipment a current network cell-identity to which the user equipment currently is connected,

comparing in the user equipment the current network cell-identity with network cell-identities stored in the database, and

retrieving in the user equipment content associated with the current network cell-identity if the current network cell-identity is among the network cell-identities stored in the database.

61. A method of triggering events in a user equipment based on a geographical position of the user equipment, comprising the steps of:

looking up, in a server database, which may be comprised in a first server host or a second server host, at least one network cell-identity associated with a predefined geographical area,

receiving in the first server host the network cell-identity from the server database,

generating in the first server host a cryptographically hashed network cell-identity by cryptographically hashing the network cell-identity according to a cryptographic hash function,

sending the cryptographically hashed network cell-identity from the first server host to the user equipment,

receiving in the user equipment the cryptographically hashed network cell-identity,

storing the cryptographically hashed network cell-identity in a database in the user equipment,

obtaining in the user equipment a current network cell-identity to which the user equipment currently is connected,

generating in the user equipment an cryptographically hashed current network cell-identity by cryptographically hashing the current network cell-identity according to the cryptographic hash function,

comparing the cryptographically hashed current network cell-identity with cryptographically hashed network cell-identities stored in the database, and

retrieving in the user equipment content associated with the cryptographically hashed current network cell-identity if the cryptographically hashed current network cell-identity is among the cryptographically hashed network cell-identities stored in the database.