LOCATION REPORTING SATELLITE PAGING SYSTEM WITH PRIVACY FEATURE

• US 20120164970A1
• Filed: 03/07/2012
• Published: 06/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ENOVSYS LLC, Mergenet Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Mergenet Solutions, Inc.
• Inventors: Fomukong, Mundi, Chesney, Denzil Willoughby
• Granted Patent: US 8,706,078 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/404.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 7/18567 Arrangements for providing additional services to the basic mobile satellite telephony service
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/10 between location register and external networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/16 selectively restricting mobility data tracking
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/022 One-way selective calling networks, e.g. wide area paging
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/025 with acknowledge back capability

Abstract

A location reporting paging communication system comprising space satellites, ground stations and a remote receiving unit adapted to resolve a global position from signals transmitted from a communication transmitter. The subscriber in possession of the remote receiving unit updates the paging network with global positioning information. A caller paging a subscriber in possession of the remote receiving unit may request the global location of the remote receiving unit. The paging network could divulge or block such information from a caller depending on the requirements of the subscriber.

Claims

1. A method for limiting access to a current location information for a mobile remote unit comprising:

receiving, from a source, a request to provide a current location for a mobile remote unit connected to a communication system;

verifying that the source is authorized to access the current location of the mobile remote unit;

determining whether a positioning disclosure feature for the mobile remote permits disclosure of the current location of the mobile remote unit to the source;

denying access to the current location information of the mobile remote unit in response to the request if the positioning disclosure feature does not permit disclosure to the source.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining whether a code was provided along with the request; and

providing the current location information for the mobile remote unit to the source if the code matches a preselected code required to access the current location of the mobile remote unit and the positioning disclosure feature of the mobile remote unit permits disclosure of the current location of the mobile remote unit to the source.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining whether the request indicates that the request is being issued in an emergency circumstance; and

providing the current location information for the mobile remote unit to the source if the request is issued in the emergency circumstance.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining that the current location information stored on the communication system is recent; and

providing the current location information for the mobile remote unit in response to the request if the positioning disclosure feature permits disclosure to the source.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining that the current location information stored on the communication system is out of date;

requesting updated current location information from the mobile remote unit;

receiving updated current location information from the mobile remote unit;

updating the current location information to include the updated current location information; and

providing the current location information for the mobile remote unit in response to the request if the positioning disclosure feature has been blocked.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising periodically requesting an update on the current location information for the mobile remote unit.

7. A system for limiting access to a current location information for a mobile remote unit, the system comprising:

a network for receiving, from a source, a request to provide a current location information for a mobile remote unit connected to the network;

a control station for verifying that the source is authorized to access the current location of the mobile remote unit, determining whether a positioning disclosure feature for the mobile remote unit permits disclosure of the current location of the mobile remote unit to the source, and denying access to the current location information of the mobile remote unit in response to the request if the positioning disclosure feature does not permit disclosure.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the control station is further for:

determining whether a code was provided along with the request; and

providing the current location information for the mobile remote unit to the source if the code matches a preselected code required to access the current location of the mobile remote unit and the positioning disclosure feature of the mobile remote unit permits disclosure of the current location of the mobile remote unit to the source.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein the control station is further for:

determining whether the request indicates that the request is being issued in an emergency circumstance; and

providing the current location information for the mobile remote unit to the source if the request is issued in the emergency circumstance.

10. The system of claim 7 wherein:

the control station is further for determining that the current location information stored on the network is recent; and

the network is further for transmitting the current location information for the mobile remote unit to the source in response to the request if the positioning disclosure feature permits disclosure to the source.

11. The system of claim 7 wherein the control station is further for:

determining that the current location information stored on the network is out of date;

requesting updated current location information from the mobile remote unit;

receiving updated current location information from the mobile remote unit;

updating the current location information to include the updated current location information; and

providing the current location information for the mobile remote unit to the source in response to the request if the positioning disclosure feature permits disclosure to the source.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the control station is further for periodically requesting an update on the current location information for the mobile remote unit.

13. A system that limits access to current location information, a mobile remote unit of the system comprising:

a network connection for receiving, from a source, a request to resolve a current location of a mobile remote unit;

a receiver for receiving location signals that may be used to resolve the current location of the mobile remote unit;

a processor for resolving the current location upon receipt of the location signals;

a memory for storing the current location of the mobile remote unit; and

the network connection further for transmitting to a control station via the network a request to selectively enable a positioning disclosure feature for the mobile remote unit.

14. The mobile remote unit of claim 13 wherein the network connection is further for transmitting to the network a code suitable for use by the source of the request to obtain the current location of the mobile remote unit if the position disclosure feature permits disclosure of the current location of the mobile remote unit to the source.

15. The mobile remote unit of claim 13 wherein the network connection is further for transmitting the current location of the mobile remote unit to the source if the request is issued in an emergency circumstance.

16. The mobile remote unit of claim 13 wherein:

the network communication is further for transmitting the current location of the mobile remote unit to the network; and

the processor is further for processing a request to update the current location of the mobile remote unit in response to a determination by the network control station that the current location information stored on the network is out of date.