Method and/or Apparatus for Location Privacy Via Uniform Resource Identifier Provisioning

• US 20120202447A1
• Filed: 02/04/2012
• Published: 08/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Edge, Stephen William, Wachter, Andreas Klaus
• Granted Patent: US 8,811,939 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/404.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• 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 8/16 selectively restricting mobility data tracking

Abstract

The subject matter disclosed herein relates in one particular implementation to a method, apparatus, and/or system for transmitting, by a location server, a location identifier to a mobile device. The location identifier may be transmitted from the mobile device to one or more trusted entities. Access to a location estimate of the mobile device may be selectively authorized at least partially in response to a request received at the mobile device from the location server including the location identifier.

Claims

1. A method, at a mobile station, for locating the mobile station comprising:

receiving a location identifier from a location server;

transmitting the location identifier to one or more trusted entities;

receiving a request for a location estimate of the mobile station from the location server, the request comprising the location identifier received from the location server; and

selectively authorizing the request for the location estimate based at least in part on the location identifier.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising selectively inhibiting the request for the location estimate at least partially in response to the request containing an incorrect location identifier that is different from the location identifier transmitted from the location server to the mobile station.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the location identifier is provisioned at the location server.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the location identifier comprises a location Universal Resource Identifier (URI).

5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more trusted entities comprises a Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) agent.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile station comprises a Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) Enabled Terminal (SET) and the location server comprises a SUPL Location Platform (SLP).

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the SLP comprises a Home SUPL Location Platform (H-SLP).

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the SLP comprises a Discovered SUPL Location Platform (D-SLP).

9. The method of claim 8, wherein at least one of the one or more trusted entities comprises a Home SUPL Location Platform (H-SLP).

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the trusted entity comprises a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP).

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a request from the mobile station to the location server to request the location identifier.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the location identifier is received from the location server via a Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) session.

13. A mobile station, comprising:

a transmitter capable of transmitting messages to one or more trusted entities, the messages comprising a location identifier for the mobile station received from a location server;

a receiver capable of receiving messages from the location server comprising a request for a location estimate of the mobile station, wherein the request comprises the location identifier; and

a processor to selectively authorize the request for the location estimate based at least in part on the location identifier.

14. The mobile station of claim 13, wherein the processor is further capable of selectively inhibiting the request for the location estimate at least partially in response to the request containing an incorrect location identifier that is different from the location identifier transmitted from the location server to the mobile station.

15. The mobile station of claim 13, wherein the location identifier is provisioned at the location server.

16. The mobile station of claim 13, wherein the location identifier comprises a location Universal Resource Identifier (URI).

17. The mobile station of claim 13, wherein at least one of the one or more trusted entities comprises a Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) agent.

18. The mobile station of claim 13, wherein the mobile station comprises a Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) Enabled Terminal (SET) and the location server comprises a SUPL Location Platform (SLP).

19. The mobile station of claim 18, wherein the SLP comprises a Home SUPL Location Platform (H-SLP).

20. The mobile station of claim 18, wherein the SLP comprises a Discovered SUPL Location Platform (D-SLP).

21. The mobile station of claim 20, wherein at least one of the one or more trusted entities comprises a Home SUPL Location Platform (H-SLP).

22. The mobile station of claim 13, wherein the trusted entity comprises a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP).

23. The mobile station of claim 13, wherein the transmitter is further capable of transmitting the messages to the location server comprising a request for the location identifier.

24. The mobile station of claim 13, wherein the location identifier is received by the transmitter via the messages received from the location server via a Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) session.

25. A mobile station, comprising:

means for receiving a location identifier from a location server;

means for transmitting the location identifier to one or more trusted entities;

means for receiving a request for a location estimate of the mobile station from the location server, the request comprising the location identifier received from the location server; and

means for selectively authorizing the request for the location estimate based at least in part on the location identifier.

26. The mobile station of claim 25, further comprising means for selectively inhibiting the request for the location estimate at least partially in response to the request containing an incorrect location identifier that is different from the location identifier transmitted from the location server to the mobile station.

27. The mobile station of claim 25, wherein the location identifier comprises a location Universal Resource Identifier (URI).

28. The mobile station of claim 25, wherein the mobile station comprises a Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) Enabled Terminal (SET) and the location server comprises a SUPL Location Platform (SLP).

29. The mobile station of claim 25, wherein the means for transmitting is further capable of transmitting a request from the mobile station to the location server to request the location identifier.

30. The mobile station of claim 25, wherein the means for receiving is capable of receiving the location identifier from the location server via a Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) session.

31. An article comprising:

a non-transitory storage medium having machine-readable instructions stored thereon which are executable by a special purpose computing apparatus to;

process a location identifier received from a location server;

initiate transmission of the location identifier to one or more trusted entities;

process a received request for a location estimate of a mobile station from the location server, the request comprising the location identifier received from the location server; and

selectively authorize the request for the location estimate based at least in part on the location identifier.

32. The article of claim 31, wherein the instructions are further executable by the special purpose computing apparatus to selectively inhibit the request for the location estimate at least partially in response to the request containing an incorrect location identifier that is different from the location identifier transmitted from the location server to the mobile station.

33. The article of claim 31, wherein the location identifier is provisioned at the location server.

34. The article of claim 31, wherein the location identifier comprises a location Universal Resource Identifier (URI).

35. The article of claim 31, wherein at least one of the one or more trusted entities comprises a Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) agent.

36. The article of claim 31, wherein the mobile station comprises a Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) Enabled Terminal (SET) and the location server comprises a SUPL Location Platform (SLP).

37. The article of claim 36, wherein the SLP comprises a Home SUPL Location Platform (H-SLP).

38. The article of claim 36, wherein the SLP comprises a Discovered SUPL Location Platform (D-SLP).

39. The article of claim 38, wherein at least one of the one or more trusted entities comprises a Home SUPL Location Platform (H-SLP).

40. The article of claim 31, wherein the trusted entity comprises a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP).

41. The article of claim 31, wherein the instructions are further executable by the special purpose computing apparatus to initiate transmission of a request from the mobile station to the location server to request the location identifier.

42. The article of claim 31, wherein the location identifier is capable of being received from the location server via a Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) session.

transmitting the location identifier to one or more trusted entities;

receiving a request for a location estimate of the mobile station from the location server, the request comprising the location identifier received from the location server; and

selectively authorizing the request for the location estimate based at least in part on the location identifier.

43. A method, at a location server, comprising:

transmitting a location identifier for a mobile station to the mobile station;

receiving a request for a location estimate of the mobile station from an external entity, the request comprising the location identifier; and

selectively authorizing the request for the location estimate based at least in part on the location identifier.

44. The method of claim 43, further comprising selectively inhibiting the request for the location estimate at least partially in response to the request containing an incorrect location identifier that is different from the location identifier transmitted from the location server to the mobile station.

45. The method of claim 43, further comprising transmitting a request for a location estimate to the mobile station, wherein the request comprises the location identifier;

obtaining the location of the mobile station from measurements or a location estimate received from the mobile station; and

transmitting the location of the mobile station from the location server to the external entity.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein the external entity comprises a Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) agent.

47. The method of claim 45, wherein the external entity comprises a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP).

48. The method of claim 43, wherein the location server comprises a SUPL Location Platform (SLP).

49. The method of claim 43, wherein the location identifier comprises a location Universal Resource Identifier (URI).

50. The method of claim 43, further comprising provisioning the location identifier at the location server.

51. A location server, comprising:

a transmitter capable of transmitting one or more messages comprising a location identifier for a mobile station to the mobile station;

a receiver capable of receiving one or more messages from an external entity comprising a request for a location estimate of the mobile station, the request comprising the location identifier; and

a computing platform capable of selectively authorizing the request for the location estimate based at least in part on the location identifier.

52. The location server of claim 51, wherein the computing platform is further capable of selectively inhibiting the request for the location estimate at least partially in response to the request containing an incorrect location identifier that is different from the location identifier transmitted from the location server to the mobile station.

53. The location server of claim 51, wherein the transmitter is further capable of:

transmitting a request for a location estimate to the mobile station, wherein the request comprises the location identifier; and

the transmitter is further capable of transmitting the messages comprising the location of the mobile station to the external entity.

54. The location server of claim 53, wherein the external entity comprises a Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) agent.

55. The location server of claim 53, wherein the external entity comprises a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP).

56. The location server of claim 51, wherein the location server comprises a SUPL Location Platform (SLP).

57. The location server of claim 51, wherein the location identifier comprises a location Universal Resource Identifier (URI).

58. The location server of claim 51, wherein the computing platform is capable of provisioning the location identifier at the location server.

59. The location server of claim 51, wherein the receiver is further capable of receiving messages from the mobile station comprising measurements or a location estimate.

60. The location server of claim 59, wherein the computing platform is further capable of obtaining the location of the mobile station from the measurements or location estimate.

61. A location server, comprising:

means for transmitting one or more messages comprising a location identifier for a mobile station to the mobile station;

means for receiving one or more messages from an external entity comprising a request for a location estimate of the mobile station, the request comprising the location identifier; and

means for selectively authorizing the request for the location estimate based at least in part on the location identifier.

62. The location server of claim 61, further comprising means for selectively inhibiting the request for the location estimate at least partially in response to the request containing an incorrect location identifier that is different from the location identifier transmitted from the location server to the mobile station.

63. The location server of claim 61, wherein the means for transmitting is further capable of:

transmitting a request for a location estimate to the mobile station, wherein the request comprises the location identifier; and

transmitting the one or more messages comprising the location of the mobile station to the external entity.

64. The location server of claim 63, wherein the trusted entity comprises a Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) agent.

65. The location server of claim 63, wherein the trusted entity comprises a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP).

66. The location server of claim 61, wherein the location server comprises a SUPL Location Platform (SLP).

67. The location server of claim 61, wherein the location identifier comprises a location Universal Resource Identifier (URI).

68. The location server of claim 61, further comprising means for provisioning the location identifier at the location server.

69. The location server of claim 61, wherein the means for receiving is further capable of receiving messages from the mobile station comprising measurements or a location estimate.

70. The location server of claim 61, wherein the means for selectively authorizing is further capable of obtaining the location of the mobile station from the measurements or location estimate.

71. An article comprising:

a non-transitory storage medium having machine-readable instructions stored thereon which are executable by a special purpose computing apparatus to;

initiate transmission of a location identifier for a mobile station from a location server to the mobile station;

process a request for a location estimate of the mobile station received from the location server, the request comprising the location identifier; and

selectively authorize the request for the location estimate based at least in part on the location identifier.

72. The article of claim 71, wherein the instructions are further executable by the special purpose computing apparatus to selectively inhibit the request for the location estimate at least partially in response to the request containing an incorrect location identifier that is different from the location identifier transmitted from the location server to the mobile station.

73. The article of claim 71, wherein the instructions are further executable by the special purpose computing apparatus to initiate transmission of the location of the mobile station from the location server to a trusted entity.

74. The article of claim 71, wherein the location server comprises a SUPL Location Platform (SLP).

75. The article of claim 71, wherein the location identifier comprises a location Universal Resource Identifier (URI).

76. The article of claim 71, further comprising provisioning the location identifier at the location server.