Extended Area Event for Network Based Proximity Discovery

• US 20150072713A1
• Filed: 08/29/2014
• Published: 03/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Artax LLC (IPValuation Partners, LLC)
• Original Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Inventors: Zhu, Yinjun
• Granted Patent: US 9,408,034 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.3
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/70 Services for machine-to-machine communication [M2M] or machine type communication [MTC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/14 Direct-mode setup
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals

Abstract

A network-centric device discovery solution that leverages area event location services. A proximity server (PS) performing device discovery for a discoverer mobile initiates an area event, via a location server, for each device subscribed to the same proximity service group as the discoverer mobile and camped on the same zone as the discoverer mobile. The area event notifies the PS each time such device moves into an area of an E-CGI and/or WiFI access point where the discoverer mobile attaches. If the PS receives an area event notification for the device camped on the same zone as the discoverer mobile, the PS requests location information for the device and uses returned location information to determine if the device is within a predefined proximity of the discoverer mobile. If the device is within a predefined proximity of the discoverer mobile, the PS sends a proximity alert message to the discoverer mobile.

Claims

1. A network-centric method of providing proximity services to mobile devices, comprising:

receiving a request for device discovery for a discoverer wireless device;

initiating monitoring for an area event from a proximity server (PS), using a location server, for a plurality of other wireless devices subscribed to a same proximity service group as said discoverer wireless device and camped on a same zone as said discoverer wireless device;

receiving an area event notification at said proximity server of said area event when any of said plurality of other wireless devices moves into a geographic area of an cell global identity (CGI) where said discoverer wireless device is attached;

requesting, from said proximity server to said location server, location information of said any of said plurality of other wireless devices, in response to said received area event notification;

determining from said location information that said any of said plurality of other wireless devices is within a predefined proximity of said discoverer wireless device; and

initiating a proximity alert message from said proximity server to said discoverer wireless device.

2. The network-centric method of providing proximity services to mobile devices according to claim 1, wherein:

said request for device discovery is received from said discoverer wireless device.

3. The network-centric method of providing proximity services to mobile devices according to claim 1, wherein:

said CGI is an E-UTRAN cell global identity (E-CGI).

4. The network-centric method of providing proximity services to mobile devices according to claim 1, further comprising:

canceling said area event, and repeating device discovery, when said discoverer wireless device moves significantly during a time duration allotted to said request for said device discovery.

5. The network-centric method of providing proximity services to mobile devices according to claim 1, further comprising:

canceling said area event, and repeating device discovery, when said discoverer wireless device moves to a different zone during a time duration allotted to said request for said device discovery.

6. The network-centric method of providing proximity services to mobile devices according to claim 1, wherein:

said zone is a location area identity (LAI).

7. The network-centric method of providing proximity services to mobile devices according to claim 1, wherein:

said zone is a tracking area identity (TAI).

8. The network-centric method of providing proximity services to mobile devices according to claim 1, wherein:

said zone is a routing area identity (RAI).

9. A network-centric method of providing proximity services to mobile devices, comprising:

receiving a request for device discovery for a discoverer wireless device;

initiating monitoring for an area event from a proximity server (PS), using a location server, for a plurality of other wireless devices subscribed to a same proximity service group as said discoverer wireless device and camped on a same zone as said discoverer wireless device;

receiving an area event notification at said proximity server of said area event when any of said plurality of other wireless devices moves into a geographic area of a WiFi access point where said discoverer wireless device is attached;

requesting, from said proximity server to said location server, location information of said any of said plurality of other wireless devices, in response to said received area event notification;

determining from said location information that said any of said plurality of other wireless devices is within a predefined proximity of said discoverer wireless device; and

initiating a proximity alert message from said proximity server to said discoverer wireless device.

10. The network-centric method of providing proximity services to mobile devices according to claim 9, wherein:

said request for device discovery is received from said discoverer wireless device.

11. The network-centric method of providing proximity services to mobile devices according to claim 9, further comprising:

canceling said area event, and repeating device discovery, when said discoverer wireless device moves significantly during a time duration allotted to said request for said device discovery.

12. The network-centric method of providing proximity services to mobile devices according to claim 9, further comprising:

canceling said area event, and repeating device discovery, when said discoverer wireless device moves to a different zone during a time duration allotted to said request for said device discovery.

13. The network-centric method of providing proximity services to mobile devices according to claim 9, wherein:

said zone is a location area identity (LAI).

14. The network-centric method of providing proximity services to mobile devices according to claim 9, wherein:

said zone is a tracking area identity (TAI).

15. The network-centric method of providing proximity services to mobile devices according to claim 9, wherein:

said zone is a routing area identity (RAI).