Method and system for facilitating location-based services

• US 6,816,735 B1
• Filed: 03/29/2001
• Issued: 11/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Rayburn, Terry, Douglas, Donald F., Hallock, James, Zhang, Baoquan, McConnell, Von K.
• Primary Examiner(s): CUMMING, WILLIAM D
• Application Number:
  US09/821,334
• Time in Patent Office: 1,321 Days
• Field of Search: 379/220, 455/457, 455/456.4, 342/363, 705/38, 707/10
• US Class Current: 455/456.4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/2208 associated with components used in interrogation type services, i.e. in systems for information exchange between an interrogator/reader and a tag/transponder, e.g. in Radio Frequency Identification [RFID] systems methods or arrangements for sensing record carriers, e.g. for reading patterns G06K7/00; record carrier for use with machines and with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/253 where a visual mode is used instead of a voice mode
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42348 Location-based services which utilize the location information of a target
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0036 where the data service is an information service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/1235 where one of the core networks is a wireless network
• 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 76/10 Connection setup

Abstract

A method and system are disclosed for facilitating location-based services. In the arrangement described, when a mobile station is engaged in a data session with a server, the mobile station may be made to initiate a voice call to a designated number. As a result, a switch or other such entity may send a signaling message (such as an Origination Request message) to a central controller, thereby providing the central controller with an indication of the mobile station'"'"'s current location. The central controller may then make that location information available to the server. In turn, the server may use the location to perform a location based service, such as providing location-based information to the mobile station.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving into a mobile station at least one tag document provided by a data server, the tag document defining an autolocate tag, the autolocate tag defining a number;

the mobile station receiving user input;

in response to the user input, the mobile station executing the autolocate tag and thereby initiating a voice call to the number, whereby a telecommunications network processes the voice call and responsively makes a location of the mobile station available to the data server, and whereby the data server obtains the location and performs a service based on the location so as to establish location-based information;

the mobile station receiving the location-based information from the server; and

the mobile station presenting the location-based information to a user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the number comprises a dummy number.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the number is uniquely associated with the server.

4. A system for communicating a mobile station'"'"'s location to a node with which the mobile station engages in a data session, the system comprising:

a first processor at the mobile station;

first data storage at the mobile station;

a communications interface at the mobile station;

program instructions stored in the first data storage and executable by the first processor to cause the mobile station to initiate a voice call via the communications interface during the data session, wherein, upon initiation of the voice call, a message is provided to a call processing entity, the message defining a location of the mobile station;

a second processor at the call processing entity;

second data storage at the call processing entity; and

program instructions stored in the second data storage and executable by the second processor, in response to the message, to cause the call processing entity to make the location of the mobile station available to the node.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein:

the program instructions executable by the mobile station comprise an autolocate tag defining a number; and

the voice call is a call to the number.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the number is uniquely associated with the node.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the number is a dummy number.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein the autolocate tag is encoded in a tag document that the node provides to the mobile station.

9. The system of claim 4, wherein the program instructions executable by the second processor cause the call processing entity to store an indication of the location at a predetermined address accessible by the node.

10. The system of claim 4, wherein the program instructions executable by the second processor cause the call processing entity to transmit an indication of the location to the node.