Locating a mobile station using a plurality of wireless networks and applications therefor

• US 6,952,181 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2001
• Issued: 10/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/09/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: FineTrak, LLC (Dennis J. Dupray)
• Original Assignee: TracBeam LLC (Dennis J. Dupray)
• Inventors: Dupray, Dennis J., LeBlanc, Frederick W., Karr, Charles L
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, DAO LINDA
• Application Number:
  US09/820,584
• Publication Number:
  US 20030222819A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,651 Days
• Field of Search: 342/450, 342/451, 342/456, 342/457, 342/463, 342/453, 455/456.1, 455/456.3, 455/456.6, 455/457, 455/65, 455/456
• US Class Current: 342/457
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/206 specially adapted for indoor navigation
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/026 of associated receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/028 Simulation means, e.g. of beacon signals therefor for teaching or training purposes G09B9/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 1/045 Receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/006 for emergency situations
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/008 using a mobile telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/06 Emergency
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0009 Transmission of position information to remote stations involving assistance data G01S5/0236
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0018 Transmission from mobile station to base station
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0054 of actual mobile position, i.e. position calculation on base station
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/021 Calibration, monitoring or correction G01S5/0252 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0244 Accuracy or reliability of position solution or of measurements contributing thereto
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0252 Radio frequency fingerprinting
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0257 Hybrid positioning by coordinating position lines of different shape G01S5/12
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/06 Position of source determined by co-ordinating a plurality of position lines defined by path-difference measurements G01S5/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/04 Error control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 : adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

A location is disclosed for wireless telecommunication infrastructures. The systems output requested locations of hand sets or mobile stations (MS) based on, e.g., AMPS, NAMPS, CDMA or TDMA communication standards. The system determines both local MS locations, and more global MS location requests via, e.g., Internet communication. The system uses a plurality of mobile station locating technologies, including those based on, e.g., (1) two-way TOA and TDOA; (2) home base stations and (3) distributed antenna provisioning. The system is useful for 911 emergency calls, tracking, routing, people and animal location including applications for confinement to and exclusion from certain areas. The system is particularly useful for estimating a location of an MS using information received from a commercial mobile radio service provider (CMRS) for which the MS is not registered for subscriber services.

Claims

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

receiving first data related to wireless signals communicated between a particular mobile station and at least a first network of a plurality of commercial mobile service provider networks, wherein for each said network, there are a plurality of base stations for at least one of transmitting and receiving wireless signals with a corresponding plurality of mobile stations registered with the network, and wherein said particular mobile station is registered with said first network for subscribing to a wireless service;

first requesting a first location estimate of the particular mobile station, wherein a first location estimator provides said first location estimate of the particular mobile station when said first location estimator is supplied with first location information including data obtained using the first data, said location information capable of changing with a change in a location of the particular mobile station;

wherein when said first location estimate is one of;

(a) deemed ambiguous, (b) can not be provided, (c) is not within a desired range of accuracy, and (d) has an extent greater than or equal to a predetermined size, then the steps (A1) and (A2) are performed;

(A1) instructing said particular mobile station to communicate with a second network of the plurality of networks for supplying second data, wherein said particular mobile station is not registered with said second network for subscribing to a wireless service, and wherein said second data is obtained using wireless signals communicated between the particular mobile station and the second network;

(A2) second requesting a second location estimate of said particular mobile station wherein said second location estimate is obtained using additional location information obtained at least in part from the second data;

outputting location information for the particular mobile station, wherein said location information is dependent upon at least one of the first and second estimates of the particular mobile station.

11. The method of claim 1, further including a step of determining said location information by performing a step of adjusting a confidence value for at least one of the first and second location estimates, wherein values for at least some of the following factors are used in adjusting the confidence value:

(a) how closely the location estimate matches a predetermined route, (b) how likely an estimated velocity of the particular mobile station is for a geographical area having the location estimate;

(c) how closely the location estimate corresponds to a different estimate for locating the particular mobile station; and

(d) how closely the location estimate corresponds to an extrapolated location estimate of the particular mobile station.

2. A method for locating a wireless mobile station, comprising:

first receiving first signal characteristic measurements of wireless signals communicated between a mobile station and a first network of communication stations, wherein said communication stations in the first network are cooperatively linked by a first wireless service provider for wirelessly communicating with the mobile station;

instructing the mobile station to search for a wireless signal from a second network of communication stations that are cooperatively linked by a second wireless service provider for providing wireless communication, wherein said mobile station is for a subscriber of said first wireless service provider, and said mobile station is not for a subscriber of said second wireless service provider;

second receiving second signal characteristic measurements of wireless signals communicated between the mobile station and said second network of communication stations;

estimating a location of the mobile station using at least one of said first and second signal characteristic measurements.

3. A method for locating a wireless mobile station as claimed in claim 2, wherein the mobile station is registered for a wireless communication service with the first wireless service provider, and the mobile station is not registered for the wireless communication service with the second wireless service provider.

4. A method for locating a wireless mobile station as claimed in claim 2, wherein said step of instructing includes transmitting a command to the mobile station for instructing the mobile station to search for a signal from a communication station of said second wireless service provider in a frequency bandwidth different from a frequency bandwidth for communicating with the communication stations of said first wireless service provider.

5. A method for locating a wireless mobile station, as claimed in claim 2, wherein said step of estimating includes a step of computing a most likely location of said mobile station using a fuzzy logic computation.

6. An apparatus for locating a first mobile station, wherein the first mobile station communicates via wireless signals with a first wireless network infrastructure having a plurality of spaced apart communication stations for wireless communication with said first mobile station, wherein at least one of said first mobile station and said first wireless network infrastructure has a capability for obtaining a plurality of multipath measurements for one of:

one or more forward transmissions to said first mobile station, and one or more reverse transmissions from said first mobile station to said first wireless network infrastructure, and wherein said multipath measurements are derived from both fixed clutter and variable clutter, said apparatus comprising;

an interface for receiving values indicative of said multipath measurements for at least one of said forward transmissions and said reverse transmissions;

a mobile station location determining system for locating said first mobile station, wherein said location determining system uses the values, and generates additional values that have an enhanced dependence on multipath measurements derived from fixed clutter as compared to multipath measurements derived from variable clutter;

wherein said mobile station location determining system includes at least one wireless location determining model for estimating a location of said first mobile station, said at least one model uses one or more of said additional values;

an output interface for outputting to one of;

a communication network that provides telephony services, and the Internet a resulting location estimate of said first mobile station, said resulting location estimate obtained from said location determining system.

7. An apparatus for locating a mobile station, comprising:

a plurality of spaced apart communication stations, of a wireless network, for wirelessly communicating with a plurality of mobile stations, wherein said communication stations at least one of;

transmit and receive wireless signals from the mobile stations, and wherein said wireless signals are transmitted by the communication stations in a forward bandwidth and said wireless signals are received at the communication stations in a different reverse bandwidth;

an interface for accepting emergency related messages which are representative of one or more of a plurality of predetermined message types;

wherein the interface accepts one or more of the emergency related messages in response to an emergency call from a particular mobile station that is not registered to a subscriber of wireless subscriber services from the network;

wherein during the emergency call, the interface accepts emergency call related information communicated between at least one of the communication stations and the particular mobile station;

wherein in response to receiving at least one of the emergency related messages, said interface provides to a mobile station location obtaining system, wireless measurements including;

(i) a first measurement of said wireless signals transmitted to the particular mobile station in said forward bandwidth, and (ii) a second measurement of said wireless signals received from the particular mobile station in said reverse bandwidth;

wherein said interface outputs further information for identifying the at least one communication station for locating the particular mobile station; and

wherein said mobile station location obtaining system estimates a location of said particular mobile station using both said first measurements and said second measurements.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said interface provides said mobile station location obtaining system with data indicative of CDMA finger measurements related to said radio signals communicated between the network and the particular mobile station.

9. A method for locating a mobile station using wireless signal measurements obtained from transmissions between the mobile station and at least one of a plurality of communication stations, wherein each of said communications stations includes one or more of a transmitter and a receiver for wirelessly communicating with the mobile station, comprising:

transmitting to the mobile station, a control message from one of the communication stations, wherein said message is received by a receiving antenna of said mobile station;

wherein the control message requests activation of at least one of a control processor and a searcher receiver in the mobile station, for determining a plurality of multipath finger sets for a wireless communication between said mobile station and at least a first of the communication stations, wherein at least some of said multipath finger sets are different;

receiving information related to said finger sets in response to transmissions from the mobile station; and

supplying said information for at least one of said finger sets to a mobile station location estimator for estimating a location of said mobile station.

10. A method for locating a wireless mobile station, comprising:

receiving data indicative of wireless signal measurements obtained via wireless signals communicated between a particular mobile station and a plurality of communication stations of a wireless infrastructure operated by a commercial radio service provider, wherein said particular mobile station is not registered to a subscriber of said commercial radio service provider for subscriber services;

wherein each of said communications stations includes one or more of a transmitter and a receiver for wirelessly communicating with said particular mobile station;

wherein said data includes information that is dependent upon a location of each of at least a first and a second of said plurality of communication stations;

determining, using at least said information, an estimate of a location, L, of said particular mobile station;

wherein said step of determining includes performing a substep of obtaining at least (a) and (b) following;

(a) first location data indicative of a first range of locations for L relative to said first communication station, and (b) second location data indicative of a second range of locations for L relative to said second communication station.

12. A method for utilizing mobile station location information, comprising:

receiving, at a predetermined destination and as a consequence of a transmission from a location providing system location information for a mobile station (M₁);

wherein the location providing system performs a first geolocation computation which yields a geolocation result for determining at least one geographical extent or position (G₁) for the mobile station M₁, and wherein the geographical extent or position G₁ is used to obtain the location information;

wherein the first geolocation computation is performed using a first input obtained as a result of (A) and (B) following;

(A) a communication of M₁ geolocation indicative data from the mobile station M₁ to a network (NTWK₁), the M₁ geolocation indicative data obtained from a corresponding wireless communication between;

(1) the mobile station M₁, and (2) at least one of;

a receiver at a known location, and a transmitter at a known location; and

(B) a transmission, via the network NTWK₁, of M₁ geolocation information for providing at least a portion (P₁) of the first input to the first geolocation computation, wherein the M₁ geolocation information is obtained, at least in part, from the M₁ geolocation indicative data;

wherein the location providing system performs a second geolocation computation which yields a geolocation result for determining at least one geographical extent or position (G₂) for a mobile station (M₂);

wherein the second geolocation computation is performed using a second input obtained via (C) and (D) following;

(C) a wireless communication of M₂ geolocation indicative data from the mobile station M₂ to a network (NTWK₂), the M₂ geolocation indicative data obtained from a corresponding wireless communication between;

(3) the mobile station M₂, and (4) at least one of;

a receiver at a known location, and a transmitter at a known location; and

(D) a transmission, via the network NTWK₂, of M₂ geolocation information for providing at least a portion (P₂) of the second input to the second geolocation computation, wherein the M₂ geolocation information is obtained, at least in part, from the M₂ geolocation indicative data;

wherein the network NTWK₁ is operated by a first service provider and the network NTWK₂ is operated by a second service provider different from the first service provider;

wherein at least one of the following (a) and (b) is satisfied;

(a) the portion P₁ is obtained using a signal time delay, and the geographical extent or position G₁ is obtained using P₁, and the portion P₂ is obtained using a signal time delay, and the geographical extent or position G₂ is obtained using P₂; and

(b) for a geolocation computation (CG) that is the same as the second geolocation computation, or yields effectively a same geolocation result as the second geolocation computation when each is supplied with a geolocation content obtained from the second input, the location providing system does not perform CG for locating M₁; and

using said location information for one of;

locating, monitoring and accessing said mobile station M₁.

15. The method of claim 12 further including receiving vehicle operation information from sensors on a vehicle having the particular mobile station.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said vehicle operation information is used for controlling an operation a vehicle.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the location providing system performs at least one task (T) of the following tasks:

(T1) determining a priority for performing geolocation related processing for locating one of the mobile stations M₁ and M₂;

(T2) selecting one or more of a plurality of geolocation generating sources, wherein the selection is dependent upon an availability of corresponding geolocation data for inputting to the geolocation generating sources, said corresponding geolocation data including a corresponding one of the first and second inputs for a corresponding one of the first and second geolocation computations;

(T3) resolving ambiguities between multiple location estimates for one of the mobile stations M₁ and M₂ being located;

(T4) generating an audit trail of a subscriber profile for a subscriber of a corresponding one of the mobile stations M₁ and M₂;

(T5) routing one of the first and second inputs to one or more geolocation generating sources according to an identification of the one of the first and second inputs;

(T6) associating different instances of geolocation data for obtaining a data ensemble for locating one of the mobile stations M₁ and M₂, wherein the instances are received from different sources or received at different times;

(T7) determining a signal processing or transmission capability of one of the mobile stations M₁ and M₂ being located;

(T8) determining a location of a base station;

(T9) determining if additional geolocation related information is needed to effectively locate one of the mobile stations M₁ and M₂ being located;

(T10) transmitting messages to one of the networks NTWK₁ and NTWK₂ for obtaining, when needed, additional geolocation related information; and

(T11) activating a signal processing component for adjusting a wireless signal path loss measurement.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein at least a plurality of the tasks (T1) through (T11) are performed.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein a majority of the tasks (T1) through (T11) are performed.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein at least some of the tasks (T1) through (T5) are performed.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein at least task (T5) is performed and at least some of the geolocation generating sources are distributed on a network.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein for locating each of the mobile stations M₁ and M₂, at least most of the tasks (T1) through (T11) are performed.

24. The method of claim 12 further including a step of transmitting a request for locating the mobile station M₁.

25. The method of claim 12, wherein (a) is satisfied.

26. The method of claim 12, wherein (a) is satisfied.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein for a geolocation computation (CG₁) that is the same as the first geolocation computation, or yields effectively a same geolocation result as the first geolocation computation when each is supplied with a geolocation content obtained from the first input, the location providing system does not perform CG₁ for locating M₂.

28. The method of claim 12, wherein each of the mobile stations M₁ and M₂ is capable of performing a base station handoff.

29. The method of claim 12, wherein the network NTWK₁ communicates with the mobile station M₁ via one or more of the wireless protocols:

CDMA, W-CDMA, TDMA, GSM, AMPS, and NAMPS.

30. The method of claim 12, wherein for the mobile station M₁, the M₁ geolocation indicative data includes measurements of wireless signals indicative of a geolocation of the mobile station M₁.

31. The method of claim 12, wherein there is a common set of geolocation related messages used for communications between the location providing system, and each of the networks NTWK₁ and NTWK₂.

32. The method of claim 12, wherein for determining a location of the mobile station M₁, the first geolocation computation is performed after an additional geolocation related computation which uses home location register obtained information, that is indicative of a coarse coverage area having the mobile station M₁ therein, to obtain the M₁ geolocation information.

33. The method of claim 32, further including a step of requesting the location information, wherein said additional geolocation related computation follows, and wherein the information indicative of the coarse coverage area provides information for communicating with at least one NTWK₁ provisioned equipment for the coarse coverage area.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein location related messages are transmitted to a portion of the network NTWK₁ currently in communication with the mobile station M₁.

35. The method of claim 12, wherein the location providing system receives from the network NTWK₁ at least one communication (C₁) via a message type (MSG₁) of a predetermined location related programming interface, wherein the communication C₁ includes one or more of:

(a1) a request for determining a location of M₁, and (a2) a notification related to a change in location of M₁; and

wherein the location providing system transmits to the network NTWK₁ at least an instance of a message type (MSG₂) of the predetermined location related programming interface, wherein the instance of MSG₂ includes one of;

(b1) a request for the M₁ geolocation information, and (b2) a request for notification related to a change in location of M₁.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein instances of the message types MSG₁ and MSG₂ are generated in a two way communication between the location providing system and the network NTWK₂ for determining a location of M₂.

37. The method of claim 12, wherein the first input includes geolocation information of a communication device for communicating with the mobile station M₁ and the network NTWK₁, wherein when the communication device detects the mobile station M₁ the communication device provides the mobile station M₁ with voice communication service via a different wireless interface from the wireless interface for communicating with the NTWK₁ when the mobile station M₁ not detected by the communication device.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein a geolocation of the communication device is identified with a location of a premises for a subscriber that subscribes to the network NTWK₁ using the mobile station M₁.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein the communication device includes a base station.

40. The method of claim 12, wherein the geographical extent or position G₁ is obtained using corresponding signal time delay measurements of the portion P₁, and the geographical extent or position G₂ is obtained using a corresponding signal time delay measurements of the portion P₂, and wherein:

(A) said first geolocation computation performs one of a triangulation, a trilateration, a multilateration, and a pattern recognition, and (B) said second geolocation computation performs one of a triangulation, a trilateration, a multilateration and a pattern recognition.

41. The method of claim 12, wherein the geographical extent or position G₁ is obtained using a geographical extent or position (G_1,1) determined at the mobile station M₁, wherein G_1,1 is determined using signal time delay measurements of a wireless communication between:

(1) the mobile station M₁, and (2) at least one of;

a receiver at a known location, and a transmitter at a known location.

42. The method of claim 12, wherein the geographical extent or position G₁ is obtained using a signal time delay measurement from both a forward and reverse signal direction of a wireless communication between:

(1) the mobile station M₁, and (2) at least one of;

a receiver at a known location, and a transmitter at a known location.

43. The method of claim 12, wherein at least said first geolocation computation uses a signal time difference of arrival for determining the geographical extent or position G₁.

44. The method of claim 12, wherein (b) holds, and for determining the geographical extent or position G₁, the first input includes one of:

(A) geolocation data from a distributed antenna system, and (B) geolocation data from a communication of a plurality of daisy chained base stations.

45. The method of claim 12, further including a step of obtaining information indicative of one of:

an acceleration, and a speed of the mobile station M₁.

46. The method of claim 12, wherein (a) is satisfied.

47. The method of claim 12, wherein (b) is satisfied.

48. The method of claim 12, wherein the mobile station M₁ is independently moveable from the location providing system.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein the mobile station M₂ is independently moveable from the location providing system, and M₂ is independently moveable from M₁.

50. The method of claim 48, wherein the mobile station M₁ is not physically connected to the location providing system.

51. The method of claim 12, wherein there is a first two way communication between the network NTWK₁ and the location providing system using a predetermined location related programming interface for the first two way communication;

wherein there is a second two way communication between the network NTWK₂ and the location providing system using the predetermined location related programming interface for the second two way communication;

wherein said location related programming interface includes at least two of (1-A) through (1-C) following;

(1-A) a message type for messages to the location providing system indicating that wireless location is requested for a response to an emergency;

(1-B) at least one message type for messages to the networks NTWK₁ and NTWK₂ for requesting mobile station geolocation indicative data; and

(1-C) at least one message type for messages to the networks NTWK₁ and NTWK₂ for requesting notification of a mobile station state change, the notification provided via an access to a home location register for the mobile station having the state change;

wherein for at least one of the message types (1-A) through (1-C), there is an instance of the at least one message type communicated in each of the first and second two way communications.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein said location related programming interface includes each of (1-A) through (1-C).

53. The method of claim 12, wherein there is a first two way communication between the network NTWK₁ and the location providing system using a predetermined location related programming interface for the first two way communication;

wherein there is a second two way communication between the network NTWK₂ and the location providing system using the predetermined location related programming interface for the second two way communication;

wherein for each mobile station (M) of a plurality of mobile stations, including the mobile station M₁ and the mobile station M₂, the predetermined location related programming interface includes a common set of message types for communicating with a plurality networks, including NTWK₁ and NTWK₂, wherein said common set of message types provides for communications using at least the following messages;

(i) an alert message from a home location register of the mobile station M, the alert message includes information indicative of a change in an operational characteristic of the mobile station M, or a change in a geographical location of the mobile station M; and

(ii) text transmission message for sending a short text message to the mobile station M, wherein the text transmission message includes location related information for M.

54. The method of claim 12, wherein for at least one of the first and second geolocation computations, there is one portion of the at least one geolocation computation that is performed remotely from another portion thereof, wherein communication for using results from the one and the another portions occurs via a telecommunication network.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein the telecommunication network includes the Internet.

56. The method of claim 12, wherein the first and second service providers do not have a common owner that controls wireless subscriber services of both the networks NTWK₁ and NTWK₂.

57. The method of claim 12, wherein each of the first and second service providers have a different collection of subscribers for which wireless service is provided without contacting the other service provider.

58. The method of claim 12, wherein the first service provider operates a first mobile switching center for providing at least voice communication with mobile stations;

and

wherein the second service provider operates a different second mobile switching center for providing at least voice communication with mobile stations, wherein the first and second mobile switching centers are not operably controlled by a common entity for providing substantially all voice communication on both of the networks NTWK₁ and NTWK₂.

59. The method of claim 12, wherein the first service provider stores first subscriber information for a first collection of subscribers that subscribe to a first wireless service of the first service provider;

and

wherein the second service provider stores a second subscriber information for a second collection of subscribers that subscribe to a second wireless service of the second service provider;

wherein the first and second collections identify substantially different subscribers, and wherein a subscriber of the first service provider gains access to the second wireless service by the first service provider receiving information from the second subscriber information.

60. The method of claim 12, wherein the first and second service providers are competitors for wireless subscribers.

61. The method of claim 12, wherein:

the mobile station M₁ and the mobile station M₂ are identical.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein when a first instance of the geographical extent or position G₁ is determined to be one of:

(a) ambiguous,

(b) not provided,

(c) not within a desired range of accuracy, and

(d) a geographical extent greater than or equal to a predetermined size, then said mobile station M₁ communicates with the network NTWK₂ for obtaining geolocation indicative data from a corresponding communication between;

(i) the mobile station M₁, and (ii) at least one of;

a receiver at a known location, and a transmitter at a known location.

63. The method of claim 61 wherein the M₁ geolocation indicative data and the M₂ geolocation indicative data are for substantially a same location.

64. The method of claim 12, wherein:

(a) said predetermined destination is for a vehicle rental agency, (b) the mobile station M₁ resides in a rental vehicle of the rental agency, (c) said rental vehicle has been dropped off at a location that is remote from a premise operated by the vehicle rental agency, and (d) said location information corresponds to the location of the vehicle.

65. The method of claim 12, wherein said mobile station M₁ is included in a vehicle for wirelessly controlling one or more of the following vehicle operations:

(a) locking or unlocking vehicle doors, (b) sensing a door position, (c) sensing a keypad depression, (d) sensing a condition of an engine, (e) sensing a condition of a vehicle brake, and (f) sensing a deployment of an air bag.

66. The method of claim 65, wherein said mobile station M₁ is in communication with a local area network of the vehicle for performing one or more of the vehicle operations.

67. The method of claim 12, further including a step of transmitting a request for locating the mobile station M₁ to the location providing system, wherein said request is encrypted.

68. The method of claim 12, further including a step of receiving data indicative of an event or a condition that occurs substantially at the mobile station M₁.

69. The method of claim 68, wherein the data is obtained via a local area network provided within a vehicle having the mobile station M₁.

70. The method of claim 68, wherein the data includes information indicative of a sudden change in an acceleration or deceleration force, or deployment of an air bag.

71. The method of claim 68, wherein the data includes information indicative of an emergency assistance call.

72. The method of claim 71, wherein the mobile station M₁ and the mobile station M₂ are identical.

73. The method of claim 68, wherein the data includes information indicative of the mobile station M₁ traveling into or out of a designated area.

74. The method of claim 12, wherein said using step includes communicating control data to the mobile station M₁ for controlling one or more devices co-located with the mobile station M₁.

75. The method of claim 12, wherein said receiving step includes one or more of the steps (i) and (ii) following:

(i) receiving the location information via;

(1) a digital air interface voice channel or a wireline channel, and (2) an automatic call distributor; and

(ii) receiving the location information via;

(3) a digital air interface voice channel or a wireline channel, and (4) a hunt group associated with a central office or a PBS group.

76. The method of claim 12, wherein said receiving step includes receiving said location information via at least one of:

(a) a transmission through a network that includes a plurality of independently operated networks, and (b) the Internet.

77. The method of claim 76, further including receiving one or more updates to said location information without an individual request being transmitted for each of the updates.

78. The method of claim 12, further including receiving one or more updates to said location information without an individual request being transmitted for each of the updates.

79. The method of claim 78, wherein said updates are for one or more of:

providing emergency assistance, and locating one or more vehicles.

80. The method of claim 12, further including transmitting, to the mobile station M₁, information for navigating a user of the mobile station M₁ to a desired geographical destination.

81. The method of claim 80, wherein said transmitting step includes transmitting a short message via a short messaging service.

82. The method of claim 80, wherein said information for navigating includes one or more of:

a street address, and a building identification.

83. The method of claim 12, wherein said predetermined destination is an emergency assistance center.

84. The method of claim 12, wherein said location providing system uses said first input to perform one of:

a triangulation, trilateration, and a multilateration for determining the geographical extent or position G₁ for the mobile station M₁.

85. The method of claim 84, wherein said location providing system uses said second input to perform one of:

a triangulation, trilateration, and a multilateration for determining the geographical extent or position G₂ for the mobile station M₂, and the mobile station M₁ is different from the mobile station M₂.

86. The method of claim 12, wherein:

(a) the network NTWK₁ controls a plurality of base stations for providing two-way communication with the plurality of mobile stations; and

(b) the mobile station M₁ is recognized by the network NTWK₁ for receiving wireless service via the plurality of base stations.

87. The method of claim 12, wherein the first geolocation computation does not perform a geolocation computation that both:

(i) uses a same geolocation content as the second input, and (ii) yields effectively a same geolocation result as the second geolocation computation.

88. The method of claim 12, wherein one of:

the M₁ geolocation information, and the M₂ geolocation information includes a purposefully provided time delay.

13. A method for locating one or more mobile stations, comprising:

first receiving, by a location providing system a request for locating a mobile station (M₁);

first performing a first geolocation computation which yields a geolocation result for determining at least one geographical extent or position (G₁) for the mobile station M₁, wherein the first geolocation computation uses first input for obtaining G₁, and the first input is obtained using (A) and (B) following;

(A) a wireless communication of M₁ geolocation indicative data from the mobile station M₁ to a network (NTWK₁), the M₁ geolocation indicative data obtained from a corresponding communication between;

(1) the mobile station M₁, and (2) at least one of;

a receiver at a known location, and a transmitter at a known location; and

(B) a transmission via the network NTWK₁ of M₁ geolocation information for providing at least a portion (P₁) of the first input to the first geolocation computation, wherein the M₁ geolocation information is obtained, at least in part, using the M₁ geolocation indicative data;

second receiving, by the location providing system, a request for locating a mobile station (M₂);

second performing a second geolocation computation which yields a geolocation result for determining at least one geographical extent or position (G₂) for the mobile station M₂, wherein the second geolocation computation uses a second input, the second input obtained using (C) and (D) following;

(C) a wireless communication of M₂ geolocation indicative data from the mobile station M₂ to a network (NTWK₂), the M₂ geolocation indicative data obtained from a corresponding communication between;

(3) the mobile station M₂, and (4) at least one of;

a receiver at a known location, and a transmitter at a known location; and

(D) a transmission, via the network NTWK₂, of M₂ geolocation information for providing at least a portion (P₂) of the second input to the second geolocation computation, wherein the M₂ geolocation information is obtained, at least in part, from the second geolocation indicative data;

wherein the network NTWK₁ is operated by a first service provider and the network NTWK₂ is operated by a second service provider different from the first service provider,

wherein at least one of the following (a) and (b) is satisfied;

(a) the portion P₁ is obtained using a signal time delay, and the geographical extent or position G₁ is obtained using P₁, and the portion P₂ is obtained using a signal time delay, and the geographical extent or position G₂ is obtained using P₂; and

(b) for a geolocation computation (CG) that is the same as the second geolocation computation, or yields effectively a same geolocation result as the second geolocation computation when each is supplied with a geolocation content obtained from the second input, the location providing system does not perform CG for locating M₁; and

providing, to a predetermined destination, location information obtained using one or more of said geographical extents or positions G₁ and G₂.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein NTWK₁ provides voice communications, and NTWK₂ includes at least a portion of the Internet.

89. The method of claim 13, wherein the location providing system performs at least one task of the following tasks:

(T1) determining a priority for performing geolocation related processing for locating one of the mobile stations M₁ and M₂;

(T2) selecting one or more of a plurality of geolocation generating sources, wherein the selection is dependent upon an availability of corresponding geolocation data for inputting to the geolocation generating sources, said corresponding geolocation data including a corresponding one of the first and second inputs for a corresponding one of the first and second geolocation computations;

(T3) resolving ambiguities between multiple location estimates for one of the mobile stations M₁ and M₂ being located;

(T4) generating an audit trail of a subscriber profile for a subscriber of a corresponding one of the mobile stations M₁ and M₂;

(T5) routing one of the first and second inputs to one or more geolocation generating sources according to an identification of the one of the first and second inputs;

(T6) associating different instances of geolocation data for obtaining a data ensemble for locating one of the mobile stations M₁ and M₂, wherein the instances are received from different sources or received at different times;

(T7) determining a signal processing or transmission capability of one of the mobile stations M₁ and M₂ being located;

(T8) determining a location of a base station;

(T9) determining if additional geolocation related information is needed to effectively locate one of the mobile stations M₁ and M₂ being located;

(T10) transmitting messages to one of the networks NTWK₁ and NTWK₂ for obtaining, when needed, additional geolocation related information; and

(T11) activating a signal processing component for adjusting a wireless signal path loss measurement.

90. The method of claim 89, wherein at least a plurality of the tasks (T1) through (T11) are performed.

91. The method of claim 89, wherein a majority of the tasks (T1) through (T11) are performed.

92. The method of claim 89, wherein at least some of the tasks (T1) through (T5) are performed.

93. The method of claim 89, wherein at least task (T5) is performed and at least some of the geolocation generating sources are distributed on a network.

94. The method of claim 89, wherein for locating each of the mobile stations M₁ and M₂, at least most of the tasks (T1) through (T11) are performed.

95. The method of claim 13 further including a step of transmitting a request for locating the mobile station M₁.

96. The method of claim 13, wherein (a) is satisfied.

97. The method of claim 13, wherein (b) is satisfied.

98. The method of claim 97, wherein for a geolocation computation (CG₁) that is the same as the first geolocation computation, or yields effectively a same geolocation result as the first geolocation computation when each is supplied with a geolocation content obtained from the first input, the location providing system does not perform CG₁ for locating M₂.

99. The method of claim 13, wherein at least one of the mobile stations M₁ and M₂ is capable of performing a base station handoff.

100. The method of claim 13, wherein the network NTWK₁ communicates with the mobile station M₁ via one or more of the wireless protocols:

CDMA, W-CDMA, TDMA, GSM, AMPS, and NAMPS.

101. The method of claim 13, wherein for the mobile station M₁, the M₁ geolocation indicative data includes measurements of wireless signals indicative of a geolocation of the mobile station M₁.

102. The method of claim 13, wherein there is a common set of geolocation related messages used for communications between the location providing system, and each of the networks NTWK₁ and NTWK₂.

103. The method of claim 13, wherein for determining a location of the mobile station M₁, the first geolocation computation is performed after an additional geolocation related computation which includes using home location register obtained information, that is indicative of a coarse coverage area having the mobile station M₁ therein, to obtain the M₁ geolocation information.

104. The method of claim 103, wherein said home location register obtained information provides information for communicating with at least one NTWK₁ provisioned equipment for the coarse coverage area.

105. The method of claim 103, further including transmitting location related messages to a portion of the network NTWK₁ currently in communication the mobile station M₁.

106. The method of claim 13, further including the steps of:

receiving, from the network NTWK₁, at least one communication (C₁) via a message type (MSG₁) of a predetermined location related programming interface, wherein the communication C₁ includes one or more of;

(a1) a request for determining a location of M₁, and (a2) a notification related to a change in location of M₁; and

transmitting, to the network NTWK₁, at least an instance of a message type (MSG₂) of the predetermined location related programming interface, wherein the instance of MSG₂ includes one of;

(b1) a request for the M₁ geolocation information, and (b2) a request for notification related to a change in location of M₁.

107. The method of claim 106, wherein instances of the message types MSG₁ and MSG₂ are generated in a two way communication between the location providing system and the network NTWK₂ for determining a location of M₂.

108. The method of claim 13, wherein the first input includes geolocation information of a communication device for communicating with the mobile station M₁ and the network NTWK₁, wherein when the communication device detects the mobile station M₁, the communication device provides the mobile station M₁ with voice communication service via a different wireless interface from the wireless interface for communicating with the NTWK₁ when the mobile station M₁ not detected by the communication device.

109. The method of claim 108, wherein a geolocation of the communication device is identified with a location of a premises for a subscriber that subscribes to the network NTWK₁ using the mobile station M₁.

110. The method of claim 108, wherein the communication device includes a base station.

111. The method of claim 13, wherein the geographical extent or position G₁ is obtained using corresponding signal time delay measurements of the portion P₁, and the geographical extent or position G₂ is obtained using corresponding signal time delay measurements of the portion P₂, and wherein:

(A) said first geolocation computation performs one of a triangulation, a trilateration, a multilateration, and a pattern recognition, and (B) said second geolocation computation performs one of a triangulation, a trilateration, a multilateration, and a pattern recognition.

112. The method of claim 13, wherein the geographical extent or position G₁ is obtained using a geographical extent or position (G_1,1) determined at the mobile station M₁, wherein G_1,1 is determined using signal time delay measurements of a wireless communication between:

(1) the mobile station M₁, and (2) at least one of;

a receiver at a known location, and a transmitter at a known location.

113. The method of claim 13, wherein the geographical extent or position G₁ is obtained using a signal time delay measurement from both a forward and reverse signal direction of a wireless communication between:

(1) the mobile station M₁, and (2) at least one of;

a receiver at a known location, and a transmitter at a known location.

114. The method of claim 13, wherein at least said first geolocation computation uses a signal time difference of arrival for determining the geographical extent or position G₁.

115. The method of claim 13, wherein (b) holds, and for determining the geographical extent or position G₁, the portion P₁ includes one of:

(A) geolocation data from a distributed antenna system, and (B) geolocation data from a communication of a plurality of daisy chained base stations.

116. The method of claim 13, further including a step of providing information indicative of one of:

an acceleration, and a velocity of the mobile station M₁.

117. The method of claim 13, wherein (a) is satisfied.

118. The method of claim 13, wherein (b) is satisfied.

119. The method of claim 13, wherein the mobile station M₁ is independently moveable from the location providing system.

120. The method of claim 119, wherein the mobile station M₂ is independently moveable from the location providing system, and M₂ is independently moveable from M₁.

121. The method of claim 119, wherein the mobile station M₁ is not physically connected to the location providing system.

122. The method of claim 13, wherein said step of first receiving is performed in a first two way communication between the network NTWK₁ and the location providing system using a predetermined location related programming interface for the first two way communication;

wherein said step of second receiving is performed in a second two way communication between the network NTWK₂ and the location providing system using the predetermined location related programming interface for the second two way communication;

wherein said location related programming interface includes at least two of (1-A) through (1-C) following;

(1-A) a message type for messages to the location providing system indicating that wireless location is requested for a response to an emergency;

(1-B) at least one message type for messages to the networks NTWK₁ and NTWK₂ for requesting, respectively, mobile station geolocation indicative data; and

(1-C) at least one message type for messages to the networks NTWK₁ and NTWK₂ for requesting notification of a mobile station state change, the notification provided via an access to a home location register for the mobile station having the state change;

wherein for at least one of the message types (1-A) through (1-C), there is an instance of the at least one message type communicated in each of the first and second two way communications.

123. The method of claim 122, wherein said location related programming interface includes each of (1-A) through (1-C).

124. The method of claim 13, wherein said step of first receiving is performed in a first two way communication between the network NTWK₁ and the location providing system using a predetermined location related programming interface for the first two way communication;

wherein said step of second receiving is performed in a second two way communication between the network NTWK₂ and the location providing system using the predetermined location related programming interface for the second two way communication;

wherein for each mobile station (M) of a plurality of mobile stations, including the mobile station M₁ and the mobile station M₂, the predetermined location related programming interface includes a common set of message types for communicating with a plurality networks, including NTWK₁ and NTWK₂, wherein said common set of message types provides for communications using at least the following messages;

(i) an alert message from a home location register of the mobile station M, wherein the alert message includes information indicative of a change in an operational characteristic of the mobile station M, or a change in a geographical location of the mobile station M; and

(ii) text transmission message for sending a short text message to the mobile station M, wherein the text transmission message includes location related information for M.

125. The method of claim 13, wherein for at least of the first and second geolocation computations, there is one portion of the at least one geolocation computation that is performed remotely from another portion thereof, wherein communication for using results from the one and the another portions occurs via a telecommunication network.

126. The method of claim 125, wherein the telecommunication network includes the Internet.

127. The method of claim 13, wherein the first and second service providers do not have a common owner that controls wireless subscriber services of both the networks NTWK₁ and NTWK₂.

128. The method of claim 13, wherein each of the first and second service providers have a different collection of subscribers for which wireless service is provided without contacting the other service provider.

129. The method of claim 13, wherein the first service provider operates a first mobile switching center for providing at least voice communication with mobile stations;

and

wherein the second service provider operates a different second mobile switching center for providing at least voice communication with mobile stations, wherein the first and second mobile switching centers are not operably controlled by a common entity for providing substantially all voice communication on both of the networks NTWK₁ and NTWK₂.

130. The method of claim 13, wherein the first service provider stores first subscriber information for a first collection of subscribers that subscribe to a first wireless service of the first service provider;

and

wherein the second service provider stores second subscriber information for a second collection of subscribers that subscribe to a second wireless service of the second service provider, wherein the first and second collections identify substantially different subscribers, and wherein a subscriber of the first service provider gains access to the second service by the first service provider receiving information from the second subscriber information.

131. The method of claim 13, wherein the first and second service providers are competitors for wireless subscribers.

132. The method of claim 13, wherein:

the mobile station M₁ and the mobile station M₂ are identical.

133. The method of claim 132, wherein when a first instance of one of:

the geographical extent or position G₁, and the location information is for the mobile station M₁; and

wherein the first instance is one of (a) through (d) following;

(a) deemed ambiguous,

(b) can not be provided,

(c) is not within a desired range of accuracy, and

(d) has a geographical extent greater than or equal to a predetermined size, then a step of instructing said mobile station M₁ to communicate with the network NTWK₂ is performed for obtaining geolocation indicative data from a corresponding communication between;

(i) the mobile station M₁, and (ii) at least one of;

a receiver at a known location, and a transmitter at a known location.

134. The method of claim 132 wherein the M₁ geolocation indicative data and the M₂ geolocation indicative data are for substantially a same location.

135. The method of claim 13, wherein:

(a) said predetermined destination is related to a vehicle rental agency, (b) the mobile station M₁-resides in a rental vehicle of the rental agency, (c) said rental vehicle has been dropped off at a location that is remote from a premise operated by the vehicle rental agency, and (d) said location information corresponds to the location of the vehicle.

136. The method of claim 13, wherein said mobile station M₁ is included in a vehicle for wirelessly controlling one or more of the following vehicle operations:

(a) locking or unlocking vehicle doors, (b) sensing a door position, (c) sensing a keypad depression, (d) sensing a condition of an engine, (e) sensing a condition of a vehicle brake, and (f) sensing a deployment of an air bag.

137. The method of claim 136, wherein said mobile station M₁ is in communication with a local area network of the vehicle for performing one or more of the vehicle operations.

138. The method of claim 13, wherein said request, for locating the mobile station M₁ is encrypted.

139. The method of claim 13, wherein said step of providing includes providing, to the predetermined destination, data indicative of an event or a condition that occurs substantially at the mobile station M₁.

140. The method of claim 139, wherein the data is obtained via a local area network provided within a vehicle having the mobile station M₁.

141. The method of claim 139, wherein the data includes information indicative of a sudden change in an acceleration or deceleration force, or deployment of an air bag.

142. The method of claim 139, wherein the data includes information indicative of an emergency assistance call.

143. The method of claim 142, wherein the mobile station M₁ and the mobile station M₂ are identical.

144. The method of claim 139, wherein the data includes information indicative of the mobile station M₁ traveling into or out of a designated area.

145. The method of claim 13, wherein said predetermined destination transmits control data to the mobile station M₁ for controlling one or more devices co-located with the mobile station M₁.

146. The method of claim 13, wherein said providing step includes one or more of (i) and (ii) following:

(i) providing the location information via;

(1) a digital air interface voice channel or a wireline channel, and (2) an automatic call distributor; and

(ii) providing the location information via;

(3) a digital air interface voice channel or a wireline channel, and (4) a hunt group associated with a central office or a PBS group.

147. The method of claim 13, wherein said providing step includes providing said location information via at least one of:

(a) a transmission through a network that includes a plurality of independently operated networks, and (b) the Internet.

148. The method of claim 147, further including providing one or more updates of said location information, to the predetermined destination, without an individual request being transmitted for each of the updates.

149. The method of claim 13, further including providing one or more updates of said location information, to the predetermined destination, without an individual request being transmitted for each of the updates.

150. The method of claim 149, wherein said updates are for one or more of:

providing emergency assistance, and locating one or more vehicles.

151. The method of claim 13, further including transmitting, to the mobile station M₁, information for navigating a user of the mobile station M₁ to a desired geographical destination.

152. The method of claim 151, wherein said transmitting step includes transmitting a short message via a short messaging service.

153. The method of claim 151, wherein said information for navigating includes one or more of:

a street address, and a building identification.

154. The method of claim 13, wherein said predetermined destination is an emergency assistance center.

155. The method of claim 13, wherein said first geolocation computation performs one of:

triangulation, trilateration, and multilateration for determining the geographical extent or position G₁ for the mobile station M₁.

156. The method of claim 155, wherein said second geolocation computation performs one of:

a triangulation, trilateration, and a multilateration for determining the geographical extent or position G₂ for the mobile station M₂, and the mobile station M₁ is different from the mobile station M₂.

157. The method of claim 13, wherein:

(a) the network NTWK₁ controls a plurality of base stations for providing two-way communication with a plurality of mobile stations; and

(b) the mobile station M₁ is recognized by the network NTWK₁ for receiving wireless service via the plurality of base stations.

158. The method of claim 13, wherein the first geolocation computation does not perform a geolocation computation that both:

(i) uses a same geolocation content as the second input, and (ii) yields effectively a same geolocation result as the second geolocation computation.

159. The method of claim 13, further including receiving a purposefully provided time delay as part of one of:

the M₁ geolocation information, and the M₂ geolocation information.

17. A method for accessing a location providing system, comprising:

first obtaining, by a network (NTWK₁) operated by a first service provider, first geolocation related information for locating a mobile station (M_1,1);

first communicating with a location providing system for providing thereto the first geolocation related information, wherein there is two-way communication between the network NTWK₁, and the location providing system, and wherein the location providing system uses the first geolocation related information for performing a first geolocation computation which yields a geolocation result for determining at least one geographical extent or position (G_1,1) for the mobile station M_1,1;

wherein the first geolocation computation is performed using a first input obtained as a result of (A) and (B) following;

(A) a wireless communication of M_1,1 geolocation indicative data from the mobile station M_1,1 to the network NTWK₁, the M_1,1 geolocation indicative data obtained from a corresponding wireless communication between;

(1) the mobile station M_1,1, and (2) at least one of;

a receiver at a known location, and a transmitter at a known location; and

(B) a transmission, from the network NTWK₁, of M_1,1 geolocation information for providing at least a portion (P_1,1) of the first input to the first geolocation computation, wherein the M_1,1 geolocation information is obtained, at least in part, from the M_1,1 geolocation indicative data;

second obtaining, by the network NTWK₁, second geolocation related information for locating a mobile station (M_1,2);

second communicating with the location providing system for providing thereto the second geolocation related information, wherein there is two-way communication between the network NTWK₁, and the location providing system uses the second geolocation related information for performing a second geolocation computation which yields a geolocation result for determining at least one geographical extent or position (G_1,2) for the mobile station M_1,2;

wherein the second geolocation computation is performed using a second input obtained via (C) and (D) following;

(C) a communication of M_1,2 geolocation indicative data for the mobile station M_1,2 to the network NTWK₁, the M_1,2 geolocation indicative data obtained from a corresponding communication between;

(3) the mobile station M_1,2, and (4) at least one of;

a receiver at a known location, and a transmitter at a known location; and

(D) a transmission from the network NTWK₁ of M_1,2 geolocation information for providing at least a portion (P_1,2) of the second input to the second geolocation computation, wherein the M_1,2 geolocation information is obtained, at least in part, from the M_1,2 geolocation indicative data;

wherein there is two way communication between the location providing system and another network (NTWK₂) that is operated by a second service provider in competition with the first service provider, wherein the communication with the network NTWK₂ provides third geolocation related information for locating a mobile station (M₂), wherein the location providing system uses the third geolocation related information for performing a third geolocation computation which yields a geolocation result for determining at least one geographical extent or position (G₂) for the mobile station M₂;

wherein the third geolocation computation is performed using a third input obtained via (E) and (F) following;

(E) a wireless communication of M₂ geolocation indicative data from the mobile station M₂ to the network NTWK₂, the M₂ geolocation indicative data obtained from a corresponding wireless communication between;

(5) the mobile station M₂, and (6) at least one of;

a receiver at a known location, and a transmitter at a known location; and

(F) a transmission from the network NTWK₂ of M₂ geolocation information for providing at least a portion (P₂) of the third input to the third geolocation computation, wherein the M₂ geolocation information is obtained, at least in part, from the M₂ geolocation indicative data;

wherein at least one of the following (a) through (c) are satisfied;

(a) the portion P_1,1 is obtained using a signal time delay, and the geographical extent or position G_1,1 is obtained using P_1,1, and the portion P₂ is obtained using a signal time delay, and the geographical extent or position G₂ is obtained using P₂;

(b) for a geolocation computation (CG₂) that is the same as the third geolocation computation, or yields effectively a same geolocation result as the third geolocation computation when each is supplied with a geolocation content obtained from the third input, the location providing system does not perform CG₂ for locating M_1,1; and

(c) for a geolocation computation (CG_1,2) that is the same as the second geolocation computation, or yields effectively a same geolocation result as the second geolocation computation when each is supplied with a geolocation content obtained from the second input, the location providing system does not perform CG_1,2 for locating M_1,1.

160. The method of claim 17, wherein the location providing system performs at least one of one or more of the following tasks:

(T1) determining a priority for performing geolocation related processing for locating one of the mobile stations M_1,1, M_1,2 and M₂;

(T2) selecting one or more of a plurality of geolocation generating sources wherein the selection is dependent upon an availability of corresponding geolocation data for inputting to the geolocation generating sources, said corresponding geolocation data including a corresponding one of the first, second and third inputs for a corresponding one of the first, second and third geolocation computations;

(T3) resolving ambiguities between multiple location estimates for one of the mobile stations M_1,1, M_1,2 and M₂ being located;

(T4) generating an audit trail of a subscriber profile for a subscriber of a corresponding one of the mobile stations M_1,1, M_1,2 and M₂;

(T5) routing one of the first, second and third inputs to one or more geolocation generating sources according to an identification of the one of the first and second inputs;

(T6) associating different instances of geolocation data for obtaining a data ensemble for locating one of the mobile stations M_1,1, M_1,2 and M₂, wherein the instances are received from different sources or received at different times;

(T7) determining a signal processing or transmission capability of one of the mobile stations M_1,1, M_1,2 and M₂ being located;

(T8) determining a location of a base station;

(T9) determining if additional geolocation related information is needed to effectively locate one of the mobile stations M_1,1, M_1,2 and M₂ being located;

(T10) transmitting messages to one of the networks NTWK₁ and NTWK₂ for obtaining, when needed, additional geolocation related information; and

(T11) activating a signal processing component for adjusting a wireless signal path loss measurement.

161. The method of claim 160, wherein at least a plurality of the tasks (T1) through (T11) are performed.

162. The method of claim 160, wherein a majority of the tasks (T1) through (T11) are performed.

163. The method of claim 160, wherein at least some of the tasks (T1) through (T5) are performed.

164. The method of claim 160, wherein at least task (5) is performed and at least some of the geolocation generating sources are distributed on a network.

165. The method of claim 160, wherein for locating each of the mobile stations M_1,1, M_1,2 and M₂, at least most of the tasks (T1) through (T11) are performed.

166. The method of claim 17 further including a step of receiving a request for locating the mobile station M_1,1.

167. The method of claim 17, wherein (a) is satisfied.

168. The method of claim 17, wherein (b) is satisfied.

169. The method of claim 168, wherein for a geolocation computation (CG₁) that is the same as the first geolocation computation, or yields effectively a same geolocation result as the first geolocation computation when each is supplied with a geolocation content obtained from the first input, the location providing system does not perform CG₁ for locating at least one of M_1,2 and M₂.

170. The method of claim 17, wherein (c) is satisfied.

171. The method of claim 17, wherein at least one of the mobile stations M_1,2, M_1,2 and M₂ is capable of performing a base station handoff.

172. The method of claim 17, wherein the network NTWK₁ communicates with each of the mobile stations M_1,1, and M_1,2 via one or more of the wireless protocols:

CDMA, W-CDMA, TDMA, GSM, AMPS, and NAMPS.

173. The method of claim 17, wherein for at least one of the mobile stations M_1,1 and M_1,2, the corresponding one of:

the M_1,1 geolocation indicative data and the M_1,2 geolocation indicative data includes measurements of wireless signals, wherein the measurements are indicative of a geolocation of the at least one mobile station.

174. The method of claim 17, wherein there is a common set of geolocation related messages used for communications between the location providing system, and each of the networks NTWK₁ and NTWK₂.

175. The method of claim 17, wherein for determining a location of at least one of the mobile stations M_1,1, and M_1,2, a corresponding geolocation computation of one of the first, and second geolocation computations is performed by the location providing system after an additional geolocation related computation which includes accessing from a home location register for the at least one mobile station, information indicative of a coarse coverage area for the at least one mobile station, said information indicative of the coarse coverage area used to obtain the corresponding one of the M_1,1 geolocation information and the M_1,2 geolocation information.

176. The method of claim 175, wherein said wherein the information indicative of the coarse coverage area provides information for communicating with at least one NTWK₁ provisioned equipment for the coarse coverage area.

177. The method of claim 175, further including receiving location related messages for a portion of the network NTWK₁ currently in communication the mobile station M₁.

178. The method of claim 17, further including the steps of:

transmitting, to the location providing system, at least one communication (C₁) via a message type (MSG₁) of a predetermined location related programming interface, wherein the communication C₁ includes one or more of;

(a1) a request for determining a location of M_1,1, and (a2) a notification related to a change in location of M_1,1; and

receiving at least an instance of a message type (MSG₂) of the predetermined location related programming interface from the location providing system, wherein the instance of MSG₂ includes one of;

(b1) a request for the M_1,1 geolocation information, and (b2) a request for notification related to a change in location of M_1,1.

179. The method of claim 178, wherein instances of the message types MSG₁ and MSG₂ are generated in a two way communication with the network NTWK₂ for determining a location of M₂.

180. The method of claim 17, wherein the second geolocation related information includes geolocation information of a communication device for communicating with the mobile station M_1,2 and the network NTWK₁, wherein when the communication device detects the mobile station M₁, the communication device provides the mobile station M_1,2 with voice communication service via a different wireless interface from the wireless interface for communicating with the NTWK₁ when the mobile station M₁ not detected by the communication device.

181. The method of claim 180, wherein a geolocation of the communication device is identified with a location of a premises for a subscriber that subscribes to the network NTWK₁ using the mobile station M_1,2.

182. The method of claim 180, wherein the communication device includes a base station.

183. The method of claim 17, wherein the geographical extent or position G_1,1 is obtained using corresponding signal time delay measurements of the portion P_1,1, and the geographical extent or position G₂ is obtained using a corresponding signal time delay measurements of the portion P₂, and wherein:

(A) said first geolocation computation performs one of a triangulation, a trilateration, a multilateration, and a pattern recognition, and (B) said second geolocation computation performs one of a triangulation, a trilateration, a multilateration and a pattern recognition.

184. The method of claim 17, wherein the geographical extent or position G_1,1 is obtained using a geographical extent or position (G_1,3) determined at the mobile station M_1,1, wherein G_1,3 is determined using signal time delay measurements of a wireless communication between:

(1) the mobile station M_1,1, and (2) at least one of;

a receiver at a known location, and a transmitter at a known location.

185. The method of claim 17, wherein the geographical extent or position G_1,1 is obtained using a signal time delay measurement from both a forward and reverse signal direction of a wireless communication between:

(1) the mobile station M_1,1, and (2) at least one of;

a receiver at a known location, and a transmitter at a known location.

186. The method of claim 17, wherein at least said first geolocation computation uses a signal time difference of arrival for determining the geographical extent or position G_1,1.

187. The method of claim 17, wherein (b) holds, and for determining the geographical extent or position G_1,1, the first input includes one of:

(A) geolocation data from a distributed antenna system, and (B) geolocation data from a communication of a plurality of daisy chained base stations.

188. The method of claim 17, further including a step of obtaining information indicative of one of:

an acceleration, and a speed of the mobile station M_1,1.

189. The method of claim 17, wherein (a) is satisfied.

190. The method of claim 17, wherein (b) is satisfied.

191. The method of claim 17, wherein the mobile station M_1,1 is independently moveable from the location providing system.

192. The method of claim 191, wherein the mobile station M₂ is independently moveable from the location providing system, and M₂ is independently moveable from M₁.

193. The method of claim 191, wherein the mobile station M_1,1 is not physically connected to the location providing system.

194. The method of claim 17, wherein there is a first two way communication between the network NTWK₁ and the location providing system using a predetermined location related programming interface for the first two way communication;

wherein there is a second two way communication between the network NTWK₂ and the location providing system using the predetermined location related programming interface for the second two way communication;

wherein said location related programming interface includes at least two of (1-A) through (1-C) following;

(1-A) a message type for messages to the location providing system indicating that a location is requested for a response to an emergency;

(1-B) at least one message type for messages to the networks NTWK₁ and NTWK₂ for requesting, respectively, said first and second geolocation related information; and

(1-C) at least one message type for messages to the networks NTWK₁ and NTWK₂ for requesting notification of a mobile station state change, the notification provided via an access to a home location register for the mobile station having the state change;

wherein for at least one of the message types (1-A) through (1-C), there is an instance of the at least one message type communicated in each of the first and second two way communications.

195. The method of claim 194, wherein said location related programming interface includes each of (1-A) through (1-C).

196. The method of claim 17, wherein there is a first two way communication between the network NTWK₁ and the location providing system using a predetermined location related programming interface for the first two way communication;

wherein there is a second two way communication between the network NTWK₂ and the location providing system using the predetermined location related programming interface for the second two way communication;

wherein for each mobile station (M) of a plurality of mobile stations, including the mobile station M_1,1 and the mobile station M₂, the predetermined location related programming interface includes a common set of message types for communicating with a plurality networks, including NTWK₁ and NTWK₂, wherein said common set of message types provides for communications using at least the following messages;

(i) an alert message from a home location register of the mobile station M, wherein the alert message includes information indicative of a change in an operational characteristic of the mobile station M, or a change in a geographical location of the mobile station M; and

(ii) text transmission message for sending a short text message to the mobile station M, wherein the text transmission message includes location related information for M.

197. The method of claim 17, wherein for at least one of the first and second geolocation computations, there is one portion of the at least one geolocation computation that is performed remotely from another portion thereof, wherein communication for using results from the one and the another portions occurs via a telecommunication network.

198. The method of claim 197, wherein the telecommunication network includes the Internet.

199. The method of claim 17, wherein the first and second service providers do not have a common owner that controls wireless subscriber services of both the networks NTWK₁ and NTWK₂.

200. The method of claim 17, wherein each of the first and second service providers have a different collection of subscribers for which wireless service is provided without contacting the other service provider.

201. The method of claim 17 further including a step of operating a first mobile switching center for providing at least voice communication with mobile stations;

and

wherein the second service provider operates a different second mobile switching center for providing at least voice communication with mobile stations, wherein the first and second mobile switching centers are not operably controlled by a common entity for providing substantially all voice communication on both of the networks NTWK₁ and NTWK₂.

202. The method of claim 17, further includes a step of storing first subscriber information for a first collection of subscribers that subscribe to a first wireless service provided by the first service provider;

and

wherein the second service provider stores a second subscriber information for a second collection of subscribers that subscribe to a second wireless service provided by the second service provider, wherein the first and second collections identify substantially different subscribers, and wherein a subscriber of the first service provider gains access to the second wireless service by the first service provider receiving information from the second subscriber information.

203. The method of claim 17, wherein the first and second service providers are competitors for wireless subscribers.

204. The method of claim 17, wherein:

the mobile station M_1,1 and the mobile station M₂ are identical.

205. The method of claim 204, wherein when a first instance of the geographical extent or position G_1,1 is determined to be one of:

(a) ambiguous,

(b) not provided,

(c) not within a desired range of accuracy, and

(d) a geographical extent greater than or equal to a predetermined size, then said mobile station M_1,1 communicates with the network NTWK₂ for obtaining geolocation indicative data from a corresponding communication between;

(i) the mobile station M_1,1, and (ii) at least one of;

a receiver at a known location, and a transmitter at a known location.

206. The method of claim 204 wherein the first geolocation related information and the second geolocation related information are for substantially a same location.

207. The method of claim 17, wherein:

(a) location information for M_1,1-is provided by the location providing system to a predetermined destination for a vehicle rental agency, (b) the mobile station-M_1,1 resides in a rental vehicle of the rental agency, (c) said rental vehicle has been dropped off at a location that is remote from a premise operated by the vehicle rental agency, and (d) said location information corresponds to the location of the vehicle.

208. The method of claim 17, wherein said mobile station M_1,1 is included in a vehicle for wirelessly controlling one or more of the following vehicle operations:

(a) locking or unlocking vehicle doors, (b) sensing a door position, (c) sensing a keypad depression, (d) sensing a condition of an engine, (e) sensing a condition of a vehicle brake, and (f) sensing a deployment of an air bag.

209. The method of claim 208, wherein said mobile station M_1,1 is in communication with a local area network of the vehicle for performing one or more of the vehicle operations.

210. The method of claim 17, further including a step of transmitting a request for locating the mobile station M_1,1 to the location providing system, wherein said request is encrypted.

211. The method of claim 17, further including a step of receiving data indicative of an event or a condition that occurs substantially at the mobile station M_1,1.

212. The method of claim 211, wherein the data is obtained via a local area network provided within a vehicle having the mobile station M_1,1.

213. The method of claim 211, wherein the data includes information indicative of a sudden change in an acceleration or deceleration force, or deployment of an air bag.

214. The method of claim 211, wherein the data includes information indicative of an emergency assistance call.

215. The method of claim 214, wherein the mobile station M_1,1 and the mobile station M₂ are identical.

216. The method of claim 211, wherein the data includes information indicative of the mobile station M_1,1 traveling into or out of a designated area.

217. The method of claim 17, further including receiving a communication of control data for controlling one or more devices co-located with the mobile station M_1,1.

218. The method of claim 17 further including one or more of steps (i) and (ii) following:

(i) receiving the location information via;

(1) a digital air interface voice channel or a wireline channel, and (2) an automatic call distributor; and

(ii) receiving the location information via;

(3) a digital air interface voice channel or a wireline channel, and (4) a hunt group associated with a central office or a PBS group.

219. The method of claim 17, wherein said location providing system provides, to a predetermined destination, location information dependent upon or identical to G_1,1 via at least one of:

(a) a transmission through a network that includes a plurality of independently operated networks, and (b) the Internet.

220. The method of claim 219, further including providing one or more updates of said first geolocation related information to the location providing system without an individual request being transmitted for each of the updates.

221. The method of claim 17, further including providing one or more updates of said M_1,1 geolocation information without an individual request being transmitted for each of the updates.

222. The method of claim 221, wherein said updates are for one or more of:

providing emergency assistance, and locating one or more vehicles.

223. The method of claim 17, further including transmitting, to the mobile station M_1,1, information for navigating a user of the mobile station M_1,1 to a desired geographical destination.

224. The method of claim 223, wherein said transmitting step includes transmitting a short message via a short messaging service.

225. The method of claim 223, wherein said information for navigating includes one or more of:

a street address, and a building identification.

226. The method of claim 17, wherein said first geolocation related information is for an emergency assistance call.

227. The method of claim 17, wherein the transmission of said M_1,1 geolocation information includes data so that the first geolocation computation performs one of:

a triangulation, trilateration, and a multilateration for determining the geographical extent or position G_1,1 for the mobile station M_1,1.

228. The method of claim 227, wherein the transmission of said M₂ geolocation information includes data so that the second geolocation computation performs one of:

a triangulation, trilateration, and a multilateration for determining the geographical extent or position G₂ for the mobile station M₂, and the mobile station M_1,1 is different from the mobile station M₂.

229. The method of claim 17, wherein:

(a) the network NTWK₁ controls a plurality of base stations for providing two-way communication with a plurality of mobile stations; and

(b) the mobile station M_1,1 is recognized by the network NTWK₁ for receiving wireless service via the plurality of base stations.

230. The method of claim 17, wherein the first geolocation computation does not perform a geolocation computation that both:

(i) uses a same geolocation content as the second input and, (ii) yields effectively a same geolocation result as the second geolocation computation.

231. The method of claim 17, further including transmitting a purposefully provided time delay as part of one of:

the M_1,1 geolocation information, and the M₂ geolocation information.

232. The method of claim 17, wherein (c) is satisfied.