Consequential location derived information

• US 7,120,450 B2
• Filed: 03/28/2003
• Issued: 10/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Original Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Inventors: Hines, Gordon John, Cousins, Will
• Primary Examiner(s): Tieu, Benny Quoc
• Application Number:
  US10/400,639
• Publication Number:
  US 20040023667A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,292 Days
• Field of Search: 4554561-4563, 455/457, 455/11.1, 455/410, 455/411, 455/404.2, 455/414.2, 342/357.01, 342/357.06, 342/357.09, 342/357.13
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

The number of messages required in networks where location services are deployed may be reduced, by providing updated location information regarding particular subscribers, or even all subscribers, to subscribed or otherwise logged applications or services upon obtaining and providing location information for a different application or service. Consequential watch services in accordance with the principles of the present invention provide location information to one or more services OTHER than or in ADDITION to the service currently requesting location information, based on subscription to a suitable service.

Claims

1. A method of providing information regarding a wireless device, comprising:

receiving a request for location information regarding a wireless device;

determining a pre-registered non-requesting application being are-registered with a central location distribution point distinct from said wireless device; and

providing location information regarding said wireless device to both a requesting application and said pre-registered non-requesting application from said central location distribution point, in response to said receipt of said request for location information regarding said wireless device.

2. The method of providing location information regarding a wireless device according to claim 1, wherein:

said location information is provided to at least two different applications separate from an application requesting said location information.

3. The method of providing location information regarding a wireless device according to claim 1, wherein:

said location information is maintained in a home location register.

4. The method of providing location information regarding a wireless device according to claim 1, further comprising:

requesting current location information regarding said wireless device from a core network node.

5. The method of providing location information regarding a wireless device according to claim 4, wherein said core network node comprises:

a message service center.

6. The method of providing location information regarding a wireless device according to claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining last known location information regarding said wireless device to return as said location information.

7. The method of providing location information regarding a wireless device according to claim 1, wherein:

said location information is obtained from cached memory.

8. The method of providing location information regarding a wireless device according to claim 1, wherein:

said location information is obtained from a radio access network.

9. The method of providing location information regarding a wireless device according to claim 1, wherein:

said location information is obtained from a global positioning satellite (GPS) system.

10. The method of providing location information regarding a wireless device according to claim 1, wherein:

said location information is obtained from a network trigger generated in response to said wireless device moving from a first cell-site to a second cell-site.

11. The method of providing location information regarding a wireless device according to claim 1, wherein:

said location information is freshly determined.

12. Apparatus for providing information regarding a wireless device, comprising:

means for receiving a request for location information regarding a wireless device;

means for determining a pre-registered non-requesting application being pre-registered with a central location distribution point distinct from said wireless device; and

means for providing, in response to said receipt of said request for location information regarding said wireless device, location information regarding said wireless device to both a requesting application and said pre-registered non-requesting application from said central location distribution point.

13. The apparatus for providing location information regarding a wireless device according to claim 12, wherein:

said means for providing location information provides said location information to at least two different applications separate from an application requesting said location information.

14. The apparatus for providing location information regarding a wireless device according to claim 12, wherein:

said location information is maintained in a home location register.

15. The apparatus for providing location information regarding a wireless device according to claim 12, further comprising:

means for requesting current location information regarding said wireless device from a core network node.

16. The apparatus for providing location information regarding a wireless device according to claim 15, wherein said core network node comprises:

a message service center.

17. The apparatus for providing location information regarding a wireless device according to claim 12, further comprising:

means for obtaining last known location information regarding said wireless device to return as said location information.

18. The apparatus for providing location information regarding a wireless device according to claim 12, wherein:

said means for providing location information obtains said location information from cached memory.

19. The apparatus for providing location information regarding a wireless device according to claim 12, wherein:

said means for providing location information obtains said location information from a radio access network.

20. The apparatus for providing location information regarding a wireless device according to claim 12, wherein:

said means for providing location information obtains said location information from a global positioning satellite (GPS) system.

21. The apparatus for providing location information regarding a wireless device according to claim 12, wherein:

said means for providing location information obtains said location information from a network trigger generated in response to said wireless device moving from a first cell-site to a second cell-site.

22. The apparatus for providing location information regarding a wireless device according to claim 12, wherein:

said location information is freshly determined.