Methods and apparatus for obtaining location information in relation to a target device
First Claim
1. In a location requesting device, a method for obtaining location information related to a target device, the method comprising the steps of:
- Transmitting a location request message onto a network towards the target device, the location request message requesting location information in relation to the target device, wherein the location request contains a specification of location information parameters that identify different types of location information requested by the location request message, each different type of location information corresponding to location information that can be provided from a different location information service, wherein the location request message contains a target device identifier and contains a time to return identifier, and wherein the step of transmitting the location request message comprises step of;
configuring the specification of the location information parameters in the location request message to include a specification of the location information parameter for each type of location information that is be returned in a location signature message from a corresponding location information service,Specially, the limitation calculating a value for the time to return identifier based upon a propagation distance between the location requesting device and the target device, the value fro the time to return identifier indicating a metric that determines how close the location request message is propagated in the network toward the target device before a node in the network that receives the location request message cancels further propagation of the location request message and produces a location signature message that is returned to the location requesting device; and
forwarding the location request message onto the network towards the target device specified by the target device identifier;
receiving a location signature message, the location signature message containing location information associated with a plurality of different location information services, each location information service providing location information having a different location granularity in relation to the target device; and
processing the location information for at least one of the location information services in the location signature message to device a location of the target device in relation to at least one desired location granularity.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Mechanisms and techniques provide a system for obtaining and providing location information related to a target device. The system transmits a location request message onto a network towards a target device. Each node in a network, possible including the target device, can respond with a location signature message containing location information associated with a plurality of different location information services. Each location information service provides location information having a different location granularity in relation to the target device. The system processes the location information for at least one of the location information services in the location signature message to derive a location of the target device in relation to at least one desired location granularity. By receiving location information of different types and different location granularities from different nodes in the network, and possibly from the target device, a location requesting application can derive an accurate location of the target device.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. In a location requesting device, a method for obtaining location information related to a target device, the method comprising the steps of:
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Transmitting a location request message onto a network towards the target device, the location request message requesting location information in relation to the target device, wherein the location request contains a specification of location information parameters that identify different types of location information requested by the location request message, each different type of location information corresponding to location information that can be provided from a different location information service, wherein the location request message contains a target device identifier and contains a time to return identifier, and wherein the step of transmitting the location request message comprises step of;
configuring the specification of the location information parameters in the location request message to include a specification of the location information parameter for each type of location information that is be returned in a location signature message from a corresponding location information service,Specially, the limitation calculating a value for the time to return identifier based upon a propagation distance between the location requesting device and the target device, the value fro the time to return identifier indicating a metric that determines how close the location request message is propagated in the network toward the target device before a node in the network that receives the location request message cancels further propagation of the location request message and produces a location signature message that is returned to the location requesting device; and
forwarding the location request message onto the network towards the target device specified by the target device identifier;
receiving a location signature message, the location signature message containing location information associated with a plurality of different location information services, each location information service providing location information having a different location granularity in relation to the target device; and
processing the location information for at least one of the location information services in the location signature message to device a location of the target device in relation to at least one desired location granularity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. In a node in a computer network, a method for providing location information, the method comprising the steps of:
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detecting a requirement to provide location information on behalf of a location requesting device, wherein the step of detecting the requirement to provide location information comprises the step of receiving, on the network, a location request message containing a specification of location information parameters that identify different types of location information, that can be provided from different location information services, and which, if accessible to the node, are to be inserted into a location signature message for forwarding onto the network to the location signature message destination, wherein the location request message contains a target device identifier and contains a time to return identifier and wherein the step of receiving a location request message comprises the steps of; adjusting a value of the time to return identifier in the location request message; determining if the value of the time to return identifier indicates that the location request message has propagated on the network far enough towards the target device; and if the value of the time to return identifier indicates that the location request message has propagated on the network far enough towards the target device, canceling further propagation of the location request message towards the target device; and if the value of the time to return identifier indicates that the location request message has not propagated on the network far enough towards the target device, forwarding the location request message onto the network towards the target device specified by the target device identifier; in response to the step of detecting, creating a location signature message, the location signature message containing location information associated with a plurality of location information services accessible to the node, each location information service providing location information having a different location granularity in relation to a target device; and forwarding the location signature message onto the network to a location signature message destination. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification