Lawful intercept service

• US 7,231,218 B2
• Filed: 03/16/2004
• Issued: 06/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Unwired Planet LLC (JP Morgan Chase & Co)
• Original Assignee: Openwave Systems Incorporated (JP Morgan Chase & Co)
• Inventors: Diacakis, Athanassios, Pavlidis, Ioannis, Hebert, Paul Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): D AGOSTA, STEPHEN M
• Application Number:
  US10/802,323
• Publication Number:
  US 20040185875A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,183 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.1, 455/457, 455/414.1, 455/414.2, 455/404.1, 455/404.2, 455/421, 379/38
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/306 intercepting packet switched data communications, e.g. Web, Internet or IMS communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/80 Arrangements enabling lawful interception [LI]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

A system and method is provided for monitoring the activities and/or locations of wireless units in a wireless network independent of location-based service preferences of those wireless units. That is, a system and method is provided that allows an authorized requester override location-based service preferences (e.g., privacy settings) that may be set for a wireless unit. In this regard, an authorized entity may be able to effectively locate and/or monitor the activities of a wireless unit associated with an individual of interest. Furthermore, if proper authorization exists, such monitoring may be done surreptitiously without the wireless unit user'"'"'s knowledge and/or consent. For example, in some instances, law enforcement agencies may be authorized to monitor call traffic and/or the location of persons utilizing wireless units.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring a location of a wireless unit of interest across multiple wireless networks, comprising the steps of:

providing a system operative to procure location information for a wireless unit of interest from any of multiple location information sources associated with any of multiple wireless networks;

establishing an interface for communications between said system and an entity requesting location information for said wireless unit of interest, wherein said interface defines a standardized format for requesting and providing said location information;

verifying authorization for said entity to obtain location information for said wireless unit of interest independent of location finding preferences of said wireless unit of interest;

obtaining, from said system, location information for said wireless unit of interest when said wireless unit of interest is within any of multiple location zones covered by at least one of the multiple wireless networks, the obtaining including overriding a privacy setting associated with said wireless unit of interest where necessary to obtain the location information;

analyzing the location information to monitor a location of the wireless unit over time; and

providing said monitored location information to a recipient associated with said request,

wherein said establishing step allows a requesting entity to define at least one trigger event for triggering the monitoring of the location of the wireless unit of interest, the trigger event including at least one of a schedule, said wireless unit one of sending and receiving wireless communications, and said wireless unit being identified relative to an area of interest, and

wherein said establishing step further allows a requesting entity to define at least one said area of interest, when used as a trigger event, including at least one of an address, a point and radius, another wireless unit, and a geographic boundary.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein:

said step of providing a system operative to procure location information for a said wireless unit of interest further comprises procuring location information from at least first and second location information sources, wherein said first and second location information sources employ first and second different location finding technologies.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said system is operative to aggregate information from said at least first and second different location finding technologies to enhance the accuracy of said location information.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said verifying authorization step comprises verifying court ordered authorization.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of providing said monitored location information to a recipient further comprises providing said location information to a recipient at a location other than that associated with said requesting entity.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

comparing said location information to at least one location of interest to monitor the movement of said wireless unit relative to said point of interest.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

upon an uncertainty associated with said location information overlapping said at least one location of interest, notifying a third party that said wireless unit is proximate to said at least one location of interest.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said third party is a law enforcement agency.

9. A method for monitoring a location of a wireless unit of interest across multiple wireless networks, comprising the steps of:

providing a system operative to procure location information for a wireless unit of interest from any of multiple location information sources associated with any of multiple wireless networks;

establishing an interface for communications between said system and an entity requesting location information for said wireless unit of interest, wherein said interface defines a standardized format for requesting and providing said location information;

verifying authorization for said entity to obtain location information for said wireless unit of interest independent of location finding preferences of said wireless unit of interest;

obtaining, from said system, location information for said wireless unit of interest when said wireless unit of interest is within any of multiple location zones covered by at least one of the multiple wireless networks, the obtaining being performed without said wireless unit of interest being notified of said location information being procured;

analyzing the location information to monitor a location of the wireless unit over time; and

providing said monitored location information to a recipient associated with said request,

wherein said establishing step allows a requesting entity to define at least one trigger event for triggering the monitoring of the location of the wireless unit of interest, the trigger event including at least one of a schedule, said wireless unit one of sending and receiving wireless communications, and said wireless unit being identified relative to an area of interest, and

wherein said establishing step further allows a requesting entity to define at least one said area of interest, when used as a trigger event, including at least one of an address, a point and radius, another wireless unit, and a geographic boundary.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein:

said step of providing a system operative to procure location information for a said wireless unit of interest further comprises procuring location information from at least first and second location information sources, wherein said first and second location information sources employ first and second different location finding technologies.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said system is operative to aggregate information from said at least first and second different location finding technologies to enhance the accuracy of said location information.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein said verifying authorization step comprises verifying court ordered authorization.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein said step of providing said monitored location information to a recipient further comprises providing said location information to a recipient at a location other than that associated with said requesting entity.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

comparing said location information to at least one location of interest to monitor the movement of said wireless unit relative to said point of interest.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

upon an uncertainty associated with said location information overlapping said at least one location of interest, notifying a third party that said wireless unit is proximate to said at least one location of interest.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said third party is a law enforcement agency.

17. A method for monitoring a location of a wireless unit of interest across multiple wireless networks, comprising the steps of:

providing a system in communication with a first wireless carrier network having a first subscriber set and a second carrier network having a second subscriber set, wherein said system is operative to provide location information for subscribers of either of said carrier networks;

receiving a location information inquiry for a wireless unit of interest, wherein said inquiry requests said location information be provided independent of any location-finding preferences of said wireless unit of interest;

obtaining multiple instances of said location information from said system independent of said location-finding preferences when said wireless unit of interest is within any of multiple location zones covered by at least one of the first and second wireless carrier networks, the obtaining including overriding a privacy setting associated with said wireless unit of interest where necessary to obtain the location information;

analyzing the multiple instances of location information to monitor a location of the wireless unit over time; and

providing said monitored location information to a location associated with said request,

wherein said step of providing a system further allows a requesting entity to define at least one trigger event for triggering the monitoring of the location of the wireless unit of interest, the trigger event including at least one of a schedule, said wireless unit one of sending and receiving wireless communications, and said wireless unit being identified relative to an area of interest, and

wherein said step of providing a system further allows a requesting entity to define the at least one said area of interest, when used as a trigger event, including at least one of an address, a point and radius, another wireless unit, and a geographic boundary.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said obtaining step further comprises obtaining location information for a said wireless unit of interest from at least first and second location information sources, wherein said first and second location information sources employ first and second different location finding technologies.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said system is operative to aggregate information from said at least first and second different location finding technologies to enhance the accuracy of said location information.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

verifying authorization associated with said inquiry for said entity to obtain said location information for said wireless unit of interest free of any location-finding preferences of said wireless unit of interest.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

establishing an interface for communications between said system and an entity requesting location information for said wireless unit of interest, wherein said interface defines a standardized format for requesting and providing said location information.

22. A method for monitoring a location of a wireless unit of interest across multiple wireless networks, comprising the steps of:

providing a system in communication with a first wireless carrier network having a first subscriber set and a second carrier network having a second subscriber set, wherein said system is operative to provide location information for subscribers of either of said carrier networks;

receiving a location information inquiry for a wireless unit of interest, wherein said inquiry requests said location information be provided independent of any location-finding preferences of said wireless unit of interest;

obtaining multiple instances of said location information from said system independent of said location-finding preferences when said wireless unit of interest is within any of multiple location zones covered by at least one of the first and second wireless carrier networks, the obtaining being performed free of said wireless unit of interest being notified of said location information being procured;

analyzing the multiple instances of location information to monitor a location of the wireless unit over time; and

providing said monitored location information to a location associated with said request,

wherein said step of providing a system further allows a requesting entity to define at least one trigger event for triggering the monitoring of the location of the wireless unit of interest, the trigger event including at least one of a schedule, said wireless unit one of sending and receiving wireless communications, and said wireless unit being identified relative to an area of interest, and

wherein said step of providing a system further allows a requesting entity to define the at least one said area of interest, when used as a trigger event, including at least one of an address, a point and radius, another wireless unit, and a geographic boundary.

23. A method for monitoring a location of a wireless unit of interest across multiple wireless networks, comprising the steps of:

accessing a system operative to provide location information for wireless units from any of multiple location information sources associated with any of multiple wireless networks;

identifying a wireless unit of interest;

analyzing the location information to monitor a location of the wireless unit of interest over time, the monitoring including overriding a privacy setting associated with said wireless unit of interest when necessary to obtain location information;

providing a recipient requesting the location information with an interface for defining at least one trigger event the occurrence of which will result in the provisioning of location information for said wireless unit of interest when said wireless unit of interest is within any of multiple location zones covered by at least one of the multiple wireless networks, the trigger event including at least one of a schedule, said wireless unit sending or receiving wireless communications, and said wireless unit being identified relative to an area of interest, wherein said location information is provided independent of any location-finding preferences of said wireless unit of interest, and wherein the recipient is able to define the area of interest where used for a trigger event to include at least one of an address, a point and radius, another wireless unit, and a geographical boundary; and

providing said monitored location information to the recipient upon the occurrence of said event.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said accessing step further comprises accessing a system operative to obtain location information for said wireless unit of interest from at least first and second location information sources associated with said multiple wireless networks, wherein said first and second location information sources employ first and second different location finding technologies.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

comparing said location information to at least one location of interest to monitor the movement of said wireless unit relative to said point of interest.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

upon an uncertainty associated with said location information overlapping said at least one location of interest, notifying a party that said wireless unit is proximate to said at least one location of interest.

27. A method for monitoring a location of a wireless unit of interest across multiple wireless networks, comprising the steps of:

accessing a system operative to provide location information for wireless units from any of multiple location information sources associated with any of multiple wireless networks;

identifying a wireless unit of interest;

analyzing the location information to monitor a location of the wireless unit of interest over time, the monitoring being performed free of said wireless unit of interest being notified of said location information being procured;

providing a recipient requesting the location information with an interface for defining at least one trigger event the occurrence of which will result in the provisioning of location information for said wireless unit of interest when said wireless unit of interest is within any of multiple location zones covered by at least one of the multiple wireless networks, the trigger event including at least one of a schedule, said wireless unit sending or receiving wireless communications, and said wireless unit being identified relative to an area of interest, wherein said location information is provided independent of any location-finding preferences of said wireless unit of interest, and wherein the recipient is able to define the area of interest where used for a trigger event to include at least one of an address, a point and radius, another wireless unit, and a geographical boundary; and

providing said monitored location information to the recipient upon the occurrence of said event.