Providing location information

• US 7,317,910 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2004
• Issued: 01/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Niemenmaa, Jarko, Ruutu, Ville
• Primary Examiner(s): D AGOSTA, STEPHEN M
• Application Number:
  US10/801,640
• Publication Number:
  US 20050153687A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,392 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.1, 455/404.2, 4554561-457, 455/521, 342/357.1, 342/357.06, 342/357.12, 342/450, 701/207, 701/214
• US Class Current: 455/414.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2854 Wide area networks, e.g. public data networks

Abstract

In a method in association with a communication system a request for a connection is signaled between a user equipment and another party. The requested connection is then analyzed. Subsequent to detection that location information is required in association with the requested connection, a process for determining information about the location of the user equipment is activated. First information in association with the determining process is communicated on a control plane between the user equipment and the communication system, while second information in association with the determining process is communicated on a user plane between the user equipment and the communication system. An arrangement in association with location services and a user equipment capable of providing location information is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method for providing location information, the method comprising:

signaling a request for a connection between user equipment and another party;

analyzing the requested connection;

detecting whether location information is required in association with the requested connection;

activating a process for determining information about a location of the user equipment;

communicating first location service information used in determining information about the location of the user equipment on a control plane between the user equipment and a communication system; and

communicating second location service information used in determining information about the location of the user equipment on a user plane between the user equipment and the communication system,

wherein the location information is provided in the communication system,

wherein the step of communicating first location service information further comprises requesting from the user equipment information about the location of the user equipment, and

wherein the requesting of supporting information by sending, in response to receiving said first location service information in the user equipment, second location service information from the user equipment to the communication system on the user plane.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising sending to the user equipment a request for information supporting determination of location information on the control plane in response to detection that the location information is required in association with the requested connection.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the analyzing comprises analyzing information associated with routing of the connection.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the analyzing comprises verifying if a destination number of the connection satisfies a predefined condition.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the communicating second location service information comprises communicating assistance data on the user plane.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the communicating second location service information further comprises communicating a request for assistance data on the user plane.

7. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detecting further comprises detecting that the connection is for an emergency call.

8. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the communicating second location service information comprises communicating Global Positioning System assistance data.

9. A method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising detecting that the user equipment supports a satellite based positioning system.

10. A method for providing location information, the method comprising:

signaling a request for a connection between user equipment and another party;

analyzing the requested connection;

detecting whether location information is required in association with the requested connection;

activating a process for determining information about a location of the user equipment;

communicating first location service information used in determining information about the location of the user equipment on a control plane between the user equipment and a communication system;

communicating second location service information used in determining information about the location of the user equipment on a user plane between the user equipment and the communication system;

wherein the location information is provided in the communication system,

wherein the detecting comprises detecting by the user equipment that location information is required in association with the requested connection, and

requesting supporting information by sending the second location service information from the user equipment to the communication system on the user plane.

11. A method for providing location information, the method comprising:

signaling a request for a connection between user equipment and another party;

analyzing the requested connection;

detecting whether location information is required in association with the requested connection;

activating a process for determining information about a location of the user equipment;

communicating first location service information used in determining information about the location of the user equipment on a control plane between the user equipment and a communication system;

communicating second location service information used in determining information about the location of the user equipment on a user plane between the user equipment and the communication system,

wherein the location information is provided in the communication system, and

determining the location of the user equipment by the user equipment and communicating information about the determined location from the user equipment on the control plane.

12. A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium, said medium comprising program code configured to execute at least an analyzing method for providing location information in a communication system, when the program code is run on a computer, the analyzing method comprising:

signaling a request for a connection between a user equipment and another party;

analyzing the requested connection;

detecting whether location information is required in association with the requested connection;

activating a process for determining information about a location of the user equipment;

communicating first location service information used in determining information about the location of the user equipment on a control plane between the user equipment and the communication system; and

communicating second location service information used in determining information about the location of the user equipment on a user plane between the user equipment and the communication system,

determining the location of the user equipment by the user equipment and communicating information about the determined location from the user equipment on the control plane.

13. An arrangement to provide location information, the arrangement comprising:

a controller unit configured to detect if location information is required in association with a connection and to activate a process for determining information about a location of user equipment in response to detection that information about the location of the user equipment is required; and

connection unit configured to provide a connection between the user equipment and another party, the connection unit being further configured to communicate first location service information used in determining information about the location of the user equipment on a control plane and second location service information used in determining information about the location of the user equipment on a user plane and communicating information about the determined location,

wherein the arrangement is configured to provide location information in association with the communication system configured for communication of information relating to determination of a location of user equipment.

14. An arrangement as claimed in claim 13, wherein the controller is provided in the user equipment.

15. An arrangement as claimed in claim 13, wherein the controller is provided in association with a location service entity connected to the communication system.

16. A arrangement as claimed in claim 13, wherein said second information comprises supporting information for the location determining process.

17. An arrangement as claimed in claim 13, wherein the controller is further configured to detect if the connection is for an emergency call.

18. An arrangement as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a first location service entity configured for control plane communications and a second location service entity configured for user plane communications.

19. An arrangement as claimed in claim 13, comprising a location service entity configured for user and control plane communications.