Method and system for providing location information for a wireless local area network (WLAN)

• US 7,433,673 B1
• Filed: 12/17/2004
• Issued: 10/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Spectrum LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Delker, Jason R., Everson, John M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehrpour; Melody
• Application Number:
  US11/015,571
• Time in Patent Office: 1,390 Days
• Field of Search: 455/557, 455/556.1, 455/456.1, 455/456.2, 455/456.3, 455/404.1, 455/404.2, 455/410, 455/412.1, 455/415, 455/426.2, 455/432.1, 455/435.1, 455/456.6, 455/403, 455/500, 455/521, 455/466, 455/422.1, 455/457, 455/517, 455/414.1, 455/414.3, 455/414.4, 455/445, 455/550.1, 379/37, 370/352
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• 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 76/50 for emergency connections
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/26 Network addressing or numbering for mobility support
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]

Abstract

Each wireless access point in a wireless local area network (WLAN) is allocated a set of one or more identifiers. A correlation database stores information that relates the geographic location of each wireless access point and the identifiers allocated to it. When a mobile node associated with a wireless access point in the WLAN originates a 9-1-1 or other emergency call, one of the wireless access point'"'"'s identifiers is included in the call origination request. By querying the correlation database, the wireless access point'"'"'s geographic location may be determined from the identifier. When a public safety answering point (PSAP) answers the mobile node'"'"'s call, the PSAP may obtain the geographic location of the wireless access point with which the mobile node is associated. This location information could be pushed to the PSAP, or the PSAP could obtain the location information by querying the correlation database.

Claims

1. A method of providing location information for a wireless local area network (WLAN), said WLAN having a plurality of wireless access points, said method comprising:

allocating to each one of said wireless access points in said WLAN a set of one or more identifiers specific to said one of said wireless access points;

storing in a correlation database correlations between geographic locations of said wireless access points and identifiers allocated to said wireless access points;

associating a mobile node with a given wireless access point in said WLAN; and

receiving a message originating from said mobile node, said message including a given identifier from said given wireless access point'"'"'s set of one or more identifiers, wherein said message comprises a request to originate a call; and

determining a geographic location of said given wireless access point from said given identifier included in said message, whereby said given identifier indicates that said mobile node is located within a communication range of said geographic location of said given wireless access point.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said given identifier is an Internet Protocol (IP) address, said method further comprising:

dynamically assigning said IP address to said mobile node.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

said mobile node transmitting said message with said given identifier included.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said given identifier is a name of said wireless access point.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said given identifier is a virtual local area network (VLAN) tag.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

said mobile node transmitting said message without said given identifier included; and

a local area network (LAN) switch connected to said given wireless access point adding said given identifier to said message.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said call is an emergency services call.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said emergency services call is a 9-1-1 call.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

a public safety answering point (PSAP) receiving said 9-1-1 call.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

said PSAP receiving said geographic location of said given wireless access point.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said PSAP receives said geographic location of said given wireless access point in signaling used to set up said 9-1-1 call.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

said PSAP receiving said given identifier in signaling used to set up said 9-1-1 call;

said PSAP sending said correlation database a query including said given identifier; and

said PSAP receiving said geographic location of said given wireless access point from said correlation database in response to said query.

13. A system, comprising:

a wireless local area network (WLAN) having a plurality of wireless access points, wherein each one of said wireless access points is allocated a set of one or more identifiers specific to said one of said wireless access points;

a public safety answering point (PSAP);

a communication network for voice communication between said WLAN and said PSAP;

a call control system for controlling voice-over-packet (VoP) communications in said WLAN; and

a correlation database storing correlations between geographic locations of said wireless access points and identifiers allocated to said wireless access points, wherein said call control system includes geographic locations from said correlation database in signaling used to set up emergency services calls to said PSAP through said communication network.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said WLAN includes a local area network (LAN) switch and each one of said wireless access points is connected to a distinct port of said LAN switch.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein said call control system is an IP-PBX.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein said call control system is an IP-Centrex system.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein said call control system is a softswitch.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein said communication network is a public switched telephone network and said signaling comprises SS7 signaling.

19. The system of claim 13, wherein said communication network is a packet-switched network.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said signaling comprises Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) signaling.