Positioning system and positioning method in mobile communication network

• US 7,444,155 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2004
• Issued: 10/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Ishii, Kenichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid; Lester
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lim; Steven
• Application Number:
  US10/533,548
• Publication Number:
  US 20060063538A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,667 Days
• Field of Search: 4554561-4566
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

There is provided a positioning system which generates an appropriate response according to a positioning accuracy request class from a client device. A client device 101 specifies the positioning accuracy and the request class thereof that it requests to transmit a positioning request of a mobile station 103 to a server device 102. The server device 102 checks the positioning accuracy requested by the client device 101, and, if positioning results which satisfy the requested accuracy exist, responds the positioning results. If the positioning results which satisfy the requested accuracy do not exist, the server device 102 checks the accuracy request class, selects the positioning results with the highest positioning accuracy to respond to the client device 101 in the case of a second class (“Best Effort”), and notifies an error to the client device 101 in the case of a first class (“Assured”).

Claims

1. A positioning system in a mobile communication network that provides position information for a positioning target in response to a positioning request from an external client device, the positioning system in the mobile communication network comprising:

at least one node device including a positioning response generation function unit which generates a response with the position information to said external client device based on request accuracy information that specifies a requested accuracy and request accuracy request class information that designates a class of treatment when the requested accuracy is not available, in which a first class of treatment specifies that an error is to be sent and a second class of treatment specifies that best available position information is to be sent.

2. The positioning system in the mobile communication network according to claim 1, wherein the first class of treatment requests said node device to respond the position information which does not fail to satisfy the requested accuracy.

3. The positioning system in the mobile communication network according to claim 1, wherein said first class of treatment requests said node device to respond an error to said external client device, if the position information which satisfies the requested accuracy does not exist.

4. The positioning system in the mobile communication network according to claim 1, wherein of treatment requests said node device to respond the position information which is closest to said requested accuracy.

5. The positioning system in the mobile communication network according to claim 4, wherein said second class of treatment indicates to request said node device to respond an error to said external client device, if the position information does not exist.

6. The positioning system in the mobile communication network according to claim 1, wherein said positioning system further comprises a holding function unit for retaining said request accuracy request class information.

7. The positioning system in the mobile communication network according to claim 1, wherein said positioning system further comprises a receiving function unit for receiving said request accuracy request class information transmitted by said external client together with the positioning request.

8. The positioning system in the mobile communication network according to claim 1, wherein, if said external client has transmitted said request accuracy request class information together with the positioning request, said positioning response generation function unit uses the request class information thereof to generate the response of said position information, whereas if said external client has not transmitted said request accuracy request class information together with the positioning request, said positioning response generation function unit uses request accuracy request class information held inside said positioning system in said mobile communication network to generate the response of said position information.

9. A positioning system in a mobile communication network that provides position information for a positioning target in response to a positioning request from an external client device, the positioning system in the mobile communication network comprising:

at least one node device including a positioning response generation function unit which generates a response with the position information to said external client device based on request freshness information that specifies a requested freshness and request freshness request class information that designates a class of treatment when the requested freshness is not available, in which a first class of treatment specifies that an error is to be sent and a second class of treatment specifies that best available position information is to be sent.

10. The positioning system in the mobile communication network according to claim 9, wherein the first class of treatment requests said node device to respond the position information which does not fail to satisfy the requested freshness.

11. The positioning system in the mobile communication network according to claim 10, wherein said first class of treatment requests said node device to respond an error to said external client device, if the position information which satisfies the requested freshness does not exist.

12. The positioning system in the mobile communication network according to claim 9, wherein the second class of treatment requests said node device to respond the position information which is closest to said requested freshness.

13. The positioning system in the mobile communication network according to claim 12, wherein said second class of treatment indicates to request said node device to respond an error to said external client device, if the position information does not exist.

14. The positioning system in the mobile communication network according to claim 9, wherein said positioning system further comprises a holding function unit for retaining said request freshness request class information.

15. The positioning system in the mobile communication network according to claim 9, wherein said positioning system further comprises a receiving function unit for receiving said request freshness request class information transmitted by said external client together with the positioning request.

16. The positioning system in the mobile communication network according to claim 9, wherein, if said external client has transmitted said request freshness request class information together with the positioning request, said positioning response generation function unit uses the request class information thereof to generate the response of said position information, whereas if said external client has not transmitted said request freshness request class information together with the positioning request, said positioning response generation function unit uses request freshness request class information held inside said positioning system in said mobile communication network to generate the response of said position information.

17. A positioning system in a mobile communication network that provides position information for a positioning target in response to a positioning request from an external client device, the positioning system in the mobile communication network comprising:

at least one node device including a positioning response generation function unit which generates a response with the position information to said external client device based on request accuracy information that specifies a requested accuracy and request accuracy request class information that designates a class of treatment when the requested accuracy is not available, in which a first class of treatment specifies that an error is to be sent and a second class of treatment specifies that best available position information is to be sent, and request freshness information that specifies a requested freshness and request freshness request class information that designates a class of treatment when the requested freshness is not available, in which a third class of treatment specifies that an error is to be sent and a fourth class of treatment specifies that best available position information is to be sent.

18. The positioning system in the mobile communication network according to claim 17, wherein the first class of treatment requests said node device to respond the position information which does not fail to satisfy the requested accuracy.

19. The positioning system in the mobile communication network according to claim 18, wherein said first class of treatment requests said node device to respond an error to said external client device, if the position information which satisfies the requested accuracy does not exist.

20. The positioning system in the mobile communication network according to claim 17, wherein the second class of treatment requests said node device to respond the position information which is closest to said requested accuracy.

21. The positioning system in the mobile communication network according to claim 20, wherein said second class of treatment indicates to request said node device to respond an error to said external client device, if the position information does not exist.

22. The positioning system in the mobile communication network according to claim 17, wherein said positioning system further comprises a holding function unit for retaining said request accuracy request class information.

23. The positioning system in the mobile communication network according to claim 17, wherein said positioning system further comprises a receiving function unit for receiving said request accuracy request class information transmitted by said external client together with the positioning request.

24. The positioning system in the mobile communication network according to claim 17, wherein, if said external client has transmitted said request accuracy request class information together with the positioning request, said positioning response generation function unit uses the request class information thereof to generate the response of said position information, whereas if said external client has not transmitted said request accuracy request class information together with the positioning request, said positioning response generation function unit uses request accuracy request class information held inside said positioning system in said mobile communication network to generate the response of said position information.

25. The positioning system in the mobile communication network according to claim 17, wherein the third class of treatment requests said node device to respond the position information which does not fail to satisfy the requested freshness.

26. The positioning system in the mobile communication network according to claim 25, wherein said third class of treatment requests said node device to respond an error to said external client device, if the position information which satisfies the requested freshness does not exist.

27. The positioning system in the mobile communication network according to claim 17, wherein the fourth class of treatment requests said node device to respond the position information which is closest to said requested freshness.

28. The positioning system in the mobile communication network according to claim 27, wherein said fourth class of treatment indicates to request said node device to respond an error to said external client device, if the position information does not exist.

29. The positioning system in the mobile communication network according to claim 17, wherein said positioning system further comprises a holding function unit for retaining said request freshness request class information.

30. The positioning system in the mobile communication network according to claim 17, wherein said positioning system further comprises a receiving function unit for receiving said request freshness request class information transmitted by said external client together with the positioning request.

31. The positioning system in the mobile communication network according to claim 17, wherein, if said external client has transmitted said request freshness request class information together with the positioning request, said positioning response generation function unit uses the request class information thereof to generate the response of said position information, whereas if said external client has not transmitted said request freshness request class information together with the positioning request, said positioning response generation function unit uses request freshness request class information held inside said positioning system in said mobile communication network to generate the response of said position information.

32. The positioning system in the mobile communication network according to claim 17, wherein the second class of treatment requests said node device to respond the position information which is closest to said requested accuracy,

wherein the fourth class of treatment requests said node device to respond the position information which is closest to said requested freshness, and

wherein, if the position information which satisfies both the requested accuracy and the requested freshness does not exist, said node device responds the position information with the highest positioning accuracy to said external client device.

33. The positioning system in the mobile communication network according to claim 17, wherein the second class of treatment requests said node device to respond the position information which is closest to said requested accuracy,

wherein the fourth class of treatment requests said node device to respond the position information which is closest to said requested freshness, and

wherein, if the position information which satisfies both the requested accuracy and the requested freshness does not exist, said node device responds the position information with the newest positioning freshness to said external client device.

34. The positioning system in the mobile communication network according to claim 17, wherein the second class of treatment requests said node device to respond the position information which is closest to said requested accuracy,

wherein the fourth class of treatment requests said node device to respond the position information which is closest to said requested freshness, and

wherein, if the position information which satisfies both the requested accuracy and the requested freshness does not exist, said node device responds the position information to said external client device based on priority information showing whether the freshness or the accuracy is prioritized.

35. The positioning system in the mobile communication network according to claim 34, wherein, when said positioning system in said mobile communication network is set in such a way that said priority information gives a high priority to the accuracy, said node device responds the position information with the highest accuracy to said external client device.

36. The positioning system in the mobile communication network according to claim 34, wherein, when said positioning system in said mobile communication network is set in such a way that said priority information gives a high priority to the freshness, said node device responds the position information with the newest freshness to said external client device.

37. A positioning method in a mobile communication network that provides position information for a positioning target in response to a positioning request from an external client device, wherein the response of the position information to said external client device is generated based on request accuracy information that specifies a requested accuracy and request accuracy request class information that designates a class of treatment when the requested accuracy is not available, in which a first class of treatment specifies that an error is to be sent and a second class of treatment specifies that best available position information is to be sent.

38. A positioning method in a mobile communication network that provides position information for a positioning target in response to a positioning request from an external client device, wherein the response of the position information to said external client device is generated based on request freshness information that specifies a requested freshness and request freshness request class information that designates a class of treatment when the requested freshness is not available, in which a first class of treatment specifies that an error is to be sent and a second class of treatment specifies that best available position information is to be sent.

39. A positioning method in a mobile communication network that provides position information for a positioning target in response to a positioning request from an external client device, wherein the response of the position information to said external client device is generated based on request accuracy information that specifies a requested accuracy and request accuracy request class information that designates a class of treatment when the requested accuracy is not available, in which a first class of treatment specifies that an error is to be sent and a second class of treatment specifies that best available position information is to be sent, and request freshness information that specifies a requested freshness and request freshness request class information that designates a class of treatment when the requested freshness is not available, in which a third class of treatment specifies that an error is to be sent and a fourth class of treatment specifies that best available position information is to be sent.

40. A positioning server device in a mobile communication network that provides position information for a positioning target in response to a positioning request from an external client device, the positioning server device in the mobile communication network comprising:

a positioning response generation function unit which generates a response with the position information to said external client device based on request accuracy information that specifies a requested accuracy and request accuracy request class information that designates a class of treatment when the requested accuracy is not available, in which a first class of treatment specifies that an error is to be sent and a second class of treatment specifies that best available position information is to be sent.

41. The positioning server device in the mobile communication network according to claim 40, further comprising a storage function unit which stores said request accuracy request class information for each said external client device.

42. The positioning server device in the mobile communication network according to claim 40, further comprising a receiving function unit which receives said request accuracy request class information transmitted by said external client together with the positioning request.

43. The positioning server device in the mobile communication network according to claim 40, further comprising a storage function unit which stores said request accuracy request class information for each said external client device;

a receiving function unit which receives said request accuracy request class information transmitted by said external client together with the positioning request; and

a merge function unit which, if said receiving function unit has received said request accuracy request class information transmitted by said external client together with the positioning request, selects said received request class information, and which, if said receiving function unit has not received said request accuracy request class information, selects said request accuracy request class information already stored in said storage function unit.

44. A positioning server device in a mobile communication network that provides position information for a positioning target in response to a positioning request from an external client device, the positioning server device in the mobile communication network comprising:

a positioning response generation function unit which generates a response with the position information to said external client device based on request freshness information that specifies a requested freshness and request freshness request class information that designates a class of treatment when the requested freshness is not available, in which a first class of treatment specifies that an error is to be sent and a second class of treatment specifies that best available position information is to be sent.

45. The positioning server device in the mobile communication network according to claim 44, further comprising a storage function unit which stores said request freshness request class information for each said external client device.

46. The positioning server device in the mobile communication network according to claim 44, further comprising a receiving function unit which receives said request freshness request class information transmitted by said external client together with the positioning request.

47. The positioning server device in the mobile communication network according to claim 44, further comprising a storage function unit which stores said request freshness request class information for each said external client device;

a receiving function unit which receives said request freshness request class information transmitted by said external client together with the positioning request; and

a merge function unit which, if said receiving function unit has received said request freshness request class information transmitted by said external client together with the positioning request, selects said received request class information, and which, if said receiving function unit has not received said request freshness request class information, selects request freshness request class information already stored in said storage function unit.

48. A computer-readable data recording medium storing a program executed by a positioning server device in a mobile communication network that provides position information for a positioning target in response to a positioning request from an external client device, the program comprising:

a positioning response generation process of generating the response of the position information to said external client device based on request accuracy information that specifies a requested accuracy and request accuracy request class information that designates a class of treatment when the requested accuracy is not available, in which a first class of treatment specifies that an error is to be sent and a second class of treatment specifies that best available position information is to be sent.

49. A computer-readable data recording medium storing a program executed by a positioning server device in a mobile communication network that provides position information for a positioning target in response to a positioning request from an external client device, the program comprising:

a positioning response generation process of generating the response of the position information to said external client device based on request freshness information that specifies a requested freshness and request freshness request class information that designates a class of treatment when the requested freshness is not available, in which a first class of treatment specifies that an error is to be sent and a second class of treatment specifies that best available position information is to be sent.

50. A server of a mobile communication system including a mobile station, comprising:

a positioning request processing means which receives a positioning request which requests position information of said mobile station;

a storage means which holds request positioning accuracy that specifies a requested accuracy and a positioning accuracy request level that designates a level of treatment when the requested accuracy is not available, in which a first level of treatment specifies that an error is to be sent and a second level of treatment specifies that best available position information is to be sent; and

a transmission means which transmits one of said position information and error notification in accordance with said request positioning accuracy and said request level as a response to said positioning request.

51. The server according to claim 50, wherein said mobile communication system comprises a regional area network and a management device which communicates with said regional area network, and

wherein said positioning request processing means carries out positioning processing for obtaining said position information of said mobile station in cooperation with said management device.

52. The server according to claim 51, wherein said positioning request processing means receives said position information from said management device.

53. The server according to claim 51, wherein said positioning processing is any one of A-GPS positioning processing, Cell-ID positioning processing, and OTDOA positioning processing.

54. The server according to claim 51, wherein said transmission means transmits said error notification, if said positioning request processing means has failed in obtaining said position information.

55. The server according to claim 50, wherein said mobile communication system comprises a client device, and

wherein said positioning request processing means receives said positioning request from said client device, and transmits one of said position information and the error notification to said client device.

56. The server according to claim 55, wherein said positioning request processing means receives at least one of said request positioning accuracy and said request level from said client device.

57. A client device of a mobile communication system comprised of a mobile station and a server, the client device comprising:

a transmission means which transmits a positioning request which requests position information of said mobile station; and

a receiving means which receives one of the position information of said mobile station and error notification from said server in accordance with request positioning accuracy that specifies a requested accuracy and a positioning accuracy request level as a response to said positioning request, the positioning accuracy request level designating a level of treatment when the requested accuracy is not available, in which a first level of treatment specifies that an error is to be sent and a second level of treatment specifies that best available position information is to be sent.

58. The client device according to claim 57, wherein said mobile communication system comprises a regional area network and a management device which communicates with said regional area network, and

wherein the position information in said server is obtained by positioning processing carried out through cooperation of said server and said management device.

59. The client device according to claim 58, wherein the position information in said server is received by said server from said management device.

60. The client device according to claim 58, wherein said positioning processing is any one of A-GPS positioning processing, Cell-ID positioning processing, and OTDOA positioning processing.

61. The client device according to claim 58 comprising:

receiving said error notification, if said server and said management device have failed in obtaining said position information.

62. The client device according to claim 57, wherein said transmission means transmits at least one of said request positioning accuracy and said request level to said server.

63. A mobile station of a mobile communication system comprised of a server, a regional area network, and a management device which communicates with said regional area network, the mobile station comprising:

a radio communication means which communicates with said regional area network; and

a positioning processing means which carries out positioning processing for obtaining position information of said mobile station in cooperation with said regional area network, said management device, and said server in response to a positioning request from said server,

wherein one of said position information and error notification is transmitted from said server in accordance with request positioning accuracy that specifies a requested accuracy and a positioning accuracy request level that designates a level of treatment when the requested accuracy is not available, in which a first level of treatment specifies that an error is to be sent and a second level of treatment specifies that best available position information is to be sent.

64. The mobile station according to claim 63, wherein said positioning processing is any one of A-GPS positioning processing, Cell-ID positioning processing, and OTDOA positioning processing.

65. The mobile station according to claim 63, wherein said error notification is transmitted from said server, if obtaining said position information has failed.

66. The mobile station according to claim 63, wherein said mobile communication system comprises a client device which communicates with said server device, and

wherein one of said position information and the error notification is transmitted from said server to said client device.

67. A mobile communication system comprised of a server, a mobile station, a regional area network, and a management device which communicates with said regional area network,

wherein said server receives a positioning request which requests position information of said mobile station, holds request positioning accuracy that specifies a requested accuracy and a positioning accuracy request level that designates a level of treatment when the requested accuracy is not available, in which a first level of treatment specifies that an error is to be sent and a second level of treatment specifies that best available position information is to be sent, and transmits one of said position information and error notification in accordance with said request positioning accuracy and said request level as a response to said positioning request, and

wherein said server, said mobile station, said regional area network, and said management device cooperate to carry out positioning processing for obtaining said position information.

68. A control method in a mobile communication system comprised of a mobile station and a server, the control method comprising:

receiving a positioning request which requests position information of said mobile station;

holding request positioning accuracy that specifies a requested accuracy and a positioning accuracy request level that designates a level of treatment when the requested accuracy is not available, in which a first level of treatment specifies that an error is to be sent and a second level of treatment specifies that best available position information is to be sent; and

transmitting one of said position information and error notification in accordance with said request positioning accuracy and said request level as a response to said positioning request.

69. A control method in a mobile communication system comprised of a mobile station and a server, the control method comprising:

receiving a positioning request which requests position information of said mobile station;

holding request positioning accuracy that specifies a requested accuracy and a positioning accuracy request level that designates a level of treatment when the requested accuracy is not available, in which a first level of treatment specifies that an error is to be sent and a second level of treatment specifies that best available position information is to be sent; and

transmitting one of said position information and error notification in accordance with said request positioning accuracy and said request level as a response to said positioning request.

70. A control method in a mobile communication system comprised of a mobile station, a server, a regional area network, and a management device which communicates with said regional area network, the control method comprising:

communicating with said regional area network by radio; and

carrying out positioning processing for obtaining position information of said mobile station in cooperation with said regional area network, said management device, and said server in response to a positioning request from said server,

wherein one of said position information and error notification is transmitted from said server in accordance with request positioning accuracy and a positioning accuracy request level stored in said server, the positioning accuracy request level designating a level of treatment when the requested accuracy is not available, in which a first level of treatment specifies that an error is to be sent and a second level of treatment specifies that best available position information is to be sent.

71. A control method in a mobile communication system comprised of a server, a mobile station, a regional area network, and a management device which communicates with said regional area network, the control method comprising:

receiving a positioning request which requests position information of said mobile station;

holding request positioning accuracy that specifies a requested accuracy and a positioning accuracy request level that designates a level of treatment when the requested accuracy is not available, in which a first level of treatment specifies that an error is to be sent and a second level of treatment specifies that best available position information is to be sent;

carrying out positioning processing for obtaining said position information in cooperation with said server, said mobile station, said regional area network, and said management device, and

transmitting one of said position information and error notification from the server in accordance with said request positioning accuracy and said request level as a response to said positioning request.