Interface for wireless location information
DC CAFCFirst Claim
1. A method of providing location information regarding a mobile unit in a mobile communications system, the method comprising the steps of:
- receiving a request for location information for a mobile unit, the request identifying the mobile unit and including a specification indicating a characteristic of the requested location information;
selecting at least one location information source from a plurality of location information sources, the selected at least one location information source being operable to provide the location information for the mobile unit that at least meets the specification and at least one of the plurality of location information sources employing a location finding technology that is different than a location finding technology employed by another one of the plurality of location information sources;
obtaining the location information from the at least one selected location information source; and
providing the location information at least meeting the specification for the identified mobile unit in response to the request;
wherein selecting at least one location information source includes utilizing a default specification to select between multiple acceptable location sources, each of the multiple acceptable location sources being operable to obtain location information at least substantially conforming to the included specification.
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Abstract
Multiple location finding equipment (LFE) inputs are used to enhance location information made available to wireless location-based applications. A wireless network utilizes a mobile switching center to route communications between wireless stations, a network platform, and a variety of LFE systems. A Location Finding System (LFS), resident on the network platform, receives location information from the LFEs and provides location information to wireless location based applications. In this regard, the LFS can receive input information at varying time intervals of varying accuracies and in various formats, and can provide standardized outputs to the applications, for example, depending on the needs of the applications. Multiple inputs may also be co-processed for enhanced accuracy. A specification can be used to ensure that location information at least meets certain minimum criteria, such as geographical accuracy, allowable age, acceptable response time, and confidence.
437 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method of providing location information regarding a mobile unit in a mobile communications system, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a request for location information for a mobile unit, the request identifying the mobile unit and including a specification indicating a characteristic of the requested location information; selecting at least one location information source from a plurality of location information sources, the selected at least one location information source being operable to provide the location information for the mobile unit that at least meets the specification and at least one of the plurality of location information sources employing a location finding technology that is different than a location finding technology employed by another one of the plurality of location information sources; obtaining the location information from the at least one selected location information source; and providing the location information at least meeting the specification for the identified mobile unit in response to the request; wherein selecting at least one location information source includes utilizing a default specification to select between multiple acceptable location sources, each of the multiple acceptable location sources being operable to obtain location information at least substantially conforming to the included specification. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of providing location information regarding a mobile unit, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a request for location information for a mobile unit, the request including a specification indicating a characteristic of the requested location information, the characteristic including at least one of a geographical accuracy, an allowable age, an acceptable response time, and a confidence for the location information; obtaining the location information from at least one location information source of a plurality of location information sources, the at least one location information source being operable to provide the location information for the mobile unit that at least meets the specification, and at least one of the plurality of location information sources employing a location finding technology that is different than a location finding technology employed by another one of the plurality of location information sources; and providing the location information at least meeting the specification for the identified mobile unit in response to the request; wherein selecting at least one location information source includes utilizing a default specification to select between multiple acceptable location sources, each of the multiple acceptable location sources being operable to obtain location information at least substantially conforming to the included specification. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A system for providing location information regarding a mobile unit in a mobile communications system, the system including a processor and a memory medium including instructions that when executed by said processor cause the processor to perform a method comprising:
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receiving a request for location information for a mobile unit, the request identifying the mobile unit and including a specification indicating a characteristic of the requested location information; selecting at least one location information source from a plurality of location information sources, the selected at least one location information source being operable to provide the location information for the mobile unit that at least meets the specification and at least one of the plurality of location information sources employing a location finding technology that is different than a location finding technology employed by another one of the plurality of location information sources; obtaining the location information from the at least one selected location information source; and providing the location information at least meeting the specification for the identified mobile unit in response to the request; wherein the processor is caused to select at least one location information source by utilizing a default specification to select between multiple acceptable location sources, each of the multiple acceptable location sources being operable to obtain location information at least substantially conforming to the included specification. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method of providing location information regarding a mobile unit in a mobile communications system, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a request for location information for a mobile unit, the request identifying the mobile unit and including a metric for a desired characteristic for the requested location information; selecting at least one location information source from a plurality of location information sources, the selected at least one location information source being operable to provide the location information for the mobile unit that at least meets the metric and at least one of the plurality of location information sources employing a location finding technology that is different than a location finding technology employed by another one of the plurality of location information sources; obtaining the location information from the at least one selected location information source; and providing the location information at least meeting the metric specification for the identified mobile unit in response to the request; wherein selecting at least one location information source includes utilizing a default specification to select between multiple acceptable location sources, each of the multiple acceptable location sources being operable to obtain location information at least substantially conforming to the included specification. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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Specification