Location service-providing system and deferred location request service-providing method using previously computed location in location service-providing system

• US 7,729,706 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2006
• Issued: 06/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Eun-O, Kim, Wuk, Kim, Joo-Young
• Primary Examiner(s): Ly; Nghi H
• Assistant Examiner(s): DEAN, JR, JOSEPH E
• Application Number:
  US11/545,242
• Publication Number:
  US 20070082681A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,330 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.1, 455/456.2
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• 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 64/006 with additional information processing, e.g. for direction or speed determination
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/10 between location register and external networks

Abstract

A location service-providing system and a method for providing a deferred location request service by using previously computed position estimates. In the system and the method, if an H-SLP transmits an SUPL INIT message including location information to a target SUPL Enabled Terminal (SET) according to a location service request from an SUPL AGENT, the location information including at least one of a previous position estimate and previous assistant data, the target SET receives the SUPL INIT message, determines whether it is possible to provide the location service by reusing at least one of the location information in the SUPL INIT message and previously stored location information, when it is possible, determining position information by reusing at least one of the location information in the SUPL INIT message and the previously stored location information, and providing the SUPL AGENT with the position information.

Claims

1. A Home-Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) Location Platform (H-SLP) for providing a location service, the H-SLP comprising:

a processing module for receiving a location service request from a SUPL Agent, transmitting a message including a condition of previous position to a target SUPL Enabled Terminal (SET) according to the location service request, receiving location information from the target SET, and providing the received location information to the SUPL Agent; and

a memory module for storing the received location information and a condition of position corresponding the received location information;

wherein the condition of previous position represents conditions for previous position estimates or position assistant data.

2. The H-SLP as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processing module inserts the condition of previous position of the location information included in the message and transmits the message.

3. The H-SLP as claimed in claim 1, wherein the condition of previous position is provided by one of the H-SLP and the SUPL Agent.

4. The H-SLP as claimed in claim 1, wherein the location service request includes location information, a Quality of Position (QoP) of location information requested by the SUPL Agent, and criteria for the location information, the location information including at least one of a previous position estimate and previous assistant data.

5. The H-SLP as claimed in claim 1, wherein the processing module for transmitting the message performs an operation of determining whether the previously stored location information exists and transmitting the message including at least one of condition of previous position of the location information and the previously stored location information.

6. The H-SLP as claimed in claim 1, wherein the condition of the previous position is provided from the SUPL Agent to the H-SLP through a message in connection with the location service request.

24. The H-SLP as claimed in claim 1, wherein the condition of previous position comprises at least one of an accuracy, a time stamp, a time period, and a position method used for computing position estimates or position assistant data.

7. A target SUPL Enabled Terminal (SET) for providing a location service, the target SUPL comprising:

a processing module for receiving a message including a condition of previous position according to a location service request from a Home-Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) Location Platform (H-SLP), determining whether previously stored location information satisfying the condition of previous position in the message exists, determining position information by reusing the previously stored location information when the previously stored location information satisfying the condition of previous position in the message exists, and providing the H-SLP with the position information; and

a memory module for storing the determined location information and a condition of position corresponding the location information;

wherein the condition of previous position represents conditions for previous position estimates or position assistant data.

8. The target SET as claimed in claim 7, wherein the processing module performs new positioning and provides the location service when the previously stored location information satisfying the condition of previous position in the message does not exist.

9. The target SET as claimed in claim 7, wherein the processing module selects one of condition of previous position of the location information included in the message received from the H-SLP and condition of previous position of the previously stored location information, compares the condition of previous position the selected previous location information with condition of previous position requested by a Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) Agent, and determines reuse or non-reuse of the location information.

10. The target SET as claimed in claim 7, wherein the processing module selects one of condition of previous position of the location information included in the message received from the H-SLP and condition of previous position of the previously stored location information, compares the selected condition of previous position with condition of previous position owned by the H-SLP, and determines reuse or non-reuse of the location information.

11. The target SET as claimed in claim 7, wherein the processing module compares a Quality of Position (QoP) of the location information of the H-SLP with a QoP of the previously stored location information, and selects location information having a high QoP level when the condition of previous position is QoP.

25. The target SET as claimed in claim 7, wherein the condition of previous position comprises at least one of an accuracy, a time stamp, a time period and a position method used for computing position estimates or position assistant data.

12. A method for providing a location service by Home-Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) Location Platform (H-SLP), the method comprising:

receiving a location service request from a SUPL Agent;

transmitting a message including a condition of previous position to a target SUPL Enabled Terminal (SET) according to the location service request;

receiving location information from the target SET;

providing the received location information to the SUPL Agent; and

storing the received location information and a condition of position corresponding the location information;

wherein the condition of previous position represents conditions for previous position estimates or previous position assistant data of the target SET.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the step of transmitting the message comprises:

inserting the condition of previous position of the location information included in the message; and

transmits the message.

14. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the location service request includes location information, a Quality of Position (QoP) of location information requested by the SUPL Agent, and criteria for the location information, the location information including at least one of a previous position estimate and previous assistant data.

15. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the step of transmitting the message comprises:

determining whether the previously stored location information exists; and

transmitting the message including at least one of condition of previous position of the location information and the previously stored location information.

16. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the step of receiving a location service request comprises receiving the condition of the previous position provided from the SUPL Agent through a message in connection with the location service request.

26. The H-SLP as claimed in claim 12, wherein the condition of previous position comprises at least one of an accuracy, a time stamp, a time period and a position method used for computing position estimates or position assistant data.

17. A method for providing a location service by a target Home-Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) Enabled Terminal (SET), the method comprising:

receiving a message including a condition of previous position according to a location service request from an SUPL Location Platform (H-SLP);

determining whether previously stored location information satisfying the condition of previous position in the message exists;

determining position information by reusing the previously stored location information when the previously stored location information satisfying the condition of previous position in the message exists;

providing the H-SLP with the position information; and

storing the determined location information and a condition of position corresponding the location information;

wherein the condition of previous position represents conditions for previous position estimates or previous position assistant data of the target SET.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the step of determining whether previously stored location information satisfying the condition of previous position in the message exists comprises:

selecting one of condition of previous position of the location information included in the message and condition of previous position of the previously stored location information;

comparing the selected condition of previous position with condition of previous position owned by the target SET; and

determining reuse or non-reuse of the location information.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18, wherein the selecting step comprises:

comparing a Quality of Position (QoP) of the location information included in the message with the QoP of the previously stored location information in the target SET; and

selecting location information having a high QoP level when the condition of previous position is QoP.

20. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the step of determining whether previously stored location information satisfying the condition of previous position in the message exists comprises:

selecting one of condition of previous position of the location information included in the message and condition of previous position of the previous previously stored location information; and

comparing the condition of previous position of the selected previous location information with the condition of previous position requested by the SUPL Agent; and

determining reuse or non-reuse of the location information.

21. The method as claimed in claim 20, wherein the selecting step comprises:

comparing a Quality of Position (QoP) of the location information included in the SUPL INIT message with the QoP of the previously stored location information in the target SET; and

selecting location information having a high QoP level when the condition of previous position is QoP.

22. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the step of determining whether previously stored location information satisfying the condition of previous position in the message exists comprises:

selecting by the target SET one of condition of previous position of the location information included in the message and condition of previous position of the previously stored location information; and

comparing by the target SET the condition of previous position of the selected location information with the condition of previous position owned by the H-SLP; and

determining reuse or non-reuse of the location information.

23. The method as claimed in claim 22, wherein the selecting step comprises:

comparing a Quality of Position (QoP) of the location information included in the SUPL INIT message with the QoP of the previously stored location information in the target SET; and

selecting previous location information having a high QoP level when the condition of previous position is QoP.

27. The H-SLP as claimed in claim 17, wherein the condition of previous position comprises at least one of an accuracy, a time stamp, a time period and a position method used for computing position estimates or position assistant data.