Sharing and tracking real-time location for mobile users

• US 7,831,259 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2007
• Issued: 11/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Malik, Saadat, Cao, Feng
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; CongVan
• Application Number:
  US11/767,445
• Publication Number:
  US 20080318593A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,236 Days
• Field of Search: 4554561-4563, 455/456.6, 455/404, 455/407, 455/2, 34235706-35709, 3423571-35712
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/60 Network streaming of media packets
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/65 Network streaming protocols, e.g. real-time transport protocol [RTP] or real-time control protocol [RTCP]
• 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

Abstract

In one embodiment, an apparatus can include: a receiver configured to receive location-related data, and to provide real-time location information therefrom; and a processor configured to receive the real-time location information, and to provide an extension in a packet header of a media stream, wherein the header extension comprises the real-time location information.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a receiver in a mobile device, the receiver being configured to receive location-related data about the mobile device, and to provide real-time location information therefrom, wherein the mobile device is configured to receive an incoming media stream and provide an outgoing media stream; and

a processor configured to receive the real-time location information, and to provide an extension in a packet header of the outgoing media stream, the header extension being indicated as appended to the packet header by an extension bit in the packet header, wherein the header extension comprises;

the real-time location information of the mobile device;

a profile indicator for indicating an operating profile for the header extension;

a length indicator for indicating a number of bytes for the header extension; and

a timestamp for the real-time location information.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the receiver comprises a global positioning system (GPS) receiver.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processor comprises a digital signal processor (DSP).

4. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising logic encoded in one or more tangible media for execution by the processor and when executed operable to encrypt the header extension.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the packet header is configured to use real-time protocol (RTP).

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the packet header is configured to use secure real-time protocol (sRTP).

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the outgoing media stream comprises an outgoing packet with the header extension, the outgoing packet further comprising a media payload.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the real-time location information is stored in the mobile device.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the outgoing media stream is sent to a plurality of network devices, wherein only one of the plurality of network devices is configured to decrypt the real-time location information.

10. A method, comprising:

receiving real-time location information about a mobile device in a processor of the mobile device, wherein the mobile device is configured to receive an incoming media stream and provide an outgoing media stream; and

embedding the real-time location information into an extension of a packet header in the outgoing media stream from the mobile device in response to a changing location of the mobile device, the header extension being indicated as appended to the packet header by an extension bit in the packet header, wherein the header extension further comprises;

a profile indicator for indicating an operating profile for the header extension;

a length indicator for indicating a number of bytes for the header extension; and

a timestamp for the real-time location information.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the receiving the real-time location information comprises using a global positioning system (GPS) receiver.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising encrypting the header extension.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the encrypting uses secure real-time protocol (sRTP).

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the outgoing media stream comprises an outgoing packet with the header extension, the outgoing packet further comprising a media payload.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the embedding the real-time location information comprises using real-time protocol (RTP).

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising sending the outgoing media stream to a plurality of network devices, wherein only one of the plurality of network devices is configured to decrypt the real-time location information.

17. The method of claim 10, further comprising transmitting the header extension after the packet header and before a payload associated with the packet header in the outgoing media stream.

18. The method of claim 10, further comprising indicating a destination for the real-time location information in the header extension.

19. The method of claim 10, further comprising storing the real-time location information in the mobile device.

20. A system for sharing a location of a mobile device, the system comprising:

means for receiving real-time location information about a mobile device in a processor of the mobile device, wherein the mobile device is configured to receive an incoming media stream and provide an outgoing media stream; and

means for embedding the real-time location information into an extension of a packet header in the outgoing media stream from the mobile device in response to a changing location of the mobile device, the header extension being indicated as appended to the packet header by an extension bit in the packet header, wherein the header extension further comprises;

a profile indicator for indicating an operating profile for the header extension;

a length indicator for indicating a number of bytes for the header extension; and

a timestamp for the real-time location information.