Location reporting with secure user plane location (SUPL)

• US 8,068,056 B2
• Filed: 08/24/2006
• Issued: 11/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Edge, Stephen, Burroughs, Kirk, Wachter, Andreas
• Primary Examiner(s): Issing; Gregory C
• Application Number:
  US11/510,332
• Publication Number:
  US 20070182547A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,923 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.07, 342/357.4, 342/357.46, 455/456.1, 455/456.2, 455/455.5
• US Class Current: 342/451
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0869 for achieving mutual authentication cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for mutual authentication H04L9/3273
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 60/00 Affiliation to network, e.g. registration; Terminating affiliation with the network, e.g. de-registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/006 with additional information processing, e.g. for direction or speed determination
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/04 Registration at HLR or HSS [Home Subscriber Server]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/06 Registration at serving network Location Register, VLR or user mobility server
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/16 selectively restricting mobility data tracking

Abstract

Techniques for supporting periodic and other location services with Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) and other location architectures are described. The techniques can provide position estimates for a SUPL enabled terminal (SET) to a SUPL agent periodically and/or based on trigger events. A Home SUPL Location Platform (H-SLP) receives from the SUPL agent a request for position estimates for the SET. The H-SLP starts a SUPL location session with the SET. For each of at least one reporting event during the location session, the H-SLP obtains a position estimate for the SET and sends the position estimate to the SUPL agent. The position estimate may be derived by the SET and sent to the H-SLP. Alternatively, the position estimate may be derived by the H-SLP based on measurements from the SET.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

receive from a Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) agent a request for position estimates for a SUPL enabled terminal (SET),

start a location session with the SET,

communicate with the. SET to determine a plurality of position estimates for the SET at a plurality of times ascertained by the SET during the location session,

obtain at least one of the plurality of position estimates for the SET for at least one reporting event during the location session, and

send a position estimate obtained for each reporting event to the SUPL agent.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to select a positioning method from among a plurality of positioning methods supported by the SET, and wherein each position estimate is determined in accordance with the selected positioning method.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to send a list of supported positioning methods to the SET and to receive a positioning method selected by the SET from among the list of supported positioning methods, and wherein each position estimate is determined in accordance with the selected positioning method.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to derive a position estimate for the SET for each reporting event when a SET assisted positioning method is selected.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to receive a position estimate from the SET for each reporting event when a SET based positioning method is selected.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to receive measurements from the SET for each reporting event and to derive a position estimate for the SET based on the received measurements.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein for each of the plurality of times the at least one processor is configured to receive from the SET a message to start a positioning session and to perform positioning with the SET to obtain a position estimate for the SET, the position estimate being used for one or more reporting events.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein for each of the plurality of times the at least one processor is configured to receive from the SET a message including a position estimate determined by the SET.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein for each of the plurality of times the at least one processor is configured to:

receive from the SET a message to start a positioning session,

forward the message to a Visited SUPL Location Platform (V-SLP),

facilitate exchange of messages between the V-SLP and the SET for the positioning session, and

receive a position estimate for the SET from the V-SLP, the position estimate being used for one or more reporting events.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein for each of the plurality of times the at least one processor is configured to:

receive from the SET a message to start a positioning session,

obtain coarse position of the SET from a Visited SUPL Location Platform (V-SLP), and

perform positioning with the SET using the coarse position of the SET to determine a position estimate for the SET, the position estimate being used for one or more reporting events.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to select a reporting mode from among multiple reporting modes comprising a real time reporting mode, a quasi-real time reporting mode, and a batch reporting mode.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one processor is configured to send to the SET at least one condition for sending reports if the batch reporting mode is selected.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the at least one processor is configured to send to the SET at least one criterion for selecting position estimates to report.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the SUPL agent is external to the SET.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the SUPL agent is internal to the SET, and wherein the at least one processor is configured to send the position estimate to the SET for each reporting event.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to authenticate the SUPL agent and to verify that the SUPL agent is authorized to request position estimates for the SET.

17. A method comprising:

receiving from a Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) agent a request for position estimates for a SUPL enabled terminal (SET);

starting a location session with the SET;

communicating with the SET to determine a plurality of position estimates for the SET at a plurality of times ascertained by the SET during the location session;

obtaining at least one of the plurality of position estimates for the SET for at least one reporting event during the location session; and

sending a position estimate obtained for each reporting event to the SUPL agent.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving from the SET a message to start a positioning session for each of the plurality of times; and

performing positioning with the SET for each of the plurality of times to obtain a position estimate for the SET, the position estimate being used for one or more reporting events.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving from the SET a message to start a positioning session for each of the plurality of times;

forwarding the message to a Visited SUPL Location Platform (V-SLP);

facilitating exchange of messages between the V-SLP and the SET for the positioning session; and

receiving a position estimate for the SET from the V-SLP, the position estimate being used for one or more reporting events.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

receiving from the SET a message to start a positioning session for each of the plurality of times;

obtaining coarse position the SET from a Visited SUPL Location Platform (V-SLP); and

performing positioning with the SET using the coarse position of the SET to obtain a position estimate for the SET, the position estimate being used for one or more reporting events.

21. An apparatus comprising:

means for receiving from a Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) agent a request for position estimates for a SUPL enabled terminal (SET);

means for starting a location session with the SET;

means for communicating with the SET to determine a plurality of position estimates for the SET at a plurality of times ascertained by the SET during the location session;

means for obtaining at least one of the plurality of position estimates for the SET for at least one reporting event during the location session; and

means for sending a position estimate obtained for each reporting event to the SUPL agent.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:

means for receiving from the SET a message to start a positioning session for each of the plurality of times; and

means for performing positioning with the SET for each of the plurality of times to obtain a position estimate for the SET, the position estimate being used for one or more reporting events.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:

means for receiving from the SET a message to start a positioning session for each of the plurality of times;

means for forwarding the message to a Visited SUPL Location Platform (V-SLP);

means for facilitating exchange of messages between the V-SLP and the SET for the positioning session; and

means for receiving a position estimate for the SET from the V-SLP, the position estimate being used for one or more reporting events.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising:

means for receiving from the SET a message to start a positioning session for each of the plurality of times;

means for obtaining coarse position of the SET from a Visited SUPL Location Platform (V-SLP); and

means for performing positioning with the SET using the coarse position of the SET to obtain a position estimate for the SET, the position estimate being used for one or more reporting events.

25. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

receive a request from a Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) agent for position estimates for a SUPL enabled terminal (SET),

start a location session with a Home SUPL Location Platform (H-SLP),

communicate with the H-SLP to determine a plurality of position estimates for the SET at a plurality of times ascertained by the SET during the location session, and

communicate with the H-SLP for at least one reporting event during the location session to provide to the SUPL agent at least one of the plurality of position estimates for the SET.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine each reporting event based on at least one trigger condition.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine whether the at least one trigger condition is met based on expiration of a timer.

28. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein for each of the plurality of times the at least one processor is configured to compare a position estimate for the SET with an event area and to determine whether the at least one trigger condition is met based on result of the comparison.

29. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein for each of the plurality of times the at least one processor is configured to send to the H-SLP a message to start a positioning session and to perform positioning with the H-SLP to obtain a position estimate for the SET, the position estimate being used for one or more reporting events.

30. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein for each of the plurality of times the at least one processor is configured to derive a position estimate for the SET and to send the position estimate to the H-SLP.

31. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein for each of the plurality of times the at least one processor is configured to send to the H-SLP a message to start a positioning session and to perform positioning with a Visited SUPL Location Platform (V-SLP) to obtain a position estimate for the SET, the position estimate being used for one or more reporting events.

32. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the SUPL agent is external to the SET, and wherein the at least one processor is configured to receive the request from the SUPL agent via the H-SLP.

33. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the SUPL agent is internal to the SET, and wherein the at least one processor is configured to send a message to the H-SLP to start the location session.

34. A method comprising:

receiving a request from a Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) agent for position estimates for a SUPL enabled terminal (SET);

starting a location session with a Home SUPL Location Platform (H-SLP);

communicating with the H-SLP to determine a plurality of position estimates for the SET at a plurality of times ascertained by the SET during the location session; and

communicating with the H-SLP for at least one reporting event during the location session to provide to the SUPL agent at least one of the plurality of position estimates for the SET.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising:

sending to the H-SLP a message to start a positioning session for each of the plurality of times; and

performing positioning with the H-SLP for each of the plurality of times to obtain a position estimate for the SET, the position estimate being used for one or more reporting events.

36. The method of claim 34, further comprising:

sending to the H-SLP a message to start a positioning session for each of the plurality of times; and

performing positioning with a Visited SUPL Location Platform (V-SLP) for each of the plurality of time to obtain a position estimate for the SET, the position estimate being used for one or more reporting events.

37. An apparatus comprising:

means for receiving a request from a Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) agent for position estimates for a SUPL enabled terminal (SET);

means for starting a location session with a Home SUPL Location Platform (H-SLP);

means for communicating with the H-SLP to determine a plurality of position estimates for the SET at a plurality of times ascertained by the SET during the location session; and

means for communicating with the H-SLP for at least one reporting event during the location session to provide to the SUPL agent at least one of the plurality of position estimates for the SET.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, further comprising:

means for sending to the H-SLP a message to start a positioning session for each of the plurality of times; and

means for performing positioning with the H-SLP for each of the plurality of times to obtain a position estimate for the SET, the position estimate being used for one or more reporting events.

39. The apparatus of claim 37, further comprising:

means for sending to the H-SLP a message to start a positioning session for each of the plurality of times; and

means for performing positioning with a Visited SUPL Location Platform (V-SLP) for each of the plurality of times to obtain a position estimate for the SET, the position estimate being used for one or more reporting events.

40. A computer-readable medium having instructions encoded thereon executable by a computer, the instructions when executed on a computer perform the method comprising:

starting a location session with a SUPL enabled terminal (SET) in response to a request from a Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) agent for position estimates for the SET;

communicating with the SET to determine a plurality of position estimates for the SET at a plurality of times ascertained by the SET during the location session;

obtaining at least one of the plurality of position estimates for the SET for at least one reporting event during the location session; and

sending a position estimate obtained for each reporting event to the SUPL agent.

41. The computer-readable medium of claim 40, wherein the instructions when executed on a computer further perform the method comprising:

performing positioning with the SET for each of the plurality of times to obtain a position estimate for the SET, in response to a received message from the SET to start a positioning session for each of the plurality of times, the position estimate being used for one or more reporting events.

42. The computer-readable medium of claim 40, wherein the instructions when executed on a computer further perform the method comprising:

forwarding a received message from the SET to start a positioning session for each of the plurality of times to a Visited SUPL Location Platform (V-SLP);

facilitating exchange of messages between the V-SLP and the SET for the positioning session; and

wherein the position estimate being used for one or more reporting events is a received position estimate for the SET from the V-SLP.

43. The computer-readable medium of claim 40, wherein the instructions when executed on a computer further perform the method comprising:

obtaining coarse position of the SET from a Visited SUPL Location Platform (V-SLP) in response to a message from SET to start a positioning session for each of the plurality of times; and

performing positioning with the SET using the coarse position of the SET to obtain a position estimate for the SET, the position estimate being used for one or more reporting events.

44. A computer-readable medium having instructions encoded thereon executable by a computer, the instructions when executed on a computer perform the method comprising:

starting a location session with a Home SUPL Location Platform (H-SLP), in response to a request from a Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) agent for position estimates for a SUPL enabled terminal (SET);

communicating with the H-SLP to determine a plurality of position estimates for the SET at a plurality of times ascertained by the SET during the location session; and

communicating with the H-SLP for at least one reporting event during the location session to provide to the SUPL agent at least one of the plurality of position estimates for the SET.

45. The computer-readable medium of claim 44, wherein the instructions when executed on a computer further perform the method comprising:

sending the H-SLP a message to start a positioning session for each of the plurality of times; and

performing positioning with the H-SLP for each of the plurality of times to obtain a position estimate for the SET, the position estimate being used for one or more reporting events.

46. The computer-readable medium of claim 44, wherein the instructions when executed on a computer further perform the method comprising:

sending to the H-SLP a message to start a positioning session for each of the plurality of times; and

performing positioning with a Visited SUPL Location Platform (V-SLP) for each of the plurality of time to obtain a position estimate for the SET, the position estimate being used for one or more reporting events.