Location tracking of mobile phone using GPS function

• US 8,121,620 B2
• Filed: 03/22/2007
• Issued: 02/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kyndryl Incorporated (Kyndryl Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kim, Jonghae, Kim, Moon J., Plouchart, Jean-Oliver
• Primary Examiner(s): Corsaro, Nick
• Assistant Examiner(s): Choo, Munsoon
• Application Number:
  US11/689,653
• Publication Number:
  US 20080231499A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,797 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.2, 455/414.2, 4554561-4563, 455/457
• US Class Current: 455/456.2
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/002 for traffic control, mobile tracking, guidance, surveillance or anti-collision
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/008 using a mobile telephone network
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0036 of measured values, i.e. measurement on mobile and position calculation on base station
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/10 Position of receiver fixed by co-ordinating a plurality of position lines defined by path-difference measurements , e.g. omega or decca systemsG01S5/12 takes precedence ; beacons and receivers cooperating therewith G01S1/306, G01S1/308
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

A system, method, service and mobile device are disclosed for providing a location of the mobile device. The invention utilizes a mobile phone with a global positioning system (GPS) module which is located in a wireless network. A third party device is able to submit a location query to a mobile telephone service operator (MTSO). This location query includes the mobile phone'"'"'s telephone number. Using the telephone number, the MTSO determines the base station with which the mobile phone is associated. The location query is then forwarded to the mobile phone via the base station. The mobile phone collects the GPS data from the GPS module and forwards the GPS data to the base station. The base station converts the GPS data to location information and forwards the location information to the third party device via the MTSO.

Claims

1. A method for locating a mobile phone in a wireless network, comprising:

receiving at a mobile telephone service operator (MTSO) a location query from a third party device, the location query including a request for a location of a mobile phone having a global positioning system (GPS) module, the location query further including a telephone number of the mobile phone, and a password;

determining a base station to which the mobile phone is associated based on the telephone number provided in the location query;

forwarding the location query to the mobile phone via the base station, the mobile phone including a hidden/password mode that blocks GPS data from being sent by the mobile phone to the base station unless the location query includes a matching password, the mobile phone determining whether the password of the location query is a matching password, and the mobile phone sending GPS data to the base station responsive to the password of the location query being a matching password;

responsive to the mobile phone determining that the password of the location query is a matching password and sending the GPS data, receiving GPS data from the mobile phone in response to the forwarding and converting the GPS data to location information; and

forwarding the location information to the third party device via the MTSO.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the third party device comprises a telephone.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the third party device comprises a website.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining, with the mobile phone, whether the mobile phone is in the hidden/password mode; and

responsive to the mobile phone being in the hidden/password mode, blocking GPS data from being sent by the mobile phone unless the password of the location query is a matching password, determining with the mobile phone whether the password of the location query is a matching password, and, responsive to the password of the location query being a matching password, sending GPS data with the mobile device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the location information includes an address.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the location information includes a point on a map.

7. A computer program product comprising program code on at least one computer readable storage device that, when executed by at least one computing device, implements a system for locating a mobile phone in a wireless network, the computer program product comprising:

program code configured to receive a location query of a mobile phone having a global positioning system (GPS) module from a third party device at a mobile telephone service operator (MTSO), wherein the location query includes a telephone number of the mobile phone and a password;

program code configured to determine a base station to which the mobile phone is associated based on the telephone number provided in the location query;

program code configured to forward the location query to the mobile phone via the base station;

program code configured to be executed by the mobile phone and to include on the mobile phone a hidden/password mode in which the mobile phone blocks GPS data from being sent to the base station unless the location query includes a matching password, the mobile phone determining whether the password is a matching password;

program code configured to receive, responsive to the forwarding, GPS data from the GPS module incorporated into the mobile phone;

program code configured to convert the GPS data to location information; and

program code configured to forward the GPS data to the third party device via the MTSO.

8. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the third party device comprises a telephone.

9. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the third party device comprises a website.

10. The computer program product of claim 7, wherein the program code configured to be executed by the mobile phone includes a program code configured to determine whether the mobile phone is in the hidden/password mode in which the mobile phone blocks GPS data from being sent to the base station unless the location query includes a matching password, the program code including program code configured to enable the mobile phone to block the GPS data from being sent.

11. The computer program product of claim 7, further comprising program code configured to convert the GPS data into an address.

12. The computer program product of claim 7, further comprising program code configured to convert the GPS data into a point on a map.