Method for secure user plane (SUPL) version negotiation

• US 8,145,769 B2
• Filed: 08/11/2008
• Issued: 03/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Edge, Stephen W., Wachter, Andreas K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Follansbee, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mejia, Anthony
• Application Number:
  US12/189,738
• Publication Number:
  US 20090083430A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,324 Days
• Field of Search: 709/228, 709/220
• US Class Current: 709/228
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/141 Setup of application sessions admission control or resource allocation in data switching networks H04L47/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a system and method for negotiating a version of Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) between a network entity and a SUPL enabled terminal. In a particular implementation, a SUPL initiation message is transmitted from a network entity to a SUPL entity, where the SUPL initiation message identifies a plurality of SUPL versions capable of supporting a desired service. A response is received from the SUPL entity that is based, at least in part, on an ability of the SUPL entity to support at least one of the plurality of versions.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

transmitting a secure user plane location (SUPL) initiation message, from a network entity to an SUPL entity, the SUPL initiation message identifying a plurality of SUPL major versions comprising an intended SUPL major version;

receiving a response from the SUPL entity that is based, at least in part, on an ability of the SUPL entity to support at least one of the plurality of SUPL major versions, wherein the response indicates that the SUPL entity supports one of the SUPL major versions that is different from the intended SUPL major version; and

providing a location service that is based on the SUPL major version indicated as being supported by the SUPL entity.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the SUPL entity comprises an SUPL Enabled Terminal.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the network entity comprises an SUPL Location Platform.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising establishing a secure connection between the network entity and the SUPL entity prior to the receiving the response.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the secure connection comprises a Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol connection.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the receiving the response is performed via the secure connection.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the response from the SUPL entity comprises a transmission via one of the plurality of SUPL major versions configured to support a desired service.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of SUPL major versions are indicated by the intended SUPL major version and a minimum SUPL major version, the plurality of SUPL major versions indicated along with an intended SUPL minor version, the plurality of SUPL major versions comprising any major versions between the intended SUPL major version and the minimum SUPL major version inclusive.

40. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the SUPL initiation message is associated with an SUPL session; and

the SUPL session is continued using the SUPL major version indicated as being supported by the SUPL entity.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein:

the SUPL session is associated with a secure Internet Protocol connection; and

the secure Internet Protocol connection is continued along with the SUPL session.

9. A method comprising:

receiving, by a secure user plane location (SUPL) entity, an SUPL initiation message from a network entity, the SUPL initiation message identifying a plurality of SUPL major versions comprising an intended SUPL major version;

transmitting a response to the network entity that is based, at least in part, on an ability of the SUPL entity to support at least one of the plurality of SUPL major versions, wherein the response indicates that the SUPL entity supports one of the SUPL major versions that is different from the intended SUPL major version; and

receiving a location service that is based on the SUPL major version indicated as being supported by the SUPL entity.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the SUPL entity comprises an SUPL Enabled Terminal.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the network entity comprises an SUPL Location Platform.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising establishing a secure connection between the SUPL entity and the network entity prior to the transmitting.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the transmitting the response is performed via the secure connection.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the response comprises a transmission via one of the plurality of SUPL major versions configured to support a desired service.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the plurality of SUPL major versions are indicated by the intended SUPL major version and a minimum SUPL major version, the plurality of SUPL major versions indicated along with an intended SUPL minor version, the plurality of SUPL major versions comprising any major versions between the intended SUPL major version and the minimum SUPL major version inclusive.

42. The method of claim 9, wherein:

the SUPL initiation message is associated with an SUPL session; and

the SUPL session is continued using the SUPL major version indicated as being supported by the SUPL entity.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein:

the SUPL session is associated with a secure Internet Protocol connection; and

the secure Internet Protocol connection is continued along with the SUPL session.

16. An apparatus comprising:

transmission means for transmitting a secure user plane location (SUPL) initiation message to an SUPL entity, the SUPL initiation message identifying a plurality of SUPL major versions comprising an intended SUPL major version;

receiving means for receiving a response from the SUPL entity that is based, at least in part, on an ability of the SUPL entity to support at least one of the plurality of SUPL major versions, wherein the response indicates that the SUPL entity supports one of the SUPL major versions that is different from the intended SUPL major version; and

location means for providing a location service that is based on the SUPL major version indicated as being supported by the SUPL entity.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the apparatus comprises a network entity.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising connection means for establishing a secure connection between the apparatus and the SUPL entity prior to the receiving.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the plurality of SUPL major versions are indicated by the intended SUPL major version and a minimum SUPL major version, the plurality of SUPL major versions indicated along with an intended SUPL minor version, the plurality of SUPL major versions comprising any major versions between the intended SUPL major version and the minimum SUPL major version inclusive.

44. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein:

the SUPL initiation message is associated with an SUPL session; and

the SUPL session is continued using the SUPL major version indicated as being supported by the SUPL entity.

20. An apparatus comprising:

receiving means for receiving a secure user plane location (SUPL) initiation message from a network entity, the SUPL initiation message identifying a plurality of SUPL major versions comprising an intended SUPL major version;

transmission means for transmitting a response to the network entity that is based, at least in part, on an ability of the apparatus to support at least one of the plurality of SUPL major versions,

wherein the response indicates that the apparatus supports one of the SUPL major versions that is different from the intended SUPL major version; and

receiving means for receiving a location service that is based on the SUPL major version indicated as being supported by the apparatus.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the apparatus comprises an SUPL entity.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the SUPL entity comprises an SUPL Enabled Terminal.

23. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the network entity comprises an SUPL Location Platform.

24. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising connection means for establishing a secure connection between the apparatus and the network entity prior to the transmitting.

25. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the response comprises a transmission via one of the plurality of SUPL major versions.

26. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the plurality of SUPL major versions are indicated by the intended SUPL major version and a minimum SUPL major version, the plurality of SUPL major versions indicated along with an intended SUPL minor version, the plurality of SUPL major versions comprising any major versions between the intended SUPL major version and the minimum SUPL major version inclusive.

49. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein:

the SUPL initiation message is associated with an SUPL session; and

the SUPL session is continued using the SUPL major version indicated as being supported by the SUPL entity.

27. A secure user plane location (SUPL) entity comprising:

a receiver to receive a secure user plane location (SUPL) initiation message from a network entity, the SUPL initiation message identifying a plurality of SUPL major versions comprising an intended SUPL major version;

a processor to determine a response to the network entity that is based, at least in part, on an ability of the SUPL entity to support at least one of the plurality of SUPL major versions,

wherein the response indicates that the SUPL entity supports one of the SUPL major versions that is different from the intended SUPL major version; and

a transmitter to transmit the response to the network entity,

wherein the receiver is further configured to receive a location service that is based on the SUPL major version indicated as being supported by the SUPL entity.

28. The SUPL entity of claim 27, wherein the SUPL entity comprises an SUPL Enabled Terminal.

29. The SUPL entity of claim 27, wherein at least one of the receiver and the transmitter is configured to establish a secure connection between the SUPL entity and the network entity prior to receiving the SUPL initiation message.

30. The SUPL entity of claim 27, wherein the response comprises a transmission via one of the plurality of SUPL major versions.

50. The SUPL entity of claim 27, wherein the plurality of SUPL major versions are indicated by the intended SUPL major version and a minimum SUPL major version, the plurality of SUPL major versions indicated along with an intended SUPL minor version, the plurality of SUPL major versions comprising any major versions between the intended SUPL major version and the minimum SUPL major version inclusive.

51. The SUPL entity of claim 27, wherein:

the SUPL initiation message is associated with an SUPL session; and

the SUPL session is continued using the SUPL major version indicated as being supported by the SUPL entity.

31. A network entity comprising:

a processor to determine a secure user plane location (SUPL) initiation message to transmit to an SUPL entity to initiate an SUPL session, the SUPL initiation message identifying a plurality of SUPL major versions comprising an intended SUPL major version;

a transmitter to transmit the SUPL initiation message to the SUPL entity; and

a receiver to receive a response from the SUPL entity that is based, at least in part, on an ability of the SUPL entity to support at least one of the plurality of SUPL major versions, wherein the response indicates that the SUPL entity supports one of the SUPL major versions that is different from the intended SUPL major version; and

a communication element configured to provide a location service that is based on the SUPL major version indicated as being supported by the SUPL entity.

32. The network entity of claim 31, wherein the network entity comprises an SUPL Location Platform.

33. The network entity of claim 31, wherein at least one of the receiver and the transmitter are configured to establish a secure connection between the network entity and the SUPL entity prior to receiving the response.

45. The network entity of claim 31, wherein the plurality of SUPL major versions are indicated by the intended SUPL major version and a minimum SUPL major version, the plurality of SUPL major versions indicated along with an intended SUPL minor version, the plurality of SUPL major versions comprising any major versions between the intended SUPL major version and the minimum SUPL major version inclusive.

46. The network entity of claim 31, wherein:

the SUPL initiation message is associated with an SUPL session; and

the SUPL session is continued using the SUPL major version indicated as being supported by the SUPL entity.

34. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing instructions, which, when executed by a computing platform, cause the computing platform to perform operations, the instructions comprising:

program code to transmit a secure user plane location (SUPL) initiation message, from a network entity to an SUPL entity, the SUPL initiation message identifying a plurality of SUPL major versions comprising an intended SUPL major version;

program code to receive a response from the SUPL entity that is based, at least in part, on an ability of the SUPL entity to support at least one of the plurality of SUPL major versions,

wherein the response indicates that the SUPL entity supports one of the SUPL major versions that is different from the intended SUPL major version; and

program code to provide a location service that is based on the SUPL major version indicated as being supported by the SUPL entity.

35. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 34, wherein the instructions are further configured to enable the computing platform to establish a secure connection between the network entity and the SUPL entity prior to receiving the response from the SUPL entity.

36. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 35, further comprising:

program code to receive the response via the secure connection.

47. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 34, wherein the plurality of SUPL major versions are indicated by the intended SUPL major version and a minimum SUPL major version, the plurality of SUPL major versions indicated along with an intended SUPL minor version, the plurality of SUPL major versions comprising any major versions between the intended SUPL major version and the minimum SUPL major version inclusive.

48. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 34, wherein:

the SUPL initiation message is associated with an SUPL session; and

the SUPL session is continued using the SUPL major version indicated as being supported by the SUPL entity.

37. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing instructions, which, when executed by a computing platform, cause the computing platform to perform operations, the instructions comprising:

program code to receive, by a secure user plane location (SUPL) entity, an SUPL initiation message from a network entity, the SUPL initiation message identifying a plurality of SUPL major versions comprising an intended SUPL major version; and

program code to transmit a response to the network entity that is based, at least in part, on an ability of the SUPL entity to support at least one of the plurality of SUPL major versions,

wherein the response indicates that the SUPL entity supports one of the SUPL major versions that is different from the intended SUPL major version; and

program code to receive a location service that is based on the SUPL major version indicated as being supported by the SUPL entity.

38. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 37, further comprising:

program code to establish a secure connection between the SUPL entity and the network entity prior to transmitting the response.

39. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 38, further comprising:

program code to transmit the response via the secure connection.

52. The non-transitory computer-readable storage medium of claim 37, wherein:

the SUPL initiation message is associated with an SUPL session; and

the SUPL session is continued using the SUPL major version indicated as being supported by the SUPL entity.