Method and system for transmitting data on the location of a mobile terminal to a receiver by means of a mobile radio network

• US 8,180,374 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2007
• Issued: 05/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Deutsche Telekom AG
• Original Assignee: Deutsche Telekom AG
• Inventors: Kramarz-Von Kohout, Gerhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Gelin, Jean A
• Assistant Examiner(s): TAYLOR, NATHAN SCOTT
• Application Number:
  US11/733,143
• Publication Number:
  US 20070232328A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,863 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414, 4554561-4656, 455/456, 455/457, 455/562.1, 4554041-4042, 455/404
• US Class Current: 455/456.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections

Abstract

A method and a system for transmitting data on the location of a mobile radio terminal to a receiver by means of a mobile radio network. An area that lies within the service range of the mobile radio network is defined and is subdivided into several subareas. A plurality of different call numbers are assigned to the receiver, who can be called at each of the call numbers. One respective call number is injectively allocated to the subareas. The location of the mobile radio terminal is determined and is made available to the mobile radio system when a call request is addressed to the receiver by the mobile radio terminal. The determined location is associated with a subarea and thus with a call number of the receiver. A connection between the mobile radio terminal and the receiver is established based on said call number.

Claims

1. A method for transmitting data on the location of a mobile radio terminal to a receiver by means of a mobile radio network, comprising the following:

defining substantially the service range of a radio cell or a certain group of radio cells of the mobile radio network as a subarea;

assigning a plurality of different call numbers to the receiver, any one of these call numbers being valid for dialing the receiver;

allocating, respectively, each of these call numbers to one radio cell or certain group of radio cells such that each radio cell or certain group of radio cells has a unique call number;

determining the radio cell or certain group of radio cells in which the mobile radio terminal is located when a call request is addressed to the receiver by the mobile radio terminal during a call setup procedure wherein the radio cell or certain group of radio cells is determined by evaluating the cell identifier of the radio cell or certain group of radio cells;

making the subarea of the mobile radio terminal available to the mobile radio system when the call request is addressed to the receiver by the mobile radio terminal;

associating the determined radio cell or certain group of radio cells with an allocated call number of the receiver;

establishing a connection between the mobile radio terminal and the receiver based on said allocated call number;

by the receiver determining the associated radio cell or certain group of radio cells based solely on the allocated call number used for the connection; and

supplying the receiver with information on the subarea, and thus the approximate location of the mobile radio terminal.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein in the subareas are located in an area defined by a community limit, city limit, county limit, district limit, state border, or country border.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein substantially the service range of a certain group of radio cells of the mobile radio network is defined as a subarea.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of allocating call numbers is done injectively.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the subareas are located in an area that substantially comprises the entire service range of the mobile radio network.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the subareas are located in an area that substantially comprises a regional service range of a rescue or service organization.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein substantially the service range of a radio cell of the mobile radio network is defined as a subarea.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the call request addressed to the receiver is sent to a standardized call number that differs from the plurality of different call numbers.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the association of the determined location with the subarea and the call number assigned to the same is made in the mobile radio terminal.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the association of the determined location with the subarea and the call number assigned to the same is made in a power supply element of the mobile radio terminal.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein location information in the form of a cell identifier is used.

12. A system for transmitting data on the location of a mobile radio terminal to a receiver by means of a mobile radio network, comprising:

an administrative office and a mobile radio operator for defining substantially the service range of a radio cell or a certain group of radio cells of the mobile radio network as a subarea;

the administrative office assigning a plurality of different call numbers to the receiver, any one of these call numbers being valid for dialing the receiver;

the mobile radio operator allocating, respectively, each of these call numbers to one radio cell or certain group of radio cells such that each radio cell or certain group of radio cells has a unique call number;

a switching site for determining the radio cell or certain group of radio cells in which a mobile radio terminal is located when a call request is addressed to the receiver by the mobile radio terminal while setting up the call wherein the radio cell or certain group of radio cells is determined by evaluating the cell identifier of the radio cell or certain group of radio cells;

the switching site making the subarea of the mobile radio terminal available to the mobile radio system when the call request is addressed to the receiver by the mobile radio terminal;

the switching site and a database associating the determined radio cell or certain group of radio cells with an allocated call number of the receiver;

the switching site establishing a connection between the mobile radio terminal and the receiver at based on said allocated call number; and

technical installations at the receiver which, based solely on the allocated call number used for the connection, determine the associated radio cell or certain group of radio cells and thus the approximate location of the mobile radio terminal.