Location continuity service for locating mobile devices using multiple access networks including wireless telecommunication networks
First Claim
1. A method for determining an estimated location of a mobile device that is in range of two or more overlapping access networks, the method comprising:
- specifying a reconciliation process applicable to a mobile device that is in range of two or more overlapping access networks,wherein the mobile device is capable of registering with the two or more overlapping access networks and obtaining location data from the two or more overlapping access networks, andwherein the reconciliation process uses stored data reflecting a time series of how the mobile device moves from one access network to another over time;
initiating, in accordance with the specified reconciliation process, location estimations of the mobile device in at least two of the overlapping access networks;
receiving, during a time window, one or more sets of location data for the mobile device generated by the initiated location estimations in the two or more overlapping access networks; and
determining, in accordance with the specified reconciliation process, an estimated location of the mobile device using the one or more received sets of location data.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A location continuity service having a location continuity application server (“LCAS”) that utilizes location data generated by multiple networks to determine the location of a mobile device is disclosed. The LCAS specifies a suitable reconciliation process that identifies two or more location estimation techniques that are implemented by different access networks and indicates how to utilize the location data produced by the identified estimation techniques. The LCAS interacts with various access networks identified by the reconciliation process in order to receive location data (e.g., positioning measurements and/or estimated locations) generated by the access networks and analyzes the received data to determine the location of a mobile device and provide the determined location to a location-based service. In some examples, an LCAS also provides location continuity when a mobile device moves between a home communications system and a visited communications system.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for determining an estimated location of a mobile device that is in range of two or more overlapping access networks, the method comprising:
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specifying a reconciliation process applicable to a mobile device that is in range of two or more overlapping access networks, wherein the mobile device is capable of registering with the two or more overlapping access networks and obtaining location data from the two or more overlapping access networks, and wherein the reconciliation process uses stored data reflecting a time series of how the mobile device moves from one access network to another over time; initiating, in accordance with the specified reconciliation process, location estimations of the mobile device in at least two of the overlapping access networks; receiving, during a time window, one or more sets of location data for the mobile device generated by the initiated location estimations in the two or more overlapping access networks; and determining, in accordance with the specified reconciliation process, an estimated location of the mobile device using the one or more received sets of location data. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A location continuity system for determining an estimated location of a mobile device that is in range of two or more overlapping access networks, the system comprising:
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a selection module that specifies a reconciliation process for a mobile device that is in range of two or more overlapping access networks, wherein the mobile device is capable of registering with the two or more overlapping access networks and obtaining location data from the two or more overlapping access networks, and wherein the reconciliation process uses stored data reflecting a time series of how the mobile device moves from one access network to another over time; a request module that initiates, in accordance with the specified reconciliation process, location estimations of the mobile device in at least two of the overlapping access networks; and an analysis module that receives, during a time window, one or more sets of location data for the mobile device from the two or more overlapping access networks, and determines, in accordance with the specified reconciliation process, an estimated location of the mobile device using the one or more received sets of location data. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification