Location determination using cached location area codes
First Claim
1. A method executed by a computer, comprising:
- receiving, from a set of first mobile devices;
at least one location area code (LAC) of a cellular communications network, wherein each LAC is associated with a unique location area;
cell identifiers of the cellular communication network; and
a set of geographic locations of the set of first mobile devices, each of the geographic locations corresponding to one of the first mobile devices;
calculating an estimated size of the location area of each received LAC, the estimated size being represented as an estimated number of cells included in the location area, wherein the estimated number of cells is determined based on the cell identifiers received from the set of first mobile devices;
selecting at least one LAC based on the estimated size of the location area of the LAC reaching or exceeding a specified threshold;
determining, for each selected LAC, an estimated LAC location of the selected LAC using the set of geographic locations;
associating each selected LAC with the estimated LAC location based on the determining; and
providing at least one selected LAC and the estimated LAC location associated with the at least one selected LAC to a second mobile device for estimating a current location of the second mobile device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods, program products, and systems for location determination using cached location area codes are described. A server computer can receive location information from location-aware mobile devices (e.g., GPS-enabled devices) located in a location area of a cellular communications network. The server computer can also receive from the mobile device the location area code associated with the location area in which the mobile devices are located. The server computer can estimate a coarse geographic location of the location area, as well as a number of cells encompassed by the location area using the received information. The server computer can store the estimated geographic locations associated with sufficiently large location areas (e.g., location areas having more than a certain number of cells). The server computer can provide the stored geographic locations to second mobile devices that are not GPS-enabled for estimating current locations of the second mobile devices.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method executed by a computer, comprising:
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receiving, from a set of first mobile devices; at least one location area code (LAC) of a cellular communications network, wherein each LAC is associated with a unique location area; cell identifiers of the cellular communication network; and a set of geographic locations of the set of first mobile devices, each of the geographic locations corresponding to one of the first mobile devices; calculating an estimated size of the location area of each received LAC, the estimated size being represented as an estimated number of cells included in the location area, wherein the estimated number of cells is determined based on the cell identifiers received from the set of first mobile devices; selecting at least one LAC based on the estimated size of the location area of the LAC reaching or exceeding a specified threshold; determining, for each selected LAC, an estimated LAC location of the selected LAC using the set of geographic locations; associating each selected LAC with the estimated LAC location based on the determining; and providing at least one selected LAC and the estimated LAC location associated with the at least one selected LAC to a second mobile device for estimating a current location of the second mobile device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A system, comprising:
one or more computers configured to perform operations comprising; receiving, from a set of first mobile devices; at least one location area code (LAC) of a cellular communications network, wherein each LAC is associated with a unique location area; cell identifiers of the cellular communication network; and a set of geographic locations of the set of first mobile devices, each of the geographic locations corresponding to one of the first mobile devices; calculating an estimated size location area of each received LAC, the estimated size being represented as a number of cells included in the location area, wherein the estimated number of cells is determined based on the cell identifiers received from the set of first mobile devices; selecting at least one LAC based on the estimated size of the location area of the LAC reaching or exceeding a specified threshold; determining, for each selected LAC, an estimated LAC location of the selected LAC using the set of geographic locations; associating each selected LAC with the estimated LAC location based on the determining; and providing at least one selected LAC and the estimated LAC location associated with the at least one selected LAC to a second mobile device for estimating a current location of the second mobile device. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer program product tangibly stored on a non-transitory storage device, operable to cause data processing apparatus to perform operations comprising:
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receiving, from a set of first mobile device; at least one location area code (LAC) of a cellular communications network, wherein each LAC is associated with a unique location area; cell identifiers of the cellular communication network; and a set of geographic locations of the set of first mobile devices, each of the geographic locations corresponding to one of the first mobile devices; calculating an estimated size of the location area of each received LAC, the estimated size being represented as a number of cells included in the location area, wherein the estimated number of cells is determined based on the cell identifiers received from the set of first mobile devices; selecting at least one LAC based on the estimated size of the location area of the LAC reaching or exceeding a specified threshold; determining, for each selected LAC an estimated LAC location of the selected LAC using the set of geographic locations; associating each selected LAC with the estimated LAC location based on the determining; and providing at least one selected LAC and the estimated LAC location associated with the at least one selected LAC to a second mobile device for estimating a current location of the second mobile device. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification