Position location call flow

• US 8,699,460 B2
• Filed: 04/06/2011
• Issued: 04/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Wachter, Andreas K., Edge, Stephen William, Lin, Ie-Hong
• Primary Examiner(s): JAIN, RAJ K
• Application Number:
  US13/081,396
• Publication Number:
  US 20110249623A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,105 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/331
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/222 using geographical location information, e.g. messages transmitted or received in proximity of a certain spot or area
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• 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 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/56 Provisioning of proxy services store-and-forward switching systems in data switching networks H04L12/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel

Abstract

Techniques for initiating and, if desired, modifying location services for Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) and other location architectures are described. To initiate SUPL service, a SUPL Location Platform (SLP) transmits a SUPL initial session message applicable to any service request to a SUPL enabled terminal (SET) and receives in response the service capabilities of the SET. The SLP selects and requests service from the SET consistent with the service capabilities of the SET. The SET may initiate SUPL service by requesting the service capabilities of the SLP. The SET selects and requests service from the SLP that is consistent with the service capabilities received from the SLP. The SET and SLP communicate to determine a position estimate for the SET. The service may be modified before or while communicating between the SET and the SLP to determine a position estimate for the SET.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

receive from a Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) agent a request for at least one position estimate for a SUPL enabled terminal (SET);

transmit to the SET a SUPL initial session message applicable to any service request;

receive from the SET service capabilities of the SET;

select and request service from the SET that is consistent with the service capabilities of the SET, wherein the service capabilities are different than positioning capabilities and wherein all service related parameters are provided in a different protocol layer than positioning related parameters with the exception of positioning protocol identification;

communicate with the SET to determine at least one position estimate for the SET; and

send the at least one position estimate to the SUPL agent.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein no positioning parameters are provided prior to requesting service from the SET.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine a position estimate for the SET for each of at least one reporting event.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to provide service capabilities to the SET in response to receipt of the service capabilities of the SET.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is configured to receive from the SET a service modification request with service parameters that are modified with respect to the service requested from the SET.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the at least one processor is configured to receive from the SET the service modification request after requesting service from the SET but before communicating with the SET to determine the at least one position estimate for the SET.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the at least one processor is configured to receive from the SET the service modification request while communicating with the SET to determine the at least one position estimate for the SET.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the at least one processor is configured to:

communicate with the SET to determine a plurality of position estimates for the SET at a plurality of times ascertained by the SET; and

obtain the plurality of position estimates for the SET, wherein the service modification request is received between position estimates.

9. A method comprising:

receiving from a Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) agent a request for at least one position estimate for a SUPL enabled terminal (SET);

transmitting to the SET a SUPL initial session message applicable to any service request;

receiving from the SET service capabilities of the SET;

selecting and requesting service from the SET that is consistent with the service capabilities of the SET, wherein the service capabilities are different than positioning capabilities and wherein all service related parameters are provided in a different protocol layer than positioning related parameters with the exception of positioning protocol identification;

communicating with the SET to determine at least one position estimate for the SET; and

sending the at least one position estimate to the SUPL agent.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein no positioning parameters are provided prior to requesting service from the SET.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising determining a position estimate for the SET for each of at least one reporting event.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising providing service capabilities to the SET in response to receipt of the service capabilities of the SET.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising receiving from the SET a service modification request with service parameters that are modified with respect to the service requested from the SET.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the service modification request is received after requesting service from the SET but before communicating with the SET to determine the at least one position estimate for the SET.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the service modification request is received while communicating with the SET to determine the at least one position estimate for the SET.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

communicating with the SET to determine a plurality of position estimates for the SET at a plurality of times ascertained by the SET; and

obtaining the plurality of position estimates for the SET, wherein the service modification request is received between position estimates.

17. A system comprising:

means for receiving from a Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) agent a request for at least one position estimate for a SUPL enabled terminal (SET);

means for transmitting to the SET a SUPL initial session message applicable to any service request;

means for receiving from the SET service capabilities of the SET;

means for selecting and requesting service from the SET that is consistent with the service capabilities of the SET, wherein the service capabilities are different than positioning capabilities and wherein all service related parameters are provided in a different protocol layer than positioning related parameters with the exception of positioning protocol identification;

means for communicating with the SET to determine at least one position estimate for the SET; and

means for sending the at least one position estimate to the SUPL agent.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein no positioning parameters are provided prior to requesting service from the SET.

19. The system of claim 17, further comprising means for receiving from the SET a service modification request with service parameters that are modified with respect to the service requested from the SET.

20. A computer-readable medium including program code stored thereon, comprising:

program code to receive from a Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) agent a request for at least one position estimate for a SUPL enabled terminal (SET);

program code to transmit to the SET a SUPL initial session message applicable to any service request;

program code to receive from the SET service capabilities of the SET;

program code to select and request service from the SET that is consistent with the service capabilities of the SET, wherein the service capabilities are different than positioning capabilities and wherein all service related parameters are provided in a different protocol layer than positioning related parameters with the exception of positioning protocol identification;

program code to communicate with the SET to determine at least one position estimate for the SET; and

program code to send the at least one position estimate to the SUPL agent.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 20, wherein no positioning parameters are provided prior to requesting service from the SET.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 20, further comprising program code to receive from the SET a service modification request with service parameters that are modified with respect to the service requested from the SET.

23. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor configured to;

receive a request from a Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) agent for at least one position estimate for a SUPL enabled terminal (SET);

determine service capabilities of a SUPL Location Platform (SLP), wherein all service related parameters are provided in a different protocol layer than positioning related parameters with the exception of positioning protocol identification;

select and request service from the SLP that is consistent with the service capabilities of the SLP;

communicate with the SLP to determine at least one position estimate for the SET; and

communicate with the SLP to provide to the SUPL agent at least one position estimate for the SET.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein no positioning parameters are provided prior to requesting service from the SLP.

25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the at least one processor is configured to:

request from the SLP the service capabilities of the SLP to start a SUPL session with the SLP;

receive from the SLP the service capabilities of the SLP to determine service capabilities of the SLP.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the at least one processor is configured to provide service capabilities of the SET to the SLP with the request from the SET for service capabilities of the SLP.

27. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the at least one processor is configured to use information from a previous session with the SLP to determine service capabilities of the SLP.

28. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the at least one processor is configured to receive from the SLP a service modification request with service parameters that are modified with respect to the service requested from the SLP.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the at least one processor is configured to receive from the SLP the service modification request after requesting service from the SLP but before communicate with the SLP to determine at least one position estimate for the SET.

30. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the at least one processor is configured to receive from the SLP the service modification request while communicate with the SLP to determine at least one position estimate for the SET.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the at least one processor is configured to:

communicate with the SLP to determine a plurality of position estimates for the SET at a plurality of times ascertained by the SET; and

communicate with the SLP to provide to the SUPL agent the plurality of position estimates for the SET, wherein the service modification request is received between position estimates.

32. A method comprising:

receiving a request from a Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) agent for at least one position estimate for a SUPL enabled terminal (SET),

determining service capabilities of a SUPL Location Platform (SLP), wherein all service related parameters are provided in a different protocol layer than positioning related parameters with the exception of positioning protocol identification;

selecting and requesting service from the SLP that is consistent with the service capabilities of the SLP;

communicating with the SLP to determine at least one position estimate for the SET; and

communicating with the SLP to provide to the SUPL agent at least one position estimate for the SET.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein no positioning parameters are provided prior to requesting service from the SLP.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein determining the service capabilities comprises:

requesting from the SLP the service capabilities of the SLP to start a SUPL session with the SLP;

receiving from the SLP the service capabilities of the SLP.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising providing service capabilities of the SET to the SLP with the request from the SET for service capabilities of the SLP.

36. The method of claim 32, wherein the service capabilities are determined using information from a previous session with the SLP.

37. The method of claim 32, further comprising receiving from the SLP a service modification request with service parameters that are modified with respect to the service requested from the SLP.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the service modification request is received after requesting service from the SLP but before communicating with the SLP to determine at least one position estimate for the SET.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein the service modification request is received while communicating with the SLP to determine at least one position estimate for the SET.

40. The method of claim 39, further comprising:

communicating with the SLP to determine a plurality of position estimates for the SET at a plurality of times ascertained by the SET; and

communicating with the SLP to provide to the SUPL agent the plurality of position estimates for the SET, wherein the service modification request is received between position estimates.

41. A system comprising:

means for receiving a request from a Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) agent for at least one position estimate for a SUPL enabled terminal (SET),

means for determining service capabilities of a SUPL Location Platform (SLP), wherein all service related parameters are provided in a different protocol layer than positioning related parameters with the exception of positioning protocol identification;

means for selecting and requesting service from the SLP that is consistent with the service capabilities of the SLP;

means for communicating with the SLP to determine at least one position estimate for the SET; and

means for communicating with the SLP to provide to the SUPL agent at least one position estimate for the SET.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein no positioning parameters are provided prior to requesting service from the SLP.

43. The system of claim 41, further comprising means for receiving from the SLP a service modification request with service parameters that are modified with respect to the service requested from the SLP.

44. A computer-readable medium including program code stored thereon, comprising:

program code to receive a request from a Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) agent for at least one position estimate for a SUPL enabled terminal (SET),

program code to determine service capabilities of a SUPL Location Platform (SLP), wherein all service related parameters are provided in a different protocol layer than positioning related parameters with the exception of positioning protocol identification;

program code to select and request service from the SLP that is consistent with the service capabilities of the SLP;

program code to communicate with the SLP to determine at least one position estimate for the SET; and

program code to communicate with the SLP to provide to the SUPL agent at least one position estimate for the SET.

45. The computer-readable medium of claim 44, wherein no positioning parameters are provided prior to requesting service from the SLP.

46. The computer-readable medium of claim 44, further comprising program code to receive from the SLP a service modification request with service parameters that are modified with respect to the service requested from the SLP.

47. A method comprising:

receiving from a Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) agent a request for at least one position estimate for a SUPL enabled terminal (SET);

transmitting User plane Location Protocol (ULP) service layer messages between the SET and a SUPL Location Platform (SLP), wherein the ULP service layer messages do not contain any parameters directly related to positioning;

transmitting ULP positioning layer messages between the SET and the SLP, wherein the ULP positioning layer messages do not contain any service parameters, wherein all service related parameters are provided in a different protocol layer than positioning related parameters with the exception of positioning protocol identification; and

determining at least one position estimate for the SET.