Methods and apparatus for identifying and authorizing location servers and location services

• US 8,738,027 B2
• Filed: 02/04/2012
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Edge, Stephen William, Wachter, Andreas Klaus, Hawkes, Philip Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): SHEDRICK, CHARLES TERRELL
• Application Number:
  US13/366,308
• Publication Number:
  US 20120202517A1
• Time in Patent Office: 843 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.3, 455/456.1, 455/414.3, 455/433, 455/404.2, 709/203, 709/233, 709/228, 709/217
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0281 Proxies
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/51 Discovery or management thereof, e.g. service location protocol [SLP] or web services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/082 using revocation of authorisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/084 using delegated authorisation, e.g. open authorisation [OAuth] protocol
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/50 for emergency connections

Abstract

Techniques are provided which may be implemented in various methods, apparatus, and/or articles of manufacture to allow a mobile device to obtain certain location service(s) and/or the like from one or more computing devices that have been authorized for use. For example, in certain implementations, an authorizing location server may obtain a first message from a mobile device indicating a first set of location servers, determine a second set of location servers based, at least in part, on the first set of location servers, and transmit a second message to the mobile device indicating that the second set of location servers are authorized for location service related access by the mobile device.

Claims

1. A method for use by one or more computing devices providing an authorizing location server, the method comprising:

obtaining a first message from a mobile device, said first message indicating a first set of location servers;

determining a second set of location servers based, at least in part, on said first set of location servers; and

transmitting a second message to said mobile device, said second message indicating said second set of location servers as being authorized for location service related access by said mobile device.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, said first message further indicating at least one of:

an estimated location of said mobile device;

a access network available for use by said mobile device; and

/or a Quality of Positioning (QoP) parameter.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, and further comprising:

determining said second set of location servers based, at least in part, on at least one of;

an estimated location of said mobile device;

a access network available for use by said mobile device; and

/or a Quality of Positioning (QoP) parameter.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, and further comprising:

obtaining an estimated position of said mobile device.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, said first set of location servers comprising one or more of:

one or more location servers previously authorized for said location service related access;

one or more location servers preferred by said mobile device; and

/or one or more location servers not preferred by said mobile device.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, said second set of location servers comprising one or more location servers in said first set of location servers.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, and further comprising:

obtaining a subsequent message from said mobile device, said subsequent message indicating an occurrence of at least one said location service related access by said mobile device.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, said subsequent message being transmitted by said mobile device in response to said mobile device accessing an authorized location server in said second set of location servers for the first time, and/or for the first time after accessing another location server in said second set of location servers.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one location server in at least one of said first set of location servers and/or said second set of location servers is indicated, at least in part, by a unique address.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, said second message further indicating additional information comprising at least one of:

an access preference associated with the authorizing location server for location services;

a priority ordering corresponding to one or more location servers in said second set of location servers; and

/or a parameter for at least one location server in said second set of location servers.

11. The method as recited in claim 10, said parameter comprising at least one of:

a service duration;

a service area; and

/or a list of access networks available for use by said mobile device.

12. The method as recited in claim 11, and further comprising:

accessing a particular location server in said second set of location servers by said mobile device, said particular location server determined by said mobile device based, at least in part, on said additional information.

13. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said mobile device comprises a SUPL enabled terminal (SET).

14. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the authorizing location server comprises a SUPL Location Platform (H-SLP), and at least one location server in said first set of location servers and/or said second set of location servers comprises at least one of:

a Discovered SUPL Location Platform (D-SLP);

or an Emergency SUPL Location Platform (E-SLP).

15. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said first message comprises a SUPL START message, or a SUPL REPORT message, and/or wherein said second message comprises a SUPL END message, or a SUPL TRIGGERED STOP message.

16. The method as recited in claim 1, said second message further indicating a minimum retry period that is to pass before said mobile device retransmits said first message to the authorizing location server.

17. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said first set of location servers comprises a null set.

18. A method for use by a mobile device, the method comprising:

transmitting a first message to an authorizing location server, said first message indicating a first set of location servers;

obtaining a second message from said authorizing location server, said second message indicating a second set of location servers as being authorized for location service related access by said mobile device; and

accessing one or more location servers from said second set of location servers for one or more location services.

19. The method as recited in claim 18, said first message further indicating at least one of:

an estimated location of said mobile device;

a access network available for use by said mobile device; and

/or a Quality of Positioning (QoP) parameter.

20. The method as recited in claim 18, said first set of location servers comprising one or more of:

one or more location servers previously authorized for said location service related access;

one or more location servers preferred by said mobile device; and

/or one or more location servers not preferred by said mobile device.

21. The method as recited in claim 18, said second set of location servers comprising one or more location servers in said first set of location servers.

22. The method as recited in claim 18, and further comprising:

transmitting a subsequent message to said authorizing location server, said subsequent message indicating an occurrence of at least one said location service related access by said mobile device.

23. The method as recited in claim 22, said subsequent message being transmitted in response to said mobile device accessing an authorized location server in said second set of location servers for the first time, and/or for the first time after accessing another location server in said second set of location servers.

24. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein at least one location server in at least one of said first set of location servers and/or said second set of location servers is indicated, at least in part, by a unique address.

25. The method as recited in claim 18, said second message further indicating additional information comprising at least one of:

an access preference associated with said authorizing location server for location services;

a priority ordering corresponding to one or more location servers in said second set of location servers; and

/or a parameter for at least one location server in said second set of location servers.

26. The method as recited in claim 25, said parameter comprising, at least one of:

a service duration;

a service area; and

/or a list of access networks available for use by said mobile device.

27. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein said mobile device comprises a SUPL enabled terminal (SET).

28. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein the authorizing location server comprises a SUPL Location Platform (H-SLP), and at least one location server in said first set of location servers and/or said second set of location servers comprises at least one of:

a Discovered SUPL Location Platform (D-SLP);

or an Emergency SUPL Location Platform (E-SLP).

29. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein said first message comprises a SUPL START message, or a SUPL REPORT message, and/or wherein said second message comprises a SUPL END message, or a SUPL TRIGGERED STOP message.

30. The method as recited in claim 18, said second message further indicating a minimum retry period that is to pass before said mobile device retransmits said first message to the authorizing location server.

31. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein said first set of location servers comprises a null set.

32. An apparatus for use in an authorizing location server, the apparatus comprising:

means for obtaining a first message from a mobile device, said first message indicating a first set of location servers;

means for determining a second set of location servers based, at least in part, on said first set of location servers; and

means for transmitting a second message to said mobile device, said second message indicating said second set of location servers as being authorized for location service related access by said mobile device.

33. The apparatus as recited in claim 32, said first message further indicating at least one of:

an estimated location of said mobile device;

a access network available for use by said mobile device; and

/or a Quality of Positioning (QoP) parameter.

34. The apparatus as recited in claim 32, and further comprising:

determining said second set of location servers based, at least in part, on at least one of;

an estimated location of said mobile device;

a access network available for use by said mobile device; and

/or a Quality of Positioning (QoP) parameter.

35. The apparatus as recited in claim 32, and further comprising:

obtaining an estimated position of said mobile device.

36. The apparatus as recited in claim 32, said first set of location servers comprising one or more of:

one or more location servers previously authorized for said location service related access;

one or more location servers preferred by said mobile device; and

/or one or more location servers not preferred by said mobile device.

37. The apparatus as recited in claim 32, said second set of location servers comprising one or more location servers in said first set of location servers.

38. The apparatus as recited in claim 32, and further comprising:

means for obtaining a subsequent message from said mobile device, said subsequent message indicating an occurrence of at least one said location service related access by said mobile device.

39. The apparatus as recited in claim 38, said subsequent message being transmitted by said mobile device in response to said mobile device accessing an authorized location server in said second set of location servers for the first time, and/or for the first time after accessing another location server in said second set of location servers.

40. The apparatus as recited in claim 32, said second message further indicating additional information comprising at least one of:

an access preference associated with the authorizing location server for location services;

a priority ordering corresponding to one or more location servers in said second set of location servers; and

/or a parameter for at least one location server in said second set of location servers.

41. The apparatus as recited in claim 40, said parameter comprising, at least one of:

a service duration;

a service area; and

/or a list of access networks available for use by said mobile device.

42. The apparatus as recited in claim 32, wherein the authorizing location server comprises a SUPL Location Platform (H-SLP), and at least one location server in said first set of location servers and/or said second set of location servers comprises at least one of:

a Discovered SUPL Location Platform (D-SLP);

or an Emergency SUPL Location Platform (E-SLP).

43. The apparatus as recited in claim 32, wherein said first message comprises a SUPL START message, or a SUPL REPORT message, and/or wherein said second message comprises a SUPL END message, or a SUPL TRIGGERED STOP message.

44. The apparatus as recited in claim 32, said second message further indicating a minimum retry period that is to pass before said mobile device retransmits said first message to the authorizing location server.

45. Apparatus for use in a mobile device, the apparatus comprising:

means for transmitting a first message to an authorizing location server, said first message indicating a first set of location servers;

means for obtaining a second message from said authorizing location server, said second message indicating a second set of location servers as being authorized for location service related access by said mobile device; and

means for accessing one or more location servers from said second set of location servers for one or more location services.

46. The apparatus as recited in claim 45, said first message further indicating at least one of:

an estimated location of said mobile device;

a access network available for use by said mobile device; and

/or a Quality of Positioning (QoP) parameter.

47. The apparatus as recited in claim 45, said first set of location servers comprising one or more of:

one or more location servers previously authorized for said location service related access;

one or more location servers preferred by said mobile device; and

/or one or more location servers not preferred by said mobile device.

48. The apparatus as recited in claim 45, said second set of location servers comprising one or more location servers in said first set of location servers.

49. The apparatus as recited in claim 45, and further comprising:

transmitting a subsequent message to said authorizing location server, said subsequent message indicating an occurrence of at least one said location service related access by said mobile device.

50. The apparatus as recited in claim 49, said subsequent message being transmitted in response to said mobile device accessing an authorized location server in said second set of location servers for the first time, and/or for the first time after accessing another location server in said second set of location servers.

51. The apparatus as recited in claim 45, said second message further indicating additional information comprising at least one of:

an access preference associated with said authorizing location server for location services;

a priority ordering corresponding to one or more location servers in said second set of location servers; and

/or a parameter for at least one location server in said second set of location servers.

52. The apparatus as recited in claim 51, said parameter comprising, at least one of:

a service duration;

a service area; and

/or a list of access networks available for use by said mobile device.

53. The apparatus as recited in claim 51, and further comprising:

means for accessing a particular location server in said second set of location servers by said mobile device, said particular location server determined by said mobile device based, at least in part, on said additional information.

54. The apparatus as recited in claim 45, wherein said mobile device comprises a SUPL enabled terminal (SET), said authorizing location server comprises a SUPL Location Platform (H-SLP), and at least one location server in said first set of location servers and/or said second set of location servers comprises at least one of:

a Discovered SUPL Location Platform (D-SLP);

or an Emergency SUPL Location Platform (E-SLP).

55. The apparatus as recited in claim 45, wherein said first message comprises a SUPL START message, or a SUPL REPORT message, and/or, wherein said second message comprises a SUPL END message, or a SUPL TRIGGERED STOP message.

56. The apparatus as recited in claim 45, said second message further indicating a minimum retry period that is to pass before said mobile device retransmits said first message to the authorizing location server.

57. An authorizing location server comprising:

a network interface; and

one or more processing units to;

obtain a first message from a mobile device via said network interface, said first message indicating a first set of location servers;

determine a second set of location servers based, at least in part, on said first set of location servers; and

initiate transmission of a second message to said mobile device via said network interface, said second message indicating said second set of location servers as being authorized for location service related access by said mobile device.

58. The authorizing location server as recited in claim 57, said first message further indicating at least one of:

an estimated location of said mobile device;

a access network available for use by said mobile device; and

/or a Quality of Positioning (QoP) parameter.

59. The authorizing location server as recited in claim 57, said one or more processing units to further:

determine said second set of location servers based, at least in part, on at least one of;

an estimated location of said mobile device;

a access network available for use by said mobile device; and

/or a Quality of Positioning (QoP) parameter.

60. The authorizing location server as recited in claim 57, said one or more processing units to further:

obtain an estimated position of said mobile device.

61. The authorizing location server as recited in claim 57, said first set of location servers comprising one or more of:

one or more location servers previously authorized for said location service related access;

one or more location servers preferred by said mobile device; and

/or one or more location servers not preferred by said mobile device.

62. The authorizing location server as recited in claim 57, said second set of location servers comprising one or more location servers in said first set of location servers.

63. The authorizing location server as recited in claim 57, said one or more processing units to further:

obtain a subsequent message from said mobile device via said network interface, said subsequent message indicating an occurrence of at least one said location service related access by said mobile device.

64. The authorizing location server as recited in claim 63, said subsequent message being transmitted by said mobile device in response to said mobile device accessing an authorized location server in said second set of location servers for the first time, and/or for the first time after accessing another location server in said second set of location servers.

65. The authorizing location server as recited in claim 57, said second message further indicating additional information comprising at least one of:

an access preference associated with the authorizing location server for location services;

a priority ordering corresponding to one or more location servers in said second set of location servers;

and/or a parameter for at least one location server in said second set of location servers.

66. The authorizing location server as recited in claim 65, said parameter comprising, at least one of:

a service duration;

a service area; and

/or a list of access networks available for use by said mobile device.

67. The authorizing location server as recited in claim 57, wherein the authorizing location server comprises a SUPL Location Platform (H-SLP), and at least one location server in said first set of location servers and/or said second set of location servers comprises at least one of:

a Discovered SUPL Location Platform (D-SLP);

or an Emergency SUPL Location Platform (E-SLP).

68. The authorizing location server as recited in claim 57, wherein said first message comprises a SUPL START message, or a SUPL REPORT message, and/or wherein said second message comprises a SUPL END message, or a SUPL TRIGGERED STOP message.

69. The authorizing location server as recited in claim 57, said second message further indicating a minimum retry period that is to pass before said mobile device retransmits said first message to the authorizing location server.

70. A mobile device comprising:

a wireless interface; and

one or more processing units to;

initiate transmission of a first message to an authorizing location server via said wireless interface, said first message indicating a first set of location servers;

obtain a second message from said authorizing location server via said wireless interface, said second message indicating a second set of location servers as being authorized for location service related access by said mobile device; and

access, via said wireless interface, one or more location servers from said second set of location servers for one or more location services.

71. The mobile device as recited in claim 70, said first message further indicating at least one of:

an estimated location of said mobile device;

a access network available for use by said mobile device; and

/or a Quality of Positioning (QoP) parameter.

72. The mobile device as recited in claim 70, said first set of location servers comprising one or more of:

one or more location servers previously authorized for said location service related access;

one or more location servers preferred by said mobile device; and

/or one or more location servers not preferred by said mobile device.

73. The mobile device as recited in claim 70, said second set of location servers comprising one or more location servers in said first set of location servers.

74. The mobile device as recited in claim 70, said one or more processing units to further:

initiate transmission of a subsequent message to said authorizing location server via said wireless interface, said subsequent message indicating an occurrence of at least one said location service related access by said mobile device.

75. The mobile device as recited in claim 74, said subsequent message being transmitted in response to said mobile device accessing an authorized location server in said second set of location servers for the first time, and/or for the first time after accessing another location server in said second set of location servers.

76. The mobile device as recited in claim 70, said second message further indicating additional information comprising at least one of:

an access preference associated with said authorizing location server for location services;

a priority ordering corresponding to one or more location servers in said second set of location servers; and

/or a parameter for at least one location server in said second set of location servers.

77. The mobile device as recited in claim 76, said parameter comprising, at least one of:

a service duration;

a service area; and

/or a list of access networks available for use by said mobile device.

78. The mobile device as recited in claim 76, said access via said wireless interface, to one or more location servers from said second set of location servers further comprising accessing a particular location server in said second set of location servers, said particular location server determined by said mobile device based, at least in part, on said additional information.

79. The mobile device as recited in claim 70, wherein said mobile device comprises a SUPL enabled terminal (SET).

80. The mobile device as recited in claim 70, wherein the authorizing location server comprises a SUPL Location Platform (H-SLP), and at least one location server in said first set of location servers and/or said second set of location servers comprises at least one of:

a Discovered SUPL Location Platform (D-SLP);

or an Emergency SUPL Location Platform (E-SLP).

81. The mobile device as recited in claim 70, wherein said first message comprises a SUPL START message, or a SUPL REPORT message, and/or wherein said second message comprises a SUPL END message, or a SUPL TRIGGERED STOP message.

82. The mobile device as recited in claim 70, said second message further indicating a minimum retry period that is to pass before said mobile device retransmits said first message to the authorizing location server.

83. An article comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable medium having stored therein computer implementable instructions that are executable by one or more processing units of an authorizing location server to;

obtain a first message from a mobile device, said first message indicating a first set of location servers;

determine a second set of location servers based, at least in part, on said first set of location servers; and

initiate transmission of a second message to said mobile device, said second message indicating said second set of location servers as being authorized for location service related access by said mobile device.

84. The article as recited in claim 83, said first message further indicating at least one of:

an estimated location of said mobile device;

a access network available for use by said mobile device; and

/or a Quality of Positioning (QoP) parameter.

85. The article as recited in claim 83, said computer implementable instructions being further executable by said one or more processing units to further:

determine said second set of location servers based, at least in part, on at least one of;

an estimated location of said mobile device;

a access network available for use by said mobile device; and

/or a Quality of Positioning (QoP) parameter.

86. The article as recited in claim 83, said computer implementable instructions being further executable by said one or more processing units to further:

obtain an estimated position of said mobile device.

87. The article as recited in claim 83, said first set of location servers comprising one or more of:

one or more location servers previously authorized for said location service related access;

one or more location servers preferred by said mobile device; and

/or one or more location servers not preferred by said mobile device.

88. The article as recited in claim 83, said computer implementable instructions being further executable by said one or more processing units to further:

obtain a subsequent message from said mobile device, said subsequent message indicating an occurrence of at least one said location service related access by said mobile device.

89. The article as recited in claim 88, said subsequent message being transmitted by said mobile device in response to said mobile device accessing an authorized location server in said second set of location servers for the first time, and/or for the first time after accessing another location server in said second set of location servers.

90. The article as recited in claim 83, said second message further indicating additional information comprising at least one of:

an access preference associated with the authorizing location server for location services;

a priority ordering corresponding to one or more location servers in said second set of location servers; and

/or a parameter for at least one location server in said second set of location servers.

91. The article as recited in claim 90, said parameter comprising, at least one of:

a service duration;

a service area; and

/or a list of access networks available for use by said mobile device.

92. The article as recited in claim 83, wherein the authorizing location server comprises a SUPL Location Platform (H-SLP), and at least one location server in said first set of location servers and/or said second set of location servers comprises at least one of:

a Discovered SUPL Location Platform (D-SLP);

or an Emergency SUPL Location Platform (E-SLP).

93. The article as recited in claim 83, wherein said first message comprises a SUPL START message, or a SUPL REPORT message, and/or wherein said second message comprises a SUPL END message, or a SUPL TRIGGERED STOP message.

94. The article as recited in claim 83, said second message further indicating a minimum retry period that is to pass before said mobile device retransmits said first message to the authorizing location server.

95. An article comprising:

a non-transitory computer readable medium having computer implementable instructions stored therein that are executable by one or more processing units in a mobile device to;

initiate transmission of a first message to an authorizing location server, said first message indicating a first set of location servers;

obtain a second message from said authorizing location server, said second message indicating a second set of location servers as being authorized for location service related access by said mobile device; and

access one or more location servers from said second set of location servers for one or more location services.

96. The article as recited in claim 95, said first message further indicating at least one of:

an estimated location of said mobile device;

a access network available for use by said mobile device; and

/or a Quality of Positioning (QoP) parameter.

97. The article as recited in claim 95, said first set of location servers comprising one or more of:

one or more location servers previously authorized for said location service related access;

one or more location servers preferred by said mobile device; and

/or one or more location servers not preferred by said mobile device.

98. The article as recited in claim 95, said computer implementable instructions being further executable by said one or more processing units to further:

initiate transmission of a subsequent message to said authorizing location server, said subsequent message indicating an occurrence of at least one said location service related access by said mobile device.

99. The article as recited in claim 98, said subsequent message being transmitted in response to said mobile device accessing an authorized location server in said second set of location servers for the first time, and/or for the first time after accessing another location server in said second set of location servers.

100. The article as recited in claim 95, said second message further indicating additional information comprising at least one of:

an access preference associated with said authorizing location server for location services;

a priority ordering corresponding to one or more location servers in said second set of location servers; and

/or a parameter for at least one location server in said second set of location servers.

101. The article as recited in claim 100, said parameter comprising, at least one of:

a service duration;

a service area; and

/or a list of access networks available for use by said mobile device.

102. The article as recited in claim 100, said access to one or more location servers from said second set of location servers further comprising accessing a particular location server in said second set of location servers, said particular location server determined by said mobile device based, at least in part, on said additional information.

103. The article as recited in claim 95, wherein said mobile device comprises a SUPL enabled terminal (SET).

104. The article as recited in claim 95, wherein the authorizing location server comprises a SUPL Location Platform (H-SLP), and at least one location server in said first set of location servers and/or said second set of location servers comprises at least one of:

a Discovered SUPL Location Platform (D-SLP);

or an Emergency SUPL Location Platform (E-SLP).

105. The article as recited in claim 95, wherein said first message comprises a SUPL START message, or a SUPL REPORT message, and/or wherein said second message comprises a SUPL END message, or a SUPL TRIGGERED STOP message.

106. The article as recited in claim 95, said second message further indicating a minimum retry period that is to pass before said mobile device retransmits said first message to the authorizing location server.