Method and apparatus for providing location services with short-circuited message flows

• US 8,792,902 B2
• Filed: 06/19/2006
• Issued: 07/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Edge, Stephen William, Burroughs, Kirk Allan, Fischer, Sven
• Primary Examiner(s): AJIBADE AKONAI, OLUMIDE
• Application Number:
  US11/471,049
• Publication Number:
  US 20070004429A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,962 Days
• Field of Search: 455/404.2, 455/414.2, 455/432.1, 455/432.2, 455/432.3, 4554561-4566
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/08 Mobility data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/082 for traffic bypassing of mobility servers, e.g. location registers, home PLMNs or home agents
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/10 between location register and external networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/12 between location registers or mobility servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

A user equipment (UE) sends to a serving network a request for periodic reporting of the UE location to a client entity, periodic location information, a request to use GMLC short circuit, and/or a request to use MO-LR short circuit. Various network entities may accept or reject each of the UE requests. For each location reporting event, the UE may send to the serving network its location estimate (e.g., if available and if MO-LR short circuit is allowed) and an address of a requesting GMLC (e.g., if GMLC short circuit is allowed). The network bypasses location processing if the location estimate is selected for use. The serving network may send the location estimate directly to the R-GMLC and bypass a visiting GMLC and a home GMLC, e.g., using the address provided by the UE. The GMLC short circuit and MO-LR short circuit save system resources and shorten response time.

Claims

1. A method of providing location services, comprising:

performing location processing with a user equipment (UE) to obtain a location estimate for the UE, wherein the UE is roaming on a serving network that is associated with a first location center, and wherein the serving network is distinct from a home network for the UE; and

sending the location estimate for the UE from a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) or a Serving GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) Support Node (SGSN) of the serving network directly to a second location center and bypassing the first location center, wherein the second location center is associated with a client entity receiving the location estimate for the UE, and wherein the first and second location centers are associated with different networks.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the sending the location estimate for the UE comprises

sending the location estimate for the UE directly to the second location center and bypassing the first location center and a third location center, wherein the third location center is associated with the home network for the UE.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first location center is a visited gateway mobile location center (V-GMLC), and wherein the second location center is a requesting gateway mobile location center (R-GMLC).

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first location center is a visiting Secure User Plane Location (SUPL) location platform (V-SLP), and wherein the second location center is a requesting SLP (R-SLP).

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the location estimate for the UE from the UE; and

bypassing the location processing if the location estimate received from the UE is selected for use.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from the UE a request to send the location estimate for the UE to the client entity, and wherein the performing location processing with the UE and the sending the location estimate for the UE are performed in response to the request.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from the UE an address of the second location center; and

using the address of the second location center to send the location estimate for the UE directly to the second location center.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from the second location center a request to send the location estimate for the UE to the client entity, and wherein the performing location processing with the UE and the sending the location estimate for the UE are performed in response to the request.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving from the UE a request for periodic reporting of UE location to the client entity; and

repeating the performing location processing with the UE and the sending the location estimate for the UE directly to the second location center based on periodic location information indicative of when to send the location estimate for the UE to the client entity.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request sent by the client entity for periodic reporting of UE location to the client entity; and

repeating the performing location processing with the UE and the sending the location estimate for the UE directly to the second location center based on periodic location information indicative of when to send the location estimate for the UE to the client entity.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request to bypass the first location center; and

accepting or rejecting the request to bypass the first location center.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request to bypass the location processing; and

accepting or rejecting the request to bypass the location processing.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the sending the location estimate for the UE comprises

sending the location estimate for the UE directly to a requesting gateway mobile location center (R-GMLC) and bypassing a visited gateway mobile location center (V-GMLC) and a home gateway mobile location center (H-GMLC).

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a request to bypass the first location center;

accepting or rejecting the request to bypass the first location center;

receiving from the UE a request for periodic reporting of UE location to the client entity; and

repeating the performing location processing with the UE and the sending the location estimate for the UE directly to the second location center based on periodic location information indicative of when to send the location estimate for the UE to the client entity.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending, from the MSC or the SGSN of the serving network to a radio access network (RAN) of the serving network, a request for the location estimate for the UE; and

receiving, at the MSC or the SGSN of the serving network, the location estimate for the UE from the RAN of the serving network in response to the request.

16. An apparatus comprising:

a processor operative to perform location processing with a user equipment (UE) to obtain a location estimate for the UE, wherein the UE is roaming on a serving network that is associated with a first location center, and wherein the serving network is distinct from a home network for the UE; and

a communication unit operative to send the location estimate for the UE from a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) or a Serving GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) Support Node (SGSN) of the serving network directly to a second location center and bypassing the first location center, wherein the second location center is associated with a client entity receiving the location estimate for the UE, and wherein the first and second location centers are associated with different networks.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the processor is further operative to receive a request to bypass the first location center and to accept or reject the request to bypass the first location center.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the processor is further operative to receive from the UE an address of the second location center and to send the location estimate for the UE directly to the second location center using the address received from the UE.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the processor is further operative to receive a request to bypass the first location center, accept or reject the request to bypass the first location center, receive from the UE a request for periodic reporting of UE location to the client entity, and repeat the performing location processing with the UE and the sending the location estimate for the UE directly to the second location center based on periodic location information indicative of when to send the location estimate for the UE to the client entity.

20. An apparatus comprising:

means for performing location processing with a user equipment (UE) to obtain a location estimate for the UE, wherein the UE is roaming on a serving network that is associated with a first location center, and wherein the serving network is distinct from a home network for the UE; and

means for sending the location estimate for the UE from a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) or a Serving GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) Support Node (SGSN) of the serving network directly to a second location center and bypassing the first location center, wherein the second location center is associated with a client entity receiving the location estimate for the UE, and wherein the first and second location centers are associated with different networks.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising:

means for receiving a request to bypass the first location center; and

means for accepting or rejecting the request to bypass the first location center.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising:

means for receiving from the UE an address of the second location center; and

means for using the address of the second location center to send the location estimate for the UE directly to the second location center.

23. A method of obtaining location services, comprising:

exchanging signaling between a user equipment (UE) and a serving network for a request for location service, wherein the serving network is associated with a first location center and is distinct from a home network for the UE; and

performing location processing with the serving network to obtain a location estimate for the UE, wherein the location estimate for the UE is sent by a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) or a Serving GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) Support Node (SGSN) of the serving network directly to a second location center, bypassing the first location center, wherein the second location center communicates with a client entity receiving the location estimate for the UE, and wherein the first and second location centers are associated with different networks.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the exchanging signaling between the UE and the serving network comprises

sending the request for location service from the UE to the serving network, and

sending an address of the second location center from the UE to the serving network, and wherein the location estimate for the UE is sent by the serving network directly to the second location center using the address sent by the UE.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the exchanging signaling between the UE and the serving network comprises

receiving from the serving network the request for location service.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the exchanging signaling between the UE and the serving network comprises

sending the location estimate for the UE to the serving network, and wherein the location processing is bypassed if the location estimate sent to the serving network is selected for use.

27. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

sending to the serving network a request for periodic reporting of UE location to the client entity; and

repeating the exchanging signaling between the UE and the serving network and the performing location processing with the serving network based on periodic location information indicative of when to send the location estimate for the UE to the client entity.

28. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

receiving from the serving network a request from the client entity for periodic reporting of UE location to the client entity; and

repeating the exchanging signaling between the UE and the serving network and the performing location processing with the serving network based on periodic location information indicative of when to send the location estimate for the UE to the client entity.

29. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

sending a request to bypass the first location center; and

receiving an indication of acceptance or rejection of the request to bypass the first location center.

30. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

sending a request to bypass the location processing; and

receiving an indication of acceptance or rejection of the request to bypass the location processing.

31. An apparatus comprising:

a transceiver operative to exchange signaling between a user equipment (UE) and a serving network for a request for location service, wherein the serving network is associated with a first location center and is distinct from a home network for the UE; and

a processor operative to perform location processing with the serving network to obtain a location estimate for the UE, wherein the location estimate for the UE is sent by a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) or a Serving GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) Support Node (SGSN) of the serving network directly to a second location center, bypassing the first location center, wherein the second location center communicates with a client entity receiving the location estimate for the UE, and wherein the first and second location centers are associated with different networks.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the processor is further operative to send the request for location service and an address of the second location center from the UE to the serving network, and wherein the location estimate for the UE is sent by the serving network directly to the second location center using the address sent by the UE.

33. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the processor is further operative to send the location estimate for the UE to the serving network, and wherein the location processing is bypassed if the location estimate sent to the serving network is selected for use.

34. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the processor is further operative to send a request to bypass the first location center and to receive an indication of acceptance or rejection of the request to bypass the first location center.

35. An apparatus comprising:

means for exchanging signaling between a user equipment (UE) and a serving network for a request for location service, wherein the serving network is associated with a first location center and is distinct from a home network for the UE; and

means for performing location processing with the serving network to obtain a location estimate for the UE, wherein the location estimate for the UE is sent by a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) or a Serving GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) Support Node (SGSN) entity of the serving network directly to a second location center, bypassing the first location center, wherein the second location center communicates with a client entity receiving the location estimate for the UE, and wherein the first and second location centers are associated with different networks.

36. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the means for exchanging signaling between the UE and the serving network comprises

means for sending the request for location service from the UE to the serving network, and

means for sending an address of the second location center from the UE to the serving network, and wherein the location estimate for the UE is sent by the serving network directly to the second location center using the address sent by the UE.

37. The apparatus of claim 35, wherein the means for exchanging signaling between the UE and the serving network comprises

means for sending the location estimate for the UE to the serving network, and wherein the location processing is bypassed if the location estimate sent to the serving network is selected for use.

38. The apparatus of claim 35, further comprising:

means for sending a request to bypass the first location center; and

means for receiving an indication of acceptance or rejection of the request to bypass the first location center.

39. A method of providing location services, comprising:

receiving from a serving network a location estimate for a user equipment (UE), wherein the serving network currently serves the UE, is distinct from a home network for the UE, and is associated with a first location center, wherein the location estimate is sent directly from a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) or a Serving GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) Support Node (SGSN) of the serving network to a second location center and bypasses the first location center, and wherein the first and second location centers are associated with different networks; and

sending the location estimate for the UE from the second location center to a client entity.

40. The method of claim 39, further comprising:

receiving a request to bypass the first location center; and

accepting or rejecting the request to bypass the first location center.

41. The method of claim 39, further comprising:

sending a request for UE location directly to the serving network and bypassing the first location center.

42. The method of claim 39, further comprising:

receiving from the client entity a request for periodic reporting of UE location to the client entity;

sending the request for periodic reporting toward the serving network; and

repeating the receiving from the serving network the location estimate for the UE and the sending the location estimate for the UE from the second location center to the client entity based on periodic location information indicative of when to send the location estimate for the UE to the client entity.

43. The method of claim 42, further comprising:

storing information for the request for periodic reporting; and

for each location reporting event indicated by the periodic location information,

retrieving the information stored for the request for periodic reporting, and

sending a request for location of the UE directly to the serving network and bypassing the first location center based on the retrieved information.

44. The method of claim 39, further comprising:

receiving a request sent by the UE for periodic reporting of UE location to the client entity;

sending the request for periodic reporting to the client entity; and

repeating the receiving from the serving network the location estimate for the UE and the sending the location estimate for the UE from the second location center to the client entity based on periodic location information indicative of when to send the location estimate for the UE to the client entity.

45. An apparatus comprising:

a processor operative to receive from a serving network a location estimate for a user equipment (UE), wherein the serving network currently serves the UE, is distinct from a home network for the UE, and is associated with a first location center, wherein the location estimate is sent directly from a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) or a Serving GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) Support Node (SGSN) of the serving network to a second location center and bypasses the first location center, and wherein the first and second location centers are associated with different networks; and

a communication unit operative to send the location estimate for the UE from the second location center to a client entity.

46. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the processor is further operative to receive a request to bypass the first location center and to accept or reject the request to bypass the first location center.

47. The apparatus of claim 45, further comprising:

a memory unit operative to store information for a request for periodic reporting of UE location to the client entity, and

wherein the processor is further operative to determine location reporting events based on periodic location information indicative of when to send the location estimate for the UE to the client entity and, for each location reporting event, to retrieve the information stored for the request for periodic reporting and to send a request for UE location directly to the serving network and bypassing the first location center based on the retrieved information.

48. An apparatus comprising:

means for receiving from a serving network a location estimate for a user equipment (UE), wherein the serving network currently serves the UE, is distinct from a home network for the UE, and is associated with a first location center, wherein the location estimate is sent directly from a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) or a Serving GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) Support Node (SGSN) of the serving network to a second location center and bypasses the first location center, and wherein the first and second location centers are associated with different networks; and

means for sending the location estimate for the UE from the second location center to a client entity.

49. The apparatus of claim 48, further comprising:

means for receiving a request to bypass the first location center; and

means for accepting or rejecting the request to bypass the first location center.

50. The apparatus of claim 48, further comprising:

means for storing information for a request for periodic reporting of UE location to the client entity;

means for determining location reporting events based on periodic location information indicative of when to send the location estimate for the UE to the client entity;

means for retrieving the information stored for the request for periodic reporting for each location reporting event; and

means for sending a request for UE location directly to the serving network and bypassing the first location center based on the retrieved information.

51. A method of providing location services, comprising:

performing location processing with a user equipment (UE) to obtain a location estimate for the UE, the UE in communication with a first location center associated with a first network that is serving the UE;

determining if a location center short-circuit is allowed; and

if the location center short-circuit is allowed;

providing an address for a second location center to the first network; and

sending the location estimate directly from the first network to a second location center associated with a client entity for receiving the location estimate and a second network different from the first network, by directly addressing the second location center in a location services message that bypasses the first location center and other location centers.

52. The method of claim 51, wherein the second location center includes a requesting gateway mobile location center (R-GMLC).

53. The method of claim 51, wherein the location services message includes a Mobile Application Part (MAP) Subscriber Location Report message.

54. The method of claim 51, wherein determining if the location center short-circuit is allowed comprises determining that the location center short-circuit is allowed if the address of the second location center is received from the UE during the location processing.

55. A method of providing location services, comprising:

performing location processing with a user equipment (UE) to obtain a location estimate for the UE, wherein the UE is in communication with a serving network that is associated with a visited gateway mobile location center (V-GMLC) that is connected for communication with a requesting gateway mobile location center (R-GMLC) via a home gateway mobile location center (H-GMLC) associated with a home network of the UE; and

sending the location estimate for the UE from a mobile services switching center (MSC) or a serving GPRS (general packet radio service) support node (SGSN) of the serving network directly to the R-GMLC while bypassing the V-GMLC and the H-GMLC, wherein the R-GMLC is associated with a client entity receiving the location estimate sent from the UE, wherein the V-GMLC and the R-GMLC are associated with different networks, and wherein the serving network associated with the MSC or the SGSN is distinct from a network associated with the R-GMLC.