Location services

• US 9,020,533 B1
• Filed: 02/12/2008
• Issued: 04/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/12/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: T-Mobile Innovations LLC (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Mangiardi, Dominick, Asghari, Abdolreza, Bonn, Mark J., Cheng, ShouJei, Kirby, James D.
• Primary Examiner(s): SHEDRICK, CHARLES TERRELL
• Application Number:
  US12/029,614
• Time in Patent Office: 2,632 Days
• Field of Search: 4554561-4566, 370/310
• US Class Current: 455/456.3
• 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 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup

Abstract

In various embodiments, methods, systems, and software are provided to provide location services to a mobile device. In an embodiment, a method comprises receiving a call request (including a caller identification) for a call from a mobile device, and determining if the call qualifies for a status update based on the caller identification. In response to determining that the call qualifies for a status update, the method also comprises receiving a location of the mobile device, determining the identity of a mobile unit that is in progress to the location of the mobile device, and initiating a location request of the mobile unit, receiving a location of the mobile unit in response to the location request, and providing status information based on the location of the mobile unit and the location of the mobile device to a user of the mobile device.

Claims

1. A method for providing location services comprising:

receiving a call request for a call from a mobile device, wherein the call request includes a caller identification;

determining if the call qualifies for a status update based on the caller identification;

in response to determining that the call qualifies for a status update, receiving a location of the mobile device;

determining the identity of a mobile unit that is in progress to the location of the mobile device, and initiating a location request of the mobile unit;

receiving a location of the mobile unit in response to the location request; and

providing status information based on the location of the mobile unit and the location of the mobile device to a user of the mobile device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the call qualifies for a status update if a previous call including the same caller identification has been received, and if the mobile unit is in progress to the location of the mobile device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein determining the identity of the mobile unit is based on information indicating the mobile unit has been dispatched to the location of the mobile device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the call qualifies for a status update if the mobile unit is in progress to the location of the mobile device, and the mobile unit approves the status update.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the status information is provided audibly to the user of the mobile device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the status information includes an estimated time of arrival.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the status information includes the location of the mobile unit.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the status information includes a distance between the mobile unit and the mobile device.

9. A communication system comprising:

a communication network;

a server coupled with the communication network; and

a location determination system coupled with the communication network, and configured to determine the location of mobile devices coupled with the communication network;

wherein the server is configured to;

receive a call request for a call from a mobile device, wherein the call request includes a caller identification;

determine if the call qualifies for a status update based on the caller identification;

in response to determining that the call qualifies for a status update, receive a location of the mobile device;

determine the identity of a mobile unit that is in progress to the location of the mobile device, and initiate a location request of the mobile unit;

receive a location of the mobile unit in response to the location request; and

provide status information based on the location of the mobile unit and the location of the mobile device to a user of the mobile device.

10. The communication system of claim 9, wherein the call qualifies for a status update if a previous call including the same caller identification has been received, and if the mobile unit is in progress to the location of the mobile device.

11. The communication system of claim 9, wherein the identity of the mobile unit is determined based on information indicating the mobile unit has been dispatched to the location of the mobile device.

12. The communication system of claim 9, wherein the call qualifies for a status update if the mobile unit is in progress to the location of the mobile device, and the mobile unit approves the status update.

13. The communication system of claim 9, wherein the status information is provided audibly to the user of the mobile device.

14. The communication system of claim 9, wherein the status information includes an estimated time of arrival.

15. The communication system of claim 9, wherein the status information includes the location of the mobile unit.

16. The communication system of claim 9, wherein the status information includes a distance between the mobile unit and the mobile device.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon for operating a communication system to provide location services, wherein the instructions, when executed by the communication system, direct the communication system to:

receive a call request for a call from a mobile device, wherein the call request includes a caller identification;

determine if the call qualifies for a status update based on the caller identification;

in response to determining that the call qualifies for a status update, receive a location of the mobile device;

determine the identity of a mobile unit that is in progress to the location of the mobile device, and initiate a location request of the mobile unit;

receive a location of the mobile unit in response to the location request; and

provide status information based on the location of the mobile unit and the location of the mobile device to a user of the mobile device.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the call qualifies for a status update if a previous call including the same caller identification has been received, and if the mobile unit is in progress to the location of the mobile device.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the identity of the mobile unit is determined based on information indicating the mobile unit has been dispatched to the location of the mobile device.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the call qualifies for a status update if the mobile unit is in progress to the location of the mobile device, and the mobile unit approves the status update.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the status information is provided audibly to the user of the mobile device.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the status information includes an estimated time of arrival.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the status information includes the location of the mobile unit.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the status information includes a distance between the mobile unit and the mobile device.