Position location message flows

• US 9,100,787 B2
• Filed: 02/07/2014
• Issued: 08/04/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Wachter, Andreas Klaus, Edge, Stephen W., Lin, Ie-Hong
• Primary Examiner(s): JAIN, RAJ K
• Application Number:
  US14/175,936
• Publication Number:
  US 20140155101A1
• Time in Patent Office: 543 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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. 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 at least one User plane Location Protocol (ULP) service layer message to the SET and receiving at least one ULP service layer message from the SET, wherein ULP service layer messages do not contain any positioning related parameters except positioning protocol identification and positioning protocol messages;

transmitting at least one positioning layer message to the SET and receiving at least one positioning layer message from the SET, wherein positioning layer messages conform to a positioning protocol that does not contain any service related parameters; and

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

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

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the positioning layer messages are encapsulated within the ULP service layer messages, wherein the ULP service layer messages do not contain service layer parameters.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the positioning layer messages are encapsulated within the ULP service layer messages, wherein the ULP service layer messages contain service layer parameters.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the positioning protocol comprises LTE Positioning Protocol (LPP), Radio Resource LCS Protocol (RRLP), Radio Resource Control (RRC) or IS-801.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein no positioning related parameters are provided prior to requesting service from the SET.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining a position estimate for the SET for multiple reporting events.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the at least one ULP service layer message to the SET and receiving the at least one ULP service layer message from the SET comprises:

receiving SET service capabilities from the SET; and

requesting service from the SET that is consistent with the SET service capabilities.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the SET service capabilities comprise positioning protocols supported by the SET and are received prior to transmitting at least one positioning layer message to the SET.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising transmitting service capabilities of the SLP to the SET in response to receipt of the SET service capabilities.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising receiving a service modification request from the SET with service parameters that are modified with respect to the service requested from the SET.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising transmitting a service modification request to the SET with service parameters that are modified with respect to the service requested from the SET.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising determining a plurality of position estimates for the SET at a plurality of times, wherein the service modification request is received between position estimates.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising determining a plurality of position estimates for the SET at a plurality of times, wherein the service modification request is transmitted between position estimates.

14. 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 at least one User plane Location Protocol (ULP) service layer message to the SET and receive at least one ULP service layer message from the SET, wherein ULP service layer messages do not contain any positioning related parameters except positioning protocol identification and positioning protocol messages;

transmit at least one positioning layer message to the SET and receive at least one positioning layer message from the SET, wherein positioning layer messages conform to a positioning protocol that does not contain any service related parameters;

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

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

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the positioning layer messages are encapsulated within the ULP service layer messages, wherein the ULP service layer messages do not contain service layer parameters.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the positioning layer messages are encapsulated within the ULP service layer messages, wherein the ULP service layer messages contain service layer parameters.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the positioning protocol comprises LTE Positioning Protocol (LPP), Radio Resource LCS Protocol (RRLP), Radio Resource Control (RRC) or IS-801.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein no positioning related parameters are provided prior to requesting service from the SET.

19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine a position estimate for the SET for multiple reporting events.

20. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

receive SET service capabilities; and

request service from the SET that is consistent with the SET service capabilities.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the SET service capabilities comprise positioning protocols supported by the SET and are received prior to transmitting at least one positioning layer message to the SET.

22. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to transmit service capabilities of a SUPL Location Platform (SLP) to the SET in response to receipt of the SET service capabilities.

23. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to receive a service modification request from the SET with service parameters that are modified with respect to the service requested from the SET.

24. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to transmit a service modification request to the SET with service parameters that are modified with respect to the service requested from the SET.

25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to determine a plurality of position estimates for the SET at a plurality of times, wherein the service modification request is received between position estimates.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to determine a plurality of position estimates for the SET at a plurality of times, wherein the service modification request is transmitted between position estimates.

27. An apparatus 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 at least one User plane Location Protocol (ULP) service layer message to the SET and receiving at least one ULP service layer message from the SET, wherein ULP service layer messages do not contain any positioning related parameters except positioning protocol identification and positioning protocol messages;

means for transmitting at least one positioning layer message to the SET and receiving at least one positioning layer message from the SET, wherein positioning layer messages conform to a positioning protocol that does not contain any service related parameters; and

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

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

28. 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 at least one User plane Location Protocol (ULP) service layer message to the SET and receive at least one ULP service layer message from the SET, wherein ULP service layer messages do not contain any positioning related parameters except positioning protocol identification and positioning protocol messages;

program code to transmit at least one positioning layer message to the SET and receive at least one positioning layer message from the SET, wherein positioning layer messages conform to a positioning protocol that does not contain any service related parameters; and

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

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

29. 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 at least one User plane Location Protocol (ULP) service layer message to a SUPL Location Platform (SLP) and receiving at least one ULP service layer message from the SLP, wherein ULP service layer messages do not contain any positioning related parameters except positioning protocol identification and positioning protocol messages;

transmitting at least one positioning layer message to the SLP and receiving at least one positioning layer message from the SLP, wherein positioning layer messages conform to a positioning protocol that does not contain any service related parameters;

communicating with the SLP to determine the 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.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the positioning layer messages are encapsulated within the ULP service layer messages, wherein the ULP service layer messages do not contain service layer parameters.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the positioning layer messages are encapsulated within the ULP service layer messages, wherein the ULP service layer messages contain service layer parameters.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein the positioning protocol comprises LTE Positioning Protocol (LPP), Radio Resource LCS Protocol (RRLP), Radio Resource Control (RRC) or IS-801.

33. The method of claim 29, further comprising determining a position estimate for the SET for multiple reporting events.

34. The method of claim 29, wherein transmitting the at least one ULP service layer message to the SLP and receiving the at least one ULP service layer message from the SLP comprises:

transmitting SET service capabilities to the SLP;

receiving SLP service capabilities from the SLP; and

transmitting a service request to the SLP that is consistent with the SLP service capabilities.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising transmitting a service modification request to the SLP with service parameters that are modified with respect to the service request transmitted to the SLP.

36. The method of claim 34, further comprising receiving a service modification request from the SLP with service parameters that are modified with respect to the service request transmitted to the SLP.

37. The method of claim 35, further comprising determining a plurality of position estimates for the SET at a plurality of times, wherein the service modification request is transmitted between position estimates.

38. The method of claim 36, further comprising determining a plurality of position estimates for the SET at a plurality of times, wherein the service modification request is received between position estimates.

39. 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 at least one User plane Location Protocol (ULP) service layer message to a SUPL Location Platform (SLP) and receive at least one ULP service layer message from the SLP, wherein ULP service layer messages do not contain any positioning related parameters except positioning protocol identification and positioning protocol messages;

transmit at least one positioning layer message to the SLP and receive at least one positioning layer message from the SLP, wherein positioning layer messages conform to a positioning protocol that does not contain any service related parameters;

communicate with the SLP to determine the 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.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the positioning layer messages are encapsulated within the ULP service layer messages, wherein the ULP service layer messages do not contain service layer parameters.

41. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the positioning layer messages are encapsulated within the ULP service layer messages, wherein the ULP service layer messages contain service layer parameters.

42. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the positioning protocol comprises LTE Positioning Protocol (LPP), Radio Resource LCS Protocol (RRLP), Radio Resource Control (RRC) or IS-801.

43. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the at least one processor is configured to determine a position estimate for the SET for multiple reporting events.

44. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

transmit SET service capabilities to the SLP;

receive SLP service capabilities from the SLP; and

transmit a service request to the SLP that is consistent with the SLP service capabilities.

45. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to transmit a service modification request to the SLP with service parameters that are modified with respect to the service request transmitted to the SLP.

46. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to receive a service modification request from the SLP with service parameters that are modified with respect to the service request transmitted to the SLP.

47. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to determine a plurality of position estimates for the SET at a plurality of times, wherein the service modification request is transmitted between position estimates.

48. The apparatus of claim 46, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to determine a plurality of position estimates for the SET at a plurality of times, wherein the service modification request is received between position estimates.

49. An apparatus 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 at least one User plane Location Protocol (ULP) service layer message to a SUPL Location Platform (SLP) and receiving at least one ULP service layer message from the SLP, wherein the ULP service layer messages do not contain any positioning related parameters except positioning protocol identification and positioning protocol messages;

means for transmitting at least one positioning layer message to the SLP and receiving at least one positioning layer message from the SLP, wherein positioning layer messages conform to a positioning protocol that does not contain any service related parameters;

means for communicating with the SLP to determine the 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.

50. 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 at least one User plane Location Protocol (ULP) service layer message to a SUPL Location Platform (SLP) and receive at least one ULP service layer message from the SLP, wherein ULP service layer messages do not contain any positioning related parameters except positioning protocol identification and positioning protocol messages;

program code to transmit at least one positioning layer message to the SLP and receive at least one positioning layer message from the SLP, wherein positioning layer messages conform to a positioning protocol that does not contain any service related parameters;

program code to communicate with the SLP to determine the 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.