User plane location services over session initiation protocol (SIP)

• US 9,426,618 B2
• Filed: 11/20/2015
• Issued: 08/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Original Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Inventors: Zhu, Yinjun, Hines, Gordon John, Marshall, Roger, Yang, Fei, Burton, Victor
• Primary Examiner(s): ROBERTS, BRIAN S
• Application Number:
  US14/947,856
• Publication Number:
  US 20160080900A1
• Time in Patent Office: 277 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/043 using or handling presence information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0209 Architectural arrangements, e.g. perimeter networks or demilitarized zones
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1096 Supplementary features, e.g. call forwarding or call holding systems providing special services or facilities to telephony subscribers H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/04 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42348 Location-based services which utilize the location information of a target
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/088 using filters or firewalls
• 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 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• 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 64/003 locating network equipment

Abstract

A method and mechanism to allow a location server to initiate a user plane location service (e.g., SUPL defined by OMA) procedure to a user plane enabled device via Instant Messaging, or alternatively, via an existing SIP session if a multimedia session is already established. The location request is signaled to the user plane enabled device via a SIP INFO message. The location request uses SIP messaging to overcome firewall and other network security issues. Location using SUPL over SIP may be provided about a caller making an E911 emergency call. An Instant Message may be sent to the user plane enabled device, e.g., a VoIP wireless phone.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving, at a location server, a location request for a particular wireless device;

generating, at the location server, an instant message for the particular wireless device in response to receiving the location request; and

receiving, at the location server, location information for the particular wireless device via a User Plane Location Services session, wherein the location information is provided from the particular wireless device in response to receipt of the instant message.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending, by the location server, the instant message to an instant message server, wherein the instant message server forwards the instant message to the particular wireless device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at the location server, a request to establish the User Plane Location Services session via an established Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) session.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving, at the location server, a request to establish the User Plane Location Services session via an Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol (XMPP).

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the instant message is a short message service (SMS) message.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining, at the location server, in response to receipt of the location request that the particular wireless device is not being served by a packet data enabled cellular network.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the determination is made based on an identifier of the particular wireless device included in the location request.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the instant message includes information to trigger the User Plane Location Services session.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

querying, by the location server, a home location register for a uniform resource identifier of the particular wireless device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the location request for the particular wireless device includes an Internet Protocol (IP) address of the particular wireless device.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending, by the location server, a request for presence information of the particular wireless device to an instant message server.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving, at the location server, a notification containing contact information for the particular wireless device that is provided in response to the request for presence information.

13. A location server comprising:

a memory configured to store machine readable instructions; and

at least one processor configured to access the memory and execute the machine readable instructions, the machine readable instructions being configured to;

generate an instant message for a particular wireless device in response to receiving a location request for the particular wireless device;

provide the instant message to an instant message server for delivery to the particular wireless device; and

receive location information for the particular wireless device via a User Plane Location Services session, wherein the location information is provided from the particular wireless device in response to receipt of the instant message.

14. The location server of claim 13, wherein the machine readable instructions are further configured to:

receive a request to establish the User Plane Location Services session via an established Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) session.

15. The location server of claim 13, wherein the instant message is a short message service (SMS) message.

16. The location server of claim 13, wherein the machine readable instructions are further configured to:

determine, based on data included in the location request, that the particular wireless device is not being served by a packet data enabled cellular network.

17. A method comprising:

receiving, at a wireless device, an instant message that includes information for triggering a User Plane Location Services procedure;

initiating, by the wireless device, a User Plane Location Services session with a location server in response to receipt of the instant message; and

providing, from the wireless device, location information characterizing a current location of the wireless device to the location server via the User Plane Location Services session.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the instant message is a Short Message Services (SMS) Message.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the initiation of the User Plane Location Services is sent via a Session Initiated Protocol (SIP) session.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

establishing, by the wireless device, Internet access for the wireless device with an Internet Service Provider.