System and method for determining device location in an IP-based wireless telecommunications network
First Claim
1. A network element for determining a location associated with a mobile device in an IP-based wireless telecommunications network, the network element comprising:
- an interface configured to communicate with a network controller, wherein the interface is further configured to;
receive a first message comprising a mobile device location request from the network controller,wherein the mobile device location request is associated with a mobile device that is communicatively coupled to an IP-based wireless telecommunications network via an access point, andwherein the IP-based wireless telecommunications network includes the network controller;
transmit a second message to the network controller,wherein the second message includes a request for location information from a network controller database;
receive location information from the network controller database via a third message,wherein the third message comprises a reply to the second message,wherein the third message comprises a plurality of information elements, and wherein the information elements include;
a MAC address associated with the mobile device;
a first location uncertainty value associated with the MAC address;
a serving area associated with an IP address associated with the access point; and
a second location uncertainty value associated with the serving area;
receive a calculation from a network component,wherein the calculation includes an estimated geographic position of the mobile device partially based on the MAC address, the first location uncertainty value, the serving area, and the second location uncertainty value; and
provide the estimated geographic position to the network controller,wherein the provided estimated geographic position includes a latitude estimate and longitude estimate.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method determines a geographic position of a mobile device in communication with an IP-based wireless telecommunications network. A wireless connection between the mobile device and the IP-based wireless telecommunications network is established when the mobile device registers with a network controller (NC) through an access point (AP). When a geographical position is needed for the mobile device (e.g., a 911 call), messages are exchanged between the NC and the SMLC where the SMLC retrieves information from a database that is used to identify the geographic position of the mobile device. The database can store a variety of information related to mobile devices such as: last known position, IP address, MAC address, device or subscriber identifier, last CGI, etc. The geographical position is communicated back to the NC, which can then forward the position information to a switch for processing such as for 911 calls.
204 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A network element for determining a location associated with a mobile device in an IP-based wireless telecommunications network, the network element comprising:
an interface configured to communicate with a network controller, wherein the interface is further configured to; receive a first message comprising a mobile device location request from the network controller, wherein the mobile device location request is associated with a mobile device that is communicatively coupled to an IP-based wireless telecommunications network via an access point, and wherein the IP-based wireless telecommunications network includes the network controller; transmit a second message to the network controller, wherein the second message includes a request for location information from a network controller database; receive location information from the network controller database via a third message, wherein the third message comprises a reply to the second message, wherein the third message comprises a plurality of information elements, and wherein the information elements include; a MAC address associated with the mobile device; a first location uncertainty value associated with the MAC address; a serving area associated with an IP address associated with the access point; and a second location uncertainty value associated with the serving area; receive a calculation from a network component, wherein the calculation includes an estimated geographic position of the mobile device partially based on the MAC address, the first location uncertainty value, the serving area, and the second location uncertainty value; and provide the estimated geographic position to the network controller, wherein the provided estimated geographic position includes a latitude estimate and longitude estimate. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method for determining a location associated with a mobile device in an IP-based wireless telecommunications network, the method comprising:
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receiving a first message comprising a mobile device location request from a network controller, wherein the mobile device location request is associated with a mobile device that is communicatively coupled to an IP-based wireless telecommunications network via an access point, the IP-based wireless telecommunications network including the network controller; transmitting a second message to the network controller, the second message including a request for location information from a network controller database; receiving location information from the network controller database via a third message, the third message comprising a reply to the second message, the third message further comprising a plurality of information elements, the information elements including; a MAC address associated with the mobile device; a first location uncertainty value associated with the MAC address; a serving area associated with an IP address associated with the access point; and a second location uncertainty value associated with the serving area; calculating an estimated geographic position of the mobile device partially based on the MAC address, the first location uncertainty value, the serving area, the second location uncertainty value; and providing the estimated geographic position to the network controller, wherein the provided estimated geographic position includes a latitude estimate and longitude estimate. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium having instructions, which when executed by a processor, cause a device to perform a method for determining a location associated with a mobile device in an IP-based wireless telecommunications network, the method comprising:
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receiving a mobile device location request from a network controller, wherein the mobile device location request is associated with a mobile device that is communicatively coupled to an IP-based wireless telecommunications network via an access point, the IP-based wireless telecommunications network including the network controller; determining a MAC address associated with the mobile device; determining a serving area associated with an IP address associated with the access point; transmitting a request for location information to a network controller database; receiving a reply to the request from the network controller database, the reply including; a first location uncertainty value associated with the MAC address; a second location uncertainty value associated with the serving area; calculating an estimated geographic position of the mobile device partially based on the MAC address, the first location uncertainty value, the serving area, and the second location uncertainty value; and providing the estimated geographic position to the network controller, wherein the provided estimated geographic position includes a latitude estimate and longitude estimate. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification