Control plane location solution to support wireless access

• US 9,693,184 B2
• Filed: 08/14/2009
• Issued: 06/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Burroughs, Kirk Allan, Edge, Stephen W.
• Primary Examiner(s): MAPA, MICHAEL Y
• Application Number:
  US12/541,841
• Publication Number:
  US 20100041418A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,874 Days
• Field of Search: 4554561-457, 4554042, 4554142, 455440
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• 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
• 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 76/50 for emergency connections

Abstract

Techniques for supporting a control plane solution for location services and positioning are described. In an aspect, an Evolved Serving Mobile Location Center (E-SMLC) may communicate with a Mobility Management Entity (MME) to support location services and positioning for a UE. In one design, the E-SMLC may receive a location request from the MME, perform a positioning procedure with the UE in response to the location request, and send a location response to the MME after completing the positioning procedure. For a UE-assisted or UE-based positioning procedure, the E-SMLC may send a downlink positioning message to the UE via the MME and may receive an uplink positioning message from the UE via the MME. For a network-based positioning procedure, the E-SMLC may send a network positioning request message to an eNB via the MME and may receive a network positioning response message from the eNB via the MME.

Claims

1. A method of supporting location services and positioning, comprising:

receiving a location request from a Mobility Management Entity (MME) at a Location Server (LS) via an interface between the MME and the LS;

performing a positioning procedure between the LS and a user equipment (UE) in response to the location request, wherein performing the positioning procedure includes

sending a first positioning message to the MME in which a first downlink positioning message for forwarding to the UE is encapsulated, wherein the first downlink positioning message is for a first protocol and the first positioning message is for a second protocol that is a lower layer protocol than the first protocol; and

receiving a second positioning message from the MME in which a first uplink positioning message sent by the UE is encapsulated and forwarded by the MME, wherein the first uplink positioning message is for the first protocol and the second positioning message is for the second protocol;

determining whether a location estimate for the UE obtained from the positioning procedure satisfies a requested Quality of Service (QoS); and

sending a location response from the LS to the MME after the positioning procedure via the interface between the MME and the LS, wherein the location response comprises information indicating whether the location estimate included in the location response satisfies the requested QoS and information indicating a positioning method used to obtain the location estimate.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the location response further comprises information indicating a failure cause responsive to the location estimate being unable to be obtained.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first uplink positioning message is indicative of UE positioning capabilities.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending a third positioning message to the MME in which a second downlink positioning message for forwarding to the UE is encapsulated, wherein the second downlink positioning message is for the first protocol the third positioning message is for the second protocol; and

receiving a fourth positioning message from the MME in which a second uplink positioning message sent by the UE is encapsulated and forwarded by the MME, wherein the second uplink positioning message is for the first protocol and the fourth positioning message is for the second protocol.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the second downlink positioning message comprise a request for specific location measurements from the UE.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the second uplink positioning message comprises information related to the specific location measurements.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the second uplink positioning message comprises a request for additional assistance data.

8. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

obtaining the location estimate for the UE based on location information included in the second uplink positioning message.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein the second downlink positioning message further includes assistance data for the UE.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein the second downlink positioning message requests location information from the eNB, and wherein the second uplink positioning message includes the requested location information.

11. An apparatus for supporting location services and positioning, comprising:

means for receiving a location request from a Mobility Management Entity (MME) at a Location Server (LS) via an interface between the MME and the LS;

means for performing a positioning procedure between the LS and a user equipment (UE) in response to the location request, wherein the means for performing the positioning procedure include

means for sending a first positioning message to the MME from the MME in which a first downlink positioning message for forwarding to the UE is encapsulated, wherein the first downlink positioning message is for a first protocol and the first positioning message is for a second protocol that is a lower layer protocol than the first protocol; and

means for receiving a second positioning message from the MME in which a first uplink positioning message sent by the UE is encapsulated and forwarded by the MME, wherein the first uplink positioning message is for the first protocol and the second positioning message is for the second protocol; and

means for determining whether a location estimate for the UE obtained from the positioning procedure satisfies a requested Quality of Service (QoS); and

means for sending a location response from the LS to the MME after the positioning procedure, wherein the location response comprises information indicating whether the location estimate included in the location response satisfies a requested QoS and information indicating a positioning method used to obtain the location estimate.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

means for sending a third positioning message to the MME in which a second downlink positioning message for forwarding to the UE is encapsulated, wherein the second downlink positioning message is for the first protocol and the third positioning message is for the second protocol; and

means for receiving a fourth positioning message from the MME in which a second uplink positioning message sent by the UE is encapsulated and forwarded by the MME, wherein the second uplink positioning message is for the first protocol and the fourth positioning message is for the second protocol.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the second downlink positioning message requests location information from the eNB, and wherein the second uplink positioning message includes the requested location information.

14. An apparatus for supporting location services and positioning, comprising:

at least one processor configured to receive a location request from a Mobility Management Entity (MME) at a Location Server (LS), to perform a positioning procedure between the LS and a user equipment (UE) in response to the location request, and to send a location response message from the LS to the MME after the positioning procedure, wherein the at least one processor being configured to perform the positioning procedure is further configured to

send a first positioning message to the MME in which a first downlink positioning message for forwarding to the UE is encapsulated, wherein the first downlink positioning message is for a first protocol and the first positioning message is for a second protocol that is a lower layer protocol than the first protocol; and

receive a second positioning message from the MME in which a first uplink positioning message sent by the UE is encapsulated and forwarded by the MME, wherein the first uplink positioning message is for the first protocol and the second positioning message is for the second protocol; and

wherein the at least one processor is further configured to determine whether a location estimate for the UE obtained from the positioning procedure satisfies a requested Quality of Service (QoS), and wherein the location response message comprises information indicating whether the location estimate included in the location response satisfies a requested QoS and information indicating a positioning method used to obtain the location estimate.

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

send a third positioning message to the MME in which a second downlink positioning message for forwarding to the UE is encapsulated, wherein the second downlink positioning message is for the first protocol and the third positioning message is for the second protocol; and

receive a fourth positioning message from the MME in which a second uplink positioning message sent by the UE is encapsulated and forwarded by the MME, wherein the second uplink positioning message is for the first protocol and the fourth positioning message is for the second protocol.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the second downlink message requests location information from the eNB, and wherein the second uplink positioning message includes the requested location information.

17. A computer program product, comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising;

code for causing at least one computer to receive a location request from a Mobility Management Entity (MME) at a Location Server (LS) via an interface between the MME and the LS,

code for causing the at least one computer to perform a positioning procedure between the LS and a user equipment (UE) in response to the location request via the interface between the MME and the LS, wherein the code for causing the at least one computer to perform performing the positioning procedure includes

code for causing the at least one computer to send a first positioning message to the MME in which a first downlink positioning message for forwarding to the UE is encapsulated, wherein the first downlink positioning message is for a first protocol and the first positioning message is for a second protocol that is a lower layer protocol than the first protocol; and

code for causing the at least one computer to receive a positioning message from the MME in which a first uplink positioning message sent by the UE is encapsulated and forwarded by the MME, wherein the first uplink positioning message is for the first protocol and the second positioning message is for the second protocol;

code for causing the at least one computer to determine whether a location estimate for the UE obtained from the positioning procedure satisfies a requested Quality of Service (QoS); and

code for causing the at least one computer to send a location response from the LS to the MME after the positioning procedure, wherein the location response comprises information indicating whether a location estimate included in the location response satisfies a requested QoS and information indicating a positioning method used to obtain the location estimate.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, further comprising:

code for causing the at least one computer to send a third positioning message to the MME in which a second downlink positioning message for forwarding to the UE is encapsulated, wherein the second downlink positioning message is for the first protocol and the third positioning message for the second protocol; and

code for causing the at least one computer to receive a fourth positioning message from the MME in which a second uplink positioning message sent by the UE is encapsulated and forwarded by the MME, wherein the second uplink positioning message is for the first protocol and the fourth positioning message is for the second protocol.

19. A method of supporting location services and positioning, comprising:

sending a location request from a Mobility Management Entity (MME) to a Location Server (LS);

assisting with a positioning procedure between the LS and a user equipment (UE), the positioning procedure being initiated by the LS in response to the location request from the MME via the interface between the MME and the LS, wherein assisting with the positioning procedure includes;

receiving a first downlink positioning message at the MME, wherein the first downlink positioning message is for a first protocol and is encapsulated in a first positioning message for a second protocol that is a lower layer protocol than the first protocol;

forwarding the first downlink positioning message to the UE from the MME, wherein the first downlink positioning message is encapsulated in a first transport message, and wherein the first transport message is for a third protocol that is different from the first and second protocols; and

receiving a first uplink positioning message at the MME sent by the UE, wherein the first uplink positioning message is for the first protocol and is encapsulated in a second transport message for the third protocol;

forwarding the first uplink positioning message to the LS, wherein forwarding the first uplink positioning message to the LS comprises encapsulating the first uplink positioning message in a second positioning message for the second protocol; and

receiving a location response sent by the LS to the MME after the positioning procedure, wherein the location response comprises information indicating whether a location estimate included in the location response satisfies a requested Quality of Service (QoS) and information indicating a positioning method used to obtain the location estimate.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the assisting with the positioning procedure comprises maintaining no state information for the first downlink positioning message at the MME.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

receiving a provide subscriber location message from a Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC), wherein the location request is sent by the MME to the LS in response to receiving the provide subscriber location message from the GMLC;

obtaining a location estimate for the UE from the location response message; and

sending a provide subscriber location acknowledgement message from the MME to the GMLC, the acknowledgement message including the location estimate for the UE.

22. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

performing notification and privacy verification with the UE prior to sending the location request to the LS.

23. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

obtaining a location estimate for the UE from the positioning procedure, the positioning procedure being performed for an emergency call originated by the UE; and

sending a location report comprising the location estimate for the UE and an address of the MME to a Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC).

24. The method of claim 19, wherein the location request is sent by the MME in response to a request for location information from the UE.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein the location request is sent by the MME in response to a request from a location services (LCS) client for location information for the UE.

26. An apparatus for supporting location services and positioning, comprising:

means for sending a location request from a Mobility Management Entity (MME) a Location Server (LS) via an interface between the MME and the LS;

means for assisting with a positioning procedure between the LS and a user equipment (UE), the positioning procedure being initiated by the LS in response to the location request from the MME via the interface between the MME and the LS, wherein the means for assisting with the positioning procedure includes;

means for receiving a first downlink positioning message at the MME, wherein the first downlink positioning message is for a first protocol and is encapsulated in a first positioning message for a second protocol that is a lower layer protocol than the first protocol;

means for forwarding the first downlink positioning message to the UE from the MME, wherein the first downlink positioning message is encapsulated in a first transport message, and wherein the first transport message is for a third protocol that is different from the first and second protocols; and

means for receiving a first uplink positioning message at the MME sent by the UE, wherein the first uplink positioning message is for the first protocol and is encapsulated in a second transport message for the third protocol;

means for forwarding the first uplink positioning message to the LS, wherein the means for forwarding the first uplink positioning message to the LS comprise means for encapsulating the first uplink positioning message in a second positioning message for the second protocol; and

means for receiving a location response sent by the LS to the MME after the positioning procedure, wherein the location response comprises information indicating whether a location estimate included in the location response satisfies a requested Quality of Service (QoS) and information indicating a positioning method used to obtain the location estimate.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising:

means for receiving a provide subscriber location message from a Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC), wherein the location request is sent by the MME to the LS in response to receiving the provide subscriber location message from the GMLC;

means for obtaining a location estimate for the UE from the location response message; and

means for sending a provide subscriber location acknowledgement message from the MME to the GMLC, the acknowledgement message including the location estimate for the UE.

28. A method of supporting location services and positioning, comprising:

performing a positioning procedure between a user equipment (UE) and a Location Server (LS), wherein performing the positioning procedure includes

receiving a downlink positioning message at the UE from the LS, wherein the downlink positioning message is for a first protocol and is encapsulated in a first transport message for a second protocol that is a lower layer protocol than the first protocol; and

sending an uplink positioning message to the LS, wherein the uplink positioning message is for the first protocol and is encapsulated in a second transport message for the second protocol, wherein the uplink positioning message comprises a location estimate,

and wherein a location response from the LS to a Mobility Management Entity (MME) is sent after the positioning procedure, wherein the location response comprises information indicating whether the location estimate included in the location response satisfies the requested QoS and information indicating a positioning method used to obtain the location estimate.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

performing notification and privacy verification with the MME prior to performing the first positioning procedure.

30. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

sending a message to originate an emergency call, and wherein the first positioning procedure is performed for the emergency call.

31. An apparatus for supporting location services and positioning, comprising:

means for performing a positioning procedure between a user equipment (UE) and a Location Server (LS), wherein the means for performing the positioning procedure include;

means for receiving a downlink positioning message at the UE from the LS, wherein the downlink positioning message is for a first protocol and is encapsulated in a first transport message for a second protocol that is a lower layer protocol than the first protocol; and

means for sending an uplink positioning message to the LS, wherein the uplink positioning message is for the first protocol and is encapsulated in a second transport message for the second protocol, wherein the uplink positioning message comprises a location estimate,

and wherein a location response from the LS to a Mobility Management Entity (MME) is sent after the positioning procedure, wherein the location response comprises information indicating whether the location estimate included in the location response information satisfies the requested QoS and information indicating a positioning method used to obtain the location estimate.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, further comprising:

means for performing notification and privacy verification with the MME prior to the positioning procedure.