Location information system for a wireless communication device and method therefor

• US 20040033795A1
• Filed: 06/03/2003
• Published: 02/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NorthStar Systems LLC (Alpha Alpha Intellectual Partners LLC), AmeriTech Properties Inc.
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Kaschke, Kevin Daniel, Walsh, Patrick J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,606,555 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/404.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/09 providing processing capability normally carried out by the receiver
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 2205/02 Indoor
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0009 Transmission of position information to remote stations involving assistance data G01S5/0236
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0205 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/14 Determining absolute distances from a plurality of spaced points of known location
• 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

A location information system (102) includes a controller (200), a location entry device (202), a memory device (204) and wireless communication units (206-209). The controller (200) receives location information from the location entry device (202), such as a keyboard or a global positioning satellite receiver, for storage in the memory device (204). The location information represents locations of predetermined areas (210-213), such as floors, rooms, hallways, stairways and elevators, associated with each of the wireless communication units (206-209) in a facility (110). A wireless communication unit (209) sends the location information to a wireless communication device (104), such as a cellular telephone device, over a short-range wireless communication channel (124), such as a radio frequency communication channel. Preferably, each of the wireless communication units (206-209) and the wireless communication device (104) include a short-range radio frequency transceiver designed to communicate over the short-range wireless communication channel (124) according to a Bluetooth technology specification. Preferably, the location information is used for E911 automatic location identification in the facility (110). The location information may be solicited or unsolicited from the location information system by the wireless communication device (104). When the location information is solicited, the location information is either pulled by the wireless communication device (104) or pushed by the location information system using a location information service.

Claims

1. A method, performed by a location information system, comprising the steps of:

receiving location information representing a plurality of location descriptions respectively associated with a plurality of predetermined areas in a facility; and

sending the location information to a wireless communication device present in one of the plurality of predetermined areas in the facility over a short-range wireless communication channel responsive to the step of receiving.

2. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of:

storing the location information responsive to the step of receiving.

3. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of:

determining whether to provide the location information to the wireless communication device unsolicited by the wireless communication device or solicited by the wireless communication device responsive to the step of receiving.

4. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of:

providing a location information service, having the location information, to the wireless communication device in the facility over the short-range wireless communication channel responsive to the step of receiving.

5. A method according to claim 4 wherein the step of providing further comprises the steps of:

receiving a request from the wireless communication device over the short-range wireless communication channel to determine whether a location information service is available to the wireless communication device in the facility; and

sending a response to the wireless communication device over the short-range wireless communication channel indicating that the location information service is available to the wireless communication device in the facility responsive to the step of receiving the request.

6. A method according to claim 4 wherein the step of providing further comprises the step of:

broadcasting a signal to the wireless communication device over the short-range wireless communication channel indicating that the location information service is available to the wireless communication device in the facility.

7. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of:

determining whether a request is received from the wireless communication device for the location information over the short-range wireless communication channel responsive to the step of receiving, wherein the step of determining is repeated when a request is not received from the wireless communication device and when the location information is fixed, and wherein the step of receiving the location information is repeated when a request is not received from the wireless communication device and when the location information is variable.

8. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of:

determining the location information responsive to receiving global positioning satellite (GPS) signals from global positioning satellites orbiting the earth.

9. A method according to claim 1 wherein the location information is predetermined.

10. A method according to claim 1 wherein the step of sending is performed at least one of before, during and after the wireless communication device communicates an emergency telephone call to a public safety answering point, and wherein the location information sent to the wireless communication device is used for an automatic location identification of the wireless communication device in the facility by the public safety answering point.

11. A method according to claim 1 wherein each of the location information system and the wireless communication device further comprise a radio frequency transceiver designed to operate in accordance with a Bluetooth technology specification, and wherein the short-range wireless communication channel further comprises a radio frequency communication channel designed to operate in accordance with the Bluetooth technology specification.

12. A method according to claim 1 wherein the plurality of location descriptions identify at least one of latitude, longitude, altitude, a street address, a floor, a room, a hallway, a stairwell, an elevator, an isle, and a seat.

13. A method, performed by a location information system including a controller, a location entry device, a plurality of radio frequency transceivers, a memory device, comprising the steps of:

receiving, by a controller from the location entry device, location information representing a plurality of location descriptions associated with a plurality of predetermined areas, respectively, associated with the plurality of radio transceivers, respectively, in a facility;

storing, by the controller, the location information in the memory device responsive to the step of receiving; and

sending, by one of the plurality of radio frequency transceivers under the control of the controller, the location information from the memory device to a cellular telephone proximate to one of the plurality of radio frequency transceivers associated with one of the plurality of predetermined areas in the facility responsive to the step of storing, wherein the cellular telephone and each of the plurality of radio frequency transceivers are designed to communicate the location information over a short-range radio frequency communication channel in accordance with a Bluetooth technology specification, wherein the step of sending is performed at least one of before, during and after the cellular telephone communicates an emergency telephone call to a public safety answering point, and wherein the location information sent to the cellular telephone is used for an automatic location identification of the cellular telephone in the facility by the public safety answering point.

14. A method according to claim 13 further comprising the step of:

determining whether to provide the location information to the cellular telephone unsolicited by the cellular telephone or solicited by the cellular telephone responsive to the step of storing.

15. A method according to claim 13 further comprising the step of:

providing a location information service, having the location information, to the cellular telephone in the facility over the short-range radio frequency communication channel responsive to the step of storing.

16. A method according to claim 15 wherein the step of providing further comprises the steps of:

receiving a request from the cellular telephone over the short-range radio frequency communication channel to determine whether a location information service is available to the cellular telephone in the facility; and

sending a response to the cellular telephone over the short-range radio frequency communication channel indicating that the location information service is available to the cellular telephone in the facility responsive to the step of receiving the request.

17. A method according to claim 15 wherein the step of providing further comprises the step of:

broadcasting a signal to the cellular telephone indicating that the location information service is available to the cellular telephone in the facility.

18. A method according to claim 13 further comprising the step of:

determining whether a request is received from the cellular telephone for the location information over the short-range radio frequency communication channel responsive to the step of storing, wherein the step of determining is repeated when a request is not received from the cellular telephone and when the location information is fixed, and wherein the step of receiving the location information is repeated when a request is not received from the cellular telephone and when the location information is variable.

19. A method according to claim 13 further comprising the step of:

determining, by the location entry device including a global positioning satellite (GPS) antenna coupled to a GPS receiver, the location information responsive to the GPS antenna and GPS receiver receiving GPS signals from global positioning satellites orbiting the earth.

20. A method according to claim 13 wherein the location information is predetermined.

21. A method according to claim 13 wherein the plurality of location descriptions identify at least one of latitude, longitude, altitude, a street address, a floor, a room, a hallway, a stairwell, an elevator, an isle, and a seat.

22. A method, performed by a wireless communication device, comprising the steps of:

receiving location information from a location information system over a short-range wireless communication channel when the wireless communication device is present in one of a plurality of predetermined areas in a facility, wherein the location information represents a plurality of location descriptions respectively associated with the plurality of predetermined areas; and

sending the location information to a location-enabled service, via at least one of the location information system over the short-range wireless communication channel and a wireless communication network over a long-range wireless communication channel, responsive to the step of receiving.

23. A method according to claim 22 further comprising the step of:

storing the location information responsive to the step of receiving.

24. A method according to claim 22 further comprising the step of:

receiving a request from the wireless communication network for the location information over the long-range wireless communication channel.

25. A method according to claim 22 further comprising the step of:

receiving service information from the wireless communication network over the long-range wireless communication channel responsive to the step of sending.

26. A method according to claim 22 further comprising the step of:

determining whether the location information is unsolicited by the wireless communication device or solicited by the wireless communication device prior to the step of receiving.

27. A method according to claim 22 further comprising the step of:

receiving a location information service, having the location information, over the short-range wireless communication channel prior to the step of receiving the location information.

28. A method according to claim 27 wherein the step of receiving the location information service further comprises the steps of:

sending a request to the location information system over the short-range wireless communication channel to determine whether a location information service is available to the wireless communication device in the facility; and

receiving a response from the location information system over the short-range wireless communication channel indicating that the location information service is available to the wireless communication device in the facility responsive to the step of sending the request.

29. A method according to claim 27 wherein the step of receiving the location information service further comprises the step of:

receiving a broadcast signal from the location information system over the short-range wireless communication channel indicating that the location information service is available to the wireless communication device in the facility.

30. A method according to claim 22 wherein the step of receiving is performed at least one of before, during and after the wireless communication device communicates an emergency telephone call to a public safety answering point, and wherein the location information sent to the wireless communication device is used for an automatic location identification of the wireless communication device in the facility by the public safety answering point.

31. A method according to claim 22 wherein each of the wireless communication device and the location information system further comprise a radio frequency transceiver designed to operate in accordance with a Bluetooth technology specification, and wherein the short-range wireless communication channel further comprises a radio frequency communication channel designed to operate in accordance with the Bluetooth technology specification.

32. A method according to claim 22 wherein the plurality of location descriptions identify at least one of latitude, longitude, altitude, a street address, a floor, a room, a hallway, a stairwell, an elevator, an isle, and a seat.

33. A method, performed by a cellular telephone device, comprising the steps of:

receiving location information from a location information system over a short-range radio frequency communication channel when the cellular telephone device is present in one of a plurality of predetermined areas in a facility, wherein the location information represents a plurality of location descriptions respectively associated with the plurality of predetermined areas, and wherein each of the cellular telephone device and the location information system further comprise a radio frequency transceiver designed to communicate the location information over the short-range radio frequency communication channel in accordance with a Bluetooth technology specification;

storing the location information responsive to the step of receiving; and

sending the location information to a cellular telephone network over a long-range radio frequency communication channel responsive to the step of storing, wherein the step of sending is performed at least one of before, during and after the cellular telephone communicates an emergency telephone call to a public safety answering point, and wherein the location information sent to the cellular telephone is used for an automatic location identification of the cellular telephone in the facility by the public safety answering point.

34. A method according to claim 33 further comprising the step of:

receiving a request from the cellular telephone network for the location information over the long-range radio frequency communication channel.

35. A method according to claim 33 further comprising the step of:

receiving service information from the cellular telephone network over the long-range radio frequency communication channel responsive to the step of sending.

36. A method according to claim 33 further comprising the step of:

determining whether the location information is unsolicited by the cellular telephone device or solicited by the cellular telephone device prior to the step of receiving.

37. A method according to claim 33 further comprising the step of:

receiving a location information service, having the location information, over the short-range radio frequency communication channel prior to the step of receiving the location information.

38. A method according to claim 37 wherein the step of receiving the location information service further comprises the steps of:

sending a request to the location information system over the short-range radio frequency communication channel to determine whether a location information service is available to the cellular telephone device in the facility; and

receiving a response from the location information system over the short-range radio frequency communication channel indicating that the location information service is available to the cellular telephone device in the facility responsive to the step of sending the request.

39. A method according to claim 37 wherein the step of receiving the location information service further comprises the step of:

receiving a broadcast signal from the location information system over the short-range radio frequency communication channel indicating that the location information service is available to the cellular telephone device in the facility.

40. A method according to claim 33 wherein the plurality of location descriptions identify at least one of latitude, longitude, altitude, a street address, a floor, a room, a hallway, a stairwell, an elevator, an isle, and a seat.

41. A location information system comprising:

a controller for receiving location information representing a plurality of location descriptions respectively associated with a plurality of predetermined areas in a facility; and

a wireless communication unit, coupled to the controller, for sending the location information to a wireless communication device present in one of the plurality of predetermined areas in the facility over a short-range wireless communication channel responsive to the controller receiving the location information.

42. A location information system according to claim 41, further comprising:

a memory device, coupled to the controller, for storing the location information responsive receiving the location information from the controller.

43. A location information system according to claim 41 further comprising:

a location entry device, coupled to the controller, for providing the location information to the controller.

44. A location information system according to claim 43 wherein the location entry device further comprises:

a global positioning satellite (GPS) antenna positioned proximate to the facility to receive GPS signals from global positioning satellites orbiting the earth; and

a GPS receiver, coupled to the GPS antenna, for determining the location information responsive to receiving the GPS signals from the GPS antenna.

45. A location information system according to claim 43 wherein the location information is predetermined.

46. A location information system according to claim 41 wherein the wireless communication unit sends the location information at least one of before, during and after the wireless communication device communicates an emergency telephone call to a public safety answering point, and wherein the location information sent to the wireless communication device is used for an automatic location identification of the wireless communication device in the facility by the public safety answering point.

47. A location information system according to claim 41 wherein each of the wireless communication unit and the wireless communication device further comprise a radio frequency transceiver designed to operate in accordance with a Bluetooth technology specification, and wherein the short-range wireless communication channel further comprises a radio frequency communication channel designed to operate in accordance with the Bluetooth technology specification.

48. A location information system according to claim 41 wherein the plurality of location descriptions identify at least one of latitude, longitude, altitude, a street address, a floor, a room, a hallway, a stairwell, an elevator, an isle, and a seat.

49. A location information system comprising:

a location entry device for generating location information representing a plurality of location descriptions respectively associated with a plurality of predetermined areas in a facility;

a controller, coupled to the location entry device, responsive to receiving the location information from the location entry device;

a memory device, coupled to the controller, for storing the location information responsive receiving the location information from the controller; and

a radio frequency transceiver, coupled to the controller, for sending the location information from the memory unit to a cellular telephone device present in one of the plurality of predetermined areas in the facility over a short-range radio frequency communication channel responsive to the memory unit storing the location information, wherein each of the radio frequency transceiver and the cellular telephone device are designed to communicate the location information over the radio frequency communication channel in accordance with a Bluetooth technology specification, wherein the radio frequency transceiver sends the location information at least one of before, during and after the cellular telephone device communicates an emergency telephone call to a public safety answering point, and wherein the location information sent to the cellular telephone device is used for an automatic location identification of the cellular telephone device in the facility by the public safety answering point.

50. A location information system according to claim 49 wherein the location entry device further comprises:

a global positioning satellite (GPS) antenna positioned proximate to the facility to receive GPS signals from global positioning satellites orbiting the earth; and

a GPS receiver, coupled to the GPS antenna, for determining the location information responsive to receiving the GPS signals from the GPS antenna.

51. A location information system according to claim 49 wherein the location information is predetermined.

52. A location information system according to claim 49 wherein the plurality of location descriptions identify at least one of latitude, longitude, altitude, a street address, a floor, a room, a hallway, a stairwell, an elevator, an isle, and a seat.

53. A wireless communication device comprising:

a short-range communication circuit for receiving location information from a location information system over a short-range wireless communication channel when the wireless communication device is present in one of a plurality of predetermined areas in a facility, wherein the location information represents a plurality of location descriptions respectively associated with the plurality of predetermined areas;

a long-range communication circuit for sending the location information to a wireless communication network over a long-range wireless communication channel responsive to receiving the location information; and

a controller, coupled to each of the short-range communication circuit and the long-range communication circuit, for controlling each of the each of the short-range communication circuit and the long-range communication circuit.

54. A wireless communication device according to claim 53 further comprising:

a memory device, coupled to the short-range communication circuit, for storing the location information responsive to receiving the location information.

55. A wireless communication device according to claim 53 wherein the short-range communication circuit receives the location information at least one of before, during and after the wireless communication device communicates an emergency telephone call to a public safety answering point associated with the wireless communication network, and wherein the location information sent to the wireless communication device is used for an automatic location identification of the wireless communication device in the facility by the public safety answering point.

56. A wireless communication device according to claim 53 wherein each of the short-range communication circuit and the location information system further comprise a radio frequency transceiver designed to operate in accordance with a Bluetooth technology specification, and wherein the short-range wireless communication channel further comprises a radio frequency communication channel designed to operate in accordance with the Bluetooth technology specification.

57. A cellular telephone device comprising:

a short-range radio frequency transceiver for receiving location information from a location information system over a short-range radio frequency communication channel when the cellular telephone device is present in one of a plurality of predetermined areas in a facility, wherein the location information represents a plurality of location descriptions respectively associated with the plurality of predetermined areas, and wherein each of the short-range radio frequency transceiver and the location information system are designed to communicate the location information over the short-range radio frequency communication channel in accordance with a Bluetooth technology specification;

a memory device, coupled to the short-range radio frequency transceiver, for storing the location information responsive to receiving the location information;

a long-range radio frequency transceiver for sending the location information to a cellular telephone network over a long-range radio frequency communication channel responsive to the memory device storing the location information, wherein the short-range radio frequency transceiver sends the location information at least one of before, during and after the cellular telephone device communicates an emergency telephone call to a public safety answering point associated with the cellular telephone network, and wherein the location information sent to the cellular telephone device is used for an automatic location identification of the cellular telephone device in the facility by the public safety answering point; and

a controller, coupled to each of the short-range radio frequency circuit and the long-range radio frequency circuit, for controlling each of the each of the short-range radio frequency circuit and the long-range radio frequency circuit.

58. A wireless communication device according to claim 57 wherein the plurality of location descriptions identify at least one of latitude, longitude, altitude, a street address, a floor, a room, a hallway, a stairwell, an elevator, an isle, and a seat.