Mobile activity status tracker

• US 20080019335A1
• Filed: 07/21/2006
• Published: 01/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Original Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Inventors: Titus, Mark, Ung, Dara, Wallace, Erik L., Hronek, Daniel J., Weichselbaumer, Walter
• Granted Patent: US 7,894,825 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/338
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/30 Profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/006 with additional information processing, e.g. for direction or speed determination
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/08 Mobility data transfer
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 92/02 Inter-networking arrangements

Abstract

A technique and apparatus to provide status tracking of presence and/or location of a mobile, wireless device to a requesting entity even outside of a particular wireless system. This allows wireless service providers the ability to monitor and log changes in the status of mobile stations within and/or outside their networks. Embodiments are disclosed wherein presence and/or location information is provided to entities outside of a particular servicing wireless network using the mechanisms of call processing components of a mobile network (e.g., call setup procedures), and using standard mechanisms currently available to any appropriately conforming Mobile Switching Center (MSC) element. A mobile activity status tracker (MAST) is disclosed which contains a database of information similar to the information contained in the Home Location Register. The MAST tracks and reports status and activity of mobile wireless devices in a wireless network using mobile registration message, mobile inactivity message forwarding, and/or mobile automatic notification of subscriber status to TCP/IP entities (e.g., application servers on the Internet or Intranet). The MAST system duplicates the same or similar information contained in a corresponding HLR, but is available as an external database entity which is not restricted by SS7 standards. The tracking need not track call-specific information, e.g., called telephone numbers or information regarding conversations sustained by the tracked wireless subscribers.

Claims

1. A mobile activity status tracker, comprising:

a database relating to individual wireless device subscribers;

a communications channel to allow entry of data into said database via a signaling transfer point; and

a TCP/IP communications channel for communicating information contained in said database to an external entity over at least one of an Internet and an Intranet.

2. The mobile activity status tracker according to claim 1, wherein:

said communications channel utilizes a TCP/IP communications protocol.

3. The mobile activity status tracker according to claim 1, wherein:

said communications channel utilizes a Signaling System #7 communications protocol.

4. The mobile activity status tracker according to claim 3, wherein:

said communications channel conforms to an IS-41 standard.

5. The mobile activity status tracker according to claim 1, wherein:

said data entered into said database is previously forwarded by a Home Location Register.

6. The mobile activity status tracker according to claim 5, wherein:

said Home Location Register is a stand-alone Home Location Register.

7. The mobile activity status tracker according to claim 6, wherein:

said Home Location Register is integrated with a message servicing center on a common platform.

8. The mobile activity status tracker according to claim 1, wherein:

said mobile activity status tracker is external to a Home Location Register servicing said individual wireless device subscribers

9. The mobile activity status tracker according to claim 8, wherein:

said mobile activity status tracker communicates with said Home Location Register servicing said individual wireless device subscribers using a Signaling System #7 protocol.

10. The mobile activity status tracker according to claim 9, wherein:

said mobile activity status tracker communicates with said Home Location Register servicing said individual wireless device subscribers using an IS-41 protocol.

11. The mobile activity status tracker according to claim 1, wherein:

said mobile activity status tracker is adapted to compare a temporary record with entries in said database to determine any changes in activity status relating to a relevant wireless device and overwrite an existing record with said temporary record if a change in activity status is determined.

12. The mobile activity status tracker according to claim 11, wherein:

said mobile activity status tracker is further adapted to forward relevant information relating to said determined changes in activity status to at least one relevant application server.

13. A method of providing a database of presence or location information regarding wireless system subscribers, comprising:

forwarding a registration notification message from a Home Location Register to a mobile activity status tracker; and

transmitting at least one of presence and location information relating to at least one wireless system subscriber to an application server via at least one of an Internet and an Intranet.

14. The method of providing a database of presence and location information regarding wireless system subscribers according to claim 13, further comprising:

comparing a temporary record with entries in said database to determine any changes in activity status relating to a relevant wireless device; and

overwriting an existing record with said temporary record if a change in activity status is determined.

15. The method of providing a database of presence and location information regarding wireless system subscribers according to claim 14, wherein:

said registration notification message is forwarded through a signaling transfer point between said Home Location Register and said mobile activity status tracker.

16. The method of providing a database of presence and location information regarding wireless system subscribers according to claim 14, wherein:

said registration notification message is signaling system #7 and IS-41 compliant.

17. The method of providing a database of presence and location information regarding wireless system subscribers according to claim 16, wherein:

said registration notification message is IS-41 compliant.

18. The method of providing a database of presence and location information regarding wireless system subscribers according to claim 14, wherein:

said Home Location Register is a stand-alone Home Location Register.

19. Apparatus for providing a database of presence and location information regarding wireless system subscribers, comprising:

means for forwarding a registration notification message from a Home Location Register to a mobile activity status tracker; and

means for transmitting at least one of presence and location information relating to at least one wireless system subscriber to an application server via at least one of an Internet and an Intranet.

20. The apparatus for providing a database of presence and location information regarding wireless system subscribers according to claim 19, further comprising:

means for comparing a temporary record with entries in said database to determine any changes in activity status relating to a relevant wireless device; and

means for overwriting an existing record with said temporary record if a change in activity status is determined.

21. The apparatus for providing a database of presence and location information regarding wireless system subscribers according to claim 20, wherein:

said means for forwarding forwards said registration notification message through a signaling transfer point between said Home Location Register and said mobile activity status tracker.

22. The apparatus for providing a database of presence and location information regarding wireless system subscribers according to claim 20, wherein:

said registration notification message is signaling system #7 compliant.

23. The apparatus for providing a database of presence and location information regarding wireless system subscribers according to claim 22, wherein:

said registration notification message is IS-41 compliant.

24. The apparatus for providing a database of presence and location information regarding wireless system subscribers according to claim 20, wherein:

said Home Location Register is a stand-alone Home Location Register.

25. Apparatus for providing a database of presence and location information regarding wireless system subscribers, comprising:

means for copying and forwarding to a mobile activity status tracker a registration notification message sent to a Home Location Register; and

means for transmitting at least one of presence and location information relating to at least one wireless system subscriber to an application server via at least one of an Internet and an Intranet.

26. The apparatus for providing a database of presence and location information regarding wireless system subscribers according to claim 25, further comprising:

means for comparing a temporary record with entries in said database to determine any changes in activity status relating to a relevant wireless device; and

means for overwriting an existing record with said temporary record if a change in activity status is determined.

27. The apparatus for providing a database of presence and location information regarding wireless system subscribers according to claim 26, wherein:

said means for copying and forwarding sends said copied registration notification message over a TCP/IP connection to said mobile activity status tracker.

28. The apparatus for providing a database of presence and location information regarding wireless system subscribers according to claim 26, wherein:

said registration notification message is sent to said Home Location Register using signaling system #7 protocol; and

said means for copying and forwarding sends said copied registration notification message over a TCP/IP connection to said mobile activity status tracker.