Inter-Working Location Gateway For Heterogeneous Networks

• US 20080161012A1
• Filed: 12/29/2006
• Published: 07/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United States Cellular Corporation (Telephone & Data Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: United States Cellular Corporation (Telephone & Data Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Saxena, Narothum, Irizarry, Michael, Haran, Narayanan
• Granted Patent: US 7,787,888 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/456.1
• 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 8/12 between location registers or mobility servers
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/16 Gateway arrangements

Abstract

A system and method are described for providing and using an inter-working location gateway (IWLG) that allows a trusted/non-trusted user plane mobile node to successfully utilize user location services while data roaming. In an embodiment, once the mobile node establishes a data connection while roaming, the mobile node uses IP connectivity to exchange messages, e.g., IS-801 messages, with an IWLG located in the home network. Via the messaging, the mobile node provides certain parameters which the IWLG uses to determine which network the mobile node is roaming. The IWLG interfaces with the appropriate network elements in the visited network to determine the location of the mobile node.

Claims

1. A method for detecting a location of a wireless mobile device, wherein the wireless mobile device is associated with a home network and is roaming on a network different than its home network, the method comprising:

the wireless mobile device requesting a location-based service;

initiating a messaging session from the wireless mobile device to an internetworking location gateway within the home network;

passing a plurality of parameters from the wireless mobile device to the internetworking location gateway via the messaging session;

receiving the location based service at the wireless mobile device in accordance with a location determination by the internetworking location gateway.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the internetworking location gateway uses the plurality of parameters to determine the location of the wireless mobile device.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the plurality of parameters comprise an SID and NID of the network on which the wireless mobile device is roaming.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the messaging session comprises an IS-801 session.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of initiating a messaging session is performed by the internetworking location gateway.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of initiating a messaging session is performed by the wireless mobile device.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

utilizing a BSA lookup table by the internetworking location gateway to identify a VPDE of the network on which the wireless mobile device is roaming; and

initiating a PDE-PDE interaction from the internetworking location gateway to the identified VPDE to determine the location of the wireless mobile device.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the location based service comprises one or more services selected from the group consisting of a weather report, a traffic update, PTT service, and SMS-Email.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein receiving the location based service at the wireless mobile device in accordance with a location determination by the internetworking location gateway comprises receiving a version of the service tailored to the location of the wireless mobile device.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein receiving the location based service at the wireless mobile device in accordance with a location determination by the internetworking location gateway comprises receiving a denial of the service based on the location of the wireless mobile device.

11. A computer-readable medium having thereon computer-executable instructions for detecting a location of a wireless mobile device, wherein the wireless mobile device is associated with a home network and is roaming on a network different than its home network, the instructions comprising instructions for:

the wireless mobile device requesting a location-based service;

initiating a messaging session from the wireless mobile device to an internetworking location gateway within the home network;

passing a plurality of parameters from the wireless mobile device to the internetworking location gateway via the messaging session;

receiving the location based service at the wireless mobile device in accordance with a location determination by the internetworking location gateway.

12. The computer-readable medium according to claim 11, wherein the internetworking location gateway uses the plurality of parameters to determine the location of the wireless mobile device.

13. The computer-readable medium according to claim 12, wherein the plurality of parameters comprise an SID and NID of the network on which the wireless mobile device is roaming.

14. The computer-readable medium according to claim 11, wherein the messaging session comprises an IS-801 session.

15. The computer-readable medium according to claim 11, wherein the instructions for initiating a messaging session are executed by the internetworking location gateway.

16. The computer-readable medium according to claim 11, wherein the instructions for initiating a messaging session are executed by the wireless mobile device.

17. The computer-readable medium according to claim 11, further comprising instructions for:

utilizing a BSA lookup table by the internetworking location gateway to identify a VPDE of the network on which the wireless mobile device is roaming; and

initiating a PDE-PDE interaction from the internetworking location gateway to the identified VPDE to determine the location of the wireless mobile device.

18. The computer-readable medium according to claim 11, wherein the location based service comprises one or more services selected from the group consisting of a weather report, a traffic update, PTT service, and SMS-Email.

19. The computer-readable medium according to claim 11, wherein receiving the location based service at the wireless mobile device in accordance with a location determination by the internetworking location gateway comprises receiving a version of the service tailored to the location of the wireless mobile device.

20. The computer-readable medium according to claim 11, wherein receiving the location based service at the wireless mobile device in accordance with a location determination by the internetworking location gateway comprises receiving a denial of the service based on the location of the wireless mobile device.