POSITIONING-TRIGGERED HANDOVER

• US 20100009652A1
• Filed: 09/25/2009
• Published: 01/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: HULKKONEN, Tony, Back, Juha, Muhonen, Janne
• Granted Patent: US 8,660,571 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/404.100
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/0263 by combining or switching between positions derived from two or more separate positioning systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

A method for estimating the location of a terminal operating in a communication system having at least two networks having overlapping areas of coverage, each network supporting at least one method for estimating the location of the terminal, and the terminal being in communication with a first one of the networks, the method comprising: assessing which of the networks is likely to form the more accurate estimate of the location of the terminal; and if that is the first one of the networks, estimating the location of the terminal by means of the first one of the networks, and if that is a second one of the networks, handling over the terminal to the second one of the networks and estimating the location of the terminal by means of the second one of the networks.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

determining which one of a plurality of networks is capable of determining location of a terminal to within a preset tolerance, wherein the terminal is within an overlapping coverage area of the networks; and

selecting one of the networks to initiate determination of the location of the terminal, or another one of the networks to initiate the determination of the location of the terminal after handover of the terminal from the one network to the other one of networks.

2. A method of claim 1, wherein the determination of the location by the one network is according to a first method, and the determining of the location by the other network is according to a second method that is different from the first method.

3. A method of claim 1, wherein the one network is configured according to a first standard and the other network is configured according to a second standard that is different from the first standard.

4. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

initiating establishment of an emergency call from the terminal through the one network, wherein the call is handed over to the other network as part of the handover of the terminal.

5. A method of claim 1, wherein the handover of the terminal is initiated by a handover request that specifies the other network is not to hand back the terminal either until the location of the terminal is determined by the other network, or upon expiration of a predetermined period of time.

6. A method of claim 1, wherein the selection includes,

determining extent of the overlap of the coverage area,

determining capabilities of the networks for determining the location, and

determining whether the terminal is compatible with the determined capabilities of the networks.

7. A method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a positioning request for the location of the terminal, wherein the positioning request includes a parameter that triggers the location determination.

8. A method of claim 1, wherein the parameter is a client type parameter specifying an emergency service.

9. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code,

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following,

determine which one of a plurality of networks is capable of determining location of a terminal to within a preset tolerance, wherein the terminal is within an overlapping coverage area of the networks; and

select one of the networks to initiate determination of the location of the terminal, or another one of the networks to initiate the determination of the location of the terminal after handover of the terminal from the one network to the other one of networks.

10. An apparatus of claim 9, wherein the determination of the location by the one network is according to a first method, and the determining of the location by the other network is according to a second method that is different from the first method.

11. An apparatus of claim 9, wherein the one network is configured according to a first standard and the other network is configured according to a second standard that is different from the first standard.

12. An apparatus of claim 9, wherein the apparatus is further caused, at least in part, to:

initiate establishment of an emergency call from the terminal through the one network, wherein the call is handed over to the other network as part of the handover of the terminal.

13. An apparatus of claim 9, wherein the handover of the terminal is initiated by a handover request that specifies the other network is not to hand back the terminal either until the location of the terminal is determined by the other network, or upon expiration of a predetermined period of time.

14. An apparatus of claim 9, wherein the selection includes,

determining extent of the overlap of the coverage area,

determining capabilities of the networks for determining the location, and

determining whether the terminal is compatible with the determined capabilities of the networks.

15. An apparatus of claim 9, wherein the apparatus is further caused, at least in part, to:

receive a positioning request for the location of the terminal, wherein the positioning request includes a parameter that triggers the location determination.

16. An apparatus of claim 9, wherein the parameter is a client type parameter specifying an emergency service.

17. A method comprising:

identifying that a call from a terminal is associated with a particular service, wherein the terminal is served by a first network and a second network having overlapping coverage areas;

generating a positioning request for transmission to the first network for determining location of the terminal to within a predetermined level of accuracy; and

generating another positioning request for transmission to the second network for determining location of the terminal if the first network employs a method for determining the location that fails to satisfy the predetermined level of accuracy, wherein the first network hands over the terminal to the second network.

18. A method of claim 17, wherein the particular service is an emergency service.

19. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code,

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following,

identify that a call from a terminal is associated with a particular service, wherein the terminal is served by a first network and a second network having overlapping coverage areas;

generate a positioning request for transmission to the first network for determining location of the terminal to within a predetermined level of accuracy; and

generate another positioning request for transmission to the second network for determining location of the terminal if the first network employs a method for determining the location that fails to satisfy the predetermined level of accuracy, wherein the first network hands over the terminal to the second network.

20. An apparatus of claim 19, wherein the particular service is an emergency service.