Address retrieval system

• US 5,930,699 A
• Filed: 11/12/1996
• Issued: 07/27/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/12/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Original Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Bhatia, Ranjit
• Primary Examiner(s): WOLFE JR, WILLIS RAY
• Application Number:
  US08/747,464
• Time in Patent Office: 987 Days
• Field of Search: 455/414, 455/426, 455/433, 455/456, 455/457
• US Class Current: 455/456.3
• 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 8/205 Transfer to or from user equipment or user record carrier

Abstract

A method and apparatus for enabling a user to request location information from a mobile station telephone unit is disclosed. A user enters a request for location information concerning a particular type of business. The request is processed by a module within the mobile station and transmitted to the home location register for the mobile station via the base station and mobile switching center serving the mobile station. The home location register determines the location area and cell identity for the mobile station and transmits this information plus the original request to a relational database. The relational database determines the identity of businesses located either within or near the location area and/or cell identity of the mobile station. This information and the addresses of the identified business is transmitted back to the mobile station for review by the user.

Claims

1. A method for providing a mobile station in a cellular telephone network access to location information for a selected business class, comprising the steps of:

defining a database containing members of a selected business class, each member of the selected business class having location data defining a sector of the cellular telephone network associated therewith;

receiving at a central location a user request for location information for the selected business class from a mobile station;

determining location data identifying a sector of the cellular telephone network associated with a present location for the mobile station;

locating within the database members of the selected business class located within substantially the same sector of the cellular telephone network as the mobile station; and

forwarding location information for the located members of the selected business class to the requesting mobile station.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the sector of the cellular telephone network comprises a location area of the mobile station.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the sector of the cellular telephone network comprises a cell global identity of the mobile station.

4. The method of claim 1 further including the step of transmitting a request from the mobile station to the central location using an unstructured supplementary service data message.

5. The method of claim 1 further including the step of transmitting a request from the mobile station to the central location using a short message service message.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the central location comprises a home location register.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the step of forwarding further comprises the steps of forwarding the located members from a database to the home location register to a mobile switching center to a mobile station.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of determining utilizes a relational database including listings for a plurality of members of a plurality of business classes, each member having associated location information, and location data.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the central location comprises a visitor location register.

10. A system enabling a user to obtain location information for a selected business class from a mobile station of a cellular telephone system, comprising:

means located within the mobile station enabling the user to generate a request for location information for a selected business class;

means for determining at least one of a location area and a cell global identity where the mobile station is currently located in response to the request for location information; and

a database responsive to the determined at least one location area and cell global identity and the request for location information for providing location information for members of the selected business class having substantially the same determined at least one location area and cell global identity as the mobile station.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the means located within the mobile station and the database are interconnected via a communications link using unstructured supplementary service data messages.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the means located within the mobile station and the database are interconnected via a communications link using short message service data messages.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein the means for determining comprises a home location register for the mobile station.

14. The system of claim 10 wherein the database comprises a relational database having a plurality of members for a plurality of business classes, each of the plurality of members having associated location data and location information.

15. The system of claim 10 wherein the means for enabling a user request is responsive to commands entered through a user interface of the mobile station.

16. The system of claim 10 wherein the means for determining comprises a visitor location register.

17. The system of claim 10 wherein the database is located outside of a public land mobile network within which the mobile station operates.

18. A system enabling a user to obtain location information for a selected business class from a mobile station of a cellular telephone system, comprising:

a user module located within the mobile station enabling the user to transmit a request for location information to a central location via a communications link using unstructured supplementary service data protocol;

means within the central location for determining a sector of the cellular telephone system where the mobile station is presently located in response to the request for location information; and

a relational database including a plurality of members for a plurality of business classes for providing location information for members of the selected business class located substantially within the same sector of the cellular telephone system as the mobile station, each of the plurality of members having associated sector of the cellular telephone system and location information.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the means for determining comprises a home location register for the mobile station.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein the sector of the cellular telephone system comprises a location area identifier.

21. The system of claim 18 wherein the sector of the cellular telephone system comprises a cell global identity identifier.