Communication system that communicates position information of roaming mobile stations

• US 6,198,933 B1
• Filed: 05/06/1997
• Issued: 03/06/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Lundin, Magnus
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith, Sheila
• Application Number:
  US08/852,032
• Time in Patent Office: 1,400 Days
• Field of Search: 455/432, 455/433, 455/434, 455/466, 455/456, 455/450, 455/440, 455/435
• US Class Current: 455/456.4
• 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 8/10 between location register and external networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/12 between location registers or mobility servers

Abstract

A communication system communicates position request and information over a communication channel that is used for communicating roaming data between mobile stations. Over the communication channel, a first local PLMN transmits a position request to a second remote PLMN covering a remote service area within which a roaming mobile station is positioned. In response to the position request, the second PLMN transmits position information related to the roaming mobile station to the first PLMN, preferably, over the same communication channel.

Claims

1. A communication system that supports roaming among at least two PLMNS, comprising:

a first Mobile Positioning Center (MPC) located in a first PLMN that transmits a position request over a communication channel requesting position information of a roaming mobile station; and

a second MPC located in a second PLMN that in response to receiving the position request over the communication channel initiates a positioning procedure for determining the position of the roaming mobile station.

2. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the second MPC transmits the position information of the roaming mobile station to the first MPC.

3. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the position request is transmitted over a communication channel used for communicating roaming data between the mobile stations.

4. The communication system of claim 3, wherein the position information is transmitted over the communication channel used for communicating roaming data between the mobile stations.

5. The communication system of claim 3, wherein the communication channel is used for a short messaging service.

6. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the first MPC transmits the position request based on information contained in a home location register (HLR) associated with the roaming mobile station.

7. The communication system of claim 6, wherein the HLR contains an address for a visiting location register (VLR).

8. The communication system of claim 7, wherein the address of the VLR is an address pointing to the second PLMN.

16. A cellular communication system according to claim 1, wherein the communication channel is layered on top of the Internet Protocol (IP).

17. A cellular communication system according to claim 1, wherein the communication channel is layered on top of the X25 protocol.

18. A cellular communication system according to claim 1, wherein the communication channel is layered on top of the SCCP/MTP protocols.

19. A cellular communication system according to claim 1, wherein the communication channel is layered on top of the ATM protocol.

9. A cellular positioning system for a communication network that supports roaming among a first PLMN and a second PLMN, comprising:

a first mobile positioning center (MPC) located in the first PLMN that transmits a position request requesting position information of a roaming mobile station in the second PLMN; and

a second MPC located in the second PLMN that in response to receiving the position request initiates a positioning procedure for determining the position of the roaming mobile station, wherein the second MPC transmits the position information of the roaming mobile station to the first MPC.

10. The cellular positioning system of claim 9, wherein the first MPC transmits the positioning request over a communication channel used for communicating roaming data.

11. The cellular positioning system of claim 10, wherein the communication channel is used for a short messaging service.

12. The cellular positioning system of claim 10, wherein the second MPC transmits the position information over the communication channel used for a short messaging service.

13. The cellular positioning system of claim 9, wherein the first MPC transmits the position request based on information contained in a home location register (HLR) associated with the roaming mobile station.

14. The cellular positioning system of claim 13, wherein the HLR contains an address for a visiting location register (VLR).

15. The cellular positioning system of claim 14, wherein the address of the VLR is an address pointing to the second PLMN.

20. A method for communicating roaming information among at least two PLMNs, comprising:

transmitting a position request over a communication channel requesting position information of a roaming mobile station from a first Mobile Positioning Center (MPC) located in a first PLMN; and

receiving the position request over the communication channel at a second MPC located in a second PLMN; and

initiating a positioning procedure for determining the position of the roaming mobile station.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the second MPC transmits the position information of the roaming mobile station to the first MPC.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the position request is transmitted over a communication channel used for communicating roaming data between the mobile stations.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the position information is transmitted over the communication channel used for communicating roaming data between the mobile stations.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the communication channel is used for a short messaging service.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein the first MPC transmits the position request based on information contained in a home location register (HLR) associated with the roaming mobile station.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the HLR contains an address for a visiting location register VLR).

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the address of the VLR is an address pointing to the second PLMN.