User plane location based service using message tunneling to support roaming

• US 7,424,293 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2003
• Issued: 09/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Artax LLC (IPValuation Partners, LLC)
• Original Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Inventors: Zhu, Yinjun
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; David Q
• Application Number:
  US10/724,773
• Publication Number:
  US 20050118999A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,743 Days
• Field of Search: 455/432.1, 455/456.1, 455/456.6, 455/456.3, 455/456.2, 455/433, 455/435.1, 455/435.2, 455/436, 455/439, 455/440, 455/443, 370/331, 370/338, 713/168, 713/200, 713/201
• US Class Current: 455/432.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/222 using geographical location information, e.g. messages transmitted or received in proximity of a certain spot or area
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/029 Firewall traversal, e.g. tunnelling or, creating pinholes
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/08 Access security
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/20 Services signaling; Auxiliary data signalling, i.e. transmitting data via a non-traffic channel
• 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 76/12 Setup of transport tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/22 Manipulation of transport tunnels
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/06 Registration at serving network Location Register, VLR or user mobility server
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/205 Transfer to or from user equipment or user record carrier

Abstract

An improved User Plane location based service (LBS) architecture and message flow, enabling seamless User Plane location based services even when a mobile or wireless device has roamed among different carrier networks. The present invention overcomes constraints inherent in the current protocol for roaming support defined by the Secure User Plane Location Service specification. A location system is enabled to automatically fall back to a message tunneling mechanism to ensure the security of a communication path between the location service system and the target wireless device, ensuring that the communication path is uninterrupted as the wireless device travels.

Claims

1. A method of providing a User Plane location based service to a roaming wireless device, comprising:

establishing a User Plane roaming interface between said roaming wireless device and a visited location service (V-LCS) manager via an intermediary home Location Services (H-LCS) manager associated with said roaming wireless device; and

directing IP connectivity over said User Plane roaming interface between said home LCS manager and said visited LCS manager through a firewall in a home wireless carrier network and through a firewall in a visited wireless carrier network;

whereby a message tunneling mechanism is formed to provide an uninterrupted communication path between a visited location service (V-LCS) manager and said roaming wireless device.

2. The method of providing a User Plane location based service to a roaming wireless device according to claim 1, wherein said roaming wireless device comprises:

a mobile telephone.

3. The method of providing a User Plane location based service to a roaming wireless device according to claim 1, wherein said roaming wireless device comprises:

a personal data assistant (PDA) device.

4. The method of providing a User Plane location based service to a roaming wireless device according to claim 1, wherein said roaming wireless device comprises:

a wireless email device.

5. The method of providing a User Plane location based service to a roaming wireless device according to claim 1, wherein said roaming wireless device comprises:

a wireless device including a camera.

6. Apparatus for providing a User Plane location based service to a roaming wireless device, comprising:

means for establishing a User Plane roaming interface between said roaming wireless device and a visited location service (V-LCS) manager via an intermediary home Location Services (H-LCS) manager associated with said roaming wireless device; and

means for directing IP connectivity over said User Plane roaming interface between said home LCS manager and said visited LCS manager through a firewall in a home wireless carrier network and through a firewall in a visited wireless carrier network;

whereby a message tunneling mechanism is formed to provide an uninterrupted communication path between a visited location service (V-LCS) manager and said roaming wireless device.

7. The apparatus for providing a User Plane location based service to a roaming wireless device according to claim 6, wherein said roaming wireless device comprises:

a mobile telephone.

8. The apparatus for providing a User Plane location based service to a roaming wireless device according to claim 6, wherein said roaming wireless device comprises:

a personal data assistant (PDA) device.

9. The apparatus for providing a User Plane location based service to a roaming wireless device according to claim 6, wherein said roaming wireless device comprises:

a wireless email device.

10. The apparatus for providing a User Plane location based service to a roaming wireless device according to claim 6, wherein said roaming wireless device comprises:

a wireless device including a camera.

11. A method of providing a User Plane location based service to a roaming wireless device, comprising:

establishing a User Plane roaming interface between said roaming wireless device and a visited location service (V-LCS) manager via an intermediary home Location Services (H-LCS) manager associated with said roaming wireless device; and

directing IP connectivity over said User Plane roaming interface between said home LCS manager and said visited LCS manager;

whereby a message tunneling mechanism is formed between a visited location service (V-LCS) manager and said roaming wireless device.

12. The method of providing a User Plane location based service to a roaming wireless device according to claim 11, wherein said roaming wireless device comprises:

a mobile telephone.

13. The method of providing a User Plane location based service to a roaming wireless device according to claim 11, wherein said roaming wireless device comprises:

a personal data assistant (PDA) device.

14. The method of providing a User Plane location based service to a roaming wireless device according to claim 11, wherein said roaming wireless device comprises:

a wireless email device.

15. The method of providing a User Plane location based service to a roaming wireless device according to claim 11, wherein said roaming wireless device comprises:

a wireless device including a camera.