Generating correlation codes for location information

• US 8,543,688 B1
• Filed: 12/08/2010
• Issued: 09/24/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Original Assignee: Sprint Communications Company LP (Deutsche Telekom AG)
• Inventors: Ramamurthy, Suryanarayanan
• Primary Examiner(s): Chan, Wing F
• Assistant Examiner(s): YI, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US12/963,296
• Time in Patent Office: 1,021 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/224
• US Class Current: 709/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic
• 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 4/185 by embedding added-value information into content, e.g. geo-tagging
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 64/00 Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management

Abstract

A location data system in a wireless communication system generates and maintains a random number without transferring the random number from the location data system. The location data system monitors a message flow to identify location messages that include a wireless communication device identifier and location information for the wireless communication device. The location data system then processes the random number and the device identifier to generate a correlation code. The location data system transfers location records, including the correlation code and the location information but not the device identifier, from the location data system, wherein individual location records are transferred in response to identifying individual location messages. Finally, the random number is deleted from the location data system.

Claims

1. A method of operating a location data system for a wireless communication system, the method comprising:

generating and maintaining a first random number without transferring the first random number from the location data system;

monitoring a message flow to identify first location messages that include a device identifier and location information for a wireless communication device;

for each individual one of the first location messages, performing a mathematical transformation on the device identifier, wherein input into the mathematical transformation includes the first random number, to generate a first correlation code;

transferring first location records including the first correlation code and the location information but not the device identifier from the location data system, wherein individual ones of the location records are transferred in response to identifying individual ones of the first location messages;

deleting the device identifier from the location data system for time periods between identifying consecutive ones of the first location messages; and

deleting the first random number from the location data system.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

generating and maintaining a second random number without transferring the second random number from the location data system;

monitoring the message flow to identify second location messages that include the device identifier and additional location information for the wireless communication device;

performing the mathematical transformation on the device identifier, wherein the input into the mathematical transformation includes the second random number, to generate a second correlation code;

transferring second location records including the second correlation code and the additional location information but not the device identifier from the location data system, wherein individual ones of the second location records are transferred in response to identifying individual ones of the second location messages; and

deleting the second random number from the location data system.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein deleting the first random number and the second random number comprises deleting the first random number and the second random number at a periodic time interval.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the device identifier comprises an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI).

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the location information comprises a latitude and a longitude.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the location information comprises an altitude.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the location information comprises a wireless base station identifier.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the location information comprises a location confidence factor.

9. A wireless communication system comprising:

a random number generator configured to generate a first random number; and

a location data system configured to;

maintain the first random number without transferring the first random number from the location data system;

monitor a message flow to identify first location messages that include a device identifier and location information for a wireless communication device;

for each individual one of the first location messages, perform a mathematical transformation on the device identifier, wherein input into the mathematical transformation includes the first random number, to generate a first correlation code;

transfer first location records including the first correlation code and the location information but not the device identifier from the location data system, wherein individual ones of the location records are transferred in response to identifying individual ones of the first location messages;

delete the device identifier from the location data system for time periods between identifying consecutive ones of the first location messages; and

delete the first random number from the location data system.

10. The wireless communication system of claim 9 wherein:

the random number generator is further configured to generate a second random number; and

the location data system is further configured to;

maintain the second random number without transferring the second random number from the location data system;

monitor the message flow to identify second location messages that include the device identifier and additional location information for the wireless communication device;

perform the mathematical transformation on the device identifier, wherein the input into the mathematical transformation includes the second random number, to generate a second correlation code;

transfer second location records including the second correlation code and the additional location information but not the device identifier from the location data system, wherein individual ones of the second location records are transferred in response to identifying individual ones of the second location messages; and

delete the second random number from the location data system.

11. The wireless communication system of claim 10 wherein the location data system is further configured to delete the first random number and delete the second random number at a periodic time interval.

12. The wireless communication system of claim 9 wherein the device identifier comprises an International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI).

13. The wireless communication system of claim 9 wherein the location information comprises a latitude and a longitude.

14. The wireless communication system of claim 9 wherein the location information comprises an altitude.

15. The wireless communication system of claim 9 wherein the location information comprises a wireless base station identifier.

16. The wireless communication system of claim 9 wherein the location information comprises a location confidence factor.