User plane location services over session initiation protocol (SIP)

• US 9,088,614 B2
• Filed: 03/07/2014
• Issued: 07/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Original Assignee: TeleCommunication Systems Inc (Comtech Telecommunications Corporation)
• Inventors: Zhu, Yinjun, Hines, Gordon John, Marshall, Roger, Yang, Fei, Burton, Victor
• Primary Examiner(s): ROBERTS, BRIAN S
• Application Number:
  US14/201,283
• Publication Number:
  US 20140189112A1
• Time in Patent Office: 501 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/043 using or handling presence information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0209 Architectural arrangements, e.g. perimeter networks or demilitarized zones
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1096 Supplementary features, e.g. call forwarding or call holding systems providing special services or facilities to telephony subscribers H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/04 specially adapted for terminals or networks with limited capabilities; specially adapted for terminal portability
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/04 for emergency applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42348 Location-based services which utilize the location information of a target
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/088 using filters or firewalls
• 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 4/90 Services for handling of emergency or hazardous situations, e.g. earthquake and tsunami warning systems [ETWS]
• 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 64/003 locating network equipment

Abstract

A method and mechanism to allow a location server to initiate a user plane location service (e.g., SUPL defined by OMA) procedure to a user plane enabled device via Instant Messaging, or alternatively, via an existing SIP session if a multimedia session is already established. The location request is signaled to the user plane enabled device via a SIP INFO message. The location request uses SIP messaging to overcome firewall and other network security issues. Location using SUPL over SIP may be provided about a caller making an E911 emergency call. An Instant Message may be sent to the user plane enabled device, e.g., a VoIP wireless phone.

Claims

1. A method for obtaining a location of a subscriber, comprising:

signaling, at a location server, an instant message location request to a target device via an instant message server; and

retrieving, via a user plane location service session, location information associated with said target device.

2. A method for obtaining a location of a subscriber according to claim 1, further comprising:

initiating said user plane location service session via Extensible Messaging and Presence Protocol (XMPP) protocol.

3. The method for obtaining a location of a subscriber according to claim 1, wherein:

said instant message location request is signaled to said target device via a SIP INFO message.

4. The method for obtaining a location of a subscriber according to claim 1, wherein:

using SIP messaging, for said instant message location request, as a transport message of said user plane location service procedure to overcome an issue otherwise introduced by network security.

5. The method for obtaining a location of a subscriber according to claim 4, wherein:

said issue otherwise introduced by network security is a firewall.

6. The method for obtaining a location of a caller according to claim 1, wherein:

a call relating to said caller is an emergency call.

7. The method for obtaining a location of a subscriber according to claim 1, wherein:

said target device is a voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone.

8. The method for obtaining a location of a subscriber according to claim 7, wherein:

said VoIP phone is a wireless VoIP phone.

9. The method for obtaining a location of a subscriber according to claim 1, wherein:

said user plane location service session complies with a secure user plane for location (SUPL) standard defined by Open Mobile Alliance (OMA).