Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
  • H04W64/00—Locating users or terminals or network equipment for network management purposes, e.g. mobility management
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
  • H04W4/00—Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
  • H04W4/02—Services making use of location information
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
  • H04W4/00—Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
  • H04W4/02—Services making use of location information
  • H04W4/029—Location-based management or tracking services

Definitions

• This invention is related to location tracking of mobile devices, and more specifically, a server-based solution for location tracking applications.
• Location based services enable personalized services to be offered based on a person's (or item of the person) location. Services include, for example, security reporting, fleet and resource management, location based information, vehicle tracking, person-to-person location, and messaging applications.
• Location-based information services allow subscribers to access information for which the information is filtered and tailored based on the location of the requesting user.
• Service requests may be initiated on demand by subscribers, or automatically, when triggering conditions are met, and may be a singular request or result in multiple deferred responses.
• Examples of location based information services include the following: navigation to guide the user to his or her destination; city sightseeing to describe historical sights, find restaurants, the airport, bus terminal, etc.; location dependent content broadcast, that support broadcasting content to a user in a certain geographical area; and mobile yellow pages for finding telephone numbers and addresses.
• Public communication systems are highly standardized so that device manufacturers, such as cell phone manufacturers, can take advantage of economies of scale by manufacturing different devices using the same communication interfaces for all their customers.
• mobile communication devices that work with a first network can also be used with a second network that adheres to the same standardized architecture and signaling protocols as the first network.
• Standardization has the further advantage that communication networks can easily pass information, such as cellular phone calls or data messages, between themselves if the interface between the networks is standardized.
• the basic components of a standards-based location services (denoted LCS - LoCation Services) architecture include an LCS client and an LCS server.
• the LCS server is a software and/or hardware component that consists of a number of location service components and bearers needed to service the LCS clients.
• An example of a location service bearer might be a software application for fleet resource management.
• the LCS server may receive location information requests, process the requests, and send back responses to the received requests.
• the LCS server supports location based services in parallel with other telecommunication services such as speech, data, messaging, other teleservices, user applications and supplementary services and therefore enable the market for services to be determined by users and service providers.
• An LCS client is a software and/or hardware component that interacts with the LCS server for obtaining location information for one or more Mobile Stations within a specified set of parameters.
• LCS clients subscribe to LCS in order to obtain location information.
• LCS clients may or may not interact with human users, and may be responsible for formatting and presenting data and managing the user interface (dialogue).
• the LCS client and server use LCS messages to exchange information, and each LCS message contains a set of parameters.
• the LCS messages may comprise a location service request and/or a location service response.
• the location service request can be of two types: an immediate request that receives an immediate response; and a deferred type, whose response time is delayed (or event-driven) and a response to which can include one or more service responses.
• a location service request report provides the result of a deferred location service request from the LCS server to the LCS client. The report is provided using a dialog between the client and the server that is initiated by the server.
• LBS locations based service
• One implementation provides a similar proprietary mobile-based GPS (Global Positioning System) solution based on a proprietary protocol (MPTP-Mobile Positioning Telematics Protocol).
• GPS Global Positioning System
• MPTP-Mobile Positioning Telematics Protocol MPTP-Mobile Positioning Telematics Protocol
• a location-tracking request may be to provide location reports every ten minutes for a period of two hours; the event trigger in this case is realized by a timer that triggers every ten minutes for the duration of two hours.
• GMLC Gateway Mobile Location Center
• GSM Global System for Mobile Communications
• UMTS Universal Mobile Telecommunication System
• the present invention addresses open issues with current solutions for LBS (Location Based Services) tracking applications.
• the location server supporting an open API Application Programming Interface
• MLP- Mobile Location Protocol e.g., MLP- Mobile Location Protocol
• Conventional implementations e.g., MLP and 3GPP/3GPP2 specifications
• MLP and 3GPP/3GPP2 specifications only envisage the location server as residing on the wireless network and communicating with an external client.
• the present invention disclosed and claimed herein in one aspect thereof, comprises a mobile terminal system that includes a mobile communications component that communicates wireless signals, and a location services component that includes a location services (LCS) server that facilitates the determination of positioning information. It is a cost-effective system that facilitates the use of location tracking applications as a service in the mobile terminal.
• a terminal-based server of the mobile terminal makes possible the autonomous generation and reporting by the terminal of "deferred" location reports which results in bandwidth efficiencies and reduced latencies as compared to a network server solution. With autonomous reporting, signaling between the network and the mobile device is reduced because, for example, an instruction is not needed from the network each time the mobile reports its location.
• the terminal-based LCS server is more versatile than a network server in the types of trigger events that can be supported. For instance, while network servers are capable of supporting timer-triggered reporting, it is impractical for them to support triggers based on terminal location or speed. A terminal server, on the other hand, is able to easily calculate velocity from the terminals on-board GPS receiver.
• the invention takes advantage of the capabilities within a wireless network to improve the speed and accuracy of the location determination.
• the terminal can request and obtain A-GPS (Assisted Global Positioning System) assistance data from the network and use the data over its validity period (2-3 hours typically) for fast, accurate, power- efficient and autonomous location determinations.
• A-GPS Assisted Global Positioning System
• the disclosed invention uses an open standards interface and is more tightly integrated with the wireless network than existing solutions.
• the disclosed terminal-based server solution can use MO-LR (Mobile Originated-Location Request) and MT-LR (Mobile Terminated-Location Request) signaling to report location information
• MO-LR Mobile Originated-Location Request
• MT-LR Mobile Terminated-Location Request
• SMS Short Message Service
• the use of MO-LR and MT-LR allow not only faster location determination, but also support different mobile-based location technologies, tailor assistance data to the mobile terminal's capabilities, simplifies billing, and can potentially increase QoS (Quality-of-Service) capabilities.
• a location client sends a location-tracking request (together with associated trigger parameters such as periodicity of location reports) to the location server either in the terminal or connected to the terminal.
• the request is sent using the open OMA/LIF-MLP protocol.
• the implementation can, depending on the location technology employed (e.g., Assisted-GPS), obtain the relevant assistance data from the wireless network and activate the triggers in the location request.
• the LCS server together with the mobile terminal autonomously generate a location report and sends it to the client.
• the location report may be sent using MLP or through the wireless network signaling protocol. (Note that MLP messages pass transparently through the wireless network over its User Plane while signaling messages are sent over the Control Plane and are non- transparent to the wireless network). Essentially, the method is a push-based rather than a pull-based solution.
• FIG. 1 illustrates a system of the present invention.
• FIG. 2 illustrates a process of location tracking in accordance with the present invention.
• FIG. 3 illustrates signal flow in a system where an LCS server is embodied in a mobile terminal in accordance with the present invention.
• FIG. 4 illustrates alternative signal flow in a system where an LCS server is embodied in a mobile terminal in accordance with the present invention.
• FIG. 5 illustrates alternative signal flow in a system where an LCS server is embodied in a mobile terminal in accordance with the present invention.
• FIG. 6 illustrates alternative signal flow in a system where an LCS server is embodied in a mobile terminal in accordance with the present invention.
• FIG. 7 illustrates a block diagram of a mobile device suitable for providing location services in accordance with the present invention.
• a component may be, but is not limited to being, a process running on a processor, a processor, an object, an executable, a thread of execution, a program, and/or a computer.
• an application running on a server and the server can be a component.
• One or more components may reside within a process and/or thread of execution and a component may be localized on one computer and/or distributed between two or more computers.
• full-fledged tracking is possible, however, using currently standardized signaling, but with a different implementation that requires implementing the location server functionality in the mobile terminal (using the User Plane and, optionally, the Control Plane) for these applications and GMLC (Gateway Mobile Location Center) remains unchanged and functions as originally envisaged. Tracking is fully supported and with reduced bandwidth overhead. Further reasons for supporting an LCS (LoCation Services) server in a mobile terminal include proven business case, revenues from terminal feature activation, Assistance Data Delivery, User Plane Traffic/GMLC processed requests, fully supported by current 3 GPP & OMA (Open Mobile Alliance) standards, and is particularly applicable for market segments targeted by push-to-talk.
• LCS Location Services
• the disclosed invention only requires AGPS (Assisted Global Positioning System) terminal API (Application Programming Interface) support of MLP (Mobile Location Protocol). Minimally, even a subset of MLP messages may be sufficient.
• An alternative implementation can include the GMLC as subclient.
• the Le connects the location client and location server.
• the defacto standard is the OMA/LIF MLP API application layer protocol, which is simple and secure, and based on existing and well-known Internet technologies such as HTTP (HyperText Transport Protocol), SSL/TLS (Secure Socket Layer/Transparent LAN Service) and XML (extensible Markup Language).
• Location reporting triggers include timer-based (periodic or otherwise), absolute area (e.g., fixed location and given radius), relative location (e.g., to last reported location), emergency call, speed, manual, and all reports with or without user alert.
• Location tracking solutions can be employed in a variety of applications but in particular, for enterprise customers that are in the same category as "Push-to-Talk" customers, including but not limited to, workforce management and security in the following areas: professional security, personal safety, lone worker protection, transportation and logistics, construction and maintenance, asset management, health, outdoor, travel and sports.
• LCS LCS Technical Specification Group Services and System Aspects, Functional Stage 2 Description of LCS (Release 4)
• 3GPP TS 22.071 V4.5.0 2003-09
• LCS Location Services
• Service Description Stage 1 (Release 4)
• FIG. 1 there is illustrated a system 100 of the present invention.
• the system 100 includes a mobile communications component 102 that facilitates the communication of wireless signals.
• a location services component 104 that interfaces to the mobile communications component 102 to provide positioning information in a cellular network.
• the system 100 can be embodied as a mobile terminal (e.g., a cellular telephone) that includes both the mobile communications component 102 and the location services component 104.
• a location request signal can be received by the system 100 at the mobile communications component 102, and processed thereby in accordance with the location services component 104 to provide a location report.
• FIG. 2 there is illustrated a process of location tracking in accordance with the present invention. While, for purposes of simplicity of explanation, the one or more methodologies shown herein, e.g., in the form of a flow chart, are shown and described as a series of acts, it is to be understood and appreciated that the present invention is not limited by the order of acts, as some acts may, in accordance with the present invention, occur in a different order and/or concurrently with other acts from that shown and described herein. For example, those skilled in the art will understand and appreciate that a methodology could alternatively be represented as a series of interrelated states or events, such as in a state diagram. Moreover, not all illustrated acts may be required to implement a methodology in accordance with the present invention.
• the disclosed architecture enables a bandwidth-efficient, versatile and low-latency terminal-based location tracking applications using OMA LIF MLP and terminal-based location technologies, with or without network assistance.
• a location client sends a location-tracking request (together with associated trigger parameters such as periodicity of location reports) to the location server, which location server is associated with the mobile terminal either in the terminal or connected to the terminal.
• the request is sent using the open OMA/LIF MLP.
• the location server authenticates the client.
• the implementation may, depending on the location technology employed (e.g., Assisted-GPS), obtain the relevant assistance data from the wireless network.
• the location server activates one or more of the triggers in the location request.
• the location server together with the terminal autonomously generates a location report, as indicated at 208.
• the server sends the report to the client.
• the location report may be sent using MLP or through the wireless network signaling protocol. Note that MLP messages pass transparently through the wireless network over its User Plane, while signaling messages are sent over the Control Plane and are non-transparent to the wireless network. Essentially, the method is "push-based” rather than a "pull-based” solution.
• the location client receives the report and processes the report. There process then reaches a Stop block.
• FIG. 3 there is illustrated signal flow of a system 300 where an LCS server is embodied in a mobile terminal 302 in accordance with the present invention.
• the system 300 includes the traditional network entities; the wireless mobile terminal 302 that communicates with a core network (CN) 304 (which can also be a radio access network (RAN)) over an air interface 306.
• the core network 304 interfaces to a GMLC LCS server 308 via a GMLC CN/RAN interface 310.
• the GMLC LCS server 308 then interfaces to an external LCS client 312 via an external interface (denoted Le) 314.
• a location request from the LCS client 312 is processed by sending the request for single or multiple reports to the GMLC LCS server 308, which server 308 forwards a request for single reports only to the core network 304.
• the core network 304 forwards the request plus assistance data for single reports only over the air interface 306 to the terminal 302.
• the terminal 302 which can be AGPS capable, although this is not required, sends a single location report back to the core network 304.
• the network 304 then forwards the single location report to the GMLC LCS server 308, which location report (in single or multiple deferred reports) is forwarded to the LCS client 312.
• the location request/report bypasses the GMLC LCS server 308 entirely.
• the terminal 302 can receive a location request 320 (for single or multiple reports directly from the LCS client 312, which client 312 can also be a mobile terminal.
• the terminal 302 sends an MO-LR (Mobile Originated- Location Request) assistance data request (periodic) 322 to the network 304 over the air interface 306.
• MO-LR Mobile Originated- Location Request
• the network 304 processes the MO-LR request 322, and communicates assistance data (periodic) 324 back to the terminal 302 over the air interface 306.
• the terminal 302 transmits a location report (single or deferred multiple) 326 directly back to the LCS client 312.
• FIG. 4 there is illustrated alternative signal flow of a system 400 where an LCS server is embodied in a mobile terminal 302 in accordance with the present invention.
• the location request 320 is transmitted directly to the LCS server of the mobile terminal 302 bypassing the GMLC LCS server 308 entirely, but the report takes a path back through the GMLC LCS server 308 to the LCS client 312.
• the terminal 302 receives the location request 320 (for single or multiple reports) directly from the LCS client 312.
• the terminal 302 sends the MO-LR assistance data request (periodic) 322 to the network 304 over the air interface 306.
• the network 304 processes the MO-LR request 322, and communicates assistance data (periodic) 320 back to the terminal 302 over the air interface 306.
• the terminal 302 then transmits a location report (single or deferred multiple) 402 back to the core network 304.
• the network 304 forwards the location report 402 to the GMLC LCS server 308, which then forwards the location report 402 to the LCS client 312.
• the location reports 326 of FIG. 3 and location reports 402 comprise the same report information, but can include different routing information according to the routing path between the various entities.
• a location request 502 is passed through the GMLC LCS server 308, but the report takes the direct path back to the LCS client 312, bypassing the server 308.
• the LCS client 312 sends the location request 502 (for single or multiple reports) to the GMLC LCS server 308.
• the GMLC LCS server 308 then transmits the location request 502 directly to the terminal 302, bypassing the core network 304.
• the terminal 302 sends the MO-LR assistance data request (periodic) 322 to the network 304 over the air interface 306.
• the network 304 processes the MO-LR request 322, and communicates assistance data (periodic) 324 back to the terminal 302.
• the terminal 302 transmits the location report (single or deferred multiple) 326 directly back to the LCS client 312.
• FIG. 6 there is illustrated alternative signal flow of a system 600 where an LCS server is embodied in a mobile terminal 302 in accordance with the present invention.
• a location request 502 is forwarded and returned through the GMLC LCS server 308.
• the LCS client 312 sends the location request 502 (for single or multiple reports) to the GMLC LCS server 308.
• the GMLC LCS server 308 then transmits the location request 502 directly to the terminal 302, bypassing the core network 304.
• the terminal 302 sends the MO-LR assistance data request (periodic) 322 to the network 304 over the air interface 306.
• the network 304 processes the MO-LR request 322, and communicates assistance data (periodic) 324 back to the terminal 302.
• the terminal 302 then transmits the location report (single or deferred multiple) 402 back to the core network 304.
• the network 304 forwards the location report 402 to the GMLC LCS server 308, which then forwards the location report 402 to the LCS client 312.
• MO-LR uses terminal to RAN MO-LR messages and a subset of MT- LR (Mobile Terminated-Location Request) procedures.
• the device 700 includes a processor 702 for controlling all onboard operations and processes.
• a memory 704 interfaces to the processor 702 for temporary storage of data and one or more applications 706 being executed by the processor 702.
• the applications 706 include the LCS server and related applications 707 for providing LCS services from the mobile terminal 700 in accordance with the present invention.
• a communications component 708 interfaces to the processor 702 to facilitate wired/wireless communication with external systems.
• the communications component 708 interfaces to a location component 709 (e.g., GPS transceiver) that facilitates location detection of the terminal 700. Note that the location component 709 can also be included as part of the communications component 708.
• the device 700 includes a display 710 for displaying content downloaded in accordance with the present invention, and for displaying text information related to operating and using the device features.
• a serial I/O interface 712 is provided in communication with the processor 702 to facilitate serial communication (e.g., USB, and/or IEEE 1394) via a hardwire connection. This supports updating and troubleshooting the device 700, for example.
• Audio capabilities are provided with an audio I/O component 714, which can include a speaker for the output of audio signals related to, for example, recorded data or telephony voice data, and a microphone for inputting voice signals for recording and/or telephone conversations.
• the device 700 includes a slot interface 716 for accommodating the SIS in the form factor of a card 718, and interfacing the SIS card 718 to the processor 702.
• Firmware 720 is also provided to store and provide to the processor 702 startup and operational data.
• the device 700 can also include an image capture component 722 such as a camera. The user can then take digital pictures, and transmit the pictures to a remote location or store the pictures locally.
• the device 700 includes a video decoder 724 for decoding encoded multimedia content.
• the device also includes a power source 726 in the form of batteries, which power source 726 interfaces to an external power system or charging equipment via a power I/O component 728.
• the applications 706 resident on the device 700 include, for example, an operating system for configuring and manipulating local data and settings, a browser for interacting with websites, music players, video player software, and any other software suitable for operation on the device 700.
• program modules include routines, programs, components, data structures, etc., that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types.
• inventive methods can be practiced with other computer system configurations, including single- processor or multiprocessor computer systems, minicomputers, mainframe computers, as well as personal computers, hand-held computing devices, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics, and the like, each of which can be operatively coupled to one or more associated devices.
• a portable communications device typically includes a variety of computer-readable media.
• Computer-readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by the computer and includes both volatile and nonvolatile media, removable and non-removable media.
• Computer readable media can comprise computer storage media and communication media.
• Storage media includes both volatile and nonvolatile, removable and nonremovable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data.
• Storage media includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and which can be accessed by the processes on the portable device.
• Communication media typically embodies computer-readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or other transport mechanism, and includes any information delivery media.
• modulated data signal means a signal that has one or more of its characteristics set or changed in such a manner as to encode information in the signal.
• communication media includes wired media such as a wired network or direct-wired connection, and wireless media such as acoustic, RF, infrared and other wireless media. Combinations of the any of the above should also be included within the scope of computer-readable media.
• terminals is intended to encompass many devices, including mobile devices such as cellular phones, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), portable computers with wireless modems, etc.
• mobile devices such as cellular phones, Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), portable computers with wireless modems, etc.
• PDAs Personal Digital Assistants
• portable computers with wireless modems, etc.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
• Signal Processing (AREA)
• Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)
• Telephonic Communication Services (AREA)

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• 2004
  • 2004-09-24 US US10/950,034 patent/US7660590B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2004-12-16 JP JP2006547149A patent/JP2007535831A/ja active Pending
  • 2004-12-16 WO PCT/US2004/042342 patent/WO2005064981A2/en not_active Ceased
  • 2004-12-16 CA CA002549988A patent/CA2549988A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2004-12-16 EP EP04814518A patent/EP1745670A2/en not_active Withdrawn
• 2009
  • 2009-12-21 US US12/642,966 patent/US7957753B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime

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