`
`WORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ORGANIZATION
`International Bureau
`
`INTERNATIONAL APPLICATION PUBLISHED UNDER THE PATENT COOPERATION TREATY (PCT)
`
`(51) International Patent Classification 6 :
`
`(11) International Publication Number:
`
`WO 99/46947
`
`H04Q 7/38
`
`(43) International Publication Date:
`
`16 September 1999 (16.09.99)
`
`(21) International Application Number:
`
`PCT/US99/05077
`
`(22) International Filing Date:
`
`8 March 1999 (0803.99)
`
`(30) Priority Data:
`09/037,071
`
`9 March 1998 (0903.98)
`
`US
`
`[US/US]; 7001 Development
`(71) Applicant: ERICSSON INC.
`Drive, P.O. Box 13969, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709
`(US).
`
`(81) Designated States: AL, AM, AT, AU, AZ, BA, BB, BG, BR,
`BY, CA, CH, CN, CU, CZ, DE, DK, EE, ES, FI, GB, GD,
`GE, GH, GM, HR, HU, ID, IL, IN, IS, JP, KE, KG, KP,
`KR, KZ, LC, LK, LR, LS, LT, LU, LV, MD, MG, MK,
`MN, MW, MX, NO, NZ, PL, PT, RO, RU, SD, SE, SG,
`SI, SK, SL, TJ, TM, TR, 'l'I‘, UA, UG, UZ, VN, YU, ZW,
`ARIPO patent (GH, GM, KE, LS, MW, SD, SL, SZ, UG,
`ZW), Eurasian patent (AM, AZ, BY, KG, KZ, MD, RU, TJ,
`TM), European patent (AT, BE, CH, CY, DE, DK, ES, FI,
`FR, GB, GR, IE, IT, LU, MC, NL, PT, SE), OAPI patent
`(BF, BJ, CF, CG, CI, CM, GA, GN, GW, ML, MR, NE,
`SN, TD, TG).
`
`1604 Chester Drive, Plano,
`(72) Inventors: ROEL—NG, Maya;
`TX 75025 (US). HAYES, Stephen; 2104 Via Madonna,
`Carrollton, TX 75006 (US). HAVINIS, Theodore; 1520
`Preston Road #427, Plano, TX 75093 (US).
`
`Published
`With international Search report.
`
`(74) Agents: MOORE, Stanley, R. et al.; Jenkens & Gilchrist, P.C.,
`Suite 3200, 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, TX 75202 (US).
`
`(54) Title: SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INFORMING NETWORK OF TERMINAL—BASED POSITIONING METHOD CAPABIL-
`ITIES
`
`(57) Abstract
`
`A telecommunications system and method is disclosed for allowing a cellular network to determine the optimum positioning method,
`having knowledge of all available network—based and terrninal—based positioning methods. This can be accomplished by the Mobile Station
`(MS) sending to the Mobile Switching Center/Visitor Location Register (MSC/VLR) a list of termina1—based positioning methods that the
`MS is capable of performing. This list can, in turn, be forwarded to the Mobile Positioning Center (MPC) for determination of the optimum
`positioning method. For example, in a GSM network, the MS CLASSMARK information, which is sent to the MSC/VLR when the MS
`registers with the MSC/VLR, can be extended to include the MS’s positioning capabilities.
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`FOR THE PURPOSES OF INFORMATION ONLY
`
`Codes used to identify States party to the PCT on the front pages of pamphlets publishing international applications under the PCT.
`
`Albania
`Armenia
`Austria
`Australia
`Azerbaijan
`Bosnia and Herzegovina
`Barbados
`Belgium
`Burkina Faso
`Bulgaria
`Benin
`Brazil
`Belarus
`Canada
`Central African Republic
`Congo
`Switzerland
`Cote d’Ivoire
`Cameroon
`China
`Cuba
`Czech Republic
`Germany
`Denmark
`Estonia
`
`ES
`FI
`FR
`GA
`GB
`
`GII
`GN
`GR
`HU
`IE
`IL
`IS
`IT
`JP
`KE
`KG
`KP
`
`KR
`KZ
`LC
`LI
`LK
`LR
`
`Spain
`Finland
`France
`Gabon
`United Kingdom
`Georgia
`Ghana
`Guinea
`Greece
`Hungary
`Ireland
`Israel
`Iceland
`Italy
`Japan
`Kenya
`Kyrgyzstan
`Democratic People‘s
`Republic of Korea
`Republic of Korea
`Kazakstan
`Saint Lucia
`Liechtenstein
`Sri Lanka
`Liberia
`
`LS
`LT
`LU
`LV
`MC
`MD
`MG
`MK
`
`ML
`MN
`MR
`MW
`MX
`
`NL
`NO
`NZ
`PL
`PT
`RO
`RU
`SD
`SE
`SG
`
`Lesotho
`Lithuania
`Luxembourg
`Latvia
`Monaco
`Republic of Moldova
`Madagascar
`The former Yugoslav
`Republic of Macedonia
`Mali
`Mongolia
`Mauritania
`Malawi
`Mexico
`Niger
`Netherlands
`Norway
`New Zealand
`Poland
`Portugal
`Romania
`Russian Federation
`Sudan
`Sweden
`Singapore
`
`SI
`SK
`SN
`SZ
`TD
`TG
`TJ
`TM
`TR
`TT
`UA
`UG
`US
`UZ
`VN
`YU
`ZW
`
`Slovenia
`Slovakia
`Senegal
`Swaziland
`Chad
`Togo
`Tajikistan
`Turkmenistan
`Turkey
`Trinidad and Tobago
`Ukraine
`Uganda
`United States of America
`Uzbekistan
`Viet Nam
`Yugoslavia
`Zimbabwe
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`SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR INFORMING NETWORK OF
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`TERMINAL-BASED POSITIONING METHOD CAPABILITIES
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
`
`Field of the Invention
`
`The present invention relates generally to telecommunications systems and
`
`methods for determining the location of a mobile terminal within a cellular network,
`
`and specifically to determining the optimum positioning method based upon available
`
`network positioning methods and positioning capabilities of the mobile terminal itself.
`
`Background and Ob'ects of the Present Invention
`
`Cellular telecommunications is one of the fastest growing and most demanding
`
`telecommunications applications ever. Today it represents a large and continuously
`
`increasing percentage of all new telephone subscriptions around the world. A
`
`standardization group, European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), was
`
`established in 1982 to formulate the specifications for the Global System for Mobile
`
`Communication (GSM) digital mobile cellular radio system.
`
`With reference now to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, there is illustrated a GSM
`
`Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN), such as cellular network 10, which in turn is
`
`composed of a plurality of areas 12, each with a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) 14
`
`and an integrated Visitor Location Register (VLR) 16 therein. The MSC/VLR areas
`
`12, in turn, include a plurality of Location Areas (LA) 18, which are defined as that
`
`part of a given MSC/VLR area 12 in which a mobile station (MS) (terminal) 20 may
`
`move freely without having to send update location information to the MSC/VLR area
`
`12 that controls the LA 18. Each Location Area 18 is divided into a number of cells
`
`22. Mobile Station (MS) 20 is the physical equipment, g, a car phone or other
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`portable phone, used by mobile subscribers to communicate with the cellular network
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`10, each other, and users outside the subscribed network, both wireline and wireless.
`
`The MSC 14 is in communication with at least one Base Station Controller
`
`(BSC) 23, which, in turn, is in contact with at least one Base Transceiver Station
`
`(BTS) 24. The BTS is the physical equipment, illustrated for simplicity as a radio
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`tower, that provides radio coverage to the cell 22 for which it is responsible. It should
`
`be understood that the BSC 23 may be connected to several base transceiver stations
`
`24, and may be implemented as a stand-alone node or integrated with the MSC 14. In
`
`either event, the BSC 23 and BTS 24 components, as a whole, are generally referred
`
`to as a Base Station System (BSS) 25.
`
`With further reference to FIGURE 1, the PLMN Service Area or cellular
`
`network 10 includes a Home Location Register (HLR) 26, which is a database
`
`maintaining all subscriber information, gg,, user profiles, current location information,
`
`International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) numbers, and other administrative
`
`information. The HLR 26 may be co-located with a given MSC 14, integrated with
`
`the MSC 14, or alternatively can service multiple MSCS 14, the latter of which is
`
`illustrated in FIGURE 1.
`
`The VLR 16 is a database containing information about all of the Mobile
`
`Stations 20 currently located within the MS C/VLR area 12. If a MS 20 roams into a
`
`new MSC/VLR area 12, the VLR 16 connected to that MSC 14 will request data about
`
`that Mobile Station 20 from the HLR database 26 (simultaneously informing the HLR
`
`26 about the current location of the MS 20). Accordingly, if the user of the MS 20
`
`then wants to make a call, the local VLR 16 will have the requisite identification
`
`information without having to reinterrogate the HLR 26.
`
`In the aforedescribed
`
`manner, the VLR and HLR databases 16 and 26, respectively, contain various
`
`subscriber information associated with a given MS 20.
`
`Determining the geographical position of a MS 20 within a cellular network
`
`10 has recently become important for a wide range of applications. For example,
`
`positioning services may be used by transport and taxi companies to determine the
`
`location of their vehicles. In addition, for emergency calls, e_g, 911 calls, the exact
`
`location of the mobile terminal 20 may be extremely important to the outcome of the
`
`emergency situation. Furthermore, positioning services can be used to determine the
`
`location of a stolen car, for the detection of home zone calls, which are charged at a
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`lower rate, for the detection of hot spots for micro cells, or for the subscriber to
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`determine, for example, the nearest gas station, restaurant, or hospital.
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`As can be seen in FIGURE 2 of the drawings, upon a network positioning
`
`request, the Base Station System (BSS) (220 and 240) serving the MS 200 generates
`
`positioning data, which is delivered to the Mobile Switching Center (MSC) 260. This
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`positioning data is then forwarded to a Mobile Positioning Center (MPC) 270 for
`
`calculation of the geographical location of the MS 200. The location of the MS 200
`
`can then be sent to the application 280 that requested the positioning. Alternatively,
`
`the requesting application 280 could be located within the MS 200 itself or within the
`
`network (MSC/VLR 260).
`
`In order to accurately determine the location of the MS 200, positioning data
`
`fiom three or more separate Base Transceiver Stations (210, 220, and 230) is required.
`
`This positioning data for GSM systems can include, for example, a Timing Advance
`
`(TA) value, which corresponds to the amount of time in advance that the MS 200 must
`
`send a message in order for the BTS 220 to receive it in the time slot allocated to that
`
`MS 200. When a message is sent from the MS 200 to the BTS 220, there is a
`
`propagation delay, which depends upon the distance between the MS 200 and the BTS
`
`220. TA values are expressed in bit periods, and can range from 0 to 63, with each bit
`
`period corresponding to approximately 550 meters between the MS 200 and the BTS
`
`220. It should be understood, however, that any estimate of time, distance, or angle
`
`for any cellular system can be used, instead of the TA value discussed herein for a
`
`network—based positioning method.
`
`Once a TA value is determined for one BTS 220, the distance between the MS
`
`200 and that particular BTS 220 is known, but the actual location is not.
`
`If, for
`
`example, the TA value equals one, the MS 200 could be anywhere along a radius of
`
`550 meters. Two TA values from two BTSs, for example, BTSs 210 and 220, provide
`
`two possible points that the MS 200 could be located (where the two radiuses
`
`intersect). However, with three TA values from three BTSS, _<;g_., BTSs 210, 220, and
`
`230, the location of the MS 200 can be determined with a certain degree of accuracy.
`
`Using a triangulation algorithm, with knowledge of the three TA values and site
`
`location data associated with each BTS (210, 220, and 230), the position of the mobile
`
`station 200 can be determined (with certain accuracy) by the Mobile Positioning
`Center 270.
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`Therefore, Timing Advance (TA) values are obtained from the original
`
`(serving) BTS 220 and two neighboring (target) BTSS (210 and 230). In order for each
`
`target BTS (210 and 230) to determine a TA value, a positioning handover to each of
`
`the BTSS (210 and 230) must occur. A positioning handover is similar to an ordinary
`
`asynchronous handover. The target BTS, e_._g_., BTS 210, distinguishes the Positioning
`
`Handover from an ordinary handover by a new ACTIVATION TYPE in the
`
`CHANNEL ACTIVATION message. Unlike an ordinary handover, upon reception
`
`of a HANDOVER ACCESS message from the MS 200, the target BTS 210 only
`
`calculates the TA value, and does not respond to the mobile station 200, that is, no
`
`PHYSICAL INFORMATION is sent to the MS 200. Thus, the MS 200 will then
`
`return to the previous channel allocated by the original BTS 220 after the time period
`
`defined by the MS’s 200 internal counter expires, ;g_., 320 milliseconds.
`
`Alternatively, the MS 200 itself can position itself within the cellular network
`
`205. For example, the MS 200 can have a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver
`
`built into it, which is used to determine the location of the MS 200. In addition, the
`
`MS 200 can collect positioning data based on the Observed Time Difference (OTD)
`
`between the time a BTS 220 sends out a signal and the time the MS 200 receives the
`
`signal. This time difference information can be sent to the MPC 270 for calculation
`
`of the location of the MS 200, or the MS 200 itself, with knowledge of the location of
`
`the BTS 220, can determine it’s location.
`
`As the market demands higher accuracy, ggg FCC phase II E-911 service,
`
`Mobile Stations 200 which can perform positioning measurements are expected to
`
`flood the market. However, in order for a network 205 to be flexible enough to select
`
`the best positioning method on a case by case situation, it is necessary that the network
`
`205 have knowledge of the positioning capabilities of all involved nodes, network-
`
`based and MS—based. Therefore, based on all available positioning methods, the
`
`network (MPC 270) can have the ability to select either a network—based positioning
`
`method or a MS-based positioning method after all input factors have been considered.
`
`Such input factors include the requested quality of service, time of day of request,
`
`requesting application, subscription status of the subscriber, as well as positioning
`
`method capabilities of the serving network 205 and of the subscriber terminal 200.
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`It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to enable a cellular network
`
`to determine the optimum positioning method based upon all available network-based
`
`and terrninal-based positioning methods.
`
`It is a further object of the present invention to inform the cellular network
`
`serving the location area that the mobile terminal to be positioned is located in of all
`
`available terrninal-based positioning methods.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention is directed to telecommunications systems and methods
`
`for allowing a cellular network to determine the optimum positioning method, having
`
`knowledge of all available network—based and terminal—based positioning methods.
`
`This can be accomplished by the Mobile Station (MS) sending to the Mobile
`
`Switching Center/Visitor Location Register (MSC/VLR) a list of terminal—based
`
`positioning methods that the MS is capable of performing. This list can, in turn, be
`
`forwarded to the Mobile Positioning Center (MPC) for determination of the optimum
`
`positioning method. For example, in a GSM network, the MS CLASSMARK
`
`information, which is sent to the MSC/VLR when the MS registers with the
`
`MSC/VLR, can be extended to include the MS’s positioning capabilities.
`
`Advantageously, by sending the MS positioning capabilities to the MSC/VLR, the
`
`network can choose the optimum available positioning method for the particular
`
`positioning request, taking into consideration the requested quality of service.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`The disclosed inventions will be described with reference to the accompanying
`
`drawings, which show important sample embodiments of the invention and which are
`
`incorporated in the specification hereof by reference, wherein:
`
`FIGURE 1 is a block diagram of a conventional terrestrially-based wireless
`
`telecommunications system;
`
`FIGURE 2 illustrates a sample positioning handover in which positioning data
`
`is acquired by a target base transceiver station and transmitted to a serving base station
`
`controller;
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`FIGURE 3 is a block diagram illustrating the inclusion of terminal-based
`
`positioning methods in the CLASSMARK information message sent by a mobile
`
`terminal to the network;
`
`FIGURE 4 illustrates steps in a sample determination of an optimum
`
`positioning method in accordance with preferred embodiments of the present
`
`invention; and
`
`FIGURE 5 illustrates steps in a sample Timing Advance positioning method.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED
`EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
`
`The numerous innovative teachings of the present application will be described
`
`with particular reference to the presently preferred exemplary embodiments. However,
`
`it should be understood that this class of embodiments provides only a few examples
`
`of the many advantageous uses of the innovative teachings herein.
`
`In general,
`
`statements made in the specification of the present application do not necessarily
`
`delimit any of the various claimed inventions. Moreover, some statements may apply
`
`to some inventive features but not to others.
`
`With reference now to FIGURE 3 of the drawings, when a Requesting
`
`Application (RA) 380 sends a positioning request for a particular Mobile Station (MS)
`
`300 to a Mobile Positioning Center (MPC) 370 serving the Location Area (LA) 305
`
`that the MS 300 is currently located in, the RA 380 can also include quality of service
`
`infomlation, such as the data rate and/or the reliability of the positioning information
`
`returned by the cellular network (MPC 370) performing the positioning. In order to
`
`meet these quality of service demands, the MPC 370 must choose the optimum
`
`positioning method available. Positioning methods can be network-based, e_.g,,
`
`Timing Advance (TA) method, Time of Arrival (TOA) method, or Angle of Arrival
`
`(AOA) method, or terrninal-based, e_.g_., Global Positioning System (GPS) method,
`
`Observed Time Difference (OTD) method, or Enhanced OTD method. In order for the
`
`MPC 370 to have knowledge of the terminal-based positioning methods,
`
`this
`
`information must be sent to the MPC 370 prior to receiving a positioning request.
`
`Therefore, the MS 300 positioning capabilities can be sent to a serving Mobile
`
`Switching Center/Visitor Location Register (MSC/VLR) 350 when the MS 300
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`registers with the MSC/VLR 350. For example, in GSM systems, the MS 300
`
`positioning method capabilities can be passed towards the MSC/VLR 350 with the
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`existing GSM message BSSMAP CLASSMARK UPDATE 310, as is understood in
`
`the art. Specifically, the “classmark information element 3" 310 can be extended to
`
`include MS 300 positioning capabilities. The classmark information message 310
`
`typically describes attributes of the MS 300, such as encryption capabilities, RF power
`
`level supported and short message capability. The MS 300 positioning methods can
`
`be sent towards the network as part of controlled early classmark sending, during
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`dedicated mode, when the MS 300 wishes to indicate to the MSC/VLR 350 a change
`
`ofpositioning capabilities, after a BSSMAP CLASSMARK REQUEST message from
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`the MSC/VLR 350, in which case the MS 300 can send a classmark information 3
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`message 310, or during a positioning handover, in which case, either a CLASSMARK
`
`UPDATE can be sent to a target Base Station Controller (BSC) (not shown) or a
`
`HANDOVER REQUEST including the MS 300 positioning capabilities can be sent
`
`to the target BSC.
`
`The new CLASSMARK information shall indicate to the MSC/VLR 350
`
`whether the MS 300 can support terminal—based positioning, the type of terminal-
`
`based positioning methods supported, and whether the MS 300 is capable of
`
`performing location calculations based upon the positioning measurements that it
`
`performed itself. It should be noted that other related information can also be included
`
`in the message to the MSC/VLR 350.
`
`Once the MSCNLR 350 receives the terrninal-based positioning methods, this
`
`information can be sent to the serving MPC 370 for later use in determining the
`
`optimum positioning method. However, it should be understood that the MPC 370
`
`could be co-located with the MSC/VLR 350, and thus the information would not need
`
`to be sent to a separate node.
`
`With reference now to FIGURE 4 of the drawings, after the classmark
`
`information 310, including the MS 300 positioning capabilities, has been sent to the
`
`MSC/VLR 350 (step 400) and forwarded to the MPC 370 (step 410), when a
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`positioning request comes in to the MPC 370 (step 420), the MPC 370 must then
`
`determine the optimum positioning method based upon the available network-based
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`and terminal-based positioning methods and the quality of service requested by the RA
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`380 (step 425). Once the positioning method has been chosen, ;g,, either a network-
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`based or a terminal-based method (step 425), the positioning request, along with the
`
`positioning method, is sent to the serving MSC/VLR 350 (steps 430 and 440). The
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`serving MSC/VLR 350 then forwards the positioning request to a serving Base Station
`
`Controller (BSC) 340 (steps 435 and 445). If the MS 300 is in idle mode, the serving
`
`MSC/VLR 350 must page the MS 300 and setup a call to the MS 300 prior to
`
`forwarding the positioning request to the BSC 340 (steps 435 and 445). This call does
`
`not activate the ringing tone on the MS 300, and therefore, is not noticed by the MS
`
`300.
`
`If the positioning method is a network-based positioning method (step 425),
`
`the BSC 340 then obtains positioning data from at least a serving Base Transceiver
`
`Stations (BTS) 320 (step 450) (although typically three BTS’s 320 are used), and sends
`
`this positioning data to the MPC 370 (step 455) via the MS C/VLR 350 for calculation
`
`of the location of the MS 300 (step 460). However, if the positioning method is a
`
`terminal—based positioning method (step 425), the BSC 340 sends the positioning
`
`request to the MS 300 via the serving BTS 320 (step 470), the MS 300 collects the
`
`positioning data (step 475), and if the MS 300 has calculation abilities (step 480), the
`
`MS 300 determines it’s location (step 485). However, if the MS 300 does not have the
`
`ability to calculate it’s location based upon the positioning data obtained (step 480),
`
`the MS 300 forwards the positioning data to the MPC 370 via the BSC 340 and the
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`MSCNLR 350 (step 490) for calculation of the MS 300 location (step 495).
`
`With reference now to FIGURE 5 of the drawings, which can be described in
`
`connection with FIGURE 2 ofthe drawings, if, for example, the Timing Advance (TA)
`
`positioning method is chosen by the MPC 270, after the BSC 240 receives the
`
`positioning request from the MSC/VLR 260 (step 500), the originating BSC 240 then
`
`determines which Base Transceiver Station (BTS) 220 is currently serving the MS 200
`
`(step 510), and obtains a Timing Advance (TA) value (TA 1 ), or other positioning data,
`
`from this serving BTS 220 (step 520), if possible. Thereafter, TA values are obtained
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`from two target BTSs (210 and 230) (step 5 80) by performing a positioning handover
`
`(step 530). If the serving BTS 220 does not support positioning, an additional target
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`BTS (not shown) must be selected. It should be noted that other positioning methods
`
`based on triangulation can be used instead of obtaining TA values, as discussed herein.
`
`In addition, positioning of the MS 200 can be performed using more than three BTSS
`
`(210, 220, and 230).
`
`The positioning handover to one of the target BTSS 230 (step 530) is
`
`accomplished by the serving BSC 240 sending a new ACTIVATION TYPE in a
`
`CHANNEL ACTIVATION message to the target BTS 230, which informs the target
`
`BTS 230 that a positioning handover needs to be performed (step 540). The target
`
`BTS 230 then acknowledges the CHANNEL ACTIVATION message to the serving
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`BSC 240 (step 550).
`
`Thereafter, the BSC 240 sends a command to the MS 200 via the serving BTS
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`220 (step 560) to transmit a HANDOVER ACCESS message to the target BTS 230
`
`(step 570). During the time that the MS 200 is waiting for a response from the target
`
`BTS 230, gg” around 320 milliseconds, the target BTS 230 measures the Timing
`
`Advance value (access delay) (TA3) (step 575), using access bursts sent by the MS
`
`200, and forwards this positioning data to the serving BSC 240 (step 580). A
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`positioning handover can then be performed to the other target BTS 210 in the same
`
`manner as stated hereinbefore. The TA value measured by the target BTS 230 (TA3)
`
`is then transmitted by the serving BSC 250 to the MSC/VLR 260, together with TA
`
`values (TAl and TA2) obtained from the serving BTS 220 and other target BTSS 210
`
`(step 585).
`
`Finally, the TA value acquired from the target BTS 230 (TA3), together with
`
`other TA values (TAl and TA2) are forwarded to the serving Mobile Positioning
`
`Center (MPC) 270 from the MSC/VLR 260 (step 590), where the location of the MS
`
`200 is detennined using the triangulation algorithm (step 595). The MPC 270 then
`
`presents the geographical position of the MS 200 to the Requesting Application (node)
`
`280 (step 598).
`
`As will be recognized by those skilled in the art, the innovative concepts
`
`described in the present application can be modified and varied over a wide range of
`
`applications. Accordingly, the scope of patented subject matter should not be limited
`
`to any of the specific exemplary teachings discussed.
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`For example, it should be noted that the location services can be used by
`
`applications located—in or connected-to the subscriber’s MS, by network applications
`
`or by external applications.
`
`In addition, it should be understood that the positioning systems and methods
`
`disclosed herein can be utilized by any cellular network, including, but not limited to,
`
`the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) network,
`
`the Personal
`
`Communications System (PC S) network, the AMPS network and the D-AMPS
`
`network.
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`WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
`
`1.
`
`A telecommunications system for determining an optimum positioning
`
`method for locating a given one of a plurality of mobile terminals in within a cellular
`
`network, said telecommunications system comprising:
`
`a mobile switching center within said cellular network, said given mobile
`
`terminal being in wireless communication with said mobile switching center, said
`
`given mobile terminal having terminal-based positioning method information
`
`associated therewith, said given mobile terminal sending a message having said
`terrninal-based positioning method information to said mobile switching center; and
`
`a positioning node in communication with said mobile switching center, said
`
`positioning node having network-based positioning method information stored therein,
`
`said mobile switching center sending said terminal—based positioning method
`
`information to said positioning node, said positioning node determining said optimum
`
`positioning method based upon said network—based positioning method information
`
`and said termina1~based positioning method information, said positioning node using
`
`said optimum positioning method to locate said given mobile terminal.
`
`2.
`
`The telecommunications system of Claim 1, further comprising a
`
`requesting node in communication with said positioning node, said requesting node
`
`sending a positioning request to said positioning node, said positioning node using said
`
`optimum positioning method to determine the location of said given mobile terminal,
`
`said positioning node sending the location of said given mobile terminal to said
`
`requesting node.
`
`3.
`
`The telecommunications system of Claim 1, wherein said positioning
`
`node is a Mobile Positioning Center.
`
`4.
`
`The telecommunications system of Claim 1, wherein said positioning
`
`node and said mobile switching center are co—located.
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`5.
`
`The telecommunications system of Claim 1, wherein said message is
`
`a CLASSMARK UPDATE message.
`
`6.
`
`The telecommunications system of Claim 5, wherein said terminal-
`
`based positioning method information is sent in a classmark information element 3
`
`within said CLASSMARK UPDATE message.
`
`7.
`
`The telecommunications system of Claim 1, wherein said terminal-
`
`based positioning method information includes a positioning indicator indicating
`
`whether said given mobile terminal can perform positioning, at least one terrninal-
`
`based positioning method when said positioning indicator is set to yes, and a
`
`calculation indicator indicating whether said given mobile terminal can perform
`
`positioning calculations when said positioning indicator is set to yes.
`
`8.
`
`The telecommunications system of Claim 7, wherein said at least one
`
`terminal-based positioning method can be selected from the group consisting of:
`
`Global Positioning Service receiver, Observed Time Difference, and Enhanced
`
`Observed Time Difference.
`
`9.
`
`The telecommunications system of Claim 1, wherein said network-
`
`based positioning methods are selected from the group consisting of: Time of Arrival
`
`method, Timing Advance method, and Angle of Arrival method.
`
`10.
`
`A method for determining an optimum positioning method for locating
`
`a given one of a plurality of mobile terminals in within a cellular network, said method
`
`comprising the steps of:
`
`sending, by said given mobile terminal, a message having terminal-based
`
`positioning method information therein to a mobile switching center within said
`
`cellular network, said mobile switching center being in wireless communication with
`
`said given mobile terminal;
`
`storing, within a positioning node in communication with said mobile
`
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`switching center, networl<—based positioning method information;
`
`sending, by said mobile switching center, said terminal—based positioning
`
`method information to said positioning node;
`
`determining, by said positioning node, said optimum positioning method based
`
`upon said network-based positioning method information and said terminal-based
`
`positioning method information; and
`
`determining, by said positioning node, the location of said given mobile
`
`terminal within said cellular network, using said optimum positioning method.
`
`11.
`
`The method of Claim 10, further comprising, before said step of
`
`determining said optimum positioning method, the step of:
`
`sending, by a requesting node in communication with said positioning node,
`
`a positioning request to said positioning node; and after said step of determining the
`
`location of said given mobile terminal, the step of:
`
`sending, by said positioning node, the location of said given mobile terminal
`
`to said requesting node.
`
`12.
`
`The method of Claim 10, wherein said positioning node is a Mobile
`
`Positioning Center.
`
`13.
`
`The method of Claim 10, wherein said positioning node and said
`
`mobile switching center are co—located.
`
`14.
`
`The method of Claim 10, wherein said message is a CLASSMARK
`
`UPDATE message.
`
`15.
`
`The method of Claim 14, wherein said terminal-based positioning
`
`method information is sent
`
`in a classmark information element 3 within said
`
`CLASSMARK UPDATE message.
`
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`16.
`
`The method of Claim 10, wherein said terminal—based positioning
`
`method information includes a positioning indicator indicating whether said given
`
`mobile terminal can perform positioning, at least one terminal—based positioning
`
`method when said positioning indicator is set to yes, and a calculation indicator
`
`indicating whether said given mobile terminal can perform positioning calculations
`
`when said positioning indicator is set to yes.
`
`17.
`
`The method of Claim 16, wherein said at least one terrninal—based
`
`positioning method can be selected from the group consisting of: Global Positioning
`
`Service receiver, Observed Time Difference, and Enhanced Observed Time
`
`Difference.
`
`18.
`
`The method of Claim 10, wherein said network-based positioning
`
`methods are selected from the group consisting of: Time of Arrival method, Timing
`
`Advance method, and Angle of Arrival method.
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`280
`
`P0 |Tl N
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`BTS
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`Termina|—based positioning capabilities
`sent
`to MSC/VLR
`
`Positioning capabilities sent
`
`to MPC
`
`410
`
`Positioning request sent
`
`to MPC
`
`based positioning
`
`Y .
`
`Positioning request and
`method sent
`to MSC/VLR
`
`Positioning request and
`method sent
`to MSC/VLR
`
`430
`
`Positioning request and
`method sent
`to BSC
`
`Positioning request and
`method sent
`to BSC
`
`BSC obtains
`
`positioning data
`
`Positioning data sent
`to MPC
`
`MS location
`determined
`
`440
`
`445
`
`470
`
`5
`
`47
`
`435
`
`450
`
`BSC sends positioning
`request
`to MS
`
`MS collects
`
`positioning data
`
`MS has
`calculation
`ability
`9
`'
`
`Y
`
`M§ determines
`‘[5 '°°°t'°”
`
`485
`
`49°
`.
`.
`MS sends positioning
`data to MPC
`
`MS location determined
`
`495
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`GOOGLE 1010
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