`
`U8007133685B2
`
`(12) United States Patent
`Hose et at.
`
`[10) Patent No.:
`
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 7,133,685 32
`Nov. 7, 2006
`
`(54) MONITORING BOUNDARY (L'ROSSINGS IN
`A WIRELESS NETWORK
`
`(75)
`
`Inventors: David A. Hose. Boulder. (.70 {US}:
`James A. Fitch. Edmonds. WA (US)
`
`[73) Assignee: Openwave Systems Inc.. Redwood
`C itv. CA (US)
`
`( ‘1‘ } Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer. the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C‘. 1540)) by 0 days.
`
`(21) Appl. No: 111203.257
`
`(22)
`
`Filed:
`
`Aug. 12, 2005
`
`(65}
`
`Prior Publication Data
`US 200510272443 Al
`Dec. 8. 2005
`
`Related U.S. Application Date
`
`(63) Continuation ot‘application No. 091903.982. filed on
`.1111. 11, 2001. now abandoned.
`
`(51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`HMQ 7220
`(52) U.S. CI.
`
`(2006.01)
`4557456.]: 45574562;
`45514563; 45574565: 45514566: 4557457:
`45574141: 45514142: 45574042: 7011207:
`3401990: 3427357.] : 342135713
`(58) Field of Classification Search
`45574561457.
`45574]4.l.404.2. 4142; 7017207: 3407990;
`3427357.}. 357.13
`See application file for complete search history.
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATIENT IJOL‘UMIEN'IB
`
`4.700.374 A
`4.876.738 A
`5.030.117 A
`5.043.736 A
`5.208.756 A
`5.223.844 A
`
`1011987 Bini
`1071989 Selby
`7:199} Delorme
`8:199] Darneii et a1.
`5-1993 Song
`6-"1993 Manse“ el al.
`
`811993 Dennison el al.
`5.235.633 A
`[2-1993 .Vlzmin et a1.
`5.272.638 A
`5-1994 Kennedy el al.
`5.317.323 A
`771994 Stilp ct a].
`5.327.144 A
`3-1995 Grimes
`5.388.147 A
`5.461.390 A ’1‘ 101995 Hoshen ...................... 342.3419
`5.479.482 A
`1271995 Grimes
`5.515.419 A
`511996 Shaffer
`5.537.460 A *
`751996 Hoiliday ct at.
`5.546.445 A
`8-1996 Dennison cl 3].
`5.561.704 A
`1051996 Salimando
`5.568.153 A
`[0-1996 Beliveou
`5.579.535 A
`11-1996 Orien et a1.
`5.600.706 A
`271997 Dunn et :11.
`5.625 .688 A
`4-1997 Ford cl :LI.
`5.673 .322 A
`971997 Pepe et al.
`5.717.406 A
`2-"1998 Sanderi'ord el al.
`5.732.354 A
`3.11998 MacDonald
`5.736.959 A
`4-1998 Patterson or al.
`
`45574351
`
`[Continued]
`
`I’rimmgv Examiner- Stcve M. D‘Agostal
`(74) Astana-qr; Agent. or Firm—Townsend and Townsend
`and Crew LLP
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A method of providing location—based services for a mobile
`unit operating in a wireless network including network
`structures. The method includes receiving an identifier asso-
`ciated with the mobile unit. The melhod also includes
`
`monitoring a location of the mobile unit using the identifier
`and a network-assisted location finding system to identify a
`crossing of a service zone boundary by the mobile unit. The
`service zone boundary is defined by reference to at least one
`of the network structures. The service zone boundary also
`corresponds to a geographic zone boundary. The method
`further includes transmitting service information to a system
`user in response to the crossing of the service zone bound-
`ary.
`
`20 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets
`
`
`
`LYFT 1047
`
`LYFT 1047
`
`1
`
`

`

`US 7,133,685 B2
`
`Page 2
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5.736.962
`5.742.905
`5.752.186
`5.754.955
`5.771.445
`5.774.802
`5.787.347
`5.802.468
`5.815.814
`R_E35.916
`5.835.907
`
`>mb¥bbb>ifiibib
`
`4:"1998
`47"1998
`5.“ 1998
`5! 1998
`67 1998
`611998
`7-1998
`9:” 1998
`9.’ 1998
`10! 1998
`l ] :’ l 998
`
`Tendler
`Pepe et a].
`Malackawski e1 21].
`Ekbaiani
`1'Iarano
`Tel] el 2:].
`Yu el al.
`Gallant ct al.
`Dennison e1 al.
`Dennison et al.
`Newman
`
`5.844.522 A
`5.889.770
`5.901.353 A
`5.930.699 A
`5.948.040 A
`5.982.762 A
`6.011.973 A
`6.421.009 Bl
`6.463.273 Bl
`6.516.190 Bl
`6.650.902 Bl‘“
`
`[2-1998
`3-1 l 999
`5.-'1999
`771999
`971999
`] l
`l 999
`l .12 000
`772 002
`[09"2 002
`2.12 003
`1 1-12 003
`
`Shefl‘er et al.
`Jokiaho el al.
`Pentikainen
`Bhatia
`DeI.,0nne at al.
`Anmi at a].
`Valentine ct a].
`Supnlnov
`Day
`Linkola
`Richlon
`
`3707337
`
`45574563
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`2
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Nov. 7, 2006
`
`Sheet 1 of4
`
`US 7,133,685 B2
`
`
`
`3
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Nov. 7, 2006
`
`Sheet 2 of4
`
`US 7,133,685 B2
`
`
`
`Fig. 2
`
`4
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Nov. 7, 2006
`
`Sheet 3 of4
`
`US 7,133,685 B2
`
`300
`
`304
`(J
`
`A '
`Application 322
`
`
`
`
` mafia»:—
`
`
`
`A” m
` (.0
`
`Fig. 3
`
`5
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Nov. 7, 2006
`
`Sheet 4 of 4
`
`US 7,133,685 132
`
`400
`
`{J
`
`Receive Service Zone
`Definition
`
`
`
`
`
`402
`
`
`Receive Monitoring Request
`404
`
`
`
`ReceiveiStore Current
`Location information
`
`406
`
`Retrieve Prior Location
`Information
`
`
`
`Location information
`
`408
`
`
`
`
`
` Use Current And Prior
`To Identify Boundary
`
`
`Crossino 410
`
`
`
`Generate Service
`
`information According To
`
`Application Parameters
`414
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`Transmit Service
`
`
`Information According To
`
`
`Application Parameters
`416
`
`
`
`6
`
`

`

`US ?,133,685 B2
`
`1
`MONITORING BOUNDARY CROSSINGS IN
`A WIRELESS NETWORK
`
`CROSS-REFERENCES T0 RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`This application is a continuation of application Ser. No.
`091903.982. filed Jul. 11. 2001. now abandoned which is
`incorporated herein by reference in its entirely for all pur-
`poses.
`
`10
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention relates generally to providing loca—
`tion—based services in a wireless network and, in particular,
`to providing service information based on the crossing of a
`service zone boundary by a mobile unit
`in a wireless
`network.
`
`A number of different types of location based service
`applications have been developed or proposed for wireless
`networks. i.e.. communications networks involving at least
`one wireless interface between communicating devices.
`Generally. such applications determine or otherwise obtain
`location information regarding the location ol‘a mobile unit
`under consideration, e.g.. a wireless telephone. PDA, wire-
`less data terminal or the like—and provide service informa-
`tion based on the mobile unit location. Examples of location
`based service applications include E911, local service infor—
`mation and location—based billing applications.
`In E911
`applications, emergency calls are routed to a selected dis-
`patcher based on the location of origin of an emergency call.
`Location based service applications provide information
`regarding local services such as hotels or restaurants based
`on a request entered via a mobile unit. In location based
`billing applications, a rate for a call placed or received by a
`wireless telephone is dependent on the location ofthe phone.
`e.g., whether the phone is inside or outside of a “home zone“
`for the subscriber proximate to the subscriber’s residence.
`business or other defined location. Various other applica-
`tions have been proposed or implemented.
`Location based service applications generally involve
`comparing a current (or recent) location to predefined ser~
`vice zone definitions to make either a biliary determination
`(cg. that the mobile unit is either inside or outside of a zone
`under consideration) or a matching determination [e.g.. that
`the mobile unit location matches or overlaps one or more
`stored zone definitions].
`In either case. at one or more
`relevant processing steps. mobile unit location information
`corresponding to a particular time is compared to service
`location infonnation corresponding to one or more service
`zones. service provided locations or other stored location
`infonnation. Thus,
`in [3911 applications the mobile unit
`location at the time of placing an E91 1 call may be compared
`to the dispatcher coverage zones of an emergency response
`network. In local service information applications. the loca-
`tion of a mobile unit at the time of submitting, for example.
`a local hotel infonnation request. may be compared to a
`database of hotel location information. The location of a
`
`mobile unit during a call may be used by a location based
`billing application to establish billing parameters for the
`call.
`
`In addition, location based service applications generally
`provide service information in response to an input by a
`subscriber or other application user invoking the application.
`In the case of local service information applications, the
`input is generally an explicit service request entered via the
`mobile tutit. in [5911 or location based billing applications,
`
`3t]
`
`4t]
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`2
`
`the location based service application may be invoked
`invisibly. from the perspective of the mobile unit, upon
`making a call. In other cases. the input invoking the appli-
`cation to provide service infomiation based on the location
`of the mobile unit. is received from an application separate
`or remote from the mobile unit requesting location based
`service information. e.g._. identification of current mobile
`unit location. In such applications. the service information is
`nonetheless provided in response to an input requesting
`location-based services. That is. the trigger event generally
`is, from the perspective of the service application. a service
`request.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present inventors have recognized that certain loca-
`tion-based service application functionality can be stip-
`ported and enhanced by generating service infonnation
`based on the location or movement of a mobile unit rather
`than in response to a service request from a subscriber,
`separate application or other system user or based on other
`criterion such as periodic reporting. In this manner. events
`associated with the movement of a mobile unit can be
`
`identified as may be desired for a variety of applications.
`Moreover. movement ot'an identified mobile unit relative to
`
`a geographic reference such as a service zone boundary can
`be monitored with minimal user inputs or communications
`between a location managing system and an associated
`wireless location based service application.
`According to an embodiment of the present invention, a
`method of providing location-based services for a mobile
`unit operating in a wireless network including network
`structures is provided. The method includes receiving an
`identifier associated with the mobile unit and monitoring a
`location of the mobile unit using the identifier and a net—
`work—assisted location finding system to identify a crossing
`of a service zone boundary by the mobile unit. The service
`zone boundary is defined by reference to at least one of the
`network structures and service zone boundary corresponds
`to a geographic zone boundary. The method also include
`transmitting service information to a system user in response
`to the crossing of the service zone boundary.
`According to another embodiment of the present inven—
`tion. a method of identifying service zone boundary cross-
`ings by a mobile unit operating in a wireless network
`comprising a network-based location finding system is pro-
`vided. The method includes receiving an identifier associ-
`ated with the mobile unit and receiving a location of the
`mobile unit from the network~based location finding system.
`The method also includes monitoring the location of the
`mobile unit to identify an entry andfor an exit of the mobile
`unit
`into one of a plurality of cell sectors, wherein the
`plurality of cell sectors intersect a geographic zone bound-
`ary. The method further includes transmitting service infor-
`mation to a system user in response to the entry andt'or exit
`ofthe mobile unit into the one of the plurality of cell sectors.
`According to yet another embodiment of the present
`invention, a method for providing services based on a
`location of a mobile unit
`in a wireless communications
`network is provided. The wireless conununications network
`includes a network-assisted location-based services applica-
`tion. The Inethod includes receiving a geographic zone
`boundary referenced to a geographic topology and convert~
`ing the geographic zone boundary to a service zone bound—
`ary referenced to a wireless communications network topol—
`ogy. The method also includes receiving a mobile unit
`identifier and monitoring the location of the mobile unit,
`
`7
`
`

`

`3
`
`4
`
`US ?,133,685 B2
`
`using the network-assisted location—based services applica‘
`tion and the mobile ttnit identifier. to identify a crossing of
`the service zone boundary by the mobile ttnit. The method
`further includes transmitting service information regarding
`the mobile unit in response to the crossing of the service
`zone boundary by the mobile unit.
`According to an alternative embodiment of the present
`invention. a method for use in providing services based on
`the locations of mobile units in a wireless communications
`
`network is provided. The wireless network includes a switch
`structure for use in selectively rottting conununicatiorts
`between network users and a processing platform associated
`with the switch structure. The method includes providing a
`location—based services application running, at least in part.
`on the processing platform associated with the switch struc-
`ture. The method also inclttdcs defining at least one geo-
`graphic reference service zone boundary for the location-
`based service application. In an embodiment, the service
`zone boundary passes through at least one of a plurality of
`coverage areas of the wireless communications network for
`the location based services application. The method further
`includes storing an identifier for a tnobile unit associated
`with a mobile subscriber, a location of said mobile unit being
`of interest to a system user other than said mobile subscriber
`and monitoring the location of the mobile tmit, using the
`location-based services application and the identifier of the
`mobile unit.
`to identify a crossing of the service zone
`boundary by the mobile unit.
`Additionally,
`the method includes transmitting service
`information to the system user regarding the mobile unit in
`response to the crossing of the service zone boundary by the
`mobile unit. In embodiments of the present invention. delin-
`ing the at
`least one geographic reference service zone
`boundary includes identifying a geographical area for which
`the system user desires to receive notification upon one of:
`a) entry of the mobile tmit into the identified geographical
`area; or b} exit of the mobile unit from the identified
`geographical area. Moreover, in embodiments of the present
`invention. transmitting service information includes provid-
`ing notification to the system user of the entry or exit.
`Additionally. defining the at least one geographic reference
`service zone boundary further includes receiving zone loca—
`tion infomtation regarding a service zone referenced to a
`first topology system and expressing said zone location
`ittfonnation in terms of a second topology system of the
`location based services application. the first topology system
`including a street grid.
`[11 a specific embodiment, the mobile unit is a telephone
`and the step of storing an identifier comprises storing an
`MINIESN.
`In another specific embodiment,
`transmitting
`service infonnation fiirther includes transmitting the service
`information to the mobile unit.
`In yet another specific
`embodiment.
`transmitting service infonnation includes
`transmitting the service information to a data network node
`associated with the system user. the data network node being
`separate from the mobile unit. In a particular embodiment.
`transmitting service information includes transmitting a
`message to the system user providing notice of a boundary
`crossing event. In another particular embodiment. the mes-
`sage includes at least one of a voice. text. or graphical
`message.
`In another particular embodiment. the location-based ser-
`vices application tttilizes network assisted GPS to provide
`location information of the mobile unit.
`In yet another
`particular embodiment.
`transmitting service infomtation
`includes transmitting service information to a network user
`separate from a user of the mobile unit. In some embodi-
`
`10
`
`3t]
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`ments. defining the at least one geographic reference service
`zone boundary includes receiving subscriber specific infor-
`mation from the system user regarding the service none
`boundary and storing includes indexing information regard-
`ing the service zone boundary to the identifier.
`According to another alternative embodiment of the
`present invention, a method for use in providing services
`based on the locations of mobile units in a wireless com-
`munications network is provided. The wireless network
`includes a switch structure for use in selectively routing
`communications between network users and a processing
`platform associated with the switch structure. The method
`includes providing a location-based services application
`running. at least in part, on the processing platform associ—
`ated with the switch structure and defining at
`least one
`geographic reference service zone boundary for the location-
`based service application. In embodiments of the present
`invention. the service zone boundary passes through at least
`one ofa plurality of coverage areas of the wireless commu-
`nications network for the location based services applica-
`tion. The method also includes storing an identifier for a
`mobile unit associated with a mobile subscriber. wherein a
`location of the mobile unit is of interest to a system user
`other than the mobile subscriber.
`
`The method further includes monitoring the location of
`the mobile unit. using the location-based services applica-
`tion and the identifier of the mobile ttnit.
`to identify a
`crossing of the service zone boundary by the mobile unit.
`Additionally. the method includes transmitting service infor—
`mation to the system user regarding the mobile unit
`in
`response to the crossing of the service zone boundary by the
`mobile unit. In embodiments of the present invention. defin-
`ing the at
`least one geographic reference service zone
`boundary includes identifying a geographical area for which
`the system ttser desires to receive notification upon one of:
`a) entry of the mobile unit into the identified geographical
`area or b} exit of the mobile unit
`from the identified
`geographical area. Additionally, trzmsmitting service infor-
`mation includes providing notification to the system user of
`the entry or exit. Moreover. defining the at least one geo-
`graphic relerence service zone boundary further includes
`receiving zone location information regarding a service zone
`referenced to a first topology system and expressing the zone
`location information in terms of a second topology system of
`the location based services application, the second topology
`system including at least one of a geographical coordinate
`system or a system of wireless network subdivision identi-
`tiers.
`According to a particular embodiment. providing a loca~
`tion—based services application comprises providing an
`application for allowing a person of authority to monitor the
`movements of one of a person or a vehicle associated with
`the mobile unit. According to another particular embodi-
`ment. defining the at least one geographic reference service
`zone boundary includes receiving subscriber specific in for-
`mation from the system user regarding the service zone
`boundary and storing includes indexing information regard—
`ing the service zone boundary to the identifier. According to
`yet another particular embodiment, providing a location-
`based services application includes providing an application
`for allowing a person of authority to monitor the movements
`of one of a person or a vehicle associated with the mobile
`unit. In some embodiments, the mobile unit is a telephone
`and storing an identifier comprises storing an MINIESN. In
`other embodiments, transmitting service information further
`includes transmitting the service infonnation to the mobile
`ttnit. In yet other embodiments. providing a location-based
`
`8
`
`

`

`5
`
`6
`
`US ?,133,685 B2
`
`services application includes providing an application for
`setting a billing parameter for use of the wireless network by
`the mobile unit.
`
`According to another embodiment of the present inven-
`tion. transmitting service information includes transmitting
`the service information to a data network node associated
`with the system user. the data network node being separate
`from the mobile unit. Moreover.
`in another embodiment.
`transmitting service information includes transmitting a
`message to the system user providing notice of a boundary
`crossing event.
`In a specific embodiment.
`the message
`includes at least one of a voice. text or graphical message.
`In an embodiment. the location-based services application
`utilizes network assisted GPS to provide location informa—
`tion of the mobile unit. Moreover. in another embodiment.
`transmitting service information includes transmitting ser-
`vice information to a network user separate from a user of
`the mobile unit.
`
`According to yet another alternative embodiment of the
`present invention. a method for use in providing services
`based on the locations of mobile units in a wireless corn—
`
`munications network is provided. The wireless network
`includes a switch structure for use in selectively routing
`commtmications between network users and a processing
`platform associated with the switch structure. The method
`includes providing a location-based services application
`running, at least in part. on the processing platform associ-
`ated with the switch structure and defining at least one
`geographic reference service zone boundary for the location—
`based service application. wherein the service zone bound-
`ary passes through at least one of a plurality of coverage
`areas of the wireless conununications network for the loca-
`
`tion based services application. The method also includes
`storing an identifier for a mobile unit associated with a
`mobile subscriber. a location of the mobile unit being of
`interest to a system user other than the mobile subscriber and
`monitoring the location of the mobile unit, using the loca«
`tion-based services application and the identifier of the
`mobile unit.
`to identify a crossing of the service zone
`boundary by the mobile unit.
`The method timber includes transmitting service infor-
`mation to the system user regarding the mobile unit
`in
`response to the crossing of the service zone boundary by the
`mobile unit. In embodiments of the present invention. defin-
`ing at least one geographic reference service none boundary
`includes identifying a geographical area for which the
`system user desires to receive notification upon one of: a)
`entry of the mobile unit into the identified geographical area
`or b) exit of the mobile unit from the identified geographical
`area. Moreover. transmitting service infonnation includes
`providing notification to the system user of the entry or exit
`and defining at least one geographic reference service none
`botmdary further includes receiving zone location informa-
`tion regarding a service zone referenced to a first topology
`system and expressing the zone location information in
`terms of a second topology system of the location based
`services application. Additionally. monitoring includes stor—
`ing first location information regarding a first location of the
`mobile unit at a first time. obtaining second location infor-
`mation regarding a second location of the mobile unit at a
`second time and comparing the first location information to
`the second location infonnation to identify the crossing of
`the service zone boundary by the mobile unit.
`In a specific embodiment. transmitting service informa—
`tion includes transmitting the service inlonnation to a sepa—
`rate application that
`is registercd with the location-based
`services application to receive boundary cmssing informa-
`
`3
`
`10
`
`3o
`
`35
`
`4E]
`
`60
`
`tion regarding the mobile unit. In a particular embodiment of
`the present invention, the first location information includes
`a first zone identifier for a particular service zone and the
`second location information includes a second zone identi-
`
`fier for a particular service zone. and the step of comparing
`includes determining whether the first none identifier is the
`same as the second zone identifier.
`In another specific
`embodiment,
`transmitting service information includes
`transmitting at least one of local service information or local
`emergency condition information to the mobile unit.
`According to an embodiment of the present invention. a
`method for use in providing services based on the locations
`of mobile units in a wireless network is provided. The
`method includes establishing a location based services sys—
`tem. including a processing platfonn and data storage asso-
`ciated with the processing platform. The location based
`services system is interconnected to a network location
`finding system for receiving network location infonnation
`therefrom regarding the location of the mobile units within
`the wireless network. The network location finding system is
`operative for determining the network location information
`regarding the mobile units based on locations of the mobile
`units and known locations of network structure in the
`wireless network.
`
`The location based services system is further intercon-
`nected to a system user via a communication network
`including a switch structure for routing communications
`based on an address whereby user information can be
`transmitted from the location based services system to the
`user by associating the user information with a user address.
`The location based services system is additionally associated
`with a data input port for receiving infonnation for storage
`in the data storage and for use by the location based services
`system.
`The method also includes first receiving. via the data input
`port, service zone information identifying a geographic
`service zone including at least one service zone boundary
`and first storing the service zone information in the data
`storage of the location based service system. The method
`further includes second receiving. via the data input port. an
`identifier identifying a tnobile unit of interest to the system
`user and second storing the identifier in the data storage of
`the location based service system. The method additionally
`includes third receiving. from the network location finding
`system. the network location information including mobile
`unit location infomiation regarding the mobile unit of inter-
`est and third storing the mobile unit location information in
`the data storage of the location based service system.
`Additionally. the method includes first operating the loca~
`tion based service system to 1) monitor locations of the
`mobile unit of interest over a time period. 2} make a
`comparison based on one or more of the monitored locations
`of mobile unit location to the service zone boundary. and 3]
`based on the comparison. identify a crossing of the service
`zone boundary by the mobile unit of interest. Moreover. the
`method includes second operating the location based service
`system to I) generate service information in response to the
`identified crossing of the service zone boundary, 2) establish
`a user communication including the service information and
`information identifying the user address, and 3) transmitting
`the user communication to the system user. The system user
`receives service information triggered by the crossing of the
`service zone boundary.
`According to another embodiment of the present inven~
`tion, a method for use in providing services based on the
`locations of mobile units in a wireless communications
`
`network is provided. The wireless network includes a switch
`
`9
`
`

`

`7
`
`8
`
`US ?,133,685 B2
`
`structure for use in selectively routing conmiunications
`between network users and a processing platform associated
`with the switch structure. The method includes providing a
`location based services application running. at least in part,
`on the processing platform associated with the switch struc-
`ture. defining at
`least one geographic reference for the
`location based services application. and storing an identifier
`for a mobile unit. The method also includes monitoring a
`location of the mobile unit. using the location based services
`application zutd the identifier of the mobile unit. to identify
`an attaimnent of a predetermined relationship of the mobile
`unit relative to the geographic reference.
`the attainment
`being defined by a change of status with respect to the
`predetermined relationship. and transmitting service infor—
`mation regarding the mobile unit in response to the attaitn
`ment of the predetemtined relationship of the mobile unit
`relative to the geographic reference.
`In a specific embodiment. monitoring includes storing
`first location information regarding a first location of the
`mobile unit at a first time. obtaining second location infor-
`mation regarding a second location of the mobile unit at a
`second time, and comparing the first location information to
`the second location information to identify the attainment of
`the predetennined relationship. Moreover,
`in an embodi-
`ment. monitoring further includes defining a geometrical
`cletuent interconnecting a first location of the first location
`information and a second location of the second location
`information and determining whether there is an intersection
`between the geometrical element and a boundary of a
`service zone.
`
`According to yet another embodiment of the present
`invention. a method for use in providing services based on
`the locations of mobile units in a wireless communications
`
`network is provided. The method includes providing a
`location—based services application running, at least in part,
`on a processing platform associated with the wireless corn—
`munications network. and defining at least one geographic
`reference service zone boundary passing through at least one
`of a plurality of coverage areas of the wireless communi-
`cations network. The method also includes storing an iden-
`ti fier for a mobile unit associated with a mobile subscriber.
`A location of the mobile unit being of interest to a system
`user other than the mobile subscriber. The method further
`
`includes monitoring the location of the mobile unit, using
`the location-based services application and the identifier of
`the mobile unit. identifying a crossing of the service zone
`boundary using a mathematical analysis. and transmitting
`service information to the system user regarding the mobile
`unit in response to the crossing of the service zone boundary.
`in a specific embodiment. defining the at least one geo~
`graphic reference service zone boundary includes identify-
`ing a geographical area for which the system user desires to
`receive notification upon one of: a) entry of the mobile unit
`into the identified geographical area. or b) exit of the mobile
`unit front the identified geographical area. In sotne embodi-
`ments. transmitting service information includes providing
`notification to the system user of the entry or exit. and
`defining further includes receiving zone location informa-
`tion regarding a service zone referenced to a first topology
`system zutd expressing the zone location information in
`terms of a second topology system of the location based
`services application.
`According to an alternative embodiment of the present
`invention. a method for use in providing services based on
`the locations of mobile units in a wireless communications
`network is provided. The method includes providing a
`location-based services application running, at least in part.
`
`10
`
`3o
`
`40
`
`45
`
`60
`
`on a processing platform associated with the wireless com»
`munications network and defining at least one service none
`boundary passing through at
`least one of a plurality of
`coverage areas of the wireless communications network.
`The method also includes storing an identifier for a mobile
`unit, monitoring a location of the mobile unit. using the
`location—based services application and the identifier of the
`mobile unit,
`identifying a crossing of the service zone
`boundary using a mathematical analysis. and transmitting
`service information regarding the mobile unit in response to
`the crossing of the service zone boundary.
`In a particular embodiment.
`the mathematical analysis
`includes storing first location information regarding a first
`location of the mobile unit at a first time. storing second
`location information regarding a second location of the
`mobile unit at a second time. and defining a geometrical
`element connecting the first location and the second location
`and determining whether the geometrical element intersects
`the service zone boundary.
`According to another alternative embodiment of the
`present invention. a method for use in providing services
`based on the locations of mobile units in a wireless com-
`munications network is provided. The method includes
`providing a location-based services application running. at
`least in part. on a processing platform associated with said
`wireless communications network. defining at
`least one
`service zone boundary passing through at least one of a
`plurality of coverage areas of the wireless communications
`network. and storing an identifier for a mobile unit. The
`method also includes monitoring a location of the mobile
`unit. using the location-based services application and the
`identifier of the mobile unit. identifying a crossing of the
`service zone boundary using a mat