USOO71.3063 OB1
`
`(12) United States Patent
`Enzmann et al.
`
`(10) Patent No.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 7,130,630 B1
`Oct. 31, 2006
`
`(54) LOCATION QUERY SERVICE FOR
`WIRELESS NETWORKS
`(75) Inventors: Mark J. Enzmann, Roswell, GA (US);
`Robert T. Moton, Jr., Alpharetta, GA
`(US); Samuel N. Zellner, Dunwoody,
`GA (US)
`(73) Assignee: BellSouth Intellectual Property
`Corporation, Wilmington, DE (US)
`
`(*) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 760 days.
`(21) Appl. No.: 09/739,315
`(22) Filed:
`Dec. 19, 2000
`
`(51) Int. Cl.
`(2006.01)
`H04O 7/20
`2006.O1
`H04M II/04
`(
`.01)
`(52) U.S. Cl. ............................... 455/435.1; 455/404.2:
`455/4.56.1; 340/988
`(58) Field of Classification Search ............. 455/435.1,
`455/404.1, 404.2, 456.1, 457, 521, 426.1:
`340/988, 991, 992, 993
`See application file for complete search history.
`References Cited
`
`(56)
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`4,757,267
`5,303,393
`5,511,111
`5,512,908
`5,566,235
`5,588,042
`5,596,625
`5,610,973
`5,625,364
`5,657,375
`5,663,734
`5,701,301
`5,712,899
`5,727,057
`
`7/1988 Riskin ........................ 379,113
`4, 1994 Noreen et al. ............... 455,32
`4, 1996 Serbetcioglu et al. ......... 379/67
`4, 1996 Herrick ...................... 342,387
`10, 1996 Hetz .......
`379,221.02
`12/1996 Comer ........................ 379.59
`1/1997 LeBlanc ...
`... 379/60
`3, 1997 Comer ........
`... 379.59
`4, 1997 Herrick et al. .............. 342/449
`8/1997 Connolly et al. ........... 455,436
`9, 1997 Krasner
`12, 1997 Weisser, Jr. ................. 370,428
`1/1998 Pace, II ................... 455,456.2
`3/1998 Emery et al. ............... 379,211
`
`6/1998 Chang et al. ............... 379,142
`5,771,283 A
`8/1998 Goldhaber et al. ........... TO5/14
`5,794.210 A
`5,819,155 A 10/1998 Worthy et al. ................. 455.2
`2. A E. Y. Jr. .............. 29
`w - 4
`Idary ....
`- - - -
`5,875,401 A
`2, 1999 Rochkind ................... 455,466
`(Continued)
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`EP
`
`O00964542 A2 12/1999
`
`............... TO5, 14 X
`
`(Continued)
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`“Wireless Application Protocol', Oct. 1999 Wireless Internet Today,
`pp. 1-20.
`
`(Continued)
`inap
`Primary Examiner Joseph Feild
`Assistant Examiner S. Smith
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Merchant & Gould
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`
`A location query service for use with a wireless network that
`tracks the location of network devices, such as a network
`complying with enhanced 911 standards. The service pro
`vides requesters with the locations of network users, based
`on the locations of the users’ wireless network devices. The
`service receives a location query from a requester, retrieves
`location information associated with the network user, and
`returns the location information to the requestor. Alternately,
`before returning the location information to the requester,
`the service authenticates that the requestor is authorized by
`the network user to receive the network user's location
`information. A requestor can Submit a location query, for
`example, by voice calls through the Public Switched Tele
`phone Network (PSTN) to an interactive voice response unit
`(IVRU), personal computer access through a global com
`puter network, and cellular telephone access through a
`global computer network.
`
`22 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets
`
`108
`
`
`
`5.
`
`
`
`
`
`NETWORK
`DEVICE
`
`.........uws- a na
`
`Yama mem.
`
`NETWORK-BASED
`LOCATIONSYSTEM
`
`N-120
`
`
`
`

`

`US 7,130,630 B1
`Page 2
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`WO
`
`WO 99,27716
`
`6, 1999
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`5/1999 Malik .................... 379,142.01
`5.903,636 A
`- W -
`9/1999 Sonnenberg ...
`... 379,221.02
`5,949,867 A
`Mark Moeglein, et al., “An Introduction to Snap Track Server
`5,961,593 A 10/1999 Gabber et al. .............. TO9,219
`Aided GPS Technology', available at http://www.snaptrack.com/
`6,011,975 A
`1/2000 Emery et al. .....
`455,456.1
`atwork.html.
`6,028,921 A
`2/2000 Malik et al. ...
`... 379,201
`U.S. Official Action dated Dec. 13, 2005 cited in U.S. Appl. No.
`6,047,327 A
`4/2000 Tso et al. .........
`... 709,232
`09/740,372.
`6,085,086 A
`7/2000 La Porta et al.
`... 455,432
`U.S. Official Action dated Nov. 21, 2005 cited in U.S. Appl. No.
`6,091,956 A
`7/2000 Hollenberg ....
`455,456.5
`09/740,414.
`6,101,381 A
`8/2000 Tajima et al. ..
`... 455,414
`U.S. Official Action dated Mar. 1, 2004 cited in U.S. Appl. No.
`6,112,186 A
`8/2000 Bergh et al. .................. 70.5/10
`09/740,375.
`6,122.520 A
`9, 2000 Want et al. ....
`... 455,456.2
`U.S. Final Official Action dated Sep. 24, 2004 cited in U.S. Appl.
`6,133,853 A 10/2000 Obradovich et al. ........ 340,905
`No. 09/740,375.
`6,138,003 A 10/2000 Kingdon et al. ..... ... 455,410
`U.S. Official Action dated Feb. 28, 2005 cited in U.S. Appl. No.
`6,157,829. A 12/2000 Grube et al. ......
`... 455,414
`09/740,375.
`6,184,829 B1
`2/2001 Stilp ................
`... 342,387
`U.S. Final Official Action dated Jul 26, 2005 cited in U.S. Appl. No.
`6,185.426 B1
`2/2001 Alperovich et al. ........ 455/456
`09/740,375.
`6,208,854 B1
`3/2001 Roberts et al. ............. 455,417
`Petronis, Scott, “Mapping Technology: The Common Thread.”
`6,208,866 B1
`3/2001 Rouhollahzadeh
`Wireless Review, vol. 17, No. 3, pp. 10-14, Feb. 1, 2000, ISSN:
`et al. ....................... 455,456.5
`1099-9248.
`5, 2001 Urban et al. ...
`... 379,142.1
`6,233,329 B1
`U.S. Official Action dated May 7, 2003 cited in U.S. Appl. No.
`7/2001 Stewart et al. .............. 342/457
`6,259,405 B1
`09/740,373.
`6,311,069 B1 * 10/2001 Havinis et al.
`. 455/4.56.4
`U.S. Final Official Action dated Oct. 21, 2003 cited in U.S. Appl.
`6,317,718 B1
`1 1/2001 Fano .............
`705
`No. 09/740,373.
`6,321,092 B1
`1 1/2001 Fitch et al. .
`. 455/456.5
`6,324,396 B1
`1 1/2001 Vasa et al. .....
`555 U.S. Official Action dated Jan. 26, 2004 cited in U.S. Appl. No.
`6,332,127 B1
`12/2001 Bandera et al. ............... 705/14
`09/740,373.
`6,353,664 B1
`3/2002 Cannon et al. .......... 379,142.1
`U.S. Official Action dated Apr. 28, 2005 cited in U.S. Appl. No.
`6,377,810 B1
`4/2002 Geiger et al. ............ 455/456.2
`09/740373.
`6,385,591 B1
`52002 Mankoff.......
`29,
`U.S. Official Action dated Aug. 30, 2005 in U.S. Appl. No.
`6,418,308 B1
`7/2002 Heinonen et all
`... 455,414
`10,704775
`6.421441 B1
`7/2002 Dzuban ............
`379,221.09
`...
`a J.
`U.S. Official Act
`dated Oct. 4, 2005
`U.S. Appl. No.
`6,427,073 B1
`7/2002 Kortesalmi et al. ...... as
`"sal action late ve
`ppl. No
`"ss" ' ' r co-pending U.S. Appl. No. 1 1/252,039, filed Oct. 17, 2005.
`6,442,687 B1
`8/2002 Savage .............
`... 713,156
`U.S. Official Action dated Jul. 26, 2005 in U.S. Appl. No
`6,449,497 B1
`9/2002 Kirbas et al. .....
`... 455,564
`6.463,533 B1 102002 Calamera et al... 73/163 ''
`1
`G6
`and System for
`6,470,378 B1
`10/2002 Tracton et al. .............. TO9,203
`5. AE, EiE entitled Meth
`6,473,626 B1
`10/2002 Nevoux et al. ............. 435/360
`Delivery of a Calling Party's Location.” filed Aug. 1, 2000, Inven
`6,477.382 B1
`11/2002 Mansfield et all
`455,458
`tors: Samuel N. Zellner; Mark J. Enzmann; and Robert T. Moton Jr.
`6,484.14s B1
`1/2002 Boyd.. '70s
`U.S. Appl. No. 09/740.414, entitled “Location Blocking Service
`6,496.93 B1
`12/2002 Rajchel et al. .............. T13,168
`from a Wireless Service Provider, filed Dec. 19, 2000, Inventors:
`6.505.046 B1
`1/2003 Baker.
`455,4563
`Samuel N. Zellner; Mark J. Enzmann; and Robert T. Moton Jr.
`6,505.04s B1
`1/2003 Moles et al. ............. 455,456.1
`U.S. Appl. No. 09/740,372, entitled “Identity Blocking Service from
`6,505,049 B1
`1/2003 Dorenbosch ................ 455,456
`a Wireless Service Provider, filed Dec. 19, 2000, Inventors: Samuel
`6,505,163 B1
`1/2003 Zhang et al. ..
`704/275
`N. Zellner; Mark J. Enzmann; and Robert T. Moton Jr.
`6,522,876 B1
`2/2003 Weiland et al. .......... 455,414.1
`U.S. Appl. No. 09/739,162, entitled “System and Method for
`6,526,275 B1
`2/2003 Calvert ....................... 455,418
`Surveying Wireless Device Users by Location.” filed Dec. 19, 2000,
`6,545,596 B1
`4/2003 Moon ......
`340,425.5
`Inventors: Samuel N. Zellner; Mark J. Enzmann; and Robert T.
`6,546,257 B1
`4/2003 Stewart ................... 455,456.3
`Moton Jr.
`6,560.442 B1
`5/2003 Yost et al. ................. 455/67.1
`U.S. Appl. No. 09/739,340, entitled “System and Method for Using
`6,560,461 B1
`5/2003 Fomukong et al. ......... 455/456
`Location Information to Execute an Action,' filed Dec. 19, 2000,
`6,594,482 B1
`7/2003 Findikli et al. ............. 455,411
`Inventors: Samuel N. Zellner; Mark J. Enzmann; and Robert T.
`6,618,474 B1
`9/2003 Reese .................... 379,14217
`Moton Jr.
`6,618,593 B1
`9/2003 Drutman et al. ............ 455,456
`U.S. Appl. No. 10/704.775, entitled “Location Blocking Service for
`6,622,016 B1
`9/2003 Sladek et al. ............ 455,414.1
`Wireless Networks, filed Nov. 12, 2003, Inventors: Samuel N.
`6,628,928 B1
`9/2003 Crosby et al. ................ 455/77
`Zellner: Mark J. Enzmann; and Robert T. Moton Jr.
`6,628,938 B1
`9/2003 Rachabathuni et al. ..... 455,414
`U.S. Appl. No. 10/819,940, entitled "Anonymous Location Service
`6,647.257 B1
`11/2003 Owensby ................. 455,414.1
`for Wireless Networks,” filed Apr. 8, 2004. Inventors: Samuel N.
`6,647.269 B1
`11/2003 Hendrey et al. ............ 455,456
`Zellner; Mark J. Enzmann; and Robert T. Moton Jr.
`6,662,014 B1
`12, 2003 Walsh
`... 455,456.2
`U.S. Official Action dated Feb. 12, 2003 in U.S. Appl. No.
`6,675,017 B1
`1/2004 Zellner et al. ......... 379,142O2
`09/630, 134.
`6,738,808 B1
`5/2004 Zellner et al. .............. 709,223
`U.S. Official Action dated Jul. 10, 2003 in U.S. Appl. No.
`6,819,929 B1
`1 1/2004 Antonucci et al.
`... 455,445
`09/630, 134.
`6,850,758 B1
`2/2005 Paul et al. ............... 455,422.1
`U.S. Official Action dated Jun. 7, 2004, in U.S. Appl. No.
`6,868,074 B1
`3/2005 Hanson ...................... 370,328
`09/630, 134.
`2001.0034.709 A1 10, 2001 Stolfo et al.
`... TOS/51
`U.S. Official Action dated Jan. 13, 2005 in U.S. Appl. No.
`2002fOO77130 A1
`6/2002 Owensby .................... 455,466
`09/630, 134.
`U.S. Official Action dated May 16, 2003 in U.S. Appl. No.
`09,740,372.
`U.S. Official Action dated Oct. 30, 2003 in U.S. Appl. No.
`09/740,372.
`
`
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`WO
`
`WO98, 19484
`
`5, 1998
`
`

`

`US 7,130,630 B1
`Page 3
`
`U.S. Official Action dated Apr. 15, 2004 in U.S. Appl. No.
`09/740,372.
`U.S. Official Action dated Nov. 2, 2004 in U.S. Appl. No.
`09/740,372.
`U.S. Official Action dated Mar. 12, 2004 in U.S. Appl. No.
`09/739,340.
`U.S. Official Action dated Dec. 10, 2004 in U.S. Appl. No.
`09/739,340.
`U.S. Official Action dated Nov. 10, 2003 in U.S. Appl. No.
`09/739,162.
`U.S. Official Action dated Mar. 9, 2004 in U.S. Appl. No.
`09/739,162.
`U.S. Official Action dated Sep. 9, 2004 in U.S. Appl. No.
`09/739,162.
`U.S. Official Action dated Nov. 10, 2003 in U.S. Appl. No.
`09/740,414.
`U.S. Official Action dated Apr. 21, 2004 in U.S. Appl. No.
`09/740,414.
`U.S. Official Action dated Oct. 5, 2004 in U.S. Appl. No.
`09/740,414.
`PCT International Search Report, PCT/US01/22295.
`Microsoft Mobility Developer Conference 2003.
`3rd Generation Partnership Project: Technical Specification Group
`Services and System Aspects; Functional Stage 2 Description of
`Location Services in UMTS (1999).
`http://www.openwave.com/us/news room/press releases/2001/
`2001.0320, “Open Wave Announces Availability to End-to-End Set
`of Location Services for Wireless Internet'.
`
`.S. Appl. No. 09/739,339.
`.S. Appl. No. 09/739,162.
`.S. Appl. No. 09/606.535.
`.S. Appl. No. 09/606,534.
`.S. Appl. No. 09/739,340.
`.S. Appl. No. 09/630,134.
`.S. Official Action dated Feb. 24, 2006 cited in U.S. Appl. No.
`9/630, 134.
`O
`.S. Official Action dated Mar. 10, 2006 cited in U.S. Appl. No.
`1/252,039.
`.S. Appl. No. 11/298.419, entitled "System and Method for Using
`ocation Information to Execute an Action' filed Dec. 9, 2005,
`.; Mark J. Enzmann; and Samuel N.
`
`ellner.
`.S. Appl. No. 11/298,149, entitled "System and Method for Using
`ocation Information to Execute an Action' filed Dec. 9, 2005,
`Inventors: Robert T. Moton Jr.; Mark J. Enzmann; and Samuel N.
`Zellner.
`U.S. Appl. No. 11/300,694 entitled "System and Method for Using
`Location Information to Execute an Action' filed Dec. 15, 2005,
`Inventor: Samuel N. Zellner.
`U.S. Official Action dated Apr. 21, 2006 cited in U.S. Appl. No.
`11/322,531.
`U.S. Official Action dated Jun. 7, 2005 in U.S. Appl. No.
`09/630, 134.
`* cited by examiner
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`U.S. Patent
`
`w
`
`US 7,130,630 B1
`
`m
`
`éogmz
`
`madE6”55%mmm,Ne
`
`
`
`4.82320252
`
`_fir_55520:53
`
`v:
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`0w:3IM,F0.".
`
`7,.l.............L...............m8?_EEG20:63_
`-------------------------------
`
`.—.—.—.—.——.—l
`- - -
`-n a
`- - - - - -
`
`Google Exhibit 1008, Page 4 of 13
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 31, 2006
`
`4
`
`0B7,
`
`1B0m,
`
`.mmosmamm85$2mmmimoEmEo2859M£55”.
`
`$52959
`mayEN
`.v.88_.........IEzoEoozotaoEmz
`
`.—
`
`
`mm>mm22.209oz<sac;>><mz_mm>mmm___.zo_._.<oo._mmEm>zoooz_n_n_<_>_<m<r
`
`_SEEm._m<><._n_m_oEz_.w20:53wEmmpfimzéh
`
`EfifigfigfiFEE.)
`
`
`
`88#8:32
`
`2.3:mm535
`350522:
`
`2853oz$239209
`
`
`a:D22285meE:gmamzé”.9338:529.2
`
`
`NR
`
`38850522:
`EDDmammwwwaommz$mmé
`
`20:59asmsfiozzE9859:2
`mamamEgEo”gumo0
`
`SN
`
`08mEmzozsoécE:255332memm
`
`35:;ea:2m:53
`
`SIUN0.".
`
` ./1.......r........r.m§o%fis>.ml_,_o_lfipfi_.l_8N.V2252d.85:50555__2958:2595._Esaozmmzwmmé
`
`
`
`._..........83E;EE>2835%:T.
`
`._<21éoEmzfig;./.__ozémoéézzgzog
`égEzEmmwngflg.933ngL.ME$1.22?
`
`
`
`.
`
`
`
`.E:wmgéa20:69_@EEREEEE
`
`Google Exhibit 1008, Page 5 of 13
`
`
`
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 31, 2006
`
`Sheet 3 of 4
`
`US 7,130,630 B1
`
`}}OISE^ÖE}}
`SSETEHIM
`X8OMIEN
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`OzL--J
`
`T
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Oct. 31, 2006
`
`Sheet 4 of 4
`
`US 7,130,630 B1
`
`
`
`94N2
`g
`O)
`39a
`2 CDy
`C
`
`r
`
`CO
`CN
`ve
`
`CN
`O
`v
`
`
`
`o m a sm Am a m m a
`
`a
`
`---
`
`/
`O
`O
`v
`
`CO
`v
`v
`
`V
`
`O
`O
`CN
`
`L
`
`e
`N
`)
`H ge
`go M
`2
`O
`c
`CD
`O
`-
`
`
`
`oe
`2go
`da
`22 1. aso
`5
`2C
`
`

`

`1.
`LOCATION QUERY SERVICE FOR
`WIRELESS NETWORKS
`
`US 7,130,630 B1
`
`2
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`BACKGROUND
`
`10
`
`15
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`The present invention is a location query service for use
`with a wireless network that tracks the location of network
`devices. The service provides requesters with the locations
`of network users, based on the locations of the users
`wireless network devices. The service enables a requestor to
`obtain a network user's location without requiring commu
`nication with the user. In addition, the service relieves a
`requester of the burden of purchasing and maintaining
`dedicated location tracking equipment by taking advantage
`of existing communication infrastructures, such as global
`computer networks, Public Switched Telephone Networks
`(PSTNs), and wireless networks (with their soon-to-be
`implemented location systems).
`According to a preferred embodiment of the present
`invention, the location query service receives a location
`query from a requestor for a network user, retrieves the
`location information of the network user, and returns the
`location information to the requestor. Preferably, the
`requestor is an authorized requestor and the service authen
`ticates that the requestor is authorized before returning the
`location information to the requestor. Within the query, the
`requestor provides an identification of the network user,
`Such as a name, telephone number, Internet address, or
`electronic mail (email) address. The service of the present
`invention Supports a variety of communication methods
`through which a requestor can Submit a location query, for
`example, voice calls through the Public Switched Telephone
`Network (PSTN) to an interactive voice response unit
`(IVRU), personal computer access through a global com
`puter network, and cellular telephone access through a
`global computer network.
`In processing location queries, a preferred embodiment of
`the present invention gives the network user control of who
`can receive his location information. The network user
`provides the service with a list of authorized requestors who
`may receive the user's location information. The service
`authenticates that a requestor is authorized before forward
`ing location information.
`In an alternate preferred embodiment of the present
`invention, the location query service prompts a network user
`each time an unauthorized requestor asks for location infor
`mation. An unauthorized requestor is a requestor who is not
`designated on a network user's list of authorized requestors
`and who has not been pre-approved to receive the user's
`location information. With these “off-list” requests, the
`network user permits or denies access for unauthorized
`(off-list) requestors on an individual basis, while automati
`cally permitting access by authorized (on-list) requesters.
`In a preferred embodiment, the system of the present
`invention includes a user wireless network and a location
`server. The user wireless network is in communication with
`a plurality of network devices operated by a plurality of
`network users. The user wireless network is also in com
`munication with a location system for determining the
`location of each network device. The location server is in
`communication with the wireless network and with a plu
`rality of requestors. The location server accommodates a
`variety of interfaces in communicating with the plurality of
`requestors. For example, for Internet protocol (IP) commu
`nication, the location server communicates with the plurality
`of requestors through a global computer network, e.g., the
`Internet. As another example, for Voice communication, the
`location server communicates with the plurality of request
`ors through a PSTN.
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`The present invention relates to the field of wireless
`networks, and in particular, to wireless networks that track
`the location of wireless network devices.
`2. Background of the Invention
`In compliance with regulations promulgated by the Fed
`eral Communications Commission (FCC), wireless net
`works will soon provide services that are able to determine
`the location of all network users. These federally mandated
`services, known as enhanced wireless 911 (E911) services,
`will require wireless telephones to provide 911 call centers,
`or Public Safety Answering Points (PSAPs), with vital
`information necessary to locate and identify a caller in an
`emergency. To comply with E911 standards, wireless net
`work providers will track the location and identity informa
`tion of all wireless callers, with the purpose of providing
`Such information to emergency personnel when a caller dials
`911 from a wireless telephone. The FCC's wireless E911
`rules require certain Commercial Mobile Radio Services
`(CMRS) carriers to begin transmission of enhanced location
`and identity information in two phases. Phase I requires
`carriers to transmit a caller's telephone number and general
`location to a PSAP Phase II requires carriers to provide
`more precise location information to the PSAP.
`Under the FCC rules, wireless networks and the corre
`sponding wireless handheld devices, such as cellular tele
`phones, will provide both the identity and location of the
`caller to a 911 dispatcher. To provide a caller's identity, the
`wireless handheld device will furnish a mobile identification
`number (MIN), indicating in most instances the telephone
`number of the device. The wireless network and wireless
`handheld devices will provide the location of callers using a
`network-based location system (e.g., triangulation), global
`positioning systems (GPSs) within the handheld devices, or
`a combination of the two systems.
`Although, in large part, wireless network providers will
`implement the location tracking systems to comply with the
`FCC standards, once completed, the providers will have the
`ability to offer other location-based services supported by
`the E911 infrastructure. Indeed, beyond the needs of PSAPs
`in emergency situations, there are many instances in which
`it is helpful to know the location of a network user. For
`example, a service dispatcher monitoring the activities of his
`service technicians may wish to determine the exact loca
`tions of his technicians to facilitate efficient scheduling.
`Although, with conventional mobile telephone networks, the
`dispatcher could call and ask the technician for his location,
`the dispatcher may prefer to ascertain the location informa
`tion without interrupting the technician’s activities.
`Other location tracking systems provide the ability to
`determine a person's location without communicating with
`(or interrupting) the person. However, these solutions
`require dedicated networks and network devices. For
`instance, although a global positioning system can provide
`a person's location without contacting the person, the sys
`tem requires that the party requesting the location informa
`tion (referred to herein as the “requester') have communi
`cation hardware that receives the location information from
`the person’s GPS receiver. For example, in a typical fleet
`vehicle tracking system, the fleet manager must purchase
`and maintain a central processor that communicates with the
`GPS receiver in each vehicle.
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`

`

`US 7,130,630 B1
`
`5
`
`10
`
`15
`
`25
`
`30
`
`3
`According to a preferred method of the present invention,
`the location server receives a location query for a network
`user from a requestor, retrieves the user's location from the
`location system, and forwards the location back to the
`requestor. Preferably, the location server also confirms that
`the requestor is authorized to receive the user's location. In
`an alternate preferred embodiment, if the location system
`provides the location in a “raw” form, not easily understood
`by the typical requestor (e.g., x-y position coordinates), the
`method further includes translating the location from the raw
`form to a "displayable' form (e.g., a street address, building
`name, or area name). The system component that executes
`this translation function is a mapping converter. The map
`ping converter can be provisioned in several locations within
`the system, from the requestor's device to the devices of the
`plurality of requestors.
`Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to
`provide a requester with the location of a wireless network
`USC.
`Another object of the present invention is to provide a
`wireless network user with the ability to automatically
`furnish specified requesters with the location of the network
`USC.
`Another object of the present invention is to provide a
`wireless network user with the ability to approve or deny
`access to the user's location information by a requestor who
`has not been pre-approved.
`These and other objects of the present invention are
`described in greater detail in the detailed description of the
`invention, the appended drawings, and the attached claims.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a system architecture
`that provides the location query service according to a
`preferred embodiment of the present invention.
`FIG. 2 is a flow chart tracing the steps for providing a
`location query service according to a preferred embodiment
`of the present invention.
`FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a system architecture
`that provides the location query service according to an
`alternate preferred embodiment, in which a device's location
`is periodically recorded in a location database 300.
`FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of a system architecture
`that provides the location query service according to an
`alternate preferred embodiment of the present invention,
`with the mapping converter provisioned in alternate loca
`tions.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`INVENTION
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`The present invention is a location query service for use
`with a wireless network that tracks the locations of network
`users. The location query service provides a requestor with
`the location of a network user. In providing this service, the
`present invention contemplates future enhanced digital cel
`lular networks, in which network users will use digital
`cellular handheld devices to access data from a global
`computer network, and in which digital cellular network
`providers will track the location of each network user.
`Referring to FIG. 1, the primary components of a pre
`ferred embodiment of the present invention include a loca
`tion server 100 and a user wireless network 102. User
`wireless network 102 is in communication with a plurality of
`network devices 104. Location server 100 is in communi
`cation with user wireless network 102 and with a plurality of
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`4
`requestors 106. The plurality of requesters 106 employ any
`suitable means to communicate with location server 100, but
`preferably use at least one of a PC requestor 108, a wireless
`requestor 110, and a wireline requestor 112. For communi
`cation between location server 100 and PC requestor 108,
`the present invention includes a global computer network
`114. For communication between location server 100 and
`wireless requestor 110 (which has IP messaging capabili
`ties), the present invention includes a requestor wireless
`network 116 and global computer network 114 for IP mes
`saging, and requestor wireless network 116 and a PSTN 118
`for voice communication. For communication between loca
`tion server 100 and wireline requestor 112, the present
`invention includes PSTN 118.
`According to a preferred embodiment of the present
`invention, user wireless network 102 is in communication
`with a location system 120 that provides the locations of the
`plurality of network devices 104. Location system 120
`includes one or both of handheld location systems 122 and
`a network-based location system 124. Handheld location
`systems 122 are provisioned in wireless handheld devices
`104. Network-based location systems 124 are part of user
`wireless network 102.
`Location system 120 provides the location information,
`e.g., position coordinates, of a handheld device, which
`indicates where a network user is located. Location system
`120 can be a part of the wireless network or can be contained
`in the handheld devices. In the preferred embodiment of the
`present invention, as shown in FIG. 1, location system 120
`is both a part of the wireless network and is also contained
`in the handheld devices. For example, suitable methods of
`determining location as a part of the wireless network
`include Wireless Access Protocol (WAP) location services,
`Time Difference of Arrival (TDOA) location systems, Angle
`of Arrival (AOA) location systems, and other systems using
`triangulation across cell sites or cell sectors. An example of
`a suitable location system in the handheld devices is a GPS.
`If location system 120 provides location information in
`raw form, a further preferred embodiment of the present
`invention includes a mapping converter 126. An example of
`information in raw form would be GPS coordinates, with
`which the typical telephone user is unfamiliar. As used
`herein, "raw refers to location information in a rudimentary
`form, such that a typical telephone user would find it difficult
`to understand. “Displayable' refers to location information
`easily understood by a typical network user. Although dis
`playable may imply a visual communication, as used herein,
`the term extends to other forms of communication, Such as
`audio-based communication. Mapping converter 126
`includes a cross-referenced database that allows mapping
`converter 126 to translate raw location information into
`displayable location information. For example, the database
`of mapping converter 126 could include an entry associating
`coordinates “R-S (raw information) with the description
`“101 Park Place' (displayable information).
`Although shown as a separate component of the system in
`FIG. 1, mapping converter 126 could be integral to a
`component described above. One of ordinary skill in the art
`would understand that the functions and structure of map
`ping converter 126 could be located in several different
`places, anywhere from location system 120 to the commu
`nication devices of the requestors 106. For example, map
`ping converter 126 could be located within network-based
`location system 124. As another example, mapping con
`verter 126 could also be located within location server 100.
`Regardless of where mapping converter 126 is provisioned,
`
`

`

`US 7,130,630 B1
`
`10
`
`15
`
`5
`the desired end result is to deliver displayable location
`information to the plurality of requestors 106.
`Location server 100 executes the service logic of the
`present invention, including receiving location queries from
`requesters 106, confirming the access levels of requestors
`106, obtaining the location information of wireless network
`devices 104, and returning the location information to
`requesters 106. Although shown as a separate component in
`FIG. 1, one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate that
`location server 100 could be a part of another system
`component, such as user wireless network 102. PSTN 118,
`or global computer network 114.
`In a representative embodiment, location server 100 con
`sists of two components. The first component is a locating
`mechanism (such as location system 120) that determines
`locations of network devices 104 using various technologies
`(e.g., GPS, triangulation, radio signal delay, and cell sector)
`and combinations thereof. The location mechanism can
`reside in a network device (e.g., GPS) or within user
`wireless network 102. The location mechanism produces X-y
`coordinates that are typically transmitted to the second
`component of location server 100, which could be in the
`same box or could be connected via an IP network. The
`second component of location server 100 integrates the
`coordinate information into various mapping systems and
`provides an interface to other applications through various
`protocols, of which IP is the most common.
`In a preferred embodiment of the present invention,
`location server 100 is in communication with a memory
`storage 128. Memory storage 128 is a database or other
`memory storage device that can record relationships
`between device identifications (e.g., MINs) and network
`user identifications. In addition, memory storage contains
`authorized requestor lists for each device identification.
`Although FIG. 1 shows memory storage 128 as a separate
`component of the system accessible to location server 100,
`memory storage 128 could be contained within location
`Server 100.
`Wireless handheld devices 104 operate over user wireless
`network 102. Familiar examples include pagers and cellular
`telephones. As a minimum, wireless handheld devices 104
`provide network users with wireless communication and
`cooperate with user wireless network 102 to provide the
`location of the device. This cooperation may simply involve
`wireless transmissions to user wireless network 102 that
`enable network-based location system 124 to ascertain the
`locations of devices 104. Or, in conjunction with network
`based location system 124, wireless handheld devices 104
`may include handheld location systems 122, such as GPSs
`integral to the devices. To facilitate the alternate preferred
`embodiment in which a network user responds to off-list
`requests, wireless handheld devices 104 include messaging
`capabilities that can communicate a request for access, the
`identification of the unauthorized requestor, and a response
`by the network user. For example, such messaging capabili
`ties can be audio-based, text-based, or graphical. Preferably,
`wireless handheld devices 104 are WAP-compatible thin
`clients having thin browsers adapted to access global com
`puter network 114 and to communicate with location server
`1OO.
`Global computer network 114 provides communication
`between TCP/IP requestor devices and location server 100.
`Preferably, global computer network 114 is the Internet.
`Also, preferably, network 114 provides a user-friendly inter
`face, e.g., a graphical user interface, through which a
`requestor can Submit a location query. With a graphical user
`interface (GUI), the requestor device, such as PC requestor
`
`6
`108, is provisioned with software that cooperates with the
`GUI. Global computer network 114 also preferably supports
`communication with WAP-compatible wireless devices,
`such as wireless requestor 110. With these WAP-compatible
`wireless devices, requestor wireless network 116 pro