(12) United States Patent
`US 7,177,651 B1
`(0) Patent No.:
`Almassy
`Feb. 13, 2007
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US007177651B1
`
`(4)
`
`(75)
`
`(73)
`
`SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR THE
`EXCHANGE OF LOCATION INFORMATION
`IN A TELEPHONE NETWORK
`
`Inventor: Nikolaus P. W. Almassy, San Diego,
`CA (US)
`
`Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated,
`Dallas, TX (US)
`
`(*)
`
`Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`USS.C. 154(b) by 1048 days.
`
`(21)
`
`Appl. No.: 09/668,502
`
`(22)
`
`(51)
`
`(52)
`
`(58)
`
`(56)
`
`Sep. 22, 2000
`
`Filed:
`Int. Cl.
`(2006.01)
`H04Q 7/20
`US. Ch oe 455/456; 455/68; 455/457;
`455/461; 455/435, 343/760; 340/994; 701/208
`
`.. 455/68,
`Field of Classification Search.
`............
`455/457, 461, 435, 446, 566, 456; 343/760,
`340/994, 995, 991, 988, 905; 701/208, 213
`See application file for complete searchhistory.
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5,389,934 A
`5,519,403 A *
`5,548,822 A *
`5,625,668 A
`5,917,434 A *®
`5,918,180 A
`5,952,959 A
`6,087,965 A *
`6,091,957 A
`6,246,376 Bl
`
`
`
`2/1995 Kass oe 342/357.07
`5/1996 Bickley et al... 342/352
`8/1996 Yogo occ eens 455/68
`4/1997 Loomis etal.
`485/456.5
`6/1999 Murphy .......
`eee 340/991
`
`6/1999 Dimino 0... 455/456.3
`D/1999 NoMsis woe 342/357.08
`
`7/2000 Munphy«0.0.0.0... 340/991
`7/2000 Larkinset al. 0... 455/456.2
`6/2001 Bork ct al.
`
`6,317,605 B1* 11/2001 Sakuma...... 455/457
`6,360,102 B1*
`3/2002 Havinis et al... 455/457
`6,466,788 B1* 10/2002 Carlsson... cece 455/435
`6,515,595 B1*
`2/2003 Obradovich etal. ........ 340/905
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`GB
`WO
`
`2 322 248
`WO 01/63315
`
`8/1998
`/2001
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Primary Examiner—Jean Gelin
`Assistant Examiner—Pierre-Louis Desir
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm Ronald O. Neerings; Wade
`James Brady, II; Frederick J. Telecky, Jr.
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`A wireless communications system is presented where a
`mobile station is able to automatically determine its prox-
`imity to a second mobilestation or landline telephone. Once
`the proximity determination command has been given, no
`further actions are required bythe users of either telephone.
`AGPSreceiver connected to the first mobile station is able
`to provide that mobile with its position and direction. The
`first mobile station makes a request to the other telephone for
`ils position, through SMS messaging [or example. A GPS
`receiver connected to the second mobile station is able to
`provide the second mobile station with data to enable the
`position request. Trust determinations can be enabled so that
`position data is sent to a restricted list of requesting tele-
`phone numbers. Likewise, the second mobile station can
`request position data from the first mobile station. When
`position information is requested from a landline telephone,
`the request can be fulfilled bythe landline telephone service
`provider. A method for automatically exchanging posilion
`information is also provided.
`
`34 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets
`
`STATION|30
`
`FIRST|MEMORY
`SECOND {MEMORY
`
`STATION|34
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb. 13, 2007
`
`Sheet 1 of 3
`
`US 7,177,651 B1
`
`MOBILEI54 24
`
`SECOND MEMORY
`MEMORY
`MORNE
`
`
`STATION|20
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`STATION GPS
` POSITION
`
`
`SERVICE PROVIDER
`
`
`
`MOBILE
`
`
`RECEIVER
`
`20
`
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb. 13, 2007
`
`Sheet 2 of 3
`
`US 7,177,651 B1
`
`200~
`
`START
`
`202
`
`DETERMINING FIRST MOBILE
`STATION POSITION
`
`2024
`
`DETERMINING FIRST MOBILE STATION
`POSITION IN COORDINATE SYSTEM
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`SENDING REQUEST TO
`SECOND MOBILE STATION
`
`ESTABLISHING SHORT MESSAGE
`SERVICE (SMS)
`IDENTITY
`
`DETERMINING TRUST LEVEL
`IN FIRST MOBILE STATION
`
`GENERATING
`AUTHORIZATION REQUEST
`
`RECEIVING DATA FROM GPS
`AT SECOND MOBILE STATION
`
`SENDING POSITION OF
`SECOND MOBILE STATION
`
`RECEIVING TELEPHONE POSITION
`
`CALCULATING DISTANCE
`TO TELEPHONE
`
`CALCULATING DIRECTION
`TO TELEPHONE
`
`TRACKING CHANGE IN
`DISTANCE AND DIRECTION
`
`DETERMINING LEVEL OF
`TRUST IN TELEPHONE
`
`SENDING POSITION OF FIRST
`MOBILE STATION TO TELEPHONE
`
`FIG. 8
`
`202b
`
`202¢
`
`203
`
`203b
`
`203¢
`
`203d
`
`204
`
`206
`
`208
`
`2084
`
`209
`
`210
`
`
`
`
`
` DETERMINING POSITION OF
`
`FIRST MOBILE STATION
`
`|_-202
`
`SENDING REQUEST OF
`POSITION TO SECOND
`
`MOBILE STATION
`
` MAINTAINING RECORD OF
`TRUST RELATIONSHIPS
`
`
`
`
`
` 208
`
`DETERMINING TRUST LEVEL
`
`SENDING SECOND MOBILE
`STATION POSITION
`
`RECEIVING
`TELEPHONE POSITION
`
`CALCULATING DISTANCE
`TO TELEPHONE
`
`206
`
`CALCULATING DIRECTION
`TO TELEPHONE
`
`FIG. 5
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`U.S. Patent
`
`Feb. 13, 2007
`
`Sheet 3 of 3
`
`US 7,177,651 B1
`
`FIG. 4
`
`200
`
`202
`
`203h
`
`DETERMINING POSITION OF
`FIRST MOBILE STATION
`
`MAINTAINING RECORD OF
`TRUST RELATIONSHIPS
`
`2030~J
`
` QETERMINING LEVEL OF TRUST
`
`2033
`
`203)~
`
`4
`203¢
`
`205
`
`20359
`
`ESTABLISHING EMERGENCY
`ACCESS CODE
`
`PERMITTING FIRST MOBILE
`STATION TO RECEIVE POSITION
`OF SECOND MOBILE TELEPHONE
`
`SENDING POSITION OF
`SECOND MOBILE STATION
`TO WIRELESS SYSTEM
`
`COLLECTING AND
`STORING POSITION OF
`SECOND MOBILE STATION
`
`SENDING SECOND POSITION
`OF SECOND MOBILE STATION
`BY WIRELESS SYSTEM TO
`
`FIRST MOBILE STATION
`
`204
`
`RECEIVING TELEPHONE POSITION
`
`206
`
`208
`
`CALCULATING DISTANCE
`TO TELEPHONE
`
`CALCULATING DIRECTION
`TO TELEPHONE
`
`DETERMINING POSITION OF
`FIRST MOBILE STATION
`
`DETERMINING ALIGNMENT
`IN COORDINATE SYSTEM
`
`REQUESTING POSITION
`OF TELEPHONE
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`206
`
`
`
`CREATING POSITION
`RECORD OF TELEPHONE
`
`
`SENDING SECOND MOBILE
`STATION POSITION
`
`RECEIVING POSITION
`OF TELEPHONE
`
`CALCULATING DISTANCE
`TO TELEPHONE
`
`CALCULATING DIRECTION
`TO TELEPHONE
`
`208
`
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`US 7,177,651 BI
`
`1
`SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR THE
`EXCHANGE OF LOCATION INFORMATION
`IN A TELEPHONE NETWORK
`
`
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`2
`associated GPS receiver; the first mobile station receiving
`the position of a telephone: and, the first mobile station
`calculating the distance to the telephone. Whenthe tele-
`phoneis a second mobilestation, it position is determined
`with the use of an associated GPS recciver. When the
`telephoneis a landline telephone,its position can be stored
`in memory with either the telephoneitself, with the service
`provider, or in the memory ofthe first mobile station. In
`some aspects of the invention,
`the first mobile station
`determines its alignment in a coordinate system, so that the
`direction to the telephone can also be calculated.
`The method further comprises: the telephone determining
`a trust level that it has in the first mobile station. Then, the
`first mobile station receives the position of the telephone in
`response to the level of trust determined. at the telephone.
`Alternately,
`the trust level determination is made by the
`service provider when the telephoneis a landline telephone,
`or a wireless communications system when the telephone is
`a second mobile station. In some aspects of the invention, a
`manual step is inserted in the process. A request is made to
`the telephone user to authorize the transmission of position
`information to the first mobile station.
`
`the method further
`In some aspects of the invention,
`comprises: establishing a shorl message service (SMS)
`identity corresponding to an SMS message to transmit and
`receive position requests and the transfer of position data.
`Alternately,
`the position information can be received
`through a general message, or even a traffic channel audio
`message.
`the method further
`In some aspects of the invention,
`comprises: the first mobile station sending its positionto the
`telephone. As with the sending of the telephone position
`information, a level of trust determination can condition the
`first mobile station response.
`In a wireless communications system, a mobile station
`apparatus capable of determining its distance from another
`telephone is also provided. The system comprises a first
`mobile station having an input for receiving data to deter-
`mine its own position and an port to request the position of
`a telephone. A telephone automatically sends its position to
`the first mobile station in response to the request. The first
`mobile station determines the distance to the telephone in
`response to receiving the telephone position. Details of the
`system are similar to those summarized above for the
`present invention method.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
`
`VIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a wireless com-
`munications system that permits a mobile station to deter-
`mine its distance from another telephone.
`FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a wireless com-
`munications system that permits a mobile station to deter-
`mine its distance from a landline telephone.
`FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for a mobile
`station in a wireless communications system to determine
`proximity to a telephone.
`FIG.4 illustrates the method of FIG. 3, where aspects of
`the position transmission and trust determination functions
`are accomplished at the communications system level.
`FIG.5 is the flowchart of FIG. 3, specifically describing
`the performance of the position transmission and trust
`analysis functions being performed in the second mobile
`station.
`
`FIG. 6 is a flowchart related to FIG. 3, specifically
`illustrating the landline telephone aspect ofthe invention.
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`1. Field of the Invention
`This invention relates generally to the field of wireless
`communications and, more particularly,
`to a system and
`method for wireless communications system mobile station
`to determine distance and direction with respect to another
`telephone.
`2. Description of the Related Art
`In most Global Positioning System (GPS) devices, posi-
`tion can be determined with little user involvement. Like-
`wise, from a change in posilion (al least two locations),
`absolute direction can be determined. Mobile stations, or
`mobile telephones have been adapted to interface with a
`GPS module, such that the distance and direction to targets
`with known coordinates can be calculated. Alternately, an
`interfacing GPS receiver allows the mobilestation to report
`its position to anotherentity, so that the entity can determine
`its distance and direction from that mobile station.
`In somesituations it would be desirable to determine the
`position of a second phoneasa target location for the mobile 2
`station.
`It would be possible to create software and a
`calculating device that would permit the mobile station to
`enter a second phone’s location asa target location, and then
`track its location with respect to the target location. How-
`ever,
`the second telephone position data it can only be
`processed through user intervention. ‘hat is, the user of the
`second “target” telephone must call the mobile station (or
`the mobile station must call the second telephone) to com-
`municate its location to the requesting mobile station. Then,
`the mobile station must enter this location into a calculating
`device that can calculate distance and relative direction to
`the target location. A small (handheld) display could be
`connected to the calculating device to indicate the results.
`Altemately, a mobile station could be equipped with sufli-
`cient processing power, memory, and display to calculate
`and present the distance calculations.
`Tt would be advantageousif a system could be devised to
`automatically permit a mobile station to track its position
`with respect to a second telephone.
`It would be advantageous if a mobile station could
`automatically track its position with respect to a second
`telephone without a voice connection in a traffic channel to
`communicate the position information.
`It would be advantageous if a mobile station could
`calculate its proximity to a landline telephone with a fixed 5
`location, so as locate stores, restaurants, commercial estab-
`lishments, and residences.
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`According, a method is provided which permits tele-
`phones with position determination and caller identification
`capabilities to exchange location information. The mobile
`station initiating the exchange uses the information to cal-
`culate distance and, if an absolute direction has been estab-
`lished, the relative direction to the other telephone. This
`invention allows mobile, fixed wireless (wireless local loop),
`and landline phones to exchange location information with-
`out immediate user involvement, while guaranteeing the
`privacy of both parties.
`Specifically, the method comprises: a first mobile station
`determining its position, typically through the use of an
`
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`3
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`
`US 7,177,651 BI
`
`°
`
`a wa
`
`FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram of a wireless com-
`munications system that permits a mobile station to deter-
`mine its distance from another telephone. The system 10
`comprises at least a first mobile station 12 having an input
`on line 14 for receiving data to determine its own position.
`A port on line 16, connected to antenna 18, is used to request
`the position ofa telephone. A first global positioning satellite
`(GPS) receiver 20 is connected to the first mobile station to
`supply the first mobile station position. Alternately, a base
`station communicating with the first mobile station 12
`supplies position data. In some aspects of the invention, the
`position of mobile station 12 is determined by the well-
`known time of arrival (TOA) method by timing the com-
`munications between the mobile station and several base
`stations. Also, a position determination entity (PDB), the use
`of sectorized antennas, and TOA can be used, or combined
`to calculate position. The invention is enabled regardless of
`howthe first mobilestation 12 receivesits position data. For
`simplicity, it will be assumed in the discussion below that
`the first mobile station 12 is receiving, GPS position data.
`The telephone can either be a second mobile station or a
`landline telephone. FIG. 1 will be used to represent
`the -
`telephone as a second mobile station 22, while the landline
`aspect of the telephoneis presented in FIG. 2, and discussed
`below. Regardless of the telephone configuration, the tele-
`phonehasa position, which is automatically sent to thefirst
`mobile station 12 in response to the request for position. The
`first mobile station 12 determines the distance to the tele-
`phone in response to receiving the telephone position. The
`second GPSreceiver 24 is connected to the second mobile
`station 22 on line 26 to supply the second mobile station
`position. As is well known, the communications betweenthe
`first mobile station 12 and the second mobile station 22 is
`enabled through base stations 28 and 30, as well as a mobile
`switching center 32. Once again, the second mobile station
`22 can receive its position data from a communicating base
`station or a position determination entity. he invention is
`enabled regardless of how the second mobile station 22
`obtains its position.
`A first mobile station user interface (not shown), such as
`a keyboard, voice recognition module, or similar software
`module, initiates the determination of the distance to the
`requested “target” telephone, which can be selected by its
`phone numberora similar identifier. A second mobile station
`software application stored in memory, and an associated
`microprocessor (not shown), act to combine a directory of
`authorized users with GPS data to determine if its present,
`or last knownlocation for transmission to the first mobile
`station 12.
`
`yw2
`~
`
`4
`telephone can be computed and displayed as well. If the GPS
`receiver is able to supply multiple positions, a direction of
`movement as well as position is know. Alternately, the user
`can manually enter direction information, use an interfacing
`compass, or the mobile station can be enabled to assume that
`the mobile station antenna 18 is pointing North (for
`example), when the mobile station is unable to determine
`direction from the GPS data.
`
`Typically, the second mobile station 22 does not sendits
`position to the first mobile station unless the first mobile
`station is knownor trusted. In one aspect of the invention,
`the second mobile station 22 includes a memory 34 includ-
`ing a record oftrust relationships, where a party, the first
`mobile station 12 for example, is recognized by a caller ID
`function that is incorporated into the telephone. The second
`mobile station 22 sends it position in response to accessing
`the memory 34 to determine the level of trust with thefirst
`mobile station. Thus, the position information is sent by the
`second mobile station 22 automatically, if the first mobile
`station is trusted. As an added security feature a request can
`be addressed to the user, to authorize the sending ofposition
`data for certain numbers, or a certain class of numbers. As
`pass phrase or code can be used for the authorization. A
`software application enables the second mobile station 22
`user to access the trust record in memory 34 to edit, add, or
`delete numbers in the record.
`
`the position
`In an alternate aspect of the invention,
`transfer and trust determination functions are preformed at
`the systemslevel. A position control module 40 collects and
`stores the position of the second mobile unit and automati-
`cally sends the position of the second mobile station 22 to
`the first mobile station 12 in response to requests from the
`first mobile station 12. For simplicity, the position control
`module is shown connected to the MSC 32 on line 42,
`however, there are many other meansofinterfacing such a
`module to a wireless communications system.
`A trust relationship storage module 44 is connected to the
`position control module 40 on line 46. Thetrust relationship
`storage module 44 is accessed by the position control
`module 40 to determine the level of trust that the second
`mobile station has in the first mobile station, before the
`second mobile station position is sent. This aspect of the
`invention would require the second mobile station user to
`access or submit a list of trusted telephone numbersto the
`entity maintaining the modules 40 and 44.
`As above, a manual step can be added-so that the second
`mobile station 22 must authorize the sending of position
`data. The position contro] module 40 sends an authorization
`request to the second mobile station 22, before the second
`mobile station position information is sent to the first mobile
`station. If the second mobile station 22 authorizes the
`request, the position control module transmits the position
`data.
`
`Whenthefirst mobile station knowsils own position, and
`the location informationofthe target telephoneis received,
`a simple algorithm can approximate the distance between
`the two phones:
`
`Daylm—mP tin —yP
`
`where short distances and a flat surface is assumed.
`Sunilar algorithms can incorporate the earth’s curvature and
`the absolute heights of the positions.
`Ifthe first mobile station 12 has previouslyestablished an
`absolute direction (e.g., North), the relative direction to the
`
`In a preferred aspect of the invention, the first mobile
`station receives a short message service (SMS) message. To
`optimally enable this feature a special SMSidentity must be
`established to notify the communicating parties that that
`transmitted data represents position data is included in the
`SMS message. Alternately, a convention SMS message
`could be used with overhead expended to identify and
`organize the position data. As another alternate,
`the first
`mobile station 12 receives a general message, or any data
`network subscriber protocol such as WAP or HTTP,
`to
`convey the position of the telephone. Further,
`the first
`mobile station could receive an audio voice signal lo convey
`the position ofthe telephone.
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`US 7,177,651 BI
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`a 5
`
`2
`
`5
`In another aspect of the invention,the first mobile station
`12 sendsits position to the second mobile station 22, upon
`a request from the second mobile station 22. Uponreceiving
`the position data, the second mobile station 22 calculates to
`distanceto thefirst mobile station 12. In some aspects of the
`invention, the first mobile station 12 includes a memory 50
`of trust relationships, similar to the second mobile station
`memory 34 explained above. The first mobile station 12
`sendsits position in response to accessing the memory 50 to
`determine the second mobile station level of trust. Alter-
`nately, the position data and trust relationships are stored,
`and the position data sent to the second mobile station 22
`through the use ofthe position control module 40 and trust
`relationship storage module 44, as described above.
`FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of a wireless com-
`munications system that permits a mobile station to deter-
`mine its distance from a landline telephone 100. Thefirst
`mobile station communicates with the landline telephone
`100 through a local exchangecarrier, or service provider 102
`which is connected to the MSC 32. A position control
`module 104 is connected online 106 to collect and store the
`position of the landline telephone 100. As with the second
`mobile station explained above, the position data is auto-
`matically sent to the first mobile station 12 in response to
`requests from the first mobile station.
`A trust relationship storage module 108 is connected to
`the position control module 104 and accessed by the position
`control module 104 to determine the level of trust that the
`landline telephone 100 has in the first mobile station 12,
`before its position is sent. As above, a manual authorization
`step can be inserted in the process so that the landline
`telephone 100 must authorize a request from the service
`provider 102 before the position is sent to the first mobile
`station 12.
`the position
`In one preferred aspect of the invention,
`contro! module 104 is accessed. through dialing a dedicated
`telephone number provided by the service provider 102.
`Then,thefirst mobile station 12 (or any other telephone) can
`request the position of the landline telephone 100 directly
`from the service provider 102 bydialing the dedicated
`telephone numberto access the position control module 104.
`FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for a mobile
`station in a wireless communications system to determine
`proximity to a telephone. Additional aspectsof the invention
`described. above in the explanation of FIGS. 1 and 2 can be
`more fully appreciated in the description of the present
`invention methodology. As understood bythose skilled in
`the arl, the methodology can be enabled through the use of
`software applications and associated microprocessors and
`i2
`memory in the communicating entities. Although the 5
`method is described by a series of sequential steps for
`clarity, no order should be inferred from the process unless
`explicitly stated.
`The method begins at Step 200. In Step 202 a first mobile
`station determining its position. In Step 204 thefirst mobile 5
`station receives the position of a telephone. Then, in Step
`206 the first mobile station calculates the distance to the
`telephone. In a further step, Step 202a,
`the first mobile
`station determinesits alignment in a coordinate system. That
`is, the mobile station determines direction from at least two
`GPSposition updates, a manual compass reading, a manual
`user input, an assumed direction (i.e., the antenna always
`points North), or using base station supplied information.
`Then, Step 208 calculates the direction to the telephone.
`In someaspects of the invention a further step is included.
`In Step 203a the telephone determinesa trust level that it has
`in thefirst mobile station. Then, receiving the position ofthe
`
`30
`
`35
`
`45
`
`6
`telephone in Step 204 includes receiving the position in
`response to the level of trust determined by the telephone.
`Optionally,
`in Step 2035 the telephone generates a
`request, addressed to the telephone user, to authorize the
`sending of the telephone position. Then, recciving the posi-
`tion of the telephone in Step 204 includes receiving the
`posilion in response to the request being authorized.
`Asexplained in the description of FIGS. 1 and2, thefirst
`mobile station is connected to a global positioning satellite
`(GPS)receiver, so that determining the position ofthefirst
`mobile station in Step 202 includes the first mobile station
`receiving data from the GPS receiver. As mentioned above,
`the method is not dependent on any particular means of
`determining location, but the GPS means will be assumed
`for simplicity.
`In some aspects of the invention, the telephoneis a second
`mobile station, connected to a GPS receiver, and the method
`comprises a further step. In Step 203c the second mobile
`station receives data from the connected GPSreceiver. In
`Step 203d the second mobile station sends its position in
`response to the data received from the connected GPS
`receiver.
`In Step 2026thefirst mobile station sends a request for the
`position of the second mobile station. Then,
`the second
`mobile station sending its position in Step 203c includes the
`second mobilestation sending its position in response to the
`first mobile station position request. In some aspects, the
`second mobile station sending its position in Step 203c
`includes the second mobile station automatically sending its
`position in response to the request.
`FIG. 4 illustrates the method of FIG. 3, where aspects of
`the position transmission and trust determination functions
`are accomplished at the communications system level. In
`some aspects of the invention, the second mobile station
`sendsits position to the wireless communications system in
`Step 203e. In Step 203/the wireless communications system
`collects and stores the position of the second mobilestation.
`Then,
`the first mobile station sending a request for the
`position of the second mobile station in Step 2024 includes
`sending the position request to the wireless communications
`system. In Step 203g the wireless communications system
`sends the second mobile station position to the first mobile
`station in response to the position request.
`In someaspectsof the invention, a further step, Step 203%
`maintains a record of trust relationships with the wireless
`communication system. Then, determining the level of trust
`that the second mobile station has in the first mobile station
`in Step 203a includes the wireless communicalions system
`determining the trust
`level
`in response to accessing the
`record oftrust relationships.
`In some aspects of the invention a step, Step 2037 estab-
`lishes an emergency access code to the record of trust
`relationships. Step 203/ permits the first mobile station to
`receive the position of the second mobile telephone in
`response to presenting the emergency access code to the
`wireless system.
`FIG. 5 is the flowchart of FIG. 3, specifically describing
`the performance of the position transmission and trust
`analysis functions being performed in the second mobile
`station. Then, Step 2025 includes the first mobile station
`sending its request for the position of the second mobile
`station to the second mobilestation. In Step 203d the second
`mobile station sends the second mobile station position to
`the first mobile station in response to the request.
`In some aspects ofthe invention the second mobile station
`includes a memory. Then, Step 203k maintains a record of
`trust relationships in the memory of the second mobile
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`station. The determining ofthe level oftrust that the second
`mobile station has in the first mobile station in Step 203a
`includes the second mobile station determining, the trust
`level in response to accessing the record oftrust relation-
`ships.
`Returning the FIG. 3, in some aspects of the invention, a
`further step, Step 202c¢ establishes a short message service
`(SMS)identity corresponding to an SMS message for the
`transmission and reception of position requests and the
`transfer of position data. Then, receiving the position of the
`telephone in Step 204 includes receiving the position by
`SMSmessaging. Alternately, recerving the position of the
`telephone in Step 204 includes receiving the position by a
`gencral message, by a traffic channel audio signal, or any
`subscriber protocol that can be applied to a data network,
`such as WAP and HTTP.
`In someaspects ofthe invention, the first mobile station
`sends its position to the telephone in Step 210. Step 209
`determinesthe level oftrust that the first mobile station has
`in the telephone. Then,
`the first mobile station sends its
`position to the telephone in Step 210 in response to the
`determined level of trust.
`FIG. 6 is a flowchart related to FIG. 3, specifically
`illustrating the landline telephone aspect of the invention.
`Thatis, the telephoneis a landline telephone associated with :
`a service provider. Step 2031 creates a position record ofthe
`telephone with the service provider. Then, the first mobile
`station receiving of the position of the telephone in Step 204
`includes the first mobile station receiving the position of the
`telephone from the service provider.
`In one aspect of the invention, Step 2026 includesthefirst
`mobile station requesting the position of the telephone, from
`the telephone. Then, in Step 203 the telephone requests that
`the service provider send its position to the first mobile
`station.
`Alternately, In Step 2024 the service provider creates a
`dedicated numberto request position information. Then, the
`first mobile receiving ofthe position ofthe telephonein Step
`204 includes the first mobile station dialing the dedicated
`numberto receive the telephone position.
`In some aspects of the invention the telephone is a
`landline telephone associated with a service provider and the
`first mobile phone has a memory. Then, Step 2031 creates a
`position record of the telephone in the first mobile station
`memory, and the first mobile station receiving of the position
`of the phone in Step 204 includes the first mobile station
`accessing its memory to receive the position of the tele-
`phone.
`in some aspects of the invention
`Returning to FIG. 3,
`Steps 202 and 204 are repeated a plurality of times. Thatis,
`the first mobile station receives a plurality of telephone
`position over a period of time, as represented by the flow
`path connecting Step 204 to Step 202. Then,in Step 208a the
`first mobile station tracks the change in distance and direc-
`tion to the telephone overthe period of time.
`In Step 210, following the receiving the telephone posi-
`tion in Step 204, the position of the telephone, or the relative
`position betweenthe first mobile station and the telephone,
`is communicated to the user with a presentation selected
`from the group including audio voice signals and graphic
`displays.
`Specific examples of a system and method for automati-
`cally providing position data to communicating telephones
`has been provided. Although not specifically detailed, the
`present invention would also be applicable to telephones
`with known locations in fixed wireless network. Also, the
`emergency code trust override feature could be enabled in
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`communications with the second mobile station. Likewise, a
`trust override feature could be enabled with the first mobile
`station, or in accessing the position of a landline telephone.
`Also, a landline telephone could be enabled by a service
`provider to inquire into and present the position of a mobile
`station. Other variations and embodiments of the invention
`will occur to those skilled in the art.
`I claim:
`1. In a wireless communications system, a method for a
`mobile station to determine proximity to a telephone, the
`method comprising:
`a first mobile station determining its position;
`the first mobile station requesting the position ofa tele-
`phone;
`the telephone accessing a record of trust relationships
`regarding the communications system to determine a
`trust level for the first mobile station;
`the first mobile station receiving the position of the
`telephone if the first mobile station meets a selected
`level of trust; and
`the first mobile station calculating the distance to the
`telephone.
`2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
`the first mobile station determining its alignment in a
`coordinate system; and
`calculating the direction to the telephone.
`3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
`generating a request,
`to authorize the sending of the
`telephone position; and
`wherein receiving the position of the telephone includes
`receiving the position in response to the request being
`authorized.
`4. The method ofclaim 1 in whichthefirst mobile station
`is connected to a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver;
`and
`wherein determining the position of the first mobile
`station includes the first mobile station receiving data
`from the GPS receiver.
`5. The method ofclaim 4 in which the telephone is a
`second mobile station, connected. to a GPS