United States Patent
`US 7,013,148 Bl
`(10) Patent No.:
`(12)
`Ganesh
`(45) Date of Patent:
`Mar.14, 2006
`
`
`US007013148B1
`
`(54) METHOD FOR PROVIDING A CURRENT
`LOCATION OF A WIRELESS
`COMMUNICATION DEVICE
`
`Inventor: Rajamani Ganesh, Bedford, MA (US)
`(75)
`:
`:
`:
`(73) Assignees: Verizon Corporate Services Group
`une,Newrow a (US) MA(US)
`olutions
`» Cambridge,
`
`Dec. 21, 2001
`
`(22)
`(51)
`
`(56)
`
`5/2002 Kuwaharaetal. ....... 455/456.6
`6,389,288 B1*
`6/2002 Richton we 455/456.3
`6,400,956 B1*
`6,463,272 B1* 10/2002 Wallace et al.
`.......... 455/404,2
`6,553,232 B1*
`4/2003 Shaffer et al. ow. 455/440
`neee Bre S504 eensireeeetecens4easel
`
`6.731.940 B1*
`5/2004 N:
`dran
`.........
`... 455/456.1
`6/2004 Hutchinson esessesnestesses 455/427
`6,745,028 B1*
`6,813,502 B1* 11/2004 Son et al. icc 455/456.3
`
`6,898,432 B1*
`... 455/456.1
`5/2005 Jiang..........
`6/2001 Son etal. we. 455/456
`2001/0004600 A1*
`2003/0060212 Al
`3/2003 Thomas
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`(*) Notice:
`
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35 2004/0058692 Al—-3/2004 Kall etal.
`US.C. 154(b)
`by 506 days.
`
`
`(0) by506days OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`(21) Appl. No.: 10/032,355
`James M. Zagami et al., Providing Universal Location
`.
`Services Using a Wireless E911 Location Network, IEEE
`Filed:
`Communications Magazine, Apr. 1998, pp. 66-71.
`Int. Cl
`US6,731,928, 05/2004, Tanaka (withdrawn)*
`H04Q 7/20
`* cited by examiner
`(2006.01)
`HO4M 11/04
`.
`.
`(2006.01)
`qs
`(52) US. Cle cesccsecsssstesssssense 455/456.1; 455/404.2
`Primary Examiner—William Trost
`58)
`Field of Classification
`S
`h
`455/414.2
`Assistant Examiner—Kiet Doan
`(58)
`Field
`of
`Classification
`Search
`.............
`(414.2,
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Leonard C. Suchtya, Esq.;
`455/404.2, 440, 456.1, 457, 456.3, 456.5,
`Joel Wall, Esq.; Meschkow & Gresham
`455/427, 12.1; 370/25, 142.1, 207.12; 342/452
`,
`°
`See application file for complete search history.
`(57)
`ABSTRACT
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`A method (36) for providing a current location (35) of a
`wireless communication device (24) within a wireless com-
`munication network (20) calls for activating an automatic
`location identification (ALI) process in response to a request
`from an authorized requesting party. An indicator (106) of
`the current
`location (35)
`is provided to the authorized
`requesting party via a map-enabled web page (100).
`
`20 Claims, 6 Drawing Sheets
`
`5,086,394 A *
`2/1992 Shapira .ccccccccsceseseees 705/1
`
`5,572,221 A * 11/1996 Marleviet al... 342/452
`5,666,647 A *
`9/1997 Maine ..ececeeeeee 455/12.1
`5,974,330 A
`10/1999 Negishi
`6,112,074 A *
`8/2000 Pinder oo... 455/404.2
`.......... 455/456.5
`6,317,604 B1* 11/2001 Kovach et al.
`
`6,327,471 BL * 12/2001 Song cecccccccscsscesessseees 455/440
`6,327,533 B1* 12/2001 Chou oc 701/207
`
`26
`
`26
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`HISTORY
`
`DATABASE
`
`20
`
`Google Exhibit 1012
`Google Exhibit 1012
`Google v. Mullen
`Google v. Mullen
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 14,2006
`
`Sheet 1 of 6
`
`US 7,013,148 B1
`
`DATABASE
`
`HISTORY
`
`FIG. 1
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar.14, 2006
`
`Sheet 2 of 6
`
`US 7,013,148 Bl
`
`CURRENT LOCATION
`PROVISION PROCESS
`
`36
`
`7°?|Ca 48
`
`DETECT LOG-IN ATTEMPT
`
`62
`
`PROVIDE LOG-IN WEBPAGE
`
`Y
`
`VALID SYSTEM USER
`
`Y
`
`52
`N
`
`DISPLAY
`ACCESS DENIAL
`ON WEB PAGE
`
`
`
`
`EXAMINE WIRELESS DEVICE
`USER PROFILE FOR
`
`IDENTIFIER OF AUTHORIZED
`
`PARTY
`WEB PAGE
`
`REQUESTING PARTY AN
`AUTHORIZED PARTY
`
`DISPLAY
`DENIAL
`
`Y
`
`
`ACTIVATE LOCATION DETERMINATION PROCESS
`IN POTENTIAL LOCATION AREA T0 OBTAIN
`
`LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE OF CURRENT LOCATION
`
`
`
`TRANSLATE LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE INTO MAP COORDINATE
`
`
`
`PROVIDE CURRENT LOCATION ON MAP WEB PAGE
`
`98
`
`96
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 14,2006
`
`Sheet 3 of 6
`
`US 7,013,148 B1
`
`W
`
`Carrier's Webpage
`
`Person / Phone Call-History / Location
`Determination Login Screen
`Enter your login-ID and password
`Login
`DAD-SMITH ~ 47
`Password:
`SEEKER” 79
`
`[Sai 6c
`
`42
`/
`
`FIG. 3
`
`USER PROFILE FOR DIALING NUMBER:(781) 466-3275
`
`LOGIN: DAD-SMITH ~ 58
`
`L
`
`
`
`
`FIG. 4
`
`
`
`
`2|LOGIN MOM-SMITH ~L sg
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 14,2006
`
`Sheet 4 of 6
`
`US 7,013,148 B1
`
`Carrier's Webpage
`
`Person / Phone Call-History / Location
`Determination Request
`
`68
`
`(aT. 76
`
`Enter phone numbersof cellular
`phones you wish to locate
`(781)466-3275 ~ 72 Ss
`
`( )o-
`
`FIG. 5
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 14,2006
`
`Sheet 5 of 6
`
`US 7,013,148 B1
`
`Carrier's Webpage
`
`Person / Phone Location Determination Result
`
`The phone number (781) 466-9208 that you requested
`could not be located. This could be due to the following
`reasons:
`
`later time?
`
`a) The mobile phone is turned off.
`b) The mobile phone user does not wish to be located
`c} The phone numberis not valid (disconnected or we do
`not provide service to this phone.
`d} your login-ID is not included in the mobile-phone's userprofile
`
`Do you wish to receive the location information at a
`
`FIG. ©
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`Mar. 14,2006
`
`Sheet 6 of 6
`
`US 7,013,148 B1
`
`
`
`Carrier'sWebpage
`
`Person / Phone Location Determination Result
`
`The phone number(781) 466-3275 that you
`requested was located here (marked by an " 5"
`in the map below) at time 10:55:32 AM ==>_sng
`
`Totten Pond Rd
`
`FIG. 7
`
`

`

`US 7,013,148 B1
`
`1
`METHOD FOR PROVIDING A CURRENT
`LOCATION OF A WIRELESS
`COMMUNICATION DEVICE
`
`RELATED INVENTION
`
`The present inventionis related to “Method For Providing
`Location Information Of A Wireless Communication
`Device,” by Rajamani Ganesh, U-S. patent application Ser.
`No. 10/032,202, co-pending herewith.
`
`TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`invention relates to the field of wireless
`The present
`communication networks. More specifically,
`the present
`invention relates to providing the current
`location of a
`wireless communication device in a wireless communica-
`tion network to an authorized requesting party.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`Today’s society is highly mobile. That is, individuals can
`move rapidly from one location to the next by utilizing
`automobiles, masstransit, bicycles, and the like. The advan-
`tages of communication any time and almost anywhere,
`advances in technology, and the affordability of wireless
`communication devices, such as cell phones, pagers, per-
`sonal communications systems (PCS), and personaldigital
`assistants (PDA) have resulted in a proliferation of these
`wireless communication devices in this mobile society.
`Indeed, many more individuals, particularly children, teen-
`agers, and the elderly, recognizing the many advantages in
`being able to initiate and receive calls while away from
`home, are being enrolled in ever-increasing numbers to
`wireless communication services.
`
`To parents and guardians, outfitting their dependents with
`wireless communication devices provides a meansfor their
`dependents to call for help in an emergency and a meansfor
`parents and their dependents to stay in touch. Thus,tele-
`communications provides parents and guardians with tech-
`nologically facilitated control and supervision of their
`dependents.
`Unfortunately, a problem for users of wireless communi-
`cation devices, and particularly for those seeking to find
`them, is the apprehension that occurs when the user of the
`wireless communication device is not available via the
`wireless device,
`i.e., an individual does not answer the
`device whenit rings or when wireless service is not avail-
`able. Mobility, the main advantage offered by a wireless
`communication device,
`is also a disadvantage in these
`situations. For example, the parent or guardian unsuccess-
`fully seeking to locate their dependent via the wireless
`device may not know where their dependent is because by
`using a wireless device, a dependentis not required to be at
`a fixed location to communicate with his or her guardians.
`In 1996, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
`issued a Report and Order requiring all wireless carriers and
`cell phone manufacturers to provide the capability for auto-
`matically identifying to emergency dispatchers the location
`from which a wireless call
`is being made. The FCC’s
`wireless 911 rules seek both to improve the reliability of
`wireless 911 services and to provide enhanced features
`generally available for wireline calls.
`Timing for
`implementing the E-911 requirements is
`divided into two phases. Phase I requires wireless carriers to
`deliver to the emergency dispatcher the telephone numberof
`a wireless handset originating a 911 call, as well as the
`
`10
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`15
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`25
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`30
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`40
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`2
`location ofthe cell site or base station receiving the 911 call,
`which provides a rough indication of the caller’s location.
`This phase was implemented by the end of 1998. PhaseII
`requires carriers to deliver more specific latitude and longi-
`tude location information, known as Automatic Location
`Identification (ALD,to the dispatcher. The Phase II mandate
`establishes deployment schedules and sets accuracy and
`reliability requirements for ALI technologies.
`Various techniques are being developedto locate wireless
`communication devices in response to the FCC E-911 Phase
`II mandate. These technologies encompass both network-
`based and handset-based equipment and processes.
`Network-based technologies generally encompass time
`difference of arrival (TDOA) techniques, which calculate
`the location of a wireless device based on the speed the radio
`frequency signal reaches multiple nearby antennas, and
`angle of arrival (AOA). With AOA,cell sites identify the
`direction from which a signal is coming and then plot the
`direction of the incoming call based on a reading from two
`cell sites. Hand-set based technologies may employ the
`network of Global Positioning Satellites (GPS) or a hybrid
`combination of network-based and GPS to determine a
`current location of a wireless device. The current location,
`ascertained using GPS, is then communicated through the
`wireless communication network to a call center.
`Thecurrent location of a wireless communication device,
`derived from ALI techniques, is provided in response to a
`911 call initiated by a wireless device. Unfortunately, no
`mechanisms are in place for providing the current location
`of a wireless device to the general public when the wireless
`device is initiating anything other than a 911 call or not
`participating in a call of any kind. There may be no mecha-
`nisms in place because of the problems of logistics, 1c.
`making the information readily accessible by authorized
`individuals, and security, i.e. implementing safeguards to
`secure sensitive personal
`information from unauthorized
`individuals. In addition, there may be no mechanisms in
`place because of problems associated with interpretability,
`Le. providing the current location information in a format
`that is readily interpreted by the authorized individual, and
`affordability.
`
`SUMMARYOF THE INVENTION
`
`Accordingly, it is an advantage of the present invention
`that a method is provided for supplying a current location of
`a wireless communication device within a wireless commu-
`nication network.
`It is another advantage of the present invention that a
`method is provided that takes advantage of current and
`upcoming Automatic Location Identification (ALI) tech-
`nologies to determine a current location of the wireless
`device.
`invention is that a
`Another advantage of the present
`method is provided that supplies the current location in a
`format that is readily interpreted by a concerned individual.
`Yet another advantage of the present invention is that a
`method is provided having safeguards in place to prevent
`unauthorized individuals from receiving the current location
`information.
`
`The above and other advantages of the present invention
`are carried out in one form by a method for providing a
`current location of a wireless communication device in a
`wireless communication network. The method calls for
`
`receiving a request for the current location from a requesting
`party and verifying that the requesting party is an authorized
`party. When the requesting party is the authorized party, the
`
`

`

`US 7,013,148 B1
`
`3
`method further calls for activating a location determination
`process to determine the current location of the wireless
`communication device and supplying an indicator of the
`current location to the requesting party.
`The above and other advantages of the present invention
`are carried out in another form by a method for supplying a
`current location of a wireless communication device within
`a wireless communication network. The method calls for
`providing a first web page having a requester log-in section.
`Following detection of a successful log-in attempt at the
`requester log-in section, a second web pageis provided that
`has a device identifier field. Following detection of a device
`identifier of the wireless communication device in the device
`identifier field, a third web pageis provided that has a map
`of a geographical area overlaid with an indicator of the
`current
`location. The current
`location is determined by
`activating a location determination process.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`Amore complete understanding of the present invention
`may be derived by referring to the detailed description and
`claims when considered in connection with the Figures,
`wherein like reference numbers refer
`to similar
`items
`throughout the Figures, and:
`FIG. 1 shows a diagram of a wireless communication
`network employing a numberofcell sites;
`FIG. 2 showsa flow chart of a current location provision
`process in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the
`present invention;
`FIG. 3 shows a diagram of a first web page supplied by
`a service provider of the wireless communication network;
`FIG. 4 showsa table of an exemplary user profile estab-
`lished during initiation of service to a wireless communica-
`tion device in accordance with the present invention;
`FIG. 5 shows a diagram of a second web page provided
`by the service provider following a successful log-in attempt
`through the first web page of FIG. 3;
`FIG. 6 shows a diagram of an access denial web page
`provided by the service provider following an unsuccessful
`attempt to obtain location information of a wireless com-
`munication device; and
`FIG. 7 shows a diagram of a map web page provided by
`the service provider of a geographical area having an indi-
`cator of a current location of a wireless communication
`
`device in response to the execution of the current location
`provision process of FIG. 2.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
`
`FIG. 1 shows a diagram of a wireless communication
`network 20 employing a numberof transceiver sites, also
`knownascell sites 22. Wireless communication network 20
`utilizes radio frequency (RF) cell sites 22 to transmit and
`receive RF signals to wireless communication devices 24, of
`which only one is shown. Generally, these cell sites 22 may
`be spaced from aslittle as one half mile apart in a metro-
`politan area and as great as twenty miles apart in a rural area
`to achieve acceptable results. Consequently, a large metro-
`politan area can include hundredsof individual cell sites 22.
`In addition, many cell sites 22 currently in use in large
`metropolitan areas take advantage of directional antennas
`(not shown) so that the service area of a single one ofcell
`sites 22 is subdivided into a numberof sectored coverage
`areas 26. By using directional antennas, each providing one
`hundred twenty to sixty degrees of directionality, respec-
`
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`15
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`20
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`25
`
`30
`
`40
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`
`50
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`
`60
`
`65
`
`4
`tively, the transmission area of cell sites 22 may be subdi-
`vided into three or six coverage areas 26.
`Wireless communication device 24 may be a cell phone,
`a pager, a personal communications system (PCS), a per-
`sonal digital assistant (PDA), and so forth that engages in
`wireless communication through one of cell sites 22, by
`techniques known to those skilled in theart.
`Per convention, when wireless device 24 participates in a
`wireless phonecall (either incoming or outgoing), a channel
`connection 28 is established between wireless communica-
`tion device 24 and oneofcell sites 22. Upon establishment
`of channel connection 28 through a call center, such as a
`mobile telephone switching office (MTSO) 30, also known
`as a “switch”, the cellular service provider(carrier) collects
`call-history information about the wireless phonecall. The
`call-history information includes, for example,
`the time,
`date, phone numbercalled, duration of the call, and identi-
`fiers for one of cell sites 22 and the sector(i.e. directional
`antenna) in communication with wireless communication
`device 24 and through whichthe call is routed. Thiscall-
`history information, or call record 32, is typically retained
`by the service provider in a comprehensive call history
`database 34 of call records 32 for the subscribers operating
`in wireless communication network 20. Call records 32 are
`
`utilized by the service provider of wireless communication
`network 20 for record keeping purposes, such as billing and
`for providing subscribers with enhanced services such aslast
`numbers dialed, caller ID, and so forth.
`The approximate location, i.e., one of coverage areas 26,
`of wireless communication device 24, henceits user, can be
`ascertained during instances of past calls by accessing
`particular call records 32 to determine identifiers for one of
`cell sites 22 and the sector (ie. directional antenna) in
`communication with device 24 and through whichthe call is
`routed. Ilowever,
`the present invention provides a more
`accurate current location 35, generally represented in net-
`work 20 bya star, of wireless communication device 24, as
`discussed below.
`
`FIG. 2 showsa flow chart of a current location provision
`process 36 in accordance with a preferred embodiment of
`the present invention. Current location provision process 36
`is presented to a subscriber by a service provider of wireless
`communication network 20 (FIG. 1) as an enhancedservice
`for permitting authorized location determination of wireless
`communication device 24 (FIG. 1). In a preferred embodi-
`ment, process 36 is implemented through executable code
`stored on computer-readable storage medium of a server
`system connected to the Internet. The executable code
`instructs the server system to provide various web pages
`maintained by the service provider, or contracted by the
`service provider to a third party, that are accessed via the
`Internet.
`
`As known to those skilled in the art, a web page is a
`document
`created with Hypertext Markup Language
`(HTML)that is part of a group of hypertext documents or
`resources available on the World Wide Web andaccessible
`
`via the Internet. The web page may be read using a software
`program known as a web browser that displays the web
`pages as formatted presentations, with any associated graph-
`ics, sound, and video, on a computer screen. The present
`invention employs web pages and uses the Internet as a
`transport mechanism for providing current location 35 (FIG.
`1) through the execution of process 36. Alternatively, the
`location information may be provided through phone, fax, or
`electronic mail.
`Process 36 begins with a task 38. At task 38, a log-in web
`page is provided.
`
`

`

`US 7,013,148 B1
`
`5
`Referring to FIG. 3 in connection with task 38, FIG. 3
`shows a diagram ofa first web page, or a log-in web page
`40, supplied by a service provider of wireless communica-
`tion network 20 (FIG. 1). Log-in web page 40 is accessed
`when a requesting party enters a Uniform Resource Locator
`(URL)for log-in web page 40. The URLdescribes the type
`of access method being used (for example, http) and the
`server location which hosts the Website of which log-in web
`page 40 is a part of. Log-in web page 40is a fill-in form that
`includes a requester log-in section 42 having a Loginfield 44
`and a Password field 46.
`Following the provision of log-in web page 40, process 36
`proceeds to a query task 48. At query task 48, process 36
`determines whether a log-in attempt is detected. That is,
`query task 48 determinesif requesteridentifiers in the form
`of a requester log-in identifier 47 and a requester password
`49 are entered into Login field 44 and Passwordfield 46,
`respectively, of requester log-in section 42 and submitted
`through activation of a SUBMIT field 50 provided with
`log-in web page 40. SUBMIT field 50 is an imagearea in
`log-in web page 40 on which a user can click to attempt to
`continue the execution of process 36. When query task 48
`fails to detect a log-in attempt, process 36 loops backto task
`38 to continue provision of log-in web page 40 and to await
`a log-in attempt. However, whena log-in attemptis detected
`at query task 48, process 36 proceeds to a query task 52.
`At query task 52, process 36 determines whether the
`log-in attempt detected at query task 48 is being performed
`by a valid system user. Process 36 operates under the
`prerequisite that a service agreement has been established
`whenserviceis initiated for wireless communication device
`24 (FIG. 1), or in response to an upgrade of services
`provided to wireless communication device 24.
`FIG. 4 showsa table of an exemplary user profile 54
`established during initiation of service to wireless commu-
`nication device 24 in accordance with the present invention.
`User profile 54 contains authorized party identifiers 56 of
`individuals whoare valid system users and are authorized to
`receive location information of wireless communication
`device 24 at any time. User profile 54 is generally created
`and maintained at wireless communication device.
`
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`6
`FIG. 5 showsa diagram of a second web page, or a current
`location request web page 66, provided by the service
`provider following a successful log-in attempt through log-
`in web page 40 (FIG. 3). Current location request web page
`66 includes a dialing numberfield 68 provided for the entry
`of a dialing number 72 of wireless communication device
`24. Dialing number72 is the numberdialed whenattempting
`to establish contact with device 24.
`Dialing number 72 is submitted through activation of a
`SUBMIT field 76 provided with location information
`request web page 66. SUBMITfield 76 is an image area in
`current location request web page 66 on which a user can
`click to request current location 35 (FIG. 1) for wireless
`communication device 24 (FIG. 1).
`Referring back to process 36 (FIG. 2), following provid-
`ing task 64, process control proceedsto a task 78. At task 78,
`a location request in the form of dialing number 72 (FIG. 5)
`is received.
`Followingtask 78, a task 80 is performed. At task 80, user
`profile 54 (FIG. 4) for wireless communication device 24
`(FIG. 1) is examined to obtain authorized party identifiers 56
`(FIG. 4).
`A query task 82 is pertormed in cooperation with task 80.
`Query task 82 determines whether a requesting party is an
`authorized party. More specifically, query task 82 compares
`requester log-in identifier 47 (FIG. 3) and requester pass-
`word 49 (FIG. 3) with authorized party identifiers 56 (FIG.
`4) within user profile 54 (FIG. 4). When query task 82 fails
`to match requester log-in identifier 47 and requester pass-
`word 49 with authorized party identifiers 56 of user profile
`54, program control proceedsto a task 84 in which a denial
`web page is presented to the requester.
`Referring to FIG. 6 in connection with task 84, FIG. 6
`shows a diagram of an access denial web page 86 provided
`by the service provider following an unsuccessful attempt to
`obtain current location 35 (FIG. 1) of wireless communica-
`tion device 24 (FIG. 1) at task 82. Access denial web page
`86 maycontain various possible explanations 88 describing
`whyaccess to information location was denied, including
`the “login-ID is not included in the mobile-phone’s user
`profile.” Access denial web page 86 may provide an option,
`in the form of a query 90, to receive current location 35
`(FIG. 1) later, as discussed below. Following the display of
`access denial web page 86 at
`task 84, current
`location
`provision process 36 exits without releasing current location
`35 to an unauthorized requesting party.
`With reference back to query task 82 of process 36 (FIG.
`2), when query task 82 verifies a match between requester
`log-in identifier 47 and requester password 49 with autho-
`rized party identifiers 56 of user profile 54, program control
`proceeds to a task 92. In other words, the requesting party is
`an authorized requesting party. At
`task 92, a potential
`location area of wireless communication device 24 is pre-
`dicted.
`
`In an exemplary embodiment, userprofile 54 includes two
`authorized parties, each identified by distinct authorized
`party identifiers 56 that include a unique log-in identifier 58
`and a unique password 60. Individuals who have authorized
`party identifiers 56 in particular user profiles 54, and have
`subscribed to the current
`location provision service, are
`considered valid system users. Consequently, the authorized
`party identifiers 56 for all valid system users may be
`compiled in a single database (not shown) of valid system
`users. This single database mayalso correlate the appropri-
`ate requester password, such as requester password 49, with
`log-in identifier 58.
`Referring back to FIGS. 2-3, when query task 52 deter-
`The potential location area is a particular one of coverage
`mines that Login field 44 and/or Passwordfield 46 fails to
`areas 26 (FIG. 1) in which wireless communication device
`contain information identifying a valid system user, process
`24 is currently located. For example, device 24 is currently
`36 proceeds to a task 62.
`At task 62, process 36 displays an access denial message located in one of coverage areas 26, orafirst coverage area
`
`26' (FIG. 1). First coverage area 26' can be ascertained when
`either on first web page 40, or alternatively, on a new web
`page (not shown). Following task 62, process 36 exits
`wireless communication device 24 is powered on and has
`registered with network 20 (FIG. 1). Through conventional
`without releasing location information to an invalid system
`user.
`registration processes, when device 24 is powered on or as
`device 24 moves from one coverage area 26 to another
`coverage area 26, device 24 exchanges messaging with
`MTSO 39,ie., the switch, (FIG. 1) via one ofcell sites 22
`to update MTSO 30 ofits location. In this manner, MTSO
`30 is kept informed of the whereabouts of wireless commu-
`
`45
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`50
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`55
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`60
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`65
`
`However, when query task 52 determines that Loginfield
`44 and Passwordfield 46 contain information identifying a
`valid system user, for example, one of authorized party
`identifiers 56, process 36 proceeds to a task 64 where a
`second web page is provided.
`
`

`

`US 7,013,148 B1
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`7
`nication device 24 so that calls may be directed to the
`appropriate one of cell sites 22.
`In an alternative embodiment, the potential location area
`of wireless communication device 24 may be ascertained by
`accessing comprehensive call history database 34 (FIG. 1)
`and selecting a latest one of call records 32 in date and time
`of day that
`is associated with device 24. As discussed
`previously, each of call records 32 includes, for example, the
`time, date, and identifiers for one of cell sites 22 and the
`sector (i.e. directional antenna) in communication with
`wireless communication device 24 and through which the
`call is routed. The one of cell sites 22 and the particular
`sectoridentifies the particular one of coverage areas 26, 1.e.
`first coverage area 26’. Thus, the potential location area is
`predicted to be the one of coverage areas 26 (FIG. 1) in
`which device 24 waslast used as found in call records 32.
`
`Such an approach may beuseful for predicting the potential
`location area of wireless communication device 24 when
`
`device 24 is not currently registered.
`Following task 92, a task 94 it performed. At task 94, a
`location determination processis activated in first coverage
`area 26'
`to determine current location 35 (FIG. 1). The
`location determination process yields, for example, a lati-
`tude and a longitude of current location 35. In a preferred
`embodiment, a location determination process can be any of
`the various Automatic Location Identification (ALD) tech-
`nologies developed in response to the Federal Communica-
`tions Commission’s Phase II mandate for enhanced-911
`(E-911).
`Thus, the location determination process may be a net-
`work-based solution that measures certain signal character-
`istics such as timeof arrival or angleofarrival of the desired
`transmitted signal as received at several receiver stations
`from which a location is estimated. Alternatively the loca-
`tion determination process may be a handset-based solution
`or a hybrid solution, which may employ a Global Position-
`ing System (GPS) built into device 24 that reports current
`location 35 (FIG. 1) to network 20 (FIG. 1) for relay to a
`Public Safety Answering Point.
`As per the E-911 Phase II mandate, the FCC requires all
`network-based ALI service providers to provide the current
`location of a wireless communication device seeking emer-
`gency services, with an accuracy of one hundred meters
`sixty-seven percentof the time and with an accuracyofthree
`hundred meters ninety-five percent of the time. For all
`handset-based ALI service providers, the FCC requires the
`current location to be provided with an accuracy offifty
`meters sixty-seven percent of the time and one hundredfifty
`meters ninety five percent of the time.
`Regardless of the particular technology utilized by the
`service provider of network 20, task 94 activates the location
`determination process to obtain the latitude and longitude, or
`equivalent location coordinates, of current location 35 (FIG.
`1) without the need for the user of wireless communication
`device 24 to dial 911. Rather, the location determination
`process is activated by the service provider in any given
`area, and current location 35 of device 24 is determined if
`device 24 is powered on, current location 35 being within
`the accuracy requirements set forth in the Phase II mandate.
`If, however, wireless communication device 24 is not on, or
`not located, first coverage area 26' (FIG. 1) determined by
`accessing a latest one of call records 32 in database 34 may
`be utilized to provide approximate location information.
`Atask 96 is performed in cooperation with task 94. At task
`96, the latitude and longitude of current location 35 obtained
`
`10
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`15
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`20
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`25
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`30
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`40
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`50
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`55
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`60
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`8
`at task 94 is translated, as needed, to an indicator such as a
`map coordinate that indicates or represents current location
`35.
`
`Next a task 98 provides the indicator, or map coordinate,
`of current location 35 on a map web page.
`Referring to FIG. 7 in connection with task 98, FIG. 7
`showsa diagram of a third web page, or a map web page
`100, supplied by the service provider of a map 102 of a
`geographical area 104 having an indicator 106 of current
`location 35, in the form of a star, for wireless communication
`device 24 (FIG. 1) in response to the execution of current
`location provision process 36 (FIG. 2). In particular, indi-
`cator 106 obtained at task 96 is positioned in geographical
`area 104 of map 102 as indicator 106. As discussed in detail
`above, current location 35 may have an accuracy of within
`three hundred meters.
`In addition, map web page 100 includes a time 108 (i.e.
`10:55:32 AM) at which wireless device 24 was determined
`to be at current location 35. Although not shown in map web
`page 100, additional
`location information that may be
`included could be date, location of the one of cell sites 26
`(FIG. 1) through which wireless device 24 communicatesat
`time 108, and/or an overlay of first coverage area 26' at time
`108.
`
`In an exemplary implementation, map 102 is presented
`using a mapping program, such as MapQuest, supplied by
`MapQuest.com, Inc., Navigation Technologies. MapQuest
`provides a range of mapping and routing solutions which
`allows users to map-enable their Web sites, such as map web
`page 100. In addition, MapQuest provides map manipula-
`tion capabilities such as pan, zoom in/out, and so forth.
`As shown in map web page 100, a requester can readily
`determine current location 35, represented by indicator 106,
`of wireless communication device 24 (FIG. 1) from map
`102.
`
`Following task 98, current location provision process 36
`may optionally loop back to task 92, as denoted by a dashed
`line, to provide indicator 106 of current location 35 at a later
`time. Such a scenario may occur when access denial web
`page 86 (FIG. 6) or some other equivalent information is
`provided stating possible explanations as to why current
`location cannotbe provided, for example, “the mobile phone
`is turned off.” Query 90 (FIG. 6) provides an option for
`receiving indicator 106 of current location 35 at a later time
`if, for example, wireless communication device 24,is cur-
`rently not located. In another scenario, the optional loop
`back to task 92 enables the periodic repetition of activating
`task 94 and providing task 98 to track movementof wireless
`communication device