Abstract: A method and system is disclosed for locating a mobile radio terminal in a radio communications network. The method makes use of additional positional constraints provided as a result of unreported cells. In one form of the invention, a likely reason for a particular cell not being reported is determined and an associated probability term is determined for use in a position location model. The invention also relates to a system for implementing the method.

Abstract: A method for obtaining a local path loss versus range model in a radio communications network is disclosed. The method comprises obtaining at least one path loss measurement and an associated range measurement at an approximated location of a mobile radio terminal within the radio communications network and applying this to a path loss versus range model to obtain the local path loss versus range model. The local model may also be used to obtain a more accurate location of the mobile radio terminal within the radio communications network.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for aggregating and disseminating tag data is provided. The method includes receiving a tag generated at a particular time from a particular mobile device. Data indicative of a particular location of the particular mobile device is received corresponding to the particular time. The tag is associated with the location indicative data of the particular mobile device. Data indicative of a location of one or more other mobile devices is received, and data indicative of the tag is transmitted to the one or more other mobile devices in response to the location indicative data of the one or more other mobile devices corresponding to the location indicative data of the particular mobile device.

Abstract: System for providing alert-based communication services for which corresponding alert conditions to be met by mobile stations are defined. The system includes an alert engine capable of firing alerts associated with the alert-based communication services if location data regarding the mobile stations is indicative of the mobile stations meeting the alert conditions corresponding to the alert-based communication services. A requirements engine determines an expected earliest future time at which at least one alert condition is capable of being met by a particular mobile station and outputs a data element indicative of a requirement to obtain updated location data about the particular mobile station in advance of the expected earliest future time. A scheduler receives expiry times data and processes the expiry times data for determining an order for servicing the location requests.

Abstract: A computer-implemented mobile device locating method is provided. The method includes determining a current cell sector of a mobile device and comparing the current cell sector with a cell sector list of previously determined cell sectors. A current location of the mobile device is determined if the current cell sector is not listed in the cell sector list. The current location is compared with a last determined location. The current cell sector is added to the cell sector list if the current location is substantially the same as the last determined location. The cell sector list is cleared if the current location is not substantially the same as the last determined location.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and system for managing inconsistencies between a radio communications network and a network database. In one aspect, the system is informed of one or more inconsistencies and various decisions are made as to what actions to take. One possible action is to simply inform a network operator of the discrepancy. Another possible action is to determine which network elements are affected by the inconsistency and to update the network database in relation to those network elements to compensate for the inconsistency.

Abstract: A computer-implemented value dissemination method is provided. The method includes defining a physical location and detecting entrance of a mobile device associated with a user to the physical location. A value indication is generated in response to detecting the entrance to the physical location, and the value indication is rendered accessible to the user. A system for disseminating value is further provided.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for aggregating and disseminating tag data is provided. The method includes receiving a tag generated at a particular time from a particular mobile device. Data indicative of a particular location of the particular mobile device is received corresponding to the particular time. The tag is associated with the location indicative data of the particular mobile device. Data indicative of a location of one or more other mobile devices is received, and data indicative of the tag is transmitted to the one or more other mobile devices in response to the location indicative data of the one or more other mobile devices corresponding to the location indicative data of the particular mobile device.

Abstract: A computer implemented method is provided for resolving eventual consistency conflicts when using a Prefix Hash Tree (“PHT”) and Distributed Hash Table (“DHT”). A prefix hash tree having multiple nodes is created that relates to a distributed hash table. The nodes comprise leaf nodes and internal nodes. All distinct records are aggregated across all conflicting nodes, wherein conflicting nodes are nodes that have identical data records. Records returned are counted. If the count of aggregated records exceeds a max record count, nodes are split such that the aggregated records are divided by a prefix into each new node resulting in the consolidation of duplicate data that were in conflicting nodes into a single data record in a single node. If one or more of the returned conflicting nodes is an internal node, the internal node is split regardless of the number of aggregated records.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method of rewarding a user based on compliance with predetermined geographic limitations is provided. The method includes receiving from a first user and storing an indication of one or more geographic areas. Mobile device location information of a user mobile device associated with a second user is received from the user mobile device or a remote telecommunication carrier server in communication with the user mobile device. The mobile device location information is compared with the indication of the one or more geographic areas. An indication of a reward is transmitted to the user mobile device based on the comparison of the mobile device location information and the indication of the one or more geographic areas. Systems for rewarding a user based on compliance with predetermined geographic limitations are also provided.

Abstract: A computer-implemented mobile device locating method is provided. The method includes determining a current cell sector of a mobile device and comparing the current cell sector with a cell sector list of previously determined cell sectors. A current location of the mobile device is determined if the current cell sector is not listed in the cell sector list. The current location is compared with a last determined location. The current cell sector is added to the cell sector list if the current location is substantially the same as the last determined location. The cell sector list is cleared if the current location is not substantially the same as the last determined location.

Abstract: A computer-implemented navigation method for implementation during a navigation routine for directing a user is provided. The navigation method comprises generating a navigation route. GPS signals are received and position fixes are derived from the GPS signals. The position fixes are stored and compared with the navigation route. A threshold value is determined based on the comparison of the position fixes with the navigation route. An updated navigation route is generated based on the plurality of position fixes distanced from the navigation route a distance greater than the threshold value and an updated navigation route is not generating based on the plurality of position fixes distanced from the navigation route a distance not greater than the threshold value. A mobile device for performing a navigation procedure is also provided.

Abstract: A computer-implemented monitoring and reporting method is provided. Identifying information is received corresponding to a user of a social networking application enabled by a social networking system. The social networking system is queried via a network for information corresponding to the user. The queried information is compared with predetermined criteria to determine a content category corresponding to the identifying information, and a report is provided including an indication of the determined content category.

Abstract: System for providing alert-based communication services for which corresponding alert conditions to be met by mobile stations are defined. The system includes an alert engine capable of firing alerts associated with the alert-based communication services if location data regarding the mobile stations is indicative of the mobile stations meeting the alert conditions corresponding to the alert-based communication services. A requirements engine is provided for determining an expected earliest future time at which at least one alert condition is capable of being met by a particular mobile station and outputting a data element indicative of a requirement to obtain updated location data about the particular mobile station in advance of the expected earliest future time.

Abstract: A computer-implemented subject monitoring method is provided. The method includes providing an online-monitoring agent configured for monitoring a personal computing device, receiving identifying information associated with at least one of an account, email address, site, and service from the personal computing device via the online-monitoring agent, and monitoring via a network the at least one of the account, email address, site, and service based on the identifying information received via the online-monitoring agent.

Abstract: A computer-implemented subject monitoring method is provided. The method includes providing an online-monitoring agent configured for monitoring a personal computing device, receiving identifying information associated with at least one of an account, email address, site, and service from the personal computing device via the online-monitoring agent, and monitoring via a network the at least one of the account, email address, site, and service based on the identifying information received via the online-monitoring agent.

Abstract: A computer-implemented subject monitoring method is provided. The method includes providing an online-monitoring agent configured for monitoring a personal computing device, receiving identifying information associated with at least one of an account, email address, site, and service from the personal computing device via the online-monitoring agent, and monitoring via a network the at least one of the account, email address, site, and service based on the identifying information received via the online-monitoring agent.

Abstract: System for providing alert-based communication services for which corresponding alert conditions to be met by mobile stations are defined. The system includes an alert engine capable of firing alerts associated with the alert-based communication services if location data regarding the mobile stations is indicative of the mobile stations meeting the alert conditions corresponding to the alert-based communication services. A requirements engine is provided for determining an expected earliest future time at which at least one alert condition is capable of being met by a particular mobile station and outputting a data element indicative of a requirement to obtain updated location data about the particular mobile station in advance of the expected earliest future time.

Abstract: A computer-implemented mobile device locating method is provided. The method includes monitoring a location indication of a mobile device and an indication of precision or accuracy of the location indication. A change in the precision or accuracy of the location indication is identified, and a position of the mobile device is estimated based on the location indication as monitored prior to the identified change. A mobile device configured for implementing a mobile device locating method is further provided.

Abstract: A computer-implemented user contribution method is provided. The method includes retrieving event data posted by a plurality of users related to a first user, the event data including indications of at least one geographic area. The event data is compared with predetermined trigger data. A quality value of the at least one geographic area is determined based on the comparison of the event data with predetermined trigger data, and an indication of the quality value of the at least one geographic area is transmitted to a second user. A user contribution based mapping system is further provided.