Abstract: An area event handler informs when a target mobile enters or leaves a network covering a pre-defined target area, and re-aims an original area event request. When the event occurs, the mobile sends a location report to an initiator of the request. A PLMN list with estimated geographic coverage areas is stored in a Home GMLC, and sent to each relevant mobile. When a mobile enters new network coverage, it uses this list for network access selection. When the Home GMLC discovers that the currently visited PLMN does not serve the original target area, it modifies the area event to the that mobile, so that the Home GMLC will be notified when the target mobile once again enters a PLMN that serves the original target area. Then, after being so notified, the Home GMLC re-sends the original area event location service request to the target mobile.

Abstract: A switched emergency call (e.g., a 911 call, an alarm company call) forwarded by a telematics call center is converted into a session initiation protocol (SIP) packetized phone call at the call center, and routed over an IP network, for presentation to an emergency services gateway, which connects to a selective router via dedicated circuits, gaining full access to the Enhanced 911 network. This provides a PSAP receiving a call from a telematics call center or other call center with all features available in an Enhanced 911 network, e.g., callback number of the 911 caller, and location of the 911 caller. Location of the caller is provided using a VoIP positioning center (VPC), queried from the call center. In this way, the switched emergency call is converted into a SIP packetized phone call and routed without further passage through the public switched telephone network (PSTN).

Abstract: A Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) device uses its location to narrow down known and unknown potential VoIP third parties meeting the user's criteria, based on their physical proximity to the initial caller and other pre-determined characteristics, to join in a phone conference. A VoIP soft switch includes conference bridges that eliminate the conventional requirement that they dial digits for a direct link with another specific VoIP communications device. Instead, location information relating to the initial VoIP user is passed to the VoIP conference bridge, either from the user's VoIP communication device or from their respective location server. The location information is then compared by the VoIP soft switch against other VoIP devices to find potential VoIP users within a defined geographic region surrounding the initial VoIP user. Those VoIP users matching the criteria are sent an Invite message to join the conference, which they may or may not accept.

Abstract: An area event handler informs when a target mobile enters or leaves a network covering a pre-defined target area, and re-aims an original area event request. When the event occurs, the mobile sends a location report to an initiator of the request. A PLMN list with estimated geographic coverage areas is stored in a Home GMLC, and sent to each relevant mobile. When a mobile enters new network coverage, it uses this list for network access selection. When the Home GMLC discovers that the currently visited PLMN does not serve the original target area, it modifies the area event to the that mobile, so that the Home GMLC will be notified when the target mobile once again enters a PLMN that serves the original target area. Then, after being so notified, the Home GMLC re-sends the original area event location service request to the target mobile.

Abstract: A Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) device uses its location to narrow down known and unknown potential VoIP third parties meeting the user's criteria, based on their physical proximity to the initial caller and other pre-determined characteristics, to join in a phone conference. A VoIP soft switch includes conference bridges that eliminate the conventional requirement that they dial digits for a direct link with another specific VoIP communications device. Instead, location information relating to the initial VoIP user is passed to the VoIP conference bridge, either from the user's VoIP communication device or from their respective location server. The location information is then compared by the VoIP soft switch against other VoIP devices to find potential VoIP users within a defined geographic region surrounding the initial VoIP user. Those VoIP users matching the criteria are sent an Invite message to join the conference, which they may or may not accept.

Abstract: The function of determination of location is separated from the function of gathering information based on determined location by use of a Location Object (LO) proxy between an initiating VoIP capable device and a positioning center. The LOProxy queries an appropriate location database using a location key, and injects a PIDF-LO into a routing SIP message otherwise without location. A SIP request without location is received from a VoIP capable device. The SIP request contains messages indicating the type of location generator or service needed. A location key (like a telephone number or SIP URI), in addition to the type of location generator or service needed, is included in a SIP request. A location object (LO) broker may be used between a routing SIP message and a positioning center to direct a routing SIP message to an appropriate one of a plurality of location object (LO) proxies.

Abstract: The function of determination of location is separated from the function of gathering information based on determined location by use of a Location Object (LO) proxy between an initiating VoIP capable device and a positioning center. The LOProxy queries an appropriate location database using a location key, and injects a PIDF-LO into a routing SIP message otherwise without location. A SIP request without location is received from a VoIP capable device. The SIP request contains messages indicating the type of location generator or service needed. A location key (like a telephone number or SIP URI), in addition to the type of location generator or service needed, is included in a SIP request. A location object (LO) broker may be used between a routing SIP message and a positioning center to direct a routing SIP message to an appropriate one of a plurality of location object (LO) proxies.

Abstract: An emergency services key (e.g., ESQK or ESRK) is guaranteed to be available from a limited size ESQK pool. A plurality of ESQKs are grouped into a pool of emergency service keys “ESQK Pool ID”, each including anywhere from 1 to N number of ESQKs. Each ESQK preferably has a “Timestamp”, information relating to the specific emergency E911 call (“Call Data ID”), a guard timer, and an optional hold timer. The ESQK having a Call Data ID=“NULL”, and having the oldest Timestamp, is chosen for selection. If no such ESQK has both Call Data ID=NULL and the oldest Timestamp is found, then the ESQK with merely the oldest Timestamp is selected. The timestamp is reset to a current time plus a guard timer, or hold timer if desired.

Abstract: A method and mechanism to allow a location server to initiate a user plane location service (e.g., SUPL defined by OMA) procedure to a user plane enabled device via Instant Messaging, or alternatively, via an existing SIP session if a multimedia session is already established. The location request is signaled to the user plane enabled device via a SIP INFO message. The location request uses SIP messaging to overcome firewall and other network security issues. Location using SUPL over SIP may be provided about a caller making an E911 emergency call. An Instant Message may be sent to the user plane enabled device, e.g., a VoIP wireless phone.

Abstract: Dynamic and current information is provided regarding a wireless device's entry into or exit from a geographically defined “watched” area. An area watcher application monitors preconfigured wireless devices entry/exit into preconfigured watched areas. The watched areas may watch for any/all subscribers, or for select, preconfigured subscribers listed in an appropriate table or database. Provision of location information is triggered by a wireless subscriber's entry, exit or changing between designated ‘watched’ areas or locations. Continuous polling may be used, or the mobile device itself or network element may be triggered to push its own location upon notification of its entry into or out of watched areas from an area watcher. A third party may be notified when a wireless user enters an area surrounding their retail store, and be sent a message such as “sale inside”, or “Your rentals are overdue”, on their wireless device.

Abstract: The number of messages required in networks where both location and presence services are deployed may be reduced, by retrieving presence data from messages otherwise intended to provide only location information. Thus, information determined in a location service scheme is utilized to provide a presence service as well. A location server requests mobile subscriber (MS) information from a Core Network (CN) Node (i.e. HLR, MSC, etc.) that can be used in determining the Location of the MS. A single message aggregates retrieval of information for two services, specifically, for both location and presence.

Abstract: A switched emergency call (e.g., a 911 call, an alarm company call) forwarded by a telematics call center is converted into a session initiation protocol (SIP) packetized phone call at the call center, and routed over an IP network, for presentation to an emergency services gateway, which connects to a selective router via dedicated circuits, gaining full access to the Enhanced 911 network. This provides a PSAP receiving a call from a telematics call center or other call center with all features available in an Enhanced 911 network, e.g., callback number of the 911 caller, and location of the 911 caller. Location of the caller is provided using a VoIP positioning center (VPC), queried from the call center. In this way, the switched emergency call is converted into a SIP packetized phone call and routed without further passage through the public switched telephone network (PSTN).

Abstract: The use of the VoIP emergency network for routing wireless E911 calls to a designated PSAP. In this embodiment, a mobile positioning center (MPC) assigns an ESRK per existing prior art, but uses the invention to route the call to the PSAP via the VoIP server and an ESGW. This relieves wireless carriers of the obligation to install and maintain expensive dedicated SS7 or CAMA trunks from each MSC to each selective router in the areas served by that MSC. Instead, wireless 911 calls can be consolidated by ESGW vendors, maximizing the efficiency of the dedicated trunks to the selective router by sharing those trunks with multiple MSCs.

Abstract: An emergency services key (e.g., ESQK or ESRK) is guaranteed to be available from a limited size ESQK pool, such that an available ESQK is always selected and associated with an ongoing emergency call with no measurable impact to existing calls, even if all ESQK pool members are marked as unavailable. A plurality of ESQKs are grouped into a pool of emergency service keys “ESQK Pool ID”, each including anywhere from 1 to N number of ESQKs. Each ESQK preferably has a “Timestamp”, and information relating to the specific emergency E911 call (“Call Data ID”). The ESQK having a Call Data ID=“NULL”, and having the oldest Timestamp, is chosen for selection. If no such ESQK has both Call Data ID=NULL and the oldest Timestamp is found, then the ESQK with merely the oldest Timestamp is selected.

Abstract: ESQK and/or ESRK (ESxK) number pool exhaustion and reuse errors are eliminated by replacing the ESxK identifier with an emergency services pseudo key (ESPK) identifier. A positioning center (MPC/VPC) replaces an ESxK received with a query with a ESPK in a return message. The ESPK is either a unique 10-digit number or unique alpha-numeric identifier that can be used to re-query the source of dynamic ALI data. The ESPK may be generated using, e.g., unique prefixing, suffixing, or randomizing. The ESPK is a non-constrained, unique identifier that preferably remains unique for the call instance over an extended period of time. The ESPK is used for any subsequent ALI request for the call. Each time a positioning center receives a query with ESPK, it is directly associated with, and returns, the updated location for the original emergency call, regardless of whether or not the original ESxK was reallocated to another emergency call.

Abstract: Dynamic and current information is provided regarding a wireless device's entry into or exit from a geographically defined “watched” area. An area watcher application monitors preconfigured wireless devices entry/exit into preconfigured watched areas. The watched areas may watch for any/all subscribers, or for select, preconfigured subscribers listed in an appropriate table or database. Provision of location information is triggered by a wireless subscriber's entry, exit or changing between designated ‘watched’ areas or locations. Continuous polling may be used, or the mobile device itself or network element may be triggered to push its own location upon notification of its entry into or out of watched areas from an area watcher. A third party may be notified when a wireless user enters an area surrounding their retail store, and be sent a message such as “sale inside”, or “Your rentals are overdue”, on their wireless device.

Abstract: An ALI/ESME steering gateway bridges the nationwide ALI/ESME network notes (or PSAPs) with the GMLC/MPCs of various different XPC networks. The steering gateway provides a unified interface between the PSAP/ALI network and positioning centers (GMLC/MPC/VPCs). Using the steering gateway, an E911 service provider accesses positioning centers (GMLC/MPC/VPC) of any XPC network. This access by the ALI to the positioning center is accomplished with any type of interface, irregardless of the protocol type. The connectivity of each virtual communication path between ALIs and PSAPs is managed. The ALI/ESME steering gateway also provides translation of the protocols between the two ALI-MPC interface sets (inbound and outbound). The ALI/ESME steering gateway also consolidates (or “de-duplicates”) any/all duplicated requests from a same ALI or PSAP for the same emergency call so that only one request is then sent to the destined positioning center within the relevant network.

Abstract: A technique evaluates overlapping request intervals, and from them determines a temporal reporting interval that satisfies requirements for all that overlap. The temporal reporting interval represents a temporal trigger used to best support multiple triggers on the same target, without modification or support by the target mobile. Disclosed embodiments relate to an example of location requests wherein multiple users, by chance, request location triggered services on the same target mobile during the same time period. To minimize the usage of mobile and network resources, the present invention reduces the number of active triggers on a target mobile subjected to multiple requests (e.g., location requests from multiple tracking applications).

Abstract: A technique to allow a server such as a location server to throttle concurrent or closely timed location requests for the position of a given wireless device such that within a certain time period preferably only one location request will be initiated to the positioning engine and the remaining closely-timed location requests will be buffered or cached. When a position for the given wireless device is returned per the outstanding location request, then the retrieved position will be used to respond to each of the buffered location requests. Thus, a plurality of location requests are satisfied with a single request to the positioning engine. By optimizing the use of cached position requests, throttling of location requests per the invention reduces network traffic significantly, increases the efficiency of a positioning server (therefore reducing business cost), and provides for an improved grade or quality of location based services in general.

Abstract: A variable wing plow blade and mounting structure for attaching the plow blade to a tractor, snow grooming vehicle, and the like feature distribution of the load on the blade over a relatively wide area of the supporting structural members thereby to permit reduction in their size, weight and number and in their manufacturing and assembling costs while maintaining the essential structural strength, and are further characterized in the attainment of improved performance and utility in respect of independence of the plow blade height and pitch or roll, tilt and wing blade adjustments, and greater freedom of movement of the wing blades of the plow blade, both forwardly and rearwardly, from a position of alignment with the center section of the plow blade.