Abstract: A wireless communications network for providing location services comprising: a network element comprising storage means for storing network information of mobile stations, said network information including location information relating to the location of a mobile station and a subscriber identity; a passive location data storage entity for storing passive location data and subscriber identities; and means for transferring the location information and subscriber identity from the network element to the passive location data storage entity whereby the location information constitutes said passive location data for providing location services to a location services client.

Abstract: The invention provides location information indicating the geographical location of a mobile station via a core net-work node serving the mobile station The method includes the steps of initiating a communication between the mobile station and the network by calculating the geographical location, supplying corresponding location information indicating the geographical location to the core network node, and subsequently routing the communication between the mobile station and the network.

Abstract: An emergency telephone call is supported and routed to a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) in an IP based packet switched wireless communications network. An activate PDP context request is sent from a user equipment to the network. A parameter in said activate PDP context request indicates that the PDP context will be used to transfer an emergency call. An activate PDP context accept message is returned from said support node to said user equipment. Said activate PDP context accept message acknowledges said activate PDP context request message and provides the address of a call state control function. A call setup request transferred to the call state control function includes the Service Area Identity (SAI). The call state control function selects a PSAP based, at least in part, on the SAI included in the call setup request and forwards the emergency call to the selected PSAP.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of providing location information in a mobile communication system, comprising the steps of: receiving a request for a current location of a mobile station; determining a time at which a last known location of the mobile station was determined; comparing the time to a threshold time limit; and providing, as the current location, the last known location if the time is within the threshold time limit.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for use in a communications system comprising the steps of determining if user equipment is capable of supporting a first technology and obtaining from said user equipment information about said user equipment only if said user equipment is capable of supporting said first technology.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for allocating a roaming number to a subscriber in a mobile network comprising networks elements jointly used by at least two network operators. The invention further relates to a method for forming a visitor location register which allocates roaming numbers in a shared mobile network. The invention also relates to a shared mobile network. The invention is based on the idea of forming, in the visitor location register, roaming numbers of the network operators sharing the mobile network such that when the roaming numbers are being allocated, calls of the subscriber are routed in a desired manner in the networks of the network operators sharing the network.

Abstract: The invention provides location information indicating the geographical location of a mobile station via a core net-work node serving the mobile station The method includes the steps of initiating a communication between the mobile station and the network by calculating the geographical location, supplying corresponding location information indicating the geographical location to the core network node, and subsequently routing the communication between the mobile station and the network.

Abstract: The invention provides location information indicating the geographical location of a mobile station via a core network node serving the mobile station. The method includes the steps of initiating a communication between the mobile station and the network by calculating the geographical location, supplying corresponding location information indicating the geographical location to the core network node, and subsequently routing the communication between the mobile station and the network.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of executing a handover in a system including a core network comprising two mobile services switching center. Both mobile services switching center can be accessed to by a cellular access as well as by a non-cellular access. The system further includes a terminal which can access to both mobile services switching center over the cellular access as well as over the non-cellular access. The method comprises the steps of handing over a call of the terminal to non-cellular access involving also a handover from a first one of said two mobile services switching center to a second one of said two mobile services switching center, and indicating in a message that the call of the terminal was handed over to non-cellular access, wherein said message is sent from the second mobile services switching center to the first mobile services switching center.

Abstract: An emergency telephone call is supported and routed to a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) in an IP based packet switched wireless communications network. An activate PDP context request is sent from a user equipment to the network. A parameter in said activate PDP context request indicates that the PDP context will be used to transfer an emergency call. An activate PDP context accept message is returned from said support node to said user equipment. Said activate PDP context accept message acknowledges said activate PDP context request message and provides the address of a call state control function. A call setup request transferred to the call state control function includes the Service Area Identity (SAI). The call state control function selects a PSAP based, at least in part, on the SAI included in the call setup request and forwards the emergency call to the selected PSAP.

Abstract: A method for estimating the location of a terminal operating in a communication system having at least two networks having overlapping areas of coverage, each network supporting at least one method for estimating the location of the terminal, and the terminal being in communication with a first one of the networks, the method comprising: assessing which of the networks is likely to form the more accurate estimate of the location of the terminal; and if that is the first one of the networks, estimating the location of the terminal by means of the first one of the networks, and if that is a second one of the networks, handling over the terminal to the second one of the networks and estimating the location of the terminal by means of the second one of the networks.

Abstract: An emergency telephone call is supported and routed to a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) in an IP based packet switched wireless communications network. An activate PDP context request is sent from a user equipment to the network. A parameter in the activate PDP context request indicates that the PDP context will be used to transfer an emergency call. An activate PDP context accept message is returned from the support node to the user equipment. The activate PDP context accept message acknowledges the activate PDP context request message and provides the address of a call state control function. A call setup request transferred to the call state control function includes the Service Area Identity (SAI). The call state control function selects a PSAP based, at least in part, on the SAI included in the call setup request and forwards the emergency call to the selected PSAP.

Abstract: A method for estimating the location of a terminal operating in a communication system having at least two networks having overlapping areas of coverage, each network supporting at least one method for estimating the location of the terminal, and the terminal being in communication with a first one of the networks, the method comprising: assessing which of the networks is likely to form the more accurate estimate of the location of the terminal; and if that is the first one of the networks, estimating the location of the terminal by means of the first one of the networks, and if that is a second one of the networks, handing over the terminal to the second one of the networks and estimating the location of the terminal by means of the second one of the networks.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of supporting location services in an unlicensed mobile access network, comprising transferring location related information between one or more mobile stations and a network control element.

Abstract: An apparatus is configured to be operably connected to an access network controller device as well as to a pool of network elements which all comprise the same radio network configuration. The apparatus further comprises a selection functionality configured to select and connect one or more of the network elements with the access network controller device.

Abstract: In a communication system a request for location information associated with a target user is signalled from an entity. Said request contains information identifying the requestor of said location information. A verification is performed based on said identifying information if the target user has authorized the requester to initiate provision of location information that associates with the target user. The location information provision is initiated if it is determined that the requester is authorised by the target user to initiate provision of location information that associates with the target user.

Abstract: A wireless communications network for providing location services comprising: a network element comprising storage means for storing network information of mobile stations, said network information including location information relating to the location of a mobile station and a subscriber identity; a passive location data storage entity for storing passive location data and subscriber identities; and means for transferring the location information and subscriber identity from the network element to the passive location data storage entity whereby the location information constitutes said passive location data for providing location services to a location services client.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of executing a handover in a system including a core network comprising two mobile services switching center. Both mobile services switching center can be accessed to by a cellular access as well as by a non-cellular access. The system further includes a terminal which can access to both mobile services switching center over the cellular access as well as over the non-cellular access. The method comprises the steps of handing over a call of the terminal to non-cellular access involving also a handover from a first one of said two mobile services switching center to a second one of said two mobile services switching center, and indicating in a message that the call of the terminal was handed over to non-cellular access, wherein said message is sent from the second mobile services switching center to the first mobile services switching center.

Abstract: A method for establishing an emergency call between a user equipment within a radio coverage area and one of at least two points able to answer the call, the method comprising: receiving said emergency call request; determining a first estimate of the position of said user equipment within said coverage area; interrupting said call establishment by triggering a control point; and using the control point to select, based on said first position estimate, which one of said at least two answering points the call is established with.

Abstract: In a system comprising at least two different domains both supporting location services, the Gateway Mobile Location Center routing the location service requests receives a routing address for both domains, i.e., at least two addresses, if the target mobile station has subscription to both domains. In order to select via which domain the attempts should be first made to obtain the location information of the target MS is found out at least in one domain and preferably in both domains.