Abstract: A telecommunications system and method is disclosed for providing location information, which can consist of either real-time data or historical data when the subscriber requested to be positioned is either absent or not reachable, to a requesting location application (LA). The historical data is preferably stored per subscriber in a database within a serving Mobile Switching Center/Visitor Location Register (MSC/VLR) following a successful positioning of that subscriber. This historical data can consist of the location information along with a time stamp indicating the time that the location information was obtained and stored in the MSC/VLR. The age of the location information can then be calculated by determining the difference between the current read value of the system clock and the value of the time stamp information stored in the MSC/VLR for that particular location information.

Abstract: A telecommunications system and method is disclosed for implementing Location Override Key(s) (LOKs) within location services in order to determine whether certain checks on subscriber limitations and/or system default behavior are applicable or not for a particular location request. Each LOK can either have the value override or not override associated therewith, and each Location Application (LA) can be associated with a particular value of an LOK. In addition, an LOK can be accompanied by one or more additional parameters related to the particular LOK. For example, location services can provide LAs with a Privacy Override Key (POK), which can have a value of “override” or “not override”.

Abstract: A telecommunications system and method for providing location information consist of either real-time data or historical data when the subscriber requested to be positioned is either absent or not reachable, to a requesting location application (LA). The historical data is preferably stored per subscriber in a database within a serving Mobile Switching Center/Visitor Location Register (MSC/VLR) following a successful positioning of that subscriber. This historical data can consist of the location information along with a time stamp indicating the time that the location information was obtained and stored in the MSC/VLR. The age of the location information can then be calculated by determining the difference between the current read value of the system clock and the value of the time stamp information stored in the MSC/VLR for that particular location information.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method for processing positioning triggers for batch location requests in a location services system. A location authority transmits a batch location request to a positioning gateway which forwards requests to arm or disarm positioning triggers associated with particular subscribers. The positioning trigger associated with the batch location request is added or removed from the HLR record of the subscriber. Next, the positioning trigger is either armed or disarmed at the MSC/VLR of the subscriber.

Abstract: A telecommunications system and method is disclosed for allowing a Gateway Mobile Positioning Center (GMPC) to route positioning requests to the Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) where the subscriber is currently located without the need for storing the subscriber's serving Mobile Positioning Center (MPC) address in the Home Location Register (HLR). When an external Requesting Application (RA) wants to locate a particular Mobile Station (MS), the RA contacts the GMPC, and provides the directory number of the subscriber that needs to be located. The GMPC then sends a request for routing information, e.g., the address of the serving Mobile Switching Center (MSC), to the subscriber's HLR. The HLR then returns the routing information to the GMPC, which can then send the positioning request to the serving MSC, using the MSC address. The serving MSC can then route the positioning request to the serving Mobile Positioning Center.

Abstract: A telecommunications system and method is disclosed which performs authorization checks prior to allowing a location service to position a mobile terminal within a cellular network. The various checks involve ensuring that the requesting agency has authorization to request positioning of mobile terminals, determining whether positioning of mobile terminals is allowed within the cellular network that the mobile terminal is currently located in, verifying the authenticity of the identity of the mobile positioning center, ascertaining whether the mobile subscriber has allowed the requesting agency to position the mobile terminal, and confirming that all relevant criteria for positioning have been met by both the mobile subscriber and the requesting agency.

Abstract: A telecommunications system and method is disclosed for administration of location services by using black and gray location application lists within a positioning gateway. When a location application subscribes to location services, the wireless service provider assigns a unique Location Application Identifier Number (LAIN) to the location application, which is included in every positioning request. The black list is used to bar service to the location applications included in the list, while maintaining the location application's location application profile in the positioning gateway. Location applications included in the gray list are not barred from service, but instead are monitored by the wireless operator.

Abstract: A telecommunications system and method is disclosed for defining location services in a simplified manner based upon whether the positioning request is an interactive request or a batch mode request. In order to initiate a positioning request, a Location Application (LA) must first register with at least one Mobile Location Center (MLC), define the service parameters specific for that LA and receive a Location Application Identifier Number (LAIN). Thereafter, the LA can send either an interactive or batch mode positioning request along with the LAIN. An interactive positioning request is a request to position a specific subscriber or group of subscribers immediately, while a batch mode positioning request is a request to position a subscriber or group of subscribers when a particular event defined by the LA occurs. Advantageously, the definition of location services is decoupled from issues, such as the point of origin of the request, the identity of the subscriber to be positioned and authorization options.

Abstract: A telecommunications system and method is disclosed which utilizes a terminal-based browser, such as the Wireless Application Protocol (WAP) "deck", within a Mobile Station (MS) to connect the MS to web-based location services and to a Mobile Positioning Center (MPC). Terminal based browsers, such as WAP "deck", allow for the graphical presentation of the current location of the MS on a display on the MS and provide an interactive user dialog, which permits the mobile subscriber to determine the format of the graphical presentation of the current location of the MS.

Abstract: A telecommunications system and method is disclosed for allowing an application requesting positioning of a mobile terminal to indicate the quality of positioning information desired, e.g., timeliness, accuracy, etc. In addition, prior to performing the positioning, the cellular network can determine whether the quality of service requested can be achieved, and if so, return the positioning information along with a message indicating that the quality of service requested was achieved. However, if the quality of service requested cannot be achieved, a failure message is sent to the requesting application and the positioning is not performed.

Abstract: A telecommunications system and method is disclosed for determining the address of both the home and serving Mobile Positioning Centers (MPCs). Each Mobile Switching Center/Visitor Location Register (MSC/VLR) and Home Location Register (HLR) within a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN) will be provided with the MPC address that is valid for its PLMN. When a Mobile Station (MS) roams into a new (serving) PLMN, a Location Update is performed by the serving MSC/VLR to the Home Location Register (HLR). The MPC address for the serving MSC/VLR will be included in every location update operation to the HLR, which can then store this serving MPC address in the subscriber's HLR record. Furthermore, the home MPC address, valid for the PLMN of the HLR, is included in every subscriber data transfer operation from the HLR to the serving MSC/VLR, which can then store this home MPC address, in the subscriber's VLR record.

Abstract: A telecommunications system and method is disclosed for allowing a cellular network to determine the optimum positioning method, having knowledge of all available network-based and terminal-based positioning methods. This can be accomplished by the Mobile Station (MS) sending to the Mobile Switching Center/Visitor Location Register (MSC/VLR) a list of terminal-based positioning methods that the MS is capable of performing. This list can, in turn, be forwarded to the Mobile Positioning Center (MPC) for determination of the optimum positioning method. For example, in a GSM network, the MS CLASSMARK information, which is sent to the MSC/VLR when the MS registers with the MSC/VLR, can be extended to include the MS's positioning capabilities.

Abstract: A telecommunications system and method is disclosed which avoids unwanted feature interactions while positioning a mobile station that was in idle mode when the positioning request was received by the network. When the serving MSC/VLR receives a request to collect positioning measurements for a mobile station that is in idle mode, the serving MSC/VLR will set an indicator associated with the subscriber to "busy for connection management due to positioning". This flag will allow the MSC/VLR to make a distinction between a positioning connection and the normal mark of "busy for connection management". Thereafter, when a mobile terminating call arrives to the MSC/VLR for a subscriber that is marked as "busy for connection management due to positioning", the MSC/VLR can place the incoming call in a queue until the positioning measurements are taken and the subscriber being positioned is put back in idle mode.