US6151498A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for routing positioning requests based on mobile switching center address
Assignee: Ericsson Inc
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Filing: 1998-03-09
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Granted: 2000-11-21
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Expires: 2018-03-09
Abstract
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.
Inventors
- 👤 Maya Roel-Ng
- 👤 Stephen Hayes
- 👤 Theodore Havinis
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 16:19
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04W; H04W8/00; H04W8/02; H04W8/08; H04W8/10; H04W12/00; H04W12/02; H04W4/00; H04W4/02; H04W12/08; H04W12/60; H04W12/63; H04W12/69; H04W12/72; H04W8/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
217 words
A telecommunications system for routing a positioning request to determine the location of a given one of a plurality of mobile terminals in wireless communications with a mobile switching center, said telecommunications system comprising: a gateway mobile positioning center for receiving said positioning request and an identification number associated with said given mobile terminal from a requesting node in communication with said gateway mobile positioning center, said gateway mobile positioning center verifying the authorization of said requesting node to send said positioning request, said gateway mobile positioning center sending a rejection message to said requesting node when said requesting node does not have authorization to send said positioning request, the location of said given mobile terminal not being determined when said rejection message is sent; a home location register connected to said mobile switching center, said home location register being identified using said identification number, said gateway mobile positioning center sending a routing request to said home location register, said home location register sending routing information associated with said mobile switching center to said gateway mobile positioning center; and a positioning node in communication with said mobile switching center, said gateway mobile positioning center forwarding said positioning request to said positioning node, using said routing information, said positioning node determining the location of said given mobile terminal.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
217 words
A telecommunications system for routing a positioning request to determine the location of a given one of a plurality of mobile terminals in wireless communications with a mobile switching center, said telecommunications system comprising: a gateway mobile positioning center for receiving said positioning request and an identification number associated with said given mobile terminal from a requesting node in communication with said gateway mobile positioning center, said gateway mobile positioning center verifying the authorization of said requesting node to send said positioning request, said gateway mobile positioning center sending a rejection message to said requesting node when said requesting node does not have authorization to send said positioning request, the location of said given mobile terminal not being determined when said rejection message is sent; a home location register connected to said mobile switching center, said home location register being identified using said identification number, said gateway mobile positioning center sending a routing request to said home location register, said home location register sending routing information associated with said mobile switching center to said gateway mobile positioning center; and a positioning node in communication with said mobile switching center, said gateway mobile positioning center forwarding said positioning request to said positioning node, using said routing information, said positioning node determining the location of said given mobile terminal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The telecommunications system of claim 1, wherein said gateway mobile positioning center and said requesting node are within a first public land mobile network.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The telecommunications system of claim 2, wherein said given mobile terminal, said mobile switching center, and said positioning node are within a second public land mobile network.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The telecommunications system of claim 1, wherein said positioning node is a Mobile Positioning Center.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The telecommunications system of claim 1, wherein said identification number is a Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The telecommunications system of claim 1, wherein said routing information is the address of said mobile switching center.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
78 words
The telecommunications system of claim 1, wherein said home location register sends subscription information to said gateway mobile positioning center, said gateway mobile positioning center determining whether said given mobile terminal allows positioning to be performed, using said subscription information, said gateway mobile positioning center sending a rejection message to said requesting node when said given mobile terminal does not allow positioning, the location of said given mobile terminal not being determined when said rejection message is sent.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
66 words
The telecommunications system of claim 1, wherein said home location register confirms the registration of said given mobile terminal with said home location register, said gateway mobile positioning center sending to said requesting node a rejection message when said given mobile terminal is not registered in said home location register, the location of said given mobile terminal not being determined when said rejection message is sent.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
The telecommunications system of claim 1, wherein said home location register verifies the availability of said routing information, said gateway mobile positioning center sending said requesting node a rejection message when said routing information is not available, the location of said given mobile terminal not being determined when said rejection message is sent.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The telecommunications system of claim 1, wherein said gateway mobile positioning center forwards said positioning request to said positioning node via said mobile switching center.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
58 words
The telecommunications system of claim 1, wherein said gateway mobile positioning center has a database therein, said database containing an address associated with said positioning node, said routing information being associated with said address, said gateway mobile positioning center determining said address using said routing information, said positioning request being sent to said positioning node using said address.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
205 words
A method for routing a positioning request to determine the location of a given one of a plurality of mobile terminals in wireless communications with a mobile switching center, said method comprising the steps of: receiving, by a gateway mobile positioning center, said positioning request and an identification number associated with said given mobile terminal from a requesting node; verifying, by said gateway mobile positioning center, the authorization of said requesting node to send said positioning request; sending, by said gateway mobile positioning center, a rejection message to said requesting node when said requesting node does not have authorization to send said positioning request; sending, by said gateway mobile positioning center, a routing request to a home location register connected to said mobile switching center when said requesting node does have authority to send said positioning request, said home location register being identified using said identification number; sending, by said home location register, routing information associated with said mobile switching center to said gateway mobile positioning center; forwarding, by said gateway mobile positioning center, said positioning request to a positioning node in communication with said mobile switching center, using said routing information; and determining, by said positioning node, the location of said given mobile terminal.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
205 words
A method for routing a positioning request to determine the location of a given one of a plurality of mobile terminals in wireless communications with a mobile switching center, said method comprising the steps of: receiving, by a gateway mobile positioning center, said positioning request and an identification number associated with said given mobile terminal from a requesting node; verifying, by said gateway mobile positioning center, the authorization of said requesting node to send said positioning request; sending, by said gateway mobile positioning center, a rejection message to said requesting node when said requesting node does not have authorization to send said positioning request; sending, by said gateway mobile positioning center, a routing request to a home location register connected to said mobile switching center when said requesting node does have authority to send said positioning request, said home location register being identified using said identification number; sending, by said home location register, routing information associated with said mobile switching center to said gateway mobile positioning center; forwarding, by said gateway mobile positioning center, said positioning request to a positioning node in communication with said mobile switching center, using said routing information; and determining, by said positioning node, the location of said given mobile terminal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 12, wherein said gateway mobile positioning center and said requesting node are within a first public land mobile network.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 13, wherein said given mobile terminal, said mobile switching center, and said positioning node are within a second public land mobile network.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 12, wherein said positioning node is a Mobile Positioning Center.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 12, wherein said identification number is a Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 12, wherein said routing information is the address of said mobile switching center.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
94 words
The method of claim 12, further comprising, before said step of forwarding, the steps of: sending, by said home location register, subscription information to said gateway mobile positioning center; determining, by said gateway mobile positioning center, whether said given mobile terminal allows positioning to be performed, using said subscription information; and sending, by said gateway mobile positioning center, a rejection message to said requesting node when said given mobile terminal does not allow positioning, said step of determining the location of said given mobile terminal not being performed when said rejection message is sent.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
84 words
The method of claim 12, further comprising, before said step of sending said routing information, the steps of: confirming, by said home location register, the registration of said given mobile terminal with said home location register; and sending, by said gateway mobile positioning center, a rejection message to said requesting node when said given mobile terminal is not registered in said home location register, said step of determining the location of said given mobile terminal not being performed when said rejection message is sent.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method of claim 12, further comprising, before said step of sending said routing information, the steps of: verifying, by said home location register, the availability of said routing information; and sending, by said gateway mobile positioning center, a rejection message to said requesting node when said routing information is not available, said step of determining the location of said given mobile terminal not being performed when said rejection message is sent.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 12, wherein said step of forwarding is performed by said gateway mobile positioning center forwarding said positioning request to said positioning node via said mobile switching center.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
68 words
The method of claim 12, wherein said gateway mobile positioning center has a database therein, said database containing an address associated with said positioning node, said routing information being associated with said address, said gateway mobile positioning center determining said address using said routing information, said step of forwarding being performed by said gateway mobile positioning center sending said positioning request to said positioning node, using said address.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-11-21 | 2004-05-22 | 2004-11-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-11-21 | 2008-05-22 | 2008-11-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-11-21 | 2012-05-22 | 2012-11-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |