System and Method for Mobile Location By Proximity Detection
A system and method for determining a location of a mobile device operating in a wireless communications network having an assisted global positioning system (A-GPS) positioning determining entity (PDE). A location request may be received for the mobile device. The location of the mobile device may be determined as a cell identification location if no location results are received from either the A-GPS PDE or a proximity detection system PDE, or the location of the mobile device may be determined as a location result from the A-GPS PDE if the A-GPS PDE provides a location result having a lower uncertainty than a location result from the proximity detection system PDE, or the location of the mobile device may be determined as a location result from the proximity detection system PDE if the proximity detection system PDE provides a location result having a lower uncertainty than a location result from the A-GPS PDE.
1 . A method for determining a location of a mobile device operating in a wireless communications network having an assisted global positioning system (A-GPS) positioning determining entity (PDE), the method comprising the steps of:
(a) receiving a location request for the mobile device;
(b) determining if the request is for a region in the network having a proximity detection system;
(c) if the region has a proximity detection system, then tasking both the proximity detection system and the A-GPS PDE to determine a location of the mobile device,
(i) if at least one of the proximity detection system and the A-GPS PDE provide a location result for the mobile device, then determining the uncertainty of the respective location result and returning the location result having the lowest uncertainty as the location for the mobile device, and
(ii) if neither the proximity detection system nor the A-GPS provide a location result for the mobile device, then using a cell-identification as the location for the mobile device; and
(d) if the region does not have a proximity detection system, then tasking the A-GPS PDE to determine a location of the mobile device,
(i) if the A-GPS PDE provides a location result for the mobile device, using this location result as the location for the mobile device, and
(ii) if the A-GPS does not provide a location result for the mobile device, then using a cell-identification as the location for the mobile device.
2 . The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of:
(i) detecting an event requiring a determination for the location of the mobile device; and
(ii) transmitting a location tasking request having radio frequency (RF) signal parameters.
3 . The method of claim 2 wherein the step of detecting is performed at a physical RF layer or via a network connection.
4 . The method of claim 1 wherein the tasking is performed as a function of a parameter selected from the group consisting of: a dialed number from the mobile device, an identification of the mobile device, an international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI), a temporary mobile subscriber identity (TMSI), a mobile identification number (MIN), an electronic serial number (ESN), an international mobile equipment identity (IMEI), a class mark indicator, overhead transmission indicator, and combinations thereof.
5 . The method of claim 1 wherein the step of tasking the proximity detection system further comprises:
(i) tasking one or more proximity sensors in the proximity detection system to receive a signal transmission from the mobile device,
(ii) measuring one or more signal characteristics of the signal transmission from the mobile device by each tasked proximity sensor,
(iii) associating a fixed location with each tasked proximity sensor, and
(iv) determining the location of the mobile device as a function of one of the associated fixed locations.
6 . The method of claim 5 wherein step (iv) further comprises determining the location of the mobile device as a function of a straight average of the associated fixed locations.
7 . The method of claim 5 wherein step (iv) further comprises determining the location of the mobile device as a function of a weighted average of the associated fixed locations.
8 . The method of claim 5 wherein step (iv) further comprises determining the location of the mobile device as a function of a weighted average and a straight average of the associated fixed locations.
9 . The method of claim 1 wherein the step of tasking the proximity detection system further comprises:
(i) tasking one or more proximity sensors in the proximity detection system to receive a signal transmission from the mobile device,
(ii) measuring one or more signal characteristics of the signal transmission from the mobile device by each tasked proximity sensor, and
(iii) determining a location of the mobile device as a function of the measured characteristic,
wherein the measured characteristic includes range information.
10 . The method of claim 1 wherein the request is provided by the mobile device.
11 . The method of claim 1 wherein the request is a tasking message provided by the network or by a scanning receiver located in proximity to the mobile device.
12 . A method for determining a location of a mobile device operating in a wireless communications network having an assisted global positioning system (A-GPS) positioning determining entity (PDE), the method comprising the steps of:
(a) receiving a location request for the mobile device;
(b) determining the location of the mobile device as a cell identification location if no location results are received from either the A-GPS PDE or a proximity detection system PDE;
(c) determining the location of the mobile device as a location result from the A-GPS PDE if the A-GPS PDE provides a location result having a lower uncertainty than a location result from the proximity detection system PDE; and
(d) determining the location of the mobile device as a location result from the proximity detection system PDE if the proximity detection system PDE provides a location result having a lower uncertainty than a location result from the A-GPS PDE.
13 . A method for determining a location of a mobile device operating in a wireless communications network comprising the steps of:
(a) receiving a location request for the mobile device;
(b) routing the request to a proximity detection system and a network device responsible for coordinating location information within the network; and
(c) performing the following steps substantially in tandem:
(i) tasking both the proximity detection system and the network device to determine a location of the mobile device,
(ii) if at least one of the proximity detection system and the network device provide a location result for the mobile device, then determining the uncertainty of the respective location result and returning the location result having the lowest uncertainty as the location for the mobile device, and
(iii) if neither the proximity detection system nor the network device provide a location result for the mobile device, then using a cell-identification as the location for the mobile device.
14 . The method of claim 13 further comprising the steps of:
(d) receiving location results from each of the network device and proximity detection system; and
(e) determining which received location results to use as a function of a quality of service.