Method and computer readable medium for gathering user equipment location information

1. A method for gathering user equipment (UE) location information from a radio access network (RAN), the method comprises:

intercepting a UE location message sent from the RAN towards a core network element configured to process UE location messages, wherein the intercepting is executed by an intermediate entity positioned between the RAN and the core network element;

extracting UE location information from the UE location message; and

preventing the core network element from receiving the location information embedded in the UE location message.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the core network element is an SGSN.

3. The method according to claim 1 , comprising triggering the RAN, by the intermediate entity, generation of multiple UE location messages relating to a certain UE.

4. The method according to claim 3 , comprising instructing the RAN to stop sending UE location messages relating to the certain UE if the certain UE is inactive during a predetermined period.

5. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the preventing comprises preventing any UE location message to arrive to the core network element.

6. The method according to claim 3 , comprising emulating, by the intermediate entity, the core network element, to the RAN.

7. The method according to claim 6 , comprising:

extracting identification information from control messages exchanged between the RAN and the core network element; and

utilizing the identification information during the emulating of the core element to the RAN.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the extracting comprises extracting at least one out of a SCTP stream identifier and a SCCP connection identifier.

9. The method according to claim 1 , comprising utilizing a connection established between the core network element and the RAN and re-stamping transmission sequence numbers associated with the connection.

10. The method according to claim 1 , comprising updating a status of the RAN in response to the UE location information.

11. The method according to claim 1 , comprising allowing the core element network to receive only the first UE location message related to a certain UE out of multiple UE location information massages related to the certain UE; wherein a generation of the multiple UE location messages was triggered by the core element network.

12. The method according to claim 1 , comprising allowing the core element network to receive only a subset of multiple UE location information massages related to the certain UE; wherein a generation of the multiple UE location messages was triggered by the core element network.

13. A non-transitory computer readable medium that stores instructions which when executed by a computer causes the computer to perform steps of:

intercepting a user equipment (UE) location message sent from a radio access network (RAN) towards a core network element configured to process UE location messages, wherein the intercepting is executed by an intermediate entity positioned between the RAN and the core network element;

extracting UE location information from the UE location message; and

preventing the core network element from receiving the location information embedded in the UE location message.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 13 , wherein the core network element is an SGSN.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 13 , storing instructions for triggering the RAN, by the intermediate entity, generation of multiple UE location messages relating to a certain UE.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 15 , storing instructions for instructing the RAN to stop sending UE location messages relating to the certain UE if the certain UE is inactive during a predetermined period.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 15 , storing instructions for preventing any UE location message to arrive to the core network element.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 15 , storing instructions for emulating, by the intermediate entity, the core network element, to the RAN.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 18 , storing instructions for:

extracting identification information from control messages exchanged between the RAN and the core network element; and

utilizing the identification information during the emulating of the core element to the RAN.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 19 , storing instructions for extracting at least one out of a SCTP stream identifier and a SCCP connection identifier.

21. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 13 , storing instructions for utilizing a connection established between the core network element and the RAN and re-stamping transmission sequence numbers associated with the connection.

22. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 13 , storing instructions for updating a status of the RAN in response to the UE location information.

23. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 13 , storing instructions for allowing the core element network to receive only the first UE location message related to a certain UE out of multiple UE location information massages related to the certain UE; wherein a generation of the multiple UE location messages was triggered by the core element network.

24. The non-transitory computer readable medium according to claim 13 , storing instructions for allowing the core element network to receive only a subset of multiple UE location information massages related to the certain UE; wherein a generation of the multiple UE location messages was triggered by the core element network.