Mobile internet protocol (IP) location
A mobile IP location server that retrieves the location of a mobile device based on the public IP address that a mobile device is using. A mobile IP location server comprises a mobile location protocol interface, an identifier resolver, and a location manager. The mobile location protocol interface interacts with location applications and receives and responds to location requests. The identifier resolver converts a device's public IP address to a real mobile identifier (e.g. MSISDN) and performs address conversion by either interacting with an HTTP proxy server or querying a network address translation (NAT) table. The location manager retrieves the location of a mobile device given the device's real mobile identifier (e.g. MSISDN). A web application requests mobile IP location services by transmitting an IP request to the mobile IP location server. An IP location request contains a mobile device's public IP address, port number, and any application specific information.
1. A mobile Internet protocol (IP) location server, comprising:
a mobile location protocol interface to receive an IP location request for geographic location information associated with a given mobile device identified only with a public Internet Protocol (IP) address included with said IP location request, said IP location request including application specific information;
an identifier resolver to determine a real mobile identifier of said given mobile device from said public Internet protocol (IP) address included with said IP location request; and
a location manager to obtain said geographic location information based on said real mobile identifier of said given mobile device and said application specific information included with said IP location request.
2. The mobile Internet protocol (IP) location server according to claim 1 , wherein:
said geographic location information associated with said given mobile device is current location information of said given mobile device.
3. The mobile Internet protocol (IP) location server according to claim 1 , wherein said real mobile identifier comprises:
IMSI.
4. The mobile Internet protocol (IP) location server according to claim 1 , wherein said real mobile identifier comprises:
MSISDN.
5. The mobile Internet protocol (IP) location server according to claim 1 , wherein:
said identifier resolver determines said real mobile identifier by querying a network address translation (NAT) enabled device.
6. The mobile Internet protocol (IP) location server according to claim 1 , wherein:
said identifier resolver determines said real mobile identifier by querying an HTTP proxy server configured on a serving network of said given mobile device.
7. A method of providing location for a mobile device identified in an IP location request without a mobile identifier, comprising:
receiving an Internet protocol (IP) location request for geographic location information associated with a given mobile device identified only with a public Internet Protocol (IP) address included with said IP location request, said IP location request including application specific information;
resolving a real mobile identifier of said given mobile device from said public IP address included with said IP location request;
obtaining said geographic location information based on said real mobile identifier of said given mobile device and said application specific information included with said IP location request; and
returning said obtained geographic location information to a requesting device initiating said IP location request.
8. The method of providing location for a mobile device identified in an IP location request without a mobile identifier according to claim 7 , wherein:
said obtained geographic location is returned to said requesting device via IP protocol.
9. The method of providing location for a mobile device identified in an IP location request without a mobile identifier according to claim 7 , wherein:
said geographic location information associated with said given mobile device is current location information of said given mobile device.
10. The method of providing location for a mobile device identified in an IP location request without a mobile identifier according to claim 7 , wherein: said requesting device is a server hosting a web application.
11. The method of providing location for a mobile device identified in an IP location request without a mobile identifier according to claim 7 , wherein said real mobile identifier comprises: IMSI.
12. The method of providing location for a mobile device identified in an IP location request without a mobile identifier according to claim 7 , wherein said real mobile identifier comprises: MSISDN.
13. The method of providing location for a mobile device identified in an IP location request without a mobile identifier according to claim 7 , wherein:
said real mobile identifier is resolved by querying a network address translation (NAT) enabled device.
14. The method of providing location for a mobile device identified in an IP location request without a mobile identifier according to claim 7 , wherein:
said real mobile identifier is resolved by querying an HTTP proxy server configured on a serving network of said given mobile device.
15. Apparatus for providing location for a mobile device identified in an IP location request without a mobile identifier, comprising:
means for receiving an Internet protocol (IP) location request for geographic location information associated with a given mobile device identified only with a public Internet Protocol (IP) address included with said IP location request, said IP location request including application specific information;
means for resolving a real mobile identifier of said given mobile device from said public IP address included with said IP location request;
means for obtaining said geographic location information based on said real mobile identifier of said given mobile device and said application specific information included with said IP location request; and
means for returning said obtained geographic location information to a requesting device initiating said IP location request.
16. The apparatus for providing location fora mobile device identified in an IP location request without a mobile identifier according to claim 15 , wherein:
said means for obtaining said geographic location returns said geographic location to said requesting device via IP protocol.
17. The apparatus for providing location for a mobile device identified in an IP location request without a mobile identifier according to claim 15 , wherein:
said geographic location information associated with said given mobile device is current location information of said given mobile device.
18. The apparatus for providing location for a mobile device identified in an IP location request without a mobile identifier according to claim 15 , wherein:
said requesting device is a server hosting a web application.
19. The apparatus for providing location for a mobile device identified in an IP location request without a mobile identifier according to claim 15 , wherein said real mobile identifier comprises: IMSI.
20. The apparatus for providing location for a mobile device identified in an IP location request without a mobile identifier according to claim 15 , wherein said real mobile identifier comprises: MSISDN.
21. The apparatus for providing location for a mobile device identified in an IP location request without a mobile identifier according to claim 15 , wherein:
said means for resolving resolves said real mobile identifier by querying a network address translation (NAT) enabled device.
22. The apparatus for providing location for a mobile device identified in an IP location request without a mobile identifier according to claim 15 , wherein:
said means for resolving resolves said real mobile identifier by querying an HTTP proxy server configured on a serving network of said given mobile device.